There are arguments that Neil Young is known as the "Grandfather of Grunge" but Neil Young was hardly a "Little known artist" He was a major star in the late 60's & throughout the 70's not only with CSN, but as a solo artist. Young's sound was pre grunge, but is hardly the grunge rock that came out of the 90's.As for grunge, NONE of those bands started grunge IMO. There was this little known artist by the name of Neil Young that had done that a decade or so before.
None of these bands note Neil Young as influence to their sound.
The Seattle grunge movement started with Nirvana & Pearl Jam is to be credited here, as they came out right after Nirvana. BTW: Pearl Jam notes the WHO as their major influence & have often done WHO covers in concert. They were also invited to perform Who songs at the Kennedy Center Honors for the Who.
Yes, Nirvana is probably overrated, but due to the death of Curt Cobain & the success of Nevermind as a debut album, they have been elevated to "CULT STATUS"....
The main grunge bands of the 90's were Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, & Alice in Chains