Top 10 Best Bands of the 1990s

1. Nirvana

   

   Nirvana was an American grunge band formed in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. The band consisted of Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar), Krist Novoselic (bass), and Dave Grohl (drums), who joined in 1990. Nirvana disbanded following Cobain's death by suicide in 1994.... read more

   These three individuals absolutely deserve the number one spot. Dave Grohl's drumming is immensely tight, with some very creative drumming from him (e.g., Scentless Apprentice). Krist's basslines, while overlooked, are incredibly groovy and work great with the songs (e.g., Lounge Act).

   And, of course, Kurt Cobain. He wrote amazingly haunting, beautiful melodies and riffs. He truly knew how to convey emotion through song and is one of the greatest songwriters to ever live.

   Undeniably the best! Nirvana is an extremely innovative band that uses elaborate elements and great writing to achieve amazing success!

2. Radiohead

   

   Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Phil Selway, and Ed O'Brien.

   Known for their experimentation and sonic evolution, they rose to international prominence with OK Computer and continued... read more

   They created such a unique soundscape, incorporating elements from other genres such as classical and jazz in their melodic harmonies. They definitely came more into their prime during the 2000s but were great in the 90s too.

   I can't think of any Radiohead song that I don't like. Talented Thom Yorke, nerdy musical genius Jonny Greenwood, Ed's ambient sounds - everything about this band is funk'n great.

   I can't think of a Radiohead song I hate. Can't say the same for Nirvana, what with some choice lyrics and whatnot.

3. Alice in Chains

   

   Alice in Chains is an American grunge/alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The band's most notable hits include "Man in the Box," "Down in a Hole," "Heaven Beside You," "No Excuses," "What the... read more

   Different, unique, and special. This band was ahead of its time. Amazing melancholic tunes. I love Nirvana, but AIC wins every single time in my book. Just my opinion.

   Facelift, SAP, Dirt, Jar of Flies, Unplugged - all came out in the 90s. Best music around.

   Without a doubt the best band of the 90s. Every song they did in the 90s is amazing.

4. Oasis

   

   Oasis is an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. The original lineup consisted of Liam Gallagher (lead vocals), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar), and Tony McCarroll (drums). A few months later, Liam invited his older brother Noel Gallagher (lead guitar, vocals) to join the... read more

   What's the Story, Morning Glory? Best album of the 90s!

   I almost voted for Radiohead, but they released half of their best material in the 2000s. Same with Tool, Weezer (arguably. The Blue album was pretty darn great), and Green Day.

   I love their work from 1994-2000. They got really bad in 2002, though, and then they sucked for the rest of their career. They were extremely good in the 90s, though. Definitely Maybe is my favorite album ever.

   They boosted Britpop to the top of the world. That's all!

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers

   

   The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American funk-rock and alternative rock band founded in 1983 in Los Angeles. The current core lineup includes Anthony Kiedis, Michael "Flea" Balzary, Chad Smith, and Joshua Klinghoffer, although John Frusciante remains the most acclaimed guitarist associated with the... read more

   When you take into consideration the three albums they put out in the decade, no one else measures up.

   Amazing band live, so much energy. I encourage you to see this band if you have the chance!

   Better than all the bands listed above them. Nirvana is good but overrated.

6. Pearl Jam

   

   Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. The founding lineup included Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament. The band is best known for its debut album Ten, which features the hit singles "Even Flow," "Black," and "Jeremy," and was named after basketball... read more

   The band as a whole is amazing. Pearl Jam has managed to remain relevant to this day (almost three decades), which is a big deal considering that grunge and rock, in general, are not nearly as acclaimed as they once were.

   On top of that, we have Eddie Vedder, a musical genius whose voice is probably the best in grunge history, or at least among the best. His legacy is purely musical, with no scandals to pump up his status.

   The only reason Nirvana is usually given the edge in their dispute is because of the romantic, pop cult figure Cobain has become. Who knows what would have happened if that tragedy never occurred.

   Pearl Jam is the best band ever. Almost every song is awesome, and all the other bands are great too, but they don't have songs as good as Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam has way more great songs.

7. Smashing Pumpkins

   

   The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. The band was founded by frontman Billy Corgan and guitarist James Iha, with D'arcy Wretzky on bass and Jimmy Chamberlin on drums rounding out the original lineup. They rose to prominence in the 1990s with... read more

   No band is as creative and diverse as The Smashing Pumpkins. Their music is the perfect combination of alternative rock, psychedelic dream pop/shoegazing, gothic rock, and heavy metal. Their sound is just amazing.

   Say what you will about overproduction and Corgan's personality. At the end of the day, good music is good music.

   BC is the best lyricist, one of the most prolific songwriters, and one of the most varied instrumentalists of the '90s. The band produces songs of every kind. Medellia of the Gray Skies vs. Tales of a Scorched Earth is an example.

8. Green Day

   

   Green Day are an American pop punk and punk rock band formed in East Bay, California, in 1987. The core members are Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass), and Tré Cool (drums), with Jason White often performing live on guitar. They blend punk rock, pop punk, and alternative rock, drawing... read more

   Green Day is my favorite band ever! They have multiple amazing sounds and awesome lyrics that kids, young adults, and adults can all connect to. They have many hits, from Longview, a song about boredom, to Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), which basically says FU. You can find multiple meanings in many of their songs too.

   In the 90s, they quickly became popular with their third studio album, Dookie. They are still making awesome albums like American Idiot, with many smash hits like Boulevard of Broken Dreams and 21 Guns. Still making music and going on tours to entertain their fans for all these years is very impressive.

   Adding the fact that they have had the same members for basically their whole music career - Tre Cool, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt - is remarkable. Billie Joe's unique voice, Tre's impressive drumming, and Mike's mesmerizing use of the bass have the crowd dancing along to their music.

9. Soundgarden

   

   Soundgarden was an American grunge and alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto.

   The band was one of the pioneers of the grunge movement and released critically acclaimed albums... read more

   The Led Zeppelin of the 90s. Can't take away how great the other bands on this list are, but Soundgarden is a third-place finisher, behind only AIC and Nirvana.

   Soundgarden and Alice in Chains deserve the top two spots.

   Best hard rock and superb high voice of Chris Cornell.

10. Guns 'n Roses

    

    Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1985. The classic lineup, signed to Geffen Records in 1986, consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. In addition to hard rock, they are also... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Aqua

    

    Aqua is a Danish-Norwegian eurodance group best known for their 1997 breakthrough single "Barbie Girl." The group formed in 1989 and achieved international success during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their debut album, Aquarium, sold over 14 million copies worldwide and included other hits like "Doctor... read more

12. ?

    Front 242

The Contenders

13. Foo Fighters

    

    Foo Fighters are an American alternative rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. The band was founded by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl after Kurt Cobain's death and Nirvana's breakup. The current lineup consists of Dave Grohl (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, primary songwriter), Pat Smear (rhythm guitar... read more

    Can anyone imagine a world where the Foo Fighters did not fight the Foos? NO.

14. Blur

    

    Blur is an English rock band formed in London in 1988. The group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James, and drummer Dave Rowntree. They were a leading force in the Britpop movement and achieved massive international success with their 1997 hit Song 2.

    A band that inspired a generation, truly summing up life in their lyrics. A clever, quirky group of talented chaps with personalities to match. Blur needs to be in the top ten. The Britpop movement was the nineties, and it was Albarn who set it all in motion.

    Definitely the most creative band of the 90s. They practically started the Britpop and Cool Britannia movement with their album Modern Life is Rubbish. When they became bored of Britpop, they got experimental, and in 1997, they released their self-titled album, which is one of my all-time favorites.

15. Rage Against the Machine

    

    Rage Against the Machine is an American rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. The lineup consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk.

    Their politically charged music, which blended rock, hip-hop, and funk, debuted... read more

    Come on, number 15? They shut down Wall Street! They have the most unique sound of the 90s and a perfect fusion of rap and metal.

    Politically inspiring masters of rap metal.

    Huge fan of this group. They rule.

16. Tool

    

    Tool is an American alternative and progressive metal band formed in 1990.

    The lineup includes Maynard James Keenan (vocals), Danny Carey (drums), Adam Jones (guitar), and Justin Chancellor (bass), who joined in 1995. The band is recognized for incorporating electronic influences and for their... read more

17. The Offspring

    

    The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Originally named Manic Subsidal, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, and drummer Brandon Pertzborn... read more

18. R.E.M.

    

    R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by lead singer Michael Stipe, lead guitarist Peter Buck, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry. They released their debut single, Radio Free Europe, in 1981 on the independent I.R.S. Records label... read more

    R.E.M. has some of the best songs from the late 80s to the 90s. They seriously deserve more respect and graduate degrees than Nirvana, which rose to fame due to a death.

    If you needed a break from grunge and wanted more thoughtful lyrics and elite musicianship, you turned to R.E.M.

19. Weezer

    

    Weezer is an American alternative rock and power pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1992. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals).... read more

    There is no one else like Weezer! They manage to mix heavy guitar with catchy pop melodies, creating such a unique sound. Almost every one of their songs is a classic: Buddy Holly, Say It Ain't So, The Good Life, Across the Sea, El Scorcho, the list goes on and on!

    Great band. They've definitely had their share of questionable songs in the 2000s onwards, but you can't deny that every song from their 90s output is just fantastic.

    Both of their 90s albums are classics, making them tied with Nirvana for the number of good albums in that decade. And I'd argue Weezer's are even better.

20. Sonic Youth

    

    Sonic Youth was an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, and Lee Ranaldo remained with the band throughout its existence. Steve Shelley joined as drummer in 1985, solidifying the group's core lineup until their disbandment in 2011.

21. Stone Temple Pilots

    

    Stone Temple Pilots is an alternative rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 1989.

    The current lineup features brothers Dean DeLeo (guitar) and Robert DeLeo (bass), along with drummer Eric Kretz. The original lead vocalist, Scott Weiland, was with the band until 2013. After his departure... read more

    Amazing band! Anyone who says otherwise hasn't taken the time to listen to their catalog.

    Go listen to Core and Purple all the way through. You're welcome.

    This poll is whack. STP is top 10 easily.

22. Nine Inch Nails

    

    Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock band founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. They have released eleven studio albums.

    The band is known for its dark, moody lyricism and aggressive vocal delivery. Their biggest hits include "Closer," "Hurt," "Wish," "We're in This Together... read more

23. Pulp

    

    Pulp were an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their best-known lineup during the 1990s included Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Russell Senior, Mark Webber, Steve Mackey, and Nick Banks. The band achieved major success during the Britpop era with hits such as Common People and Disco 2000... read more

24. Blues Traveler

25. Deftones

    

    Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California. The band, which was founded in 1988, consists of Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Frank Delgado, Abe Cunningham, and Sergio Vega... read more

26. Counting Crows

    

    Counting Crows is an American rock band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1991. The band consists of Adam Duritz, David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, Dan Vickrey, David Immerglück, Jim Bogios, and Millard Powers. They gained widespread recognition with their debut album August and Everything After.

    Counting Crows songs have some of the most meaningful lyrics ever. I didn't vote for R.E.M. because some of their 90s albums weren't as good as their 80s albums. All of the ones I considered were Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., and Dave Matthews.

27. Metallica

    

    Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more