Top 10 Rock Bands of the 1990s

The Top Ten
1 Nirvana Nirvana was an American grunge band that was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana disbanded after Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994. The drummer of the band, David Grohl, went on to start the Foo-Fighters, an alternative rock band... read more

Nirvana almost wasn't elligible for this list, having had a strong base in the 80s. But nirvana still had major success and influentual break throughs before kurt cobains suicide in 1994. Nirvana was unquestionably had more emmotion, song writting, and popularity than just about every other band from the 90s.
BEST SONG: HEART SHAPED BOX

I know, I know. This is super overrated, but I didn't want to make anyone mad by not putting it first.

2 Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Colin Greenwoood (bass guitar), Phil Selway (drums), and Ed O'Brien (guitar).

Personally I think radiohead is basically nirvana with actually technical ability. But actually, that's a great thing especially since bands like creed and collective soul are just shallow rip offs. Radiohead is pretty much the only post grunge band who is allowed on this list
BEST SONG: PABLO

Best Band Ever. No questions asked. They are the modern Floyd, with a better knack for harmony and atmosphere. They WERE better in the 2000s, but Ok Computer and Bends nudges them ahead of Nirvana for 90's.

One of the best rock bands EVER, not to mention in the 90s. The 90s is just when they were the best. They had their two best albums in the 90s. Seriously Radiohead is the best.

3 Red Hot Chilli Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American funk-rock and alternative rock band, that was founded in 1983.

The band's members are Anthony Kiedis (Vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (Bass), Chad Smith (Drums) and numerous guitarists, most well-known being John Frusciante.

The band is among the... read more

They deserve a spot here. They are such a good band.

4 Green Day Green Day are an American pop punk/punk rock band formed in East Bay, California in 1987. The members include Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals and guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass), Tré Cool (drums) and Jason White (guitar). Green Day are associated with punk rock, pop punk and alternative rock. Some of their... read more

I really cannot see Green Day being lower than #2. The early 1990s were almost the end of great rock bands, but Nirvana has to fit here & Green Day is the exception to the decline of the rest into navel-gazing emos or thrashing thuds. Navel-gazing emo isn't always a bad thing, but it sure ain't "Rock".

Almost missed this one. But I would not be able to do that. Green Day is a great alt. Band. Note that their OLD MUSIC is better than their new stuff, but a great band all together.

Green Day is like my life their music has inspired me to do so many things with my life they should be at least top five though I love nirvana too Green Day in my opinion is the best Billie Mike and Tre for life!

5 The Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Formed by frontman Billy Corgan and James Iha, the band included D'arcy Wretzky and Jimmy Chamberlin in its original incarnation. They are also considered to be one of the most influential alternative... read more
6 Metallica Metallica is an American Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup was James Hetfield (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist), Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Ron McGovney (Bassist). The group came into mainstream from their Self-Titled album and the hit single "Enter Sandman"... read more
7 Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is a grunge/alternative rock Band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. The band had comprised of Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament... read more

Even though Vedder directly influenced the vocal style of Creed, Collective Soul, and company (BARF! ) they still had incredible angst and powerful gituar rifts which makes them slightly better than most grunge bands of the early 90s
BEST SONG: ALIVE

I think Pearl Jam deserve more than third. 25 years and they are still selling out stadiums.

No band better... And they're still doing it!

8 Soundgarden Soundgarden was an American grunge/alternative metal band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Chris Cornell died on May 17th, 2017.

Chris Cornell was the best singer of the decade! They also had several big hits. Way too low on this list!

9 Foo Fighters Foo Fighters are an American alternative rock band, formed in Seattle in 1994. The band was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl after the death of Kurt Cobain and the dissolution of his previous band. The band consists of Dave Grohl (lead vocalist, rhythm guitar, main songwriter), Pat Smear (rhythm... read more

They deserve to be on the upper level of the list!

10 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 Contenders
11 Goo Goo Dolls The Goo Goo Dolls are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik, vocalist and bassist Robby Takac, and drummer George Tutuska.

They are so underrated. Listen to their greatest albums a boy named goo and dizzy up the girl.

John Rzeznik & Tobby Takac - they are amazing talents! Thank you for all the great music please don't stop making awesome songs...

12 Pantera Pantera was an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul. The band started out as a glam metal act in the 1980s with little success. After discarding their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, the band signed a major record deal with... read more

Do I really have to argue this one? Pantera wrote some of the best rifts of all time, kept thrash alive in the 90s, and did it all in a groovey style that made everyone in the audience go nuts.
BEST SONG: CEMETARY GATES

13 Oasis Oasis were an English britpop band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher (vocals and tambourine), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll. Noel Gallagher (Liam's Brother) served as the primary... read more
14 Blink-182 Blink-182 is a pop-punk band formed in 1992. The original lineup consisted of Mark Hoppus on bass guitar and vocals, Tom DeLonge on guitar and vocals, and Scott Raynor on drums. Raynor was fired from the band in 1998 and replaced by drummer Travis Barker. They gained mainstream popularity after the... read more
15 Weezer Weezer is an American alternative rock/power pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1992, currently consisting of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner.
16 The Offspring The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, bassist Greg K., lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman and drummer Pete Parada.

Fantastic band.Deserve a place in Top Ten..I recommend their following songs to you:
Self Esteem
Pretty Fly
Want You Bad..

17 Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1985. The classic lineup, as 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. Apart from hard rock they are also... read more
18 Blind Guardian Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing. They also incorporate large... read more
19 Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine is a rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk.

Were to start? RATM unquestionably crafted the nu metal style. Had the best bassist of all time. Had the best guitarist of the 90s. And are the most politicaly charged band of all time. RATM isn't just the best band of the 90s they're one of the best of all time
BEST SONG: WAKE UP

20 Melvins The Melvins are an American sludge metal band that formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers.
21 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/backing vocalist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry.
22 Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American funk-rock and alternative rock band, that was founded in 1983.

The band's members are Anthony Kiedis (Vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (Bass), Chad Smith (Drums) and numerous guitarists, most well-known being John Frusciante.

The band is among the... read more
23 Helmet Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member.
24 Iced Earth Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. It was formed in 1984 under the name Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer, and original drummer Greg Seymour. The band's music has also been described as thrash metal and power metal... read more
25 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music. Throughout the group's musical pursuits, they have... read more
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