Nirvana scored a #1 hit and along came the grunge phenomenon, and the first 'A'-word of the '90s: Alternative. Suddenly, the dirty words "sell out" were introduced to the pop culture market place. In the early half the '90s, those who kept their ear to the (under)ground were the ones proclaiming to have known this band or that artist "before they sold out". Yet this was destined not to last; eventually, to the dismay of many a DIY militant, it was acknowledged that it was not "the people's choice" but rather crass commercialism that was still the driving force in popular culture.