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- Pink Floyd. 1,992 votes. Pink Floyd, often regarded as one of the pioneers of alternative rock, captivated audiences with their transcendent blend of progressive rock, space-rock, and psychedelia in a time when music was craving a change.
- David Bowie. 2,171 votes. David Bowie, the genre-bending Starman, consistently redefined the boundaries of alternative rock with his chameleonic approach to music throughout his illustrious career.
- Nirvana. 6,734 votes. Nirvana's impact on the alternative rock scene is nothing short of revolutionary. Kurt Cobain's raw, angst-filled lyrics, coupled with the band's powerful and gritty sound, became the defining voice of the grunge movement that swept through the 1990s.
- The Cure. 3,397 votes. The Cure, led by enigmatic frontman Robert Smith, have been shaping the course of alternative music since their formation in the late 1970s with a unique blend of post-punk, new wave, and goth rock.
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- Nirvana
- R.E.M.
- U2
- Cage The Elephant
- Radiohead
- Weezer
- Violent Femmes
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Arctic Monkeys
The first band on our list is perhaps the most influential alt-rock band of all time, Nirvana. The year 1987 witnessed the birth of this band. Their musical style is grunge, punk rock, hard rock, and alternative rock. Nirvana exploded onto the mainstream just a year later with the classic song “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This came from their smash-h...
Our next alt-rock band is R.E.M., one of the flagship groups of the alternative rock movement. Founded in 1980 and remaining active for 31 years, R.E.M. has proven to be one of the best-selling alt-rock bands of all time. R.E.M. is noteworthy for creating a bridge between the tried-and-true sounds of mainstream rock and the more edgy work that woul...
The next group on our list, U2, might come as a surprise. After all, it was founded in the ’70s and might be considered a more mainstream rock band. The band made its first splash with songs like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).” The fab four of Irish rock took a turn for the alternative in the early 1990s. No album demonstr...
With Cage the Elephant, we take a jump into the alt-rock history of the twenty-first century. The band was formed in 2006 and found enormous success with their self-titled debut album. The most successful singles from the album are “In One Ear” and “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” Cage the Elephant’s sound offers a mix of catchy lyrics, heart-poundi...
Another foundational band in alt-rock music history is Radiohead. Though Radiohead was formed in 1985, it first found global appeal with its 1993 hit “Creep.” From there, the band established itself as an alternative icon, perhaps second only to Nirvana. The legendary band has released nine studio albums. Nearly all of these have achieved meteoric ...
The boundaries between alt-rock and punk are blurry. But if there’s a bridge between the two, it’s certainly Weezer. Notably, the band has been in existence for over 30 years. Within that period, they cemented themselves as a titan among alt-rockers. What made that possible is also one of their greatest achievements: their power to evolve. Their se...
The next band on our list is Violent Femmes. Though the band’s musical style is alternative rock, it skews toward the folk side of things. Thus, one of their other genre designations is folk punk. Some of their most famous songs are really works of art. Think of “Blister in the Sun” and “Gone Daddy Gone.” Both of these blend the head-banging power ...
If there were a Mount Olympus of alt-rock bands, then The Smashing Pumpkins would most certainly be sitting on a godly throne. The band was considered one of those who popularized this genre. What makes The Smashing Pumpkins so interesting? They bring a different approach to alternative rock than we’ve seen on this list so far. While bands like Wee...
The next seat in alternative rock immortality belongs to Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of the best-selling bands of all time. Formed in 1982, Red Hot Chili Peppers is a band of abundance. They’ve had 14 members, 14 #1 singles, 13 studio albums, and 120 million records sold. For all their popularity, the band’s style is a bit challenging to pin down. T...
The English rock band Arctic Monkeys is one of the defining alternative rock bands of the aughts. They hit the scene right in time for the early-2000s explosion of the Internet. The band is famous for its staccato vocals and complex lyricism. Both of these persisted across the band’s seven albums and five EPs. In keeping with their place in alt-roc...
- The Cure. Gothic rock legends The Cure took a cerebral, arresting vision and committed to it with an awe-inspiring sense of verve. They weaved dark romanticism with occult themes and off-kilter surrealism, without an ounce of restraint nor an ounce of repentance.
- Nirvana. Nirvana had such a strength of vision and incisive maturity that its impact was akin to that of a ten-mile asteroid on the cultural and social landscape of the early 90s.
- Alice in Chains. Alice in Chains had a gloomy, mournful philosophy that was jarring in its candor, but generous in its impact. Their melodies can be excruciating in their emotive pull, pricing buried feelings and hidden sorrows and laying them bare.
- Pearl Jam. Seattle folk-grunge legends Pearl Jam owe a lot to lead Eddie Vedder’s baleful, raspy voice – a voice that lent a confronting, shimmering profundity to every word, every chord.
Apr 23, 2023 · This list of the 100 greatest alternative bands of all time celebrates the diverse range of artists who have contributed to the genre's legacy, showcasing the artists who have shaped the sound of alternative music and left an indelible mark on the musical landscape.
- 5 min
- Nirvana. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video) Nirvana was formed by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic in 1987 in the suburbs of Washington.
- Sonic Youth. Teen Age Riot. After forming in New York City in 1981, Sonic Youth emerged from the experimental music scene before creating traditional alternative rock.
- Radiohead. Radiohead - Pyramid Song. Radiohead is an English band formed in 1985 including Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Philip Selway.
- My Chemical Romance. My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade [Official Music Video] [HD] From Newark, New Jersey, My Chemical Romance would form in 2001 with band members Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Frank Iero, and Mikey Way.
Dec 5, 2023 · The Pixies are one of the best alternative rock bands of all time. Formed in 1986, The Pixies consisted of Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, vocals), and David Lovering (drums). It took them two years to release their debut album.
Mar 28, 2022 · 10 Best Alternative Rock Bands Of All Time. When the alternative is the best option, featuring Nirvana, blink-182, and more... by Daniel Wylie. Updated: September 5th, 2022. Warner...
