Mud Ride

A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion

De: Steve Turner

Narrado por: Lloyd Floyd, Steve Turner

A down-and-dirty chronicle of the birth and evolution of the Seattle grunge scene—from backyard skateboard ramps and underground hardcore clubs to worldwide phenomenon—as told by one of its founding fathers and lead guitarist of legendary alternative rock band, Mudhoney.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Steve Turner and his friends—Seattle skate punks, hardcore kids, and assorted misfits—started forming bands in each other’s basements and accidentally created a unique sound that spread far beyond their once-sleepy city. Mud Ride offers an inside look at the tight-knit grunge scene, the musical influences and experiments that shaped the grunge sound, and the story of Turner's bands, Green River and Mudhoney, which went from underground flophouse shows to selling out stadiums with Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Including stories about the key moments, musicians, and albums from grunge's beginnings to its come-down from the highs of global success and stardom, this is the first account of the musical phenomenon that took over the world from someone who was there for it all.

Written by Steve Turner, lead guitarist of Mudhoney, a foundational grunge band that inspired musical icons from Kurt Cobain to Sonic Youth, Mud Ride features a foreword by Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and never-before-seen photographs and grunge memorabilia throughout. Take a seat and ride through the messy and muddy grunge scene that grew from the basements of the Northwest and went on to circle the globe.

MUST HAVE FOR FANS: For cult fans of Mudhoney and all things Seattle grunge, this is the perfect book to add to your collection. Turner helped put Sub Pop Records on the map, a label that launched bands like Soundgarden and more. Mudhoney was also one of the first American grunge bands to tour Europe and the UK, laying the groundwork for the worldwide explosion of grunge. Learn more about the ins and outs of the birth of grunge and immerse yourself in '80s and '90s Seattle.

A GREAT GIFT FOR MUSIC LOVERS: For the aspiring musician or anyone wanting to learn more about music history, this is an illuminating look into grunge and Seattle bands that have gone on to become world-famous.

AN ESSENTIAL ROCK HISTORY BOOK: An amazing gift for readers of Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain's Please Kill Me, John Doe and Tom DeSavia's Under the Big Black Sun, and Michael Azerrad's Our Band Could Be Your Life. Anyone wanting to learn more about the history of grunge will delight in this great tell-all read.

Perfect for:

• Music lovers, history buffs, and musicians
• Fans of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Hole, Green River, and more
• Anyone nostalgic for the '80s and '90s pop culture scene
• People obsessed with grunge, rock, musical movements, or Seattle history
• Readers of Please Kill Me, Under the Big Black Sun, Our Band Could Be Your Life, Grunge Is Dead, and Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge
• Gen Z readers who have embraced all things '90s, from the decade's fashion to its music, and have sparked a resurgence in popularity of grunge bands like Nirvana

Fun to listen to Floyd reading Turner here

I feel provoked to thought. My keys here are one the author gives a great show of what healthy personal boundaries are plus his love of fun and also attitude of fairness in business completely clear, and two the reader well enhances the writer’s craftsmanship with his own sensitive reading and enjoyment of the language of grunge music. I personally relate well to the story itself for I am a fan of this musical form.

Great Perspective and Memories of the Seattle Music Scene and the Once-Quirky City that Spawned It

Steve Turner’s story of Mudhoney’s formation, rise, hiatus, side projects, and reunions is told with some wonderful details and anecdotes. As a Seattle resident, I also loved hearing his descriptions of ‘60s - ‘70s Seattle neighborhoods and the then-cheap houses on the market.

Great Story…why not PNW narrator ?

As a Seattleite, who experienced the era, I wish the narrator could have been a fellow Pacific Northwesterner. For example, ACT Theater isn’t A-C-T theater. And sometimes it sounds like a New Yorker is trying to capture that local feeling of the time and misses the mark. Weren’t there any talented local voice actors available who could make this feel more authentic? Surely there are. Besides that one complaint, the story is entertaining and interesting. Lots of insight into all the usual suspects and the grind of touring.

Backstory

loved it. Was a GREAT listen and informative….now I just wanna buy a guitar set up

Grungy fun

A really detailed and enjoyable bio of Mudhoney. Plenty of interesting side stories about artists and bands they played with and hung out with.

Loved it!

Really enjoyed the story and think that Steve is just a great player and person. Thank you!

The story of Seattle grunge as told by a key insider

From the moment 15-year-old me put "Superfuzz Bigmuff" on the record player in my bedroom over 30 years ago, Mudhoney have always been my favorite of the "grunge" bands. They always seemed the most working-man of them all and "Mudride" confirms this. They went on world tours and played huge festivals but then went back home and had regular jobs and rent to pay.

Steve's book is great in the way a lot of music biographies are great: the story is told by an insider who was there for all the big moments, but who who isn't a main character of the movement. It reminded me of Sylvain Sylvain's autobiography, There's No Bones in Ice Cream in that way.

He was there when Sub Pop started putting out records and when Nirvana and Pearl Jam formed. He lives in Portland now, but he's still there in spirit. Highly recommended for fans of "Our Band Could Be Your Life."

Great Story

For anyone interested in Mudhoney or Grunge music more broadly this is a must read.

Long Live Mudhoney!

Great read, hope to run into Steve sometime in PDX! Maybe we have already have! Maybe someday our band could open for Mudhoney!

Steve is a great storyteller

I have been listening to Mudhoney since 1990. It’s interesting to hear Steve’s perspective. I saw them at a show on the Everett waterfront in 2024 and they are still so fun to see live. I also like little dogs.