75 Best Rock Bands of the ’90s

Midder ^ | 12/21/93 | Will Fenton

[DallasBiff]

1. Alice in Chains

Plaintive, emotive, and occasionally mournful, Alice in Chains pioneered a melodic, intoxicating sound. Quite simply, their moodiness was mesmerizing.

Their songs not only dealt with themes of heartbreak and loss, but also tackled big picture issues like war and conformity.

As far as rock bands in the 90s go, these legends are the undisputed, often underappreciated, masters of the form.

Check out their 1994 epic Jar of Flies.

[Major Matt Mason]

Yes, it's surprising that they came up with 75. Modern Rock is what came out of the 90's, most of which is not very good. There were some good rock albums that came out in the early 90's that got overlooked because music was starting to change at that time (rap/hip hop, grunge, metal, techno), and there was some indy and alt country music that was pretty solid from that decade, but not great overall and certainly not for what most people consider to be rock music.

[waterhill]

Roadies were pretty cool. Always wondered what happened to them.

[EvilCapitalist]

One of their members(Josh Homme) I think, formed the band “Eagles of Death Metal” who were at the Bataclan islamic terrorist attack.

[Jim Robinson]

I thought Rock died with the 60s.

[Mariner]

Metallica emerged in the 80s

[Round Earther]

No Helmet?
No Ministry?
No Henry Rollins?
No Primus?

All great acts and put on amazing shows.

[Mermaid Girl]

Superb bands, sir. Especially Ministry.

[nickcarraway]

This is an incredibly narrow list. Kind of very similar except for Oasis and Pulp.

[DoodleBob]

Alice In Chains was the best band of the 90s. Soundgarden was a close second. Kaiser Chiefs #3.

Not full-on grunge but not quite glam, AIC fused hard rock, 90s sensibilities, and a killer guitarist with a solid rhythm section and a great vocalist who chose drugs over the fans.

Rooster was a salute to the military when it wasn’t fashionable. Would? was a salute to Jerry Cantrell’s bitchin’ tone and growling guitar. The vocal harmonies set them apart - listen to Got Me Wrong. Mike Inez’s bass is fat and solid and Sean Kinney plays consistent yet tasty drums-check out No Excuses.

While Layne OD’d after the end of the 90s, they carried on with William Duvall. Personally, I find Duvall to be a superior all-around musician. He’s not a junkie like Layne, he can play guitar, he can write, and he can sing. And he’s given the band new life and three very respectable albums. And he’s not a POS like Eddie Vedder.

I saw AIC in 2010. They were awesome. Go see them.

[Mr. Jeeves]

90’s were the decade of my Great Tune Out, as rap and grunge took over and wiped out everything worth listening to and the Clinton Administration green-lighted the worst possible trash to take over network TV.

Soundgarden is the only group on that entire list I liked.

[dfwgator]

Jerry Cantrell in “Dad Band”, this is hilarious....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31PrzVpMktE

[SACK UP]

The Black Crowes was the LAST great band.

[Bob434]

maybe that is why the country is going to hell- because great rock died in the 80’s-

[DoodleBob]

The fact that he did that video tells you that he’s a cool dude and not a jack wagon.

I heard that Heart wanted Jerry to induct them into the Rock Hall but he didn’t have the “star power” of Chris Cornell.

[Bob434]

they were pretty good- drove across country listening to them

[willk]

Yeah. Have to agree with Alice in Chains #1 and Pearl Jam #3. Maybe REM as #2. Maybe REM could be #1. Dunno. Close.

[dfwgator]

REM was much better in the 80s, before Michael came out of the closet.

[willk]

I would have to agree with you except their album Up was really good.

[Yardstick]

Radio Head — in a league of their own IMO

Cake
Jeff Buckley
Portishead
Beck
Sneaker Pimps

U2
REM

Alice in Chains
Soundgarden
Alanis Morisette

[dfwgator]

Best album of the 90s, XTC’s “Nonsuch”.