I think I see where your goin' here. I guess I'll answer like this..
The underground scene tends to swell up in local music scenes and this can be the healthiest way to start a new "sound" or a new "attitude" that can grow into a national thing. That's what I see as important from a $$$$ stand point. Also, Ideas and messages that would not other wise surface can come up this way and change how kids think about things.. having to "pass the test" with a local fan base can be a good way to filter out the poser's of the world too..
Having said all that, from a musical standpoint, I didn't get some of these "ground swells" that took the country/world by storm. This is coming from a guy though, who likes old school soul and R&B and rock music that sounds like someone in the band,knows something,,anything, about music.. When we were putting together 8 and 10 member horn bands and mixing rock and funk together back in the early 90's, we were overwhelmed by rock bands that sounded like the band I was in in 7th grade.We couldn't play for fucking FREE,{and frankly, the band was killer!!} So, for me, the 90's "grunge" thing was a real drag from a musical standpoint. It was just fucking empty. Period. Also, I found it interesting and sad that all these kid's who had a warm place to live and plenty to eat seemed to take on this "poor me" shit. It was all so fucking dark and just shitty from a musical stand point.. YUK!!!
Now, having said that, this is what is so great about the power of music. It is a youth thing and it gives these kids a way to vent and feel part of something and that is mostly a good thing,even when you take into account all the dead people who took to many drugs .. It's a mixed bag for sure. It drives the culture forward for better and for worse..
I think bands like YES and The Moody Blues did way more to drive MUSIC forward. The "what's hip this week" thing is a different story all together.
So my answer will have be on the subject of music and in that case, I don't see how either band has even a passing importance. At least, not for me..
Again,, the great thing about all this is that there are thousands of people who disagree with me. There by making it possible for everyone to have music they really dig in their CD player,or their turn table, or like me, old recordings from the 50's of Latin shit pouring from my Sony 1/4 track machine. ;-} It's fucking great man, there is so much great stuff out there for everyone..
Ivan...............................