This 1991 Grunge Album Should Have Been Way Bigger

When you think of the album that truly defined the grunge movement, one record usually comes to mind: 1991's Nevermind from Nirvana. That album changed everything in music and pop culture in the early 1990s, and musical tastes quickly went from the hair metal of bands such as Ratt and Warrant to the lo-fi, sloppy, tortured sounds of Seattle grunge.

Nirvana was the catalyst for so many other great grunge bands to get served up to the masses, including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. While it's certainly the case that these bands were talented and brought their own unique flavor to the alternative music world, there are other bands, and albums, that didn't get their due.

In particular, there's one grunge album that came out in 1991 and could have, or should have, been as big as Nirvana's Nevermind. But, it wasn't. The timing was off, and legal issues even got in the way. Here's the story behind that album.

Underrated Grunge Album From 1991 Could Have Been as Big as Nirvana's Nevermind

When Tad Doyle and his band Tad came onto the scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was obvious that there was something unique and charming about their sound. The band was one of the first to sign to Sub Pop Records, famed Seattle label that was responsible for releasing Nirvana's Bleach and giving them an early voice in music.

But, when grunge went mainstream, Tad wasn't one of the bands that went with it. The band's 1991 album 8-Way Santa was packed with commercially-ready grunge songs, all short and polished enough to become grunge radio hits. But, a string of legal and promotional issues stalled the album's release, and it ended up never getting widespread attention.

8-Way Santa, which the band recorded with Nevermind producer Butch Vig, had an album art issue. The original cover was made from an old photo found in a thrift store, and the woman on the album cover sued the band when she found out that her photo was being plastered everywhere on the release. So, Sub Pop had to take the album off shelves and re-release it with a different cover.

The lawsuits didn't stop there. The band's single "Jack Pepsi" used the Pepsi logo, and the beverage company also sued them for that usage.

Without these problems, musically, Tad's music would have found its place in grunge. But, in general, their sound was a bit heavier and less commercially accessible than the more pop-driven grunge music.

Low-Profile Grunge Musicians is Happy His 1991 Album Didn't Blow Up Like Nirvana

So, is Tad Doyle sad about the band not ever making it huge? Not at all. I interviewed him in May of 2023, and he told me that it was a blessing to not get that kind of attention.

"For me, it's like, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, all of those guys, they could never go out in public without being recognized, and people take you hostage when they see you on the street, and it's like, 'Oh, you're mine,'" he said in the Audio Ink Radio interview. "But, I've always relished the fact that I'm invisible..."

He added: "I've enjoyed the success that I wanted to. Success is what you name it. So, I'm happy to be invisible. Let's just leave it at that."

Tad's 8-Way Santa is streaming now wherever you get your music. It's never too late to discover this gem.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 1:32 PM.