Best Alternative Rock Bands of the 2000s
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The members are Matt Bellamy (lead vocal, lead guitar, piano, keyboard), Dom Howard (drums, percussion) and Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals). They've won several awards including 5 MTV Awards, 8 NME Awards, 2... read more Muse... Where do I start? Bellamy's falsetto? Dom's fills? Chris's basslines? Really, I'm not sure. So many of their songs absolutely blew me away the first time I listened to them. Now they are ingrained memories.
I really do think that Chris's basslines, as a bassist, are fun to play and absolutely wonderful sounding. The first of their songs I ever listened to was Knights of Cydonia, and I just remember being taken aback by the sound. Thanks, Muse!
Coldplay are a British pop rock band formed in 1996. The band consists of Chris Martin (lead vocalist and pianist), Jonny Buckland (lead guitarist), Guy Berryman (bassist) and Will Champion (drummer and backing vocalist). Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed... read more ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I love Coldplay so much. Their music is emotional but not dreary and depressing, catchy but not annoying, and beautiful but not cheesy! Chris Martin's voice is sheer perfection, and the instrumentals provided by Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Guy Berryman are amazing!
I have so much respect for them since they don't do dumb stuff and stay out of the tabloids for bad reasons. I saw them in concert a few months ago and they put on a wicked show! Everyone has light-up wristbands that are all in sync with the songs according to the concert, and it is quite the sight to see.
The incredible production, live vocals that resemble perfection to the studio versions, and the whole stadium singing along create an atmosphere I will never forget. Most bands fizzle out and are one-hit wonders, but that is not Coldplay. All of their 7 studio albums have hit #1 in many countries.
Whether you hate Coldplay or love them, you have to admit that they are the most popular band of the 2000s and most likely will continue to be for many years to come.
The Strokes are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998. They consists of Julian Casablancas (lead vocalist), Nick Valensi (guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist), Albert Hammond, Jr. (rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist), Nikolai Fraiture (bassist) and Fabrizio Moretti... read more One of the only true rock bands still out there. One of the best, might even be the best 2000s group, and they have some of the best lyrics in their music. Plus, who doesn't like Julian Casablancas?
First Impressions of Earth is one of the most underrated albums of all time, and my favorite Strokes album. These guys are cool.
The best rock group of the 2000s and will continue to be one of the greatest rock bands for generations to come.
The Arctic Monkeys, otherwise known as the Death Ramps, are a British indie rock band formed in 2002 in Sheffield, England. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocalist, songwriter, electric and rhythm guitarist), Jamie Cook (electric and rhythm guitarist, songwriter), Matt Helders (percussionist,... read more This one is one of the greatest!
The White Stripes were an American rock duo, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The duo consists of only a couple married at the time, Jack White, whose real name was Jack Gillis (songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist) and Meg White (drummer and backing vocalist). After they... read more
The Killers is an American pop rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001, by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. The best band. I don't understand how people consider them a one-hit wonder. They've had many hits, just to name a few: Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me, When You Were Young, Human. Plus, their lesser-known songs are AMAZING. Highly recommend.
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
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 Yes, they are not just punk but also alternative rock. Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up When September Ends, 21 Guns, and Are We the Waiting are awesome. Not punk, but alternative rock.
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
Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), and Rob Bourdon (drums). Linkin Park is associated with a mixture... read more
The Newcomers
The Pineapple Thief is an alternative rock/progressive rock band, started by Bruce Soord in 1999 in Somerset, England. The band has released eleven studio albums.
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). Not including their first three albums (one of them being hailed as one of the greatest of all time), they still have an incredible selection of music. Kid A, Hail to the Thief, In Rainbows, and A Moon Shaped Pool are all beautifully made albums, and those four alone are more than enough evidence as to why this band is much better than any other band on this list.
A close second would be The White Stripes.
What? 10? Below one-hit wonders The Killers and punk Green Day? Coldplay are a crap Radiohead cover band. Even Chris said that! I love them, but Radiohead is 100 times better.
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
Arcade Fire are a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win's younger brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara.
Evanescence is an American heavy alternative/alternative metal band. It was founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody.
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Formed in 1993, their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest.
Imagine Dragons is an American pop rock band from Provo, Utah, now based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. The band's lineup consists of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and touring drummer Andrew Tolman... read more Last?! LAST?! This is not only the best alternative rock band but the best band of any kind!
They are not the best but definitely one of the best. They are a good band and throw good concerts. I like how the lead artist always gives a speech about depression since he went through it.
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 The Smashing Pumpkins are a terribly nostalgic band for me. I grew up listening to them and I'm so glad I did. I would absolutely kill to hear Mayonaise for the first time again.
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro.
My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from Jersey City, New Jersey, active from 2001 to 2013, and again from 2019 to present day. For much of their career, the band consisted of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, bassist Mikey Way, and drummer Bob Bryar. I love how a lot of these bands from this era sing about real stuff and show real emotion. My Chem does this a lot and puts so much power in their music it can make you cry. Songs like "Cancer," "Sleep," and "Welcome to the Black Parade" are just so emotional. They have lots of great songs that should never be forgotten.
My Chemical Romance is the best, well, one of the best. I'm kinda new to alternative rock, but when I first started listening to them, I hated their music. Then it started to grow on me. Sadly, they separated, but it's for the best and they are living happy lives.
Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1992 with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Their original name was Groundswell until they changed it to... read more
Gorillaz are an English virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The band consists of four animated members: 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs.
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.
Shinedown is an American hard rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 2001 and founded by members Brent Smith, Brad Stewart, Jasin Todd, and Barry Kerch.
Panic! at the Disco was an American pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004 and featuring the current lineup of vocalist Brendon Urie, accompanied on tour by bassist Dallon Weekes, guitarist Kenneth Harris, and drummer Dan Pawlovich.
Breaking Benjamin is an American alternative metal band formed in 1999. The band's members changed between 2010 and 2014, with the exception of Ben Burnley (vocals). The ex-members included Chad Szeliga (drums), Aaron Fink (guitar), and Mark Klepaski (bass)... read more