Formed in 1985, Radiohead has been incredibly authentic and influential over many years. While their early sound was bog-standard indie rock, they soon added novel electronic sounds and experimental song structures. Radiohead has released nine studio albums in total, with their immersive soundscapes dealing with complex themes of modernity and alienation. From the delicate beauty of “Fake Plastic Trees” and “Karma Police” to the subtle introspection of “No Surprises” and “Pyramid Song,” Radiohead’s amazing songs make them one of the best alternative rock bands of recent decades.
They weren’t around for long, but Nirvana made a huge impact on the world of alternative music. Formed in 1987, this iconic band came to represent the grunge movement centered around Seattle. Nirvana was formed by guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic, who recruited drummer Dave Grohl in 1990. Their first album, Bleach, came out on Sub Pop in 1989. Their follow-up, Nevermind, turned them into global superstars in 1991. Nirvana only released three studio albums in total, with In Utero coming out in 1993 just before Cobain’s death by suicide.
In their heyday, Jane’s Addiction had a sound and vibe to die for. Their unique funk-punk music captured the energy of the decade, and their first two albums laid the groundwork for alternative ’90s rock. Nothing’s Shocking was released in 1988, and their follow-up record, Ritual de lo Habitual, came out in 1990. The band went quiet after that, releasing their third studio album, Strays, in 2003. After breaking up again, they reunited in 2011 for their fourth studio album, The Great Escape Artist.
The iconic R.E.M formed in Georgia way back in 1980. They were one of the first alternative rock bands, differentiating themselves from the post-punk and new-wave sounds of the era. While R.E.M embraced the DIY ethos of 1970s punk rock, they went in a different musical direction. R.E.M became known for their arpeggiated guitar lines and cryptic lyrics, with singer Michael Stipe’s distinctive vocal quality and unique stage presence also making a mark. These musical artists released an incredible 15 albums between 1983 and 2011, with their 1992 record — Automatic for the People — and its single “Losing My Religion” putting alternative rock into the mainstream.
The Smashing Pumpkins was an absolute blast in the early ’90s, with their densely layered sound inspiring fans all over the world. The band’s debut release, Gish, caught the attention of music lovers in 1991, and their second album, Siamese Dream, made them famous in 1993. The band’s third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, came out in 1995, bringing their greatest commercial successes. At the time, The Smashing Pumpkins had a fresh sound that integrated elements of goth, metal, and shoegaze.
Perhaps the biggest “cult” band of all time, The Cure is an undeniable alternative rock force. Traversing stylistic boundaries between post-punk and alt-rock, Robert Smith and his iconic haircut have remained a mercurial yet constant force. The Cure formed way back in 1976, making them the oldest band on this list. They were most influential in the early ’80s, with albums like Faith from 1981 and Pornography from 1982 inspiring countless imitators. The band’s commercial peak came much later, however, with Disintegration and Wish achieving huge sales in 1989 and 1992, respectively.
At their peak, the Red Hot Chili Peppers was one of the biggest alternative rock bands in the entire world. They were formed in 1982, and they defined the sound and stance of a generation. The Chili Peppers recorded 13 studio albums in total, including huge releases like Blood Sugar Sex Magik from 1991 and Californication from 1999. The band’s funky, proto-rap-rock sound was outstanding in a live context, with vocalist Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea strutting around the stage to great effect.
Alternative rock bands don’t get more influential than Sonic Youth. Formed in New York City in 1981, this incredible four-piece brought noise rock from the dirty inner-city streets to the quiet green suburbs. This band is known for many things, but it’s their unique guitar feedback work that made them truly special. Sonic Youth crafted 16 albums from 1983 to 2009, including the almost-perfect Daydream Nation from 1988 and the commercial breakthrough Goo from 1990. As musical artists, Sonic Youth redefined the relationship between noise and harmony.
Formed in 2001, The Killers creates a bold indie rock sound with post-new-wave vibes and pop sensibilities. They have released seven studio albums over 2+ decades, and they remain active to this day. The Killers helped to introduce novel instrumentation into the standard alt-rock world. If you listen carefully to albums like Day & Age and Battle Born, you can hear saxophones, synthesizers, steel drums, harpsichords, and even tribal chanting. The Killers is one of the most popular alternative rock bands of recent times.
You can’t talk about influential alternative rock bands without mentioning The Smiths. Formed in 1982 by Morrissey and Johnny Marr, The Smiths had their own authentic sound. While it was still focused on guitar, bass, and drum instrumentation, they found their own groove by rejecting both traditional rhythm-and-blues and electronic dance music. In some ways, The Smiths was an innocent return to 1960s rock, with Marr’s jangly guitar balanced with Morrisey’s pompous yet languid vocal delivery.
They may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you certainly can’t ignore them as musical artists. Green Day has been around since 1987, and like many acts on this list, they’re still going strong. With 14 studio albums, dozens of hit singles, and some of the biggest shows of all time, this band is an absolute sensation. Green Day came into public consciousness with Dookie, their major-label debut from 1994. They followed up with Insomniac in 1995 and Nimrod in 1997; their albums American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown were also hugely influential.
Primal Scream
Primal Scream is a Scottish rock band with 12 album releases since 1987. They’re known for creating a mercurial sound, blending electronic elements with blues-based grooves and garage rock. Their third studio album, Screamadelica, was an absolute smash in 1991, with its unique crossover sound inspired heavily by the ecstasy-soaked dance floors of England’s second summer of love. Other influential albums include Vanishing Point from 1997, XTRMNTR from 2000, and More Light from 2013.
The Arctic Monkeys was an absolute sensation when they hit the ground running in 2002. As the youngest artists on this list, they were one of the first alt-rock acts to reach fame via the internet. Arctic Monkeys helped to bring indie music back into public consciousness, inspiring lots of young musicians along the way. At a time when alternative rock music was definitely waning, both in popularity and influence, Arctic Monkeys was like a breath of fresh air.
In the heyday of Seattle grunge, Soundgarden brought something different to the table. Formed in 1984 by Chris Cornell, this great band is often compared to both Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Soundgarden was also influenced by post-punk sounds, including bands like Bauhaus, Wire, and Gang of Four. Cornell’s wide vocal range and existential lyrics set the band apart, however, with his amazing delivery heard on albums like Louder Than Love from 1989 and Superunknown from 1994. Soundgarden was one of the best rock bands of the ’90s.
They’re not the biggest alternative band on this list, but they’re probably the most influential artists. This Irish-English group formed in 1983, releasing two iconic albums before taking a two-decade break and coming back in 2013. Isn’t Anything from 1988 and Loveless from 1991 are two of the most beautiful alt-rock albums of all time, and m b v from 2013 is a triumphant return. Musically, My Bloody Valentine uses distortion and open tunings to create an immersive soundscape. As pioneers of the shoegaze sound, they have inspired hundreds of bands from all corners of the world. My Bloody Valentine really is one of the best alternative rock bands of all time.
Hailing from the mean streets of New York in the late ’90s, The Stokes infused punk rock with indie sensibilities and garage sounds. They were absolutely massive in the early days, with record labels fighting for their attention. While The Strokes crafted six albums over a period of 20 years, nothing beats their debut release, Is This It, from 2001. For their generation, The Strokes was almost as influential as The Ramones and The Velvet Underground — two other massive New York bands. The Strokes is one of the most popular alternative rock bands of recent years.
Pixies is the ultimate late ’80s and early ’90s alternative rock band, hailing from Massachusetts in 1986. Their highly dynamic style helped to spark the entire alternative movement. Most songs by The Pixies have a distinctive loud-quiet-loud shape, which they infuse with elements of punk and surf rock. The Pixies was an obvious influence on Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, and most of the other names in this list. The band’s surreal lyrics are another distinctive feature, which you can hear loud and clear on albums like Surfer Rosa from 1988, Doolittle from 1989, and Trompe Le Monde from 1991. Modern bands of today often try to imitate the incredible Pixies sound.
In a world of cookie-cutter pop music, some bands bring something truly original to the table. Weezer formed in 1992, and they’ve been creating a unique, fun-filled racket ever since. With famous singles like “Buddy Holly” and “Undone – The Sweater Song,” they have successfully walked the tightrope between cult status and critical acclaim. Weezer has made 15 albums and counting, making them the most prolific band on this list. While every fan has their favorite, both Pinkerton and the self-titled debut album — also called the Blue Album — are pretty hard to beat. Weezer is a much-loved and incredibly popular alternative rock band.
At a time when alternative rock was fading in popularity, along came The White Stripes. This brother and sister duo formed in Detroit in 1997 before calling it quits in 2011. Over a relatively short but jam-packed career, Jack and Meg White released six fantastic studio albums. They delivered garage rock in a modern style, with everything stripped back and crunched up to great effect. It was their songwriting that really stood out, however, and their big hits are still heard on modern radio today.
Some bands are responsible for shaping the entire world of rock music. This is certainly the case for Nine Inch Nails, who reimagined industrial music for the masses. The band was formed in 1988 by Trent Reznor, and they released 14 studio albums over a long three-decade period. Nine Inch Nails was at their most influential in the hard-rocking ’90s, with 1994’s The Downward Spiral a massive cultural force. The band’s follow-up album from 1999, The Fragile, was also influential in shaping the alt-rock scene. Make no mistake, Nine Inch Nails is one of the best alternative rock bands of all time.
The Other 80
The 20 bands listed above deserve special mention — often for very different reasons. They’re certainly not the only influential bands in the history of alternative music, however, with the names listed below also very worthy. While this list isn’t in any definitive order, there are historical and genre-based threads running through it when you look closely.
- The Velvet Underground
- The Stooges
- MC5
- Suicide
- Wire
- Television
- The Birthday Party
- Joy Division
- Public Image Ltd.
- Gang of Four
- Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
- Cabaret Voltaire
- Talking Heads
- Yes
- The Mars Volta
- XTC
- Devo
- Bauhaus
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Siouxsie & The Banshees
- The Cramps
- Oasis
- Blur
- The Stone Roses
- Inspiral Carpets
- Pulp
- Suede
- The Charlatans
- Slowdive
- Ride
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
- The Melvins
- The Boredoms
- Boris
- Hüsker Dü
- Foo Fighters
- Dinosaur Jr.
- PJ Harvey
- Faith No More
- Pavement
- Neutral Milk Hotel
- Beck
- Violent Femmes
- They Might be Giants
- The Lemonheads
- The Replacements
- Interpol
- Ween
- 10,000 Maniacs
- The Smithereens
- Love and Rockets
- Tool
- Fugazi
- Alice in Chains
- System of a Down
- Rage Against the Machine
- Butthole Surfers
- Dead Kennedys
- New Order
- Depeche Mode
- Daft Punk
- MGMT
- The Black Keys
- Arcade Fire
- Wilco
- Muse
- The B-52’s
- Flaming Lips
- Modest Mouse
- Bloc Party
- INXS
- Beastie Boys
- Dinosaur Jr.
- Pearl Jam
- Wilco
- Franz Ferdinand
- Blink 182
- Belle and Sebastian
- Cage the Elephant
- Hoodoo Gurus
Final Thoughts
If you like beautiful, brave, noisy rock music that experiments with new structures and sounds, the bands on this list should definitely have your attention. There’s something here for everyone, so what are you waiting for? Put your headphones on and dive in.