encompassing punk New Wave and rock while also spawning subgenres like
while also spawning subgenres like
while also spawning subgenres like grunge and brick pop it went from an
grunge and brick pop it went from an
grunge and brick pop it went from an indie genre to one of the most popular
indie genre to one of the most popular
indie genre to one of the most popular types of music in the 1990s and beyond
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 alternative bands of all time will be
alternative bands of all time will be
alternative bands of all time will be Bambaataa basra bidding for this list
Bambaataa basra bidding for this list
Bambaataa basra bidding for this list we’ve chosen influential artists who
we’ve chosen influential artists who
we’ve chosen influential artists who helped define the alternative sound and
helped define the alternative sound and
helped define the alternative sound and genre throughout the decades who are
genre throughout the decades who are
genre throughout the decades who are commercially successful and whose music
commercially successful and whose music
commercially successful and whose music stood the test of time this is part of a
stood the test of time this is part of a
stood the test of time this is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of
series of videos spanning the decades of
series of videos spanning the decades of alternative rock music from the 1970s to
alternative rock music from the 1970s to
alternative rock music from the 1970s to the 2000s and includes our list of the
the 2000s and includes our list of the
the 2000s and includes our list of the top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s
top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s
top 10 alternative bands of the 1980s 1990s and 2000’s as well as the top 10
1990s and 2000’s as well as the top 10
1990s and 2000’s as well as the top 10 punk bands and the top 10 grunge bands
number ten talking heads they may have
number ten talking heads they may have only been together for 16 years but this
only been together for 16 years but this
only been together for 16 years but this New York band managed to become one of
New York band managed to become one of
New York band managed to become one of the biggest influences ever on
the biggest influences ever on
the biggest influences ever on subsequent alternative rock acts formed
subsequent alternative rock acts formed
subsequent alternative rock acts formed in 1975 the Talking Heads managed to hit
in 1975 the Talking Heads managed to hit
in 1975 the Talking Heads managed to hit the mainstream while still maintaining
the mainstream while still maintaining
the mainstream while still maintaining their street cred with critics during
their street cred with critics during
their street cred with critics during the 1980s
their brand of New Wave incorporated
their brand of New Wave incorporated elements of punk funk and world music
elements of punk funk and world music
elements of punk funk and world music but still had enough pop sensibility to
but still had enough pop sensibility to
but still had enough pop sensibility to earn them top ten singles and a place on
earn them top ten singles and a place on
earn them top ten singles and a place on our list number nine the White Stripes
after getting the Detroit scene buzzing
after getting the Detroit scene buzzing with their first three discs the White
with their first three discs the White
with their first three discs the White Stripes went from indie garage rockers
Stripes went from indie garage rockers
Stripes went from indie garage rockers to one of the most well-known
to one of the most well-known
to one of the most well-known alternative rock acts of the early 21st
alternative rock acts of the early 21st
alternative rock acts of the early 21st century and all they needed was a little
century and all they needed was a little
century and all they needed was a little song called fell in love with a girl
after that breakthrough track the duo
after that breakthrough track the duo made their major label debut with
made their major label debut with
made their major label debut with elephant and unleashed one of the most
elephant and unleashed one of the most
elephant and unleashed one of the most memorable and successful alternative
memorable and successful alternative
memorable and successful alternative rock songs of the 2000s
so they’ve since called it quits
so they’ve since called it quits there’s no denying they knew exactly how
there’s no denying they knew exactly how
there’s no denying they knew exactly how to get us going with their fusion of
to get us going with their fusion of
to get us going with their fusion of garage punk and blues rock
made a call greed with a grunge lineage
made a call greed with a grunge lineage consisting of Green River Mother Love
consisting of Green River Mother Love
consisting of Green River Mother Love Bone and Temple of the dog it’s no
Bone and Temple of the dog it’s no
Bone and Temple of the dog it’s no wonder Pearl Jam became one of the
wonder Pearl Jam became one of the
wonder Pearl Jam became one of the alternative rock subgenres biggest acts
alternative rock subgenres biggest acts
alternative rock subgenres biggest acts however Pearl Jam did this via their own
however Pearl Jam did this via their own
however Pearl Jam did this via their own merits which included memorable hooks
merits which included memorable hooks
merits which included memorable hooks and courses as well as socio-politically
and courses as well as socio-politically
and courses as well as socio-politically driven lyrics they cemented themselves
driven lyrics they cemented themselves
driven lyrics they cemented themselves as one of the big four
as one of the big four
as one of the big four thanks to their classic and punk rock
thanks to their classic and punk rock
thanks to their classic and punk rock inspired sound as well as Eddie Vedder’s
inspired sound as well as Eddie Vedder’s
inspired sound as well as Eddie Vedder’s often imitated but never duplicated
often imitated but never duplicated
often imitated but never duplicated growl
decades after 10s breakthrough success
decades after 10s breakthrough success Pearl Jam is still enjoying popularity
number seven Depeche Mode spearheading
number seven Depeche Mode spearheading the electronic side of alternative rock
the electronic side of alternative rock
the electronic side of alternative rock Depeche Mode broke onto the music scene
Depeche Mode broke onto the music scene
Depeche Mode broke onto the music scene in 1981 with
in 1981 with
in 1981 with Speak & Spell despite the departure of
Speak & Spell despite the departure of
Speak & Spell despite the departure of Vince Clarke the group bounced back with
Vince Clarke the group bounced back with
Vince Clarke the group bounced back with a darker sound that captivated teens
a darker sound that captivated teens
a darker sound that captivated teens everywhere and helped the band
everywhere and helped the band
everywhere and helped the band infiltrate the mainstream
more lineup changes in suit but the
more lineup changes in suit but the Brits didn’t let that stop them they’ve
Brits didn’t let that stop them they’ve
Brits didn’t let that stop them they’ve since sold over 100 million albums won
since sold over 100 million albums won
since sold over 100 million albums won multiple Grammys and are still going
multiple Grammys and are still going
multiple Grammys and are still going strong today
number six the Red Hot Chili Peppers –
number six the Red Hot Chili Peppers – got to got a tick is these alternative
got to got a tick is these alternative
got to got a tick is these alternative rockers into great funk hard rock and
rockers into great funk hard rock and
rockers into great funk hard rock and psychedelic rock into their style and
psychedelic rock into their style and
psychedelic rock into their style and that’s exactly what makes them both
that’s exactly what makes them both
that’s exactly what makes them both unique and long-lasting
after several years of taking the indie
after several years of taking the indie route the Chili Peppers hit it big in
route the Chili Peppers hit it big in
route the Chili Peppers hit it big in the early 90s
the music world soon took a liking to
the music world soon took a liking to the bands fusion of styles and evolving
the bands fusion of styles and evolving
the bands fusion of styles and evolving sound which allowed them to find chart
sound which allowed them to find chart
sound which allowed them to find chart and commercial success with albums like
and commercial success with albums like
and commercial success with albums like Californication and Stadium Arcadia in
Californication and Stadium Arcadia in
Californication and Stadium Arcadia in the new millennium
formed in the 1980s these guys from
formed in the 1980s these guys from Georgia made a name for themselves with
Georgia made a name for themselves with
Georgia made a name for themselves with their very first album
with the help of Michael stipes hard to
with the help of Michael stipes hard to decipher singing and Peter bucks
decipher singing and Peter bucks
decipher singing and Peter bucks distinctive guitar style REM had critics
distinctive guitar style REM had critics
distinctive guitar style REM had critics raving while college radio had their
raving while college radio had their
raving while college radio had their backs early on
extensive touring and a top 10 hit in
extensive touring and a top 10 hit in 1987 soon landed them a major label deal
1987 soon landed them a major label deal
1987 soon landed them a major label deal and solidified their status as one of
and solidified their status as one of
and solidified their status as one of the originators of the genre
so they broke up in 2011 our EMS
so they broke up in 2011 our EMS alt-rock legacy lives on
number four the clash battle bogged down
number four the clash battle bogged down as part of the original wave of British
as part of the original wave of British
as part of the original wave of British Punk the clash was known for their
Punk the clash was known for their
Punk the clash was known for their angsty dirty vibe and socio-politically
angsty dirty vibe and socio-politically
angsty dirty vibe and socio-politically charged lyrics after spreading their
charged lyrics after spreading their
charged lyrics after spreading their musical message on tour the idealistic
musical message on tour the idealistic
musical message on tour the idealistic musicians struck a chord with Americans
musicians struck a chord with Americans
musicians struck a chord with Americans by experimenting with genres on London
by experimenting with genres on London
by experimenting with genres on London Calling and combat rock
they’re strong songwriting musical
they’re strong songwriting musical passion and fearlessness help The Clash
passion and fearlessness help The Clash
passion and fearlessness help The Clash map out the sound of hunk rock for
map out the sound of hunk rock for
map out the sound of hunk rock for decades and it inspired countless
decades and it inspired countless
decades and it inspired countless artists to come is it any wonder they
artists to come is it any wonder they
artists to come is it any wonder they were dubbed the only band that matters
to say is great
to say is great founded in 1976 the Cure first found a
founded in 1976 the Cure first found a
founded in 1976 the Cure first found a home during that decade within the post
home during that decade within the post
home during that decade within the post punk and new wave movements
the 80s saw the English group sound take
the 80s saw the English group sound take a darker turn and they found themselves
a darker turn and they found themselves
a darker turn and they found themselves categorized as gothic rock
they soon made way for lighter more
they soon made way for lighter more radio-friendly fare which paved the way
radio-friendly fare which paved the way
radio-friendly fare which paved the way for the band to take over the airwaves
for the band to take over the airwaves
for the band to take over the airwaves in the early 90s and help them NAB
in the early 90s and help them NAB
in the early 90s and help them NAB multiple Billboard Hot 100 entries by
multiple Billboard Hot 100 entries by
multiple Billboard Hot 100 entries by gaining popularity right before alt rock
gaining popularity right before alt rock
gaining popularity right before alt rock hit it big The Cure helped set the stage
hit it big The Cure helped set the stage
hit it big The Cure helped set the stage for the genres imminent explosion and
for the genres imminent explosion and
for the genres imminent explosion and solidified their place in music history
I wish I was special you’re so very
I wish I was special you’re so very number to Radiohead
after making waves with their first two
after making waves with their first two alternative rock efforts Radiohead
alternative rock efforts Radiohead
alternative rock efforts Radiohead proved they weren’t a one-note band with
proved they weren’t a one-note band with
proved they weren’t a one-note band with the more complex sound and abstract
the more complex sound and abstract
the more complex sound and abstract themes of Ok Computer
this cleared the path for the Brits to
this cleared the path for the Brits to branch out to other genres and they soon
branch out to other genres and they soon
branch out to other genres and they soon achieved international critical and
achieved international critical and
achieved international critical and commercial success
today Radiohead continues to be one of
today Radiohead continues to be one of the most highly regarded acts in years
the most highly regarded acts in years
the most highly regarded acts in years due to their consistently original and
due to their consistently original and
due to their consistently original and innovative music is what you get
before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick here are a few honorable mentions
mom and dad went to would show it drop
mom and dad went to would show it drop me off a grand number-one nirvana a kid
me off a grand number-one nirvana a kid
me off a grand number-one nirvana a kid can scream supreme though drummer Dave
can scream supreme though drummer Dave
can scream supreme though drummer Dave Grohl went on to lead one of the most
Grohl went on to lead one of the most
Grohl went on to lead one of the most accessible alt rock acts of modern times
accessible alt rock acts of modern times
accessible alt rock acts of modern times the Foo Fighters never would have
the Foo Fighters never would have
the Foo Fighters never would have achieved the success they have today
achieved the success they have today
achieved the success they have today without his former band for alternative
without his former band for alternative
without his former band for alternative rock and music in general were never the
rock and music in general were never the
rock and music in general were never the same after Nirvana burst onto the scene
thanks to never minds incomparable
thanks to never minds incomparable success and the band’s blend of heavy
success and the band’s blend of heavy
success and the band’s blend of heavy music with pop tendencies Nirvana
music with pop tendencies Nirvana
music with pop tendencies Nirvana brought the Seattle sound to the masses
brought the Seattle sound to the masses
brought the Seattle sound to the masses and became leaders of grunge’s Big Four
and became leaders of grunge’s Big Four
and became leaders of grunge’s Big Four in the process
when it’s all said and done no other
when it’s all said and done no other musicians spoke to a generation quite
musicians spoke to a generation quite
musicians spoke to a generation quite like Nirvana and Kurt Cobain
do you agree with our list what’s your
do you agree with our list what’s your favorite alternative rock act for more
favorite alternative rock act for more
favorite alternative rock act for more entertaining top 10s published every day
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