Are you serious? You can say how "Grunge" was good for Rock but in no way can an emergence that killed it be considered a good thing for Rock. Looking at it in retrospect shows how devastating it truly was.The emergence of the alternative style stifled Rock's growth and continuance as a cultural force. I can't help but think how much Rock has become a caricature of itself as a result.
I really do believe 80's early 90s Hair/Heavy Metal was Rock's last good era. When Grunge/Alternative came into popularity circa 1992 and onward, the era of modern rock began. Rock has never been the same since then. From a composition standpoint the genre declined big time. I believe that this decline in compositional standards and overall musical content that occurred with the rise 90's alt rock era contributed to the declining popularity of rock music today, e.g. why so many young youths today prefer Rap, R&B, and Pop. The Rock genre had nothing astounding going on post 1992. The people that grew up in the 90's and later had no Led Zeppelin I, Disraeli Gears or Are You Experienced? of their own to make them go out and pick up an instrument and do better than what came before them. 1993 was the last year before Rock essentially died.
Sure the lyrical subjects of hair bands were rather shallow, concentrating on partying, drugs, and sex, but the music was kick-ass hard rock/heavy metal, pulling from influences such as Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and Black Sabbath. It was entertaining, exciting and made you feel good, versus the "I'm depressed and hate the world for no reason" message of Grunge.
Explain to me how grunge was any more creative than "hair" metal? Personally, Bret Michaels singing "Nothin' But a Good Time" - as derivative as that may be - is infinitely preferable to an unwashed, flannel-shirted Vedder bellowing his angst over recycled Sabbath/Zeppelin riffs. I just I miss the good highschool times rockin to crue and leppard..aerosmith..poison ..in the parking lot before class started.long live 80s/early 90s Heavy Metal. History speaks for itself. Right before grunge, Rock had one of the widest mass appeals at that point. It appealed to males, females and to all ages. Fact is "hair metal" lasted longer and was more successful than most other sub-genres in rock - that alone makes the detractors bitter and twisted. Plus most of the band members were better looking than those who constantly attack them!!