Top 20 Alternative Rock Bands of the 90s

[@WatchMojo]

For more music content, check out our playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6m4g52werqWqKs How many of these classic bands made it onto your first mixtape? Let us know in the comments.

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

As a 2000s kid, I’m glad the 90s have lots of great songs, including the Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper.”

[@erzaender]

the smashing pumpkins, the pearl jam and the cranberries

[@pabloruiz6224]

1990’s artists in my opinion: My favorite ‘90s rock band: Nirvana My favorite ‘90s hip hop artist: 2Pac

[@ChrisD-kl3jb]

Radiohead - Most overrated band in history.

[@johndorling2118]

WatchMojo is trolling an entire generation with the order of this list.

[@idgens7647]

Bold move to put AiC at #11!

[@blakvenum7687]

Soundgarden over Green Day and Weezer is wild lol

[@rbnh9827]

@@blakvenum7687If anything they are lower. Soundgarden deserves to Top 5 easily.

[@johndorling2118]

@@rbnh9827 I'm on the fence whether they're top 5. Great songs, but not the volume and influence that others had.

[@rbnh9827]

@@johndorling2118 I do agree. And I have a bias because they are my favorite band of all time. But out of all the Seattle bands, they experimented the most, and actually had 4 different songwriters in the band. But Objectively speaking, they don’t have as much popularity or Album Sales as other bands in the Top 5.

[@NickCC23]

RIP Bradley Nowell, Dolores O'Riordan, Layne Staley, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell, Hillel Slovak (d. 1980s), and Kurt Cobain

[@JDale56]

F

[@worldtree2027]

My favorites from that era: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, and U2. Alternative Rock & Hip-Hop spawned some of the greatest songwriters in history.

[@VillaDan]

U2 have been around since the 70s and Radiohead since the 80s, definitely not 90s bands

[@worldtree2027]

@@VillaDan U2’s first Studio LP came in the 80s and Radiohead, early 90s. But I was talking about my favorite acts to release relevant music in that era. Not necessarily acts that started then.

[@VillaDan]

@@worldtree2027 my bad, having said you're favourites from that era I presumed you meant the era they were on about in the video you commented on which was the 90s lol

[@RadioLaPrincess]

Great list. I love the 90s, not only were there so many great new acts (Nirvana, Pearl Jam. Pumpkins, etc) but many of the 80s acts were also huge on the alt charts (U2, REM, the Cure, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, INXS, etc). I miss the 90s.

[@bootsricco]

Honorable mentions. The Breeders, Faith No More, Foo Fighters, Blind Melon, Cake, Elastica, Garbage, Hole, Live, No Doubt, Jane's Addiction. I won't even get into the 90s CANrock. There were some great alt rock bands that emerged in the great white north that most of the rest of the world never heard.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

I expected several of those bands on this list, especially Foo Fighters who are still relevant.

[@steventhrasher3608]

I'm actually quite annoyed that Live was left off. They had 3 albums go platinum in the 90's and didn't make the top 20. I've never even heard of Pavement and they squeaked in.

[@twiggy45713]

I was waiting for Faith No More and Blind Melon to make an appearance. But after 15 figured they wouldn't be. Ill say than they're easily number 22 and 23. Foo Fighters deserved to be between 1 and 10 however.

[@bootsricco]

@jakeszweduik8237 I hate that Blind Melon always gets mentioned on the one hit wonders list, but not on a list like this. Sure everyone knows their big hit, but they were so much more than that. Definitely more than Pavement.

[@twiggy45713]

@Boots Ricco yes Blind Melon was a phenomenal band. One that I still listen to quite regularly to this day. I honestly never heard of Pavement until this video and I've listened to alot of 90's music in my life. They've never even come up as a recommendation on Spotify.

[@jasonmistretta4295]

These bands were the sound track of my life during my college years (started in 1991) through my 20s. So much fun with so many great bands that were not one hit wonders.

[@hugobznr1]

Nirvana had to be number 1, not only did they lead a musical revolution, but even today, 30 years later, they are an influence for a whole new generation. They have stood the test of time like few bands have.

[@lisakaz35]

Yeah, I gotta question Radiohead being 1. Is that for length of recording career? IDK. Can't see it when so many younger ppl can ID Nirvana, more so than Radiohead.

[@Thefallenminecraftworld27075]

​@@lisakaz35Radiohead is really good it should definitely be in the top 5, but Nirvana I think had the bigger impact as a whole.

[@danabnormal5988]

I won't deny Nirvana's significance, but I could never get into them.

[@K1L06]

It's obviously subjective, and I love both bands, but for me Radiohead is definitely #1, in fact Alice in Chains is above Nirvana for me...again subjective but even objectively I think Radiohead is #1 skip the pablo honey album and listen to the rest of their albums in orderall the way to "In Rainbows", it's such a great run, and although it may not change your mind due to having a sentimental love for Nirvana, I think you'll recognize why they're #1 on this list specifically. Either way, both bands and most of the ones on this list are top tier for sure, plenty to argue on the list, we can at least agree on that :)

[@Davidscomix]

@@danabnormal5988 same

[@zackzallie8735]

My list: 1. Radiohead 2. Nirvana 3. Neutral Milk Hotel 4. The Smashing Pumpkins 5. My Bloody Valentine 6. Oasis 7. Pearl Jam 8. Weezer 9. R.E.M. 10. Pavement 11. Blur 12. Portishead 13. Sigur Ros 14. Massive Attack 15. Red Hot Chili Peppers 16. Belle and Sebastian 17. The Flaming Lips 18. Depeche Mode 19. Rage Against the Machine 20. U2

[@flaviojosefo7130]

Your disrespect to The Cranberries and Dolores is just annoying

[@zackzallie8735]

@@flaviojosefo7130 So, not including them in my list is considered disrespect?? Get a fcking grip, it's just a list.

[@Masterfredthompson]

Valid list outside of pearl jam and u2 pavement and neutral milk hotel are fuckin rad tho

[@thaddcorbett2148]

I understand people are gonna tell me that Tool played Metal, but they should be on this list. They did a ton of stuff that heavily influenced Rock.

[@myweeweeburns]

completely agreed, not to mention they're alternative metal which is a mix of both genres

[@richardmaynard173]

Same, Tool is no more metal or less alternative than Soundgarden, or Alice in Chains, or even NIN.

[@whenfatkillsfat803]

@@richardmaynard173 Smashing Pumpkins on some songs like XYU and An Ode to No One.

[@seoulglo1999]

Tool is a progressive rock band, more inline with Dream Theater and Rush. Would not put them in the alt rock or metal genre.

[@kimackerman2183]

All bands are amazing but Green Day, Nirvana Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins are my favorites of the list👏🏻🙌🏻

[@LoveHandle4890]

Long live the 90’s.🙏

[@williamsummerson1204]

My favorites are Soundgarden, Rage against the machine, Sublime, Raidiohead, Pearl Jam, The Cranberries and Alice in Chains.

[@theshakeups]

Missing Pixies, The Cure, and most definitely R.E.M. But it's nice to see Sonic Youth and Flaming Lips in there.

[@barzes345]

the cures best stuff was before the 90s, R.E.M def deserved to be on here

[@Oliviux78]

@@barzes345 R.E.M. was in the 80’s

[@barzes345]

@@Oliviux78 they were also 90s at least more so than the Cure, def understandable to put them in the 80s instead of 90s tho

[@gloria88246]

on their other video

[@owenmcfetridge1844]

Overall, good list. But I think R.E.M. deserves to be on this list. The Automatic For The People album is a classic, and Monster is very underrated. Oh, and let's not forget a little song called Losing My Religion.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

Yeah, but they were big in the 80s actually. If you include them then one must include bands like U2, Duran Duran, the Cure, Depeche Mode, etc. Great bands are still around even today (except REM) with huge 90s alt success but are really considered 80s bands. Ironically I just bought Out Of Time and Automatic For The People on vinyl, haven't listened yet but always loved those albums on CD looking forward to their sound on vinyl. Also, Monster is a great album.

[@TonyPunkRock]

Swap QOTSA for REM

[@estev08]

Yea, I was expecting to see them on here too

[@gabrielmt3500]

The list said bands that "began in the 90s" ...but, Sonic Youth should be off the list, as they had like five albums before the 90s. Nirvana had Bleach in 89. Soundgarden had Louder Than Love in '89.

[@TonyPunkRock]

@@gabrielmt3500 “Top 20 Alternative Rock Bands of the 90s”

[@jeenius9664]

The 90's were by far the best time, in all human history, to be a teen.

[@azymondiaskingofthedragons2897]

I was a kid then, but if I was a teen, I would LOVE being a teen of that era

[@meandmyEV]

It was also a great time to be in my 20s so it was easy to see a lot of them live. We had to listen to so much crap as teens in the 80s so the 90s was our salvation. I will never forget the first time I heard Nirvana. We are used to the sound now but it was so incredibly different than anything I had heard before.

[@williamsummerson1204]

Fax

[@pabloruiz6224]

When I can think of ‘90s music, I think of grunge and hip hop, like Nirvana and 2Pac.

[@leaveittowinonasbigbrownbeaver]

Yes it was!

[@Amber_xo_133]

5. Oasis 4. Tragically Hip 3. Cranberries 2. Radiohead 1. Green Day

[@danp2306]

LOL

[@paulstich3150]

1- RHCP 2. Nirvana 3. Radiohead 4. Smashing pumpkins 5. STP 6. Alice In Chains My favorites!!

[@thomasedwardyorke600]

Lol you think Red Hot chili pedos better than Alice in Chains????

[@paulstich3150]

@@thomasedwardyorke600 love Alice In Chains!! They’re more grunge! They’re a great band! Rhcp has stood the test of time more then Alice In Chains, as they’re still making quality music.

[@thomasedwardyorke600]

@@paulstich3150 yeah sure buddy, making the same songs for over 40 years is test of the time sure, Their singer cant sing shit (really sucks at rapping too) and Lucky to be a part of the group, love John and Flea but Anthony Kiedis sucks with his 1 octave voice😬 they were a radio band with the sell out state of mind and still is, no diversity in their music. Maybe in top 50 but def not number one👎

[@Erredupizer]

My personal top 5: 1. Nine Inch Nails 2. Queens of the Stone Age 3. Rage Against the Machine 4. Nirvana 5. Pearl Jam My objective top 5: 1. Nirvana 2. Red Hot Chili Peppers 3. Pearl Jam 4. Rage Against the Machine 5. Green Day Radiohead is an unusual #1 pick, but they're alright

[@michaelmalone7231]

Because Radiohead represents the indie side of Alt-rock. You must have paid attention to only what came on your local "nothing but rock" radio station back in the 90s. The same station that probably plays Breaking Benjamin and Slipknot non-stop. And never played anything beyond "Creep" when it came to Radiohead.

[@mistertrick]

happy to see Sonic Youth so high on this list, while perhaps their best albums were in the 80s, all their 90s albums are just stellar and just kept evolving and transforming

[@ImTheLetterP]

The ones that I listen to Radiohead, RHCP, Soundgarden, RATM, Offspring, Cranberries, Alice in Chains, NIN, Stone Temple Pilots, Greenday, Nirvana and Sublime.

[@irishfatboy0874]

My favs that were on this list: radiohead, smashing pumpkins, blur, red hot chilli peppers

[@Strongbad700]

#20: Pavement #19: The Flaming Lips #18: The Offspring #17: Sublime #16: The Cranberries #15: Blur #14: Weezer #13: Green Day #12: Queens of the Stone Age #11: Alice in Chains #10: Stone Temple Pilots #9: Sonic Youth #8: Soundgarden #7: Rage Against the Machine #6: Nine Inch Nails #5: Pearl Jam #4: Red Hot Chili Peppers #3: The Smashing Pumpkins #2: Nirvana #1: Radiohead

[@komickaze85]

Thanks for this. Now I don't have to watch the video.

[@bootsricco]

Also not sure QOTSA should be on this list. They are as much of a 90s band as Soundgarden and Nirvana were 80s bands. They existed during that time, but not really as successful or influential until the next decade.

[@2rare2die100]

To make it even more strange, the three QOTSA songs they used in the video weren’t released until the 00’s. They should be nowhere near this list

[@angelasieg5099]

Thanks for taking me back. The Offspring Nirvana Pearl Jam and one you left out Soul Asylum were on my cassette deck

[@michaelvasques4695]

We are to know for a fact that, the 90s is indeed becoming cool again in the current era (2020s). Where does time go? A modern classic era that is.

[@Swerve-Online]

1 nirvana - redefined rock 2 green day - godfathers of punk pop 3 rage against the machine - godfathers of nu metal 4. Pearl Jam 100m record sold and counting spawned 1000 sound a likes 5. Blink 182 perfected pop punk and spawned 1000 sound a likes

[@christopheraikens597]

I don't know if Green Day are the godfathers of punk pop. The Offspring came out at almost the exact same time and were also very popular. They each had different styles of pop punk. I would have to say they are both equally important in the origins of the pop punk explosion. Personally, I remember hearing more popular singles from the Offspring on the radio then Green Day.

[@KarlDelaney99]

6. Alice In Chains perfected dark harmonies

[@brewerjordan]

QOTSA as a top 90’s band is a big stretch. Especially considering most of the songs you featured from them were from the 2000’s (in which they most certainly were one of the top bands).

[@fellonblackdays9]

All of the songs in the video were released in 2000 or later. I love QOTSA, but they really were not a 90's band.

[@thelilyfarrell]

@@fellonblackdays9 i agree but only one album was released in 98 so it's s stretch. they didnt even mention kyuss

[@meandmyEV]

Good list as long as I don’t take the order too seriously. I think I would have had Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains 1-2-3. Other bands I loved in the 90s were Son Volt, Cracker, Soul Asylum, Janes Addiction and Sponge.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

Great list

[@gloria88246]

no matter the order I love this list and all these bands ❤💯💯👏

[@heatherr0420]

Great list, but I think the Cranberries should have been a bit higher at least

[@sweetexorcist7322]

Rip dor

[@Flamebleeder]

My top ten would be #10 RHCP #9 Offspring #8 Nirvana #7 Greenday #6 Cake #5 Smashing pumpkins #4 Regurgitator #3 Grinspoon #2 Rage against the machine #1 Silverchair

[@Jenishka]

Long live these bands !! Music never dies !!! My top bands are here .. They made , n make , my days , more beautiful .... Helping in bad times , n cheering me up even more in good moments .... STP , Pearl Jam , Soundgarden ..... Oh lord !

[@EngineeredChannel]

To not have Nirvana at #1 is a sacrilege. Also, where is Oasis and Bush?!?

[@nolanfowler1583]

My personal top 3: 1. Nirvana 2. Red hot chili peppers 3. Pearl jam

[@yoelmprieto7817]

I'm just glad that RHCP made the list, I feel like they always forgotten on list like these

[@AshutoshYadav-je9yi]

Nirvana is timeless

[@jrob18mvp]

No they aren't. Nirvana is great til you get into your mid to late 20s.

[@fuffmcbuff7555]

@@jrob18mvp Sounds like a you problem

[@jrob18mvp]

@@fuffmcbuff7555 You'll understand when you grow up.

[@BlackRainbow84]

​@@jrob18mvplate 30s here and i listen to them almost daily

[@mattalan6618]

@@jrob18mvp im in my late 30s and i fucking love Nirvana

[@Renzo-cn4zw]

My favorites from that era: Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins, and Foo Fighters I feel happy with my favorite alternative rock bands from the 90s

[@Father_Daniel]

What a great list! Besides Nirvana not being #1 it was awesome. I was thirteen in 1995 and all of these bands changed my life forever.

[@KarlDelaney99]

As much as I love Nirvana, other bands had more talent and were overlooked

[@Father_Daniel]

@Karl Delaney yeah I get that, but as far as their legacy, popularity and just massive cultural impact I would have expected them to be number one. I'm also biased because they were the first band I really fell in love with when I first got into music.

[@FleaRHCP97]

I love Nirvana, but Radiohead had to be #1. You can make a case that they're the best band of all time, and I'm saying that sitting here looking at my Chili Peppers tattoo lol

[@pabloruiz6224]

In my opinion, Nirvana was the best band in the ‘90s, with their successful rock genre known as grunge.

[@Ky-xm7tc]

@@KarlDelaney99 I can agree but as influence goes, Nirvana were by far the biggest

[@robertgriffiths7483]

Not sure what QOTSA are doing ok this list let alone so high and above so many great bands. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, and songs for the deaf and like clockwork are masterpieces, but I just wouldn’t consider them a 90s band! especially when most of their attention and acclaim came in the 2000s.

[@Pyro3547]

Smashing pumpkins will always be number 1 for me

[@jamalvargas6146]

Incubus Love Half Of Their Catalog Thanks To MTV Classic and I never looked back ever since

[@akilahwashington415]

I was a teen that lived through this era. What a special time in music history. You could feel it, it just felt so different and intense. Love every band on this list. I agree with every comment about what bands were left out. It’s just too hard to do a comprehensive list of just 20. There were so many breakthrough influential bands. Nice attempt, but this is all, subjective like all Art is. Nirvana is #1! Whether you liked them or not, they are the band that ushered in a movement. It was like a dam breaking. When the Video Smells Like Teen Spirit hit on MTV, in that moment you could feel that something was about to happen like never before. The Media named the genre “Alternative Rock” because it was so fresh and unique, they didn’t know what to call it… It wasn’t just Rock Music, it was something significantly different and left a mark on History forever. 🙌🏼💖🤘🏼

[@michaelmalone7231]

The term "alternative music" was first coined around 88-89. Before, it went by many names including indie, college music, post-modern, modern rock, cult, underground, new music and earlier bands were put in under the umbrella term "new wave".

[@Oliviux78]

I hate that they chose to call different bands “Grunge”. When I was a teen, we all called it alternative rock. If someone asked me what I listen to, I would say alternative.

[@keithbrown6887]

It was an iconic time to be young and alive. Grunge was a rock movement and mostly Seattle based. Happy New Year!

[@mr.skateandwatch]

These bands carried most of my pre teen years

[@KaraMorassco]

My top groups I listened to the most as a teen in the mid 90s would be, 5. The Offspring, 4. Peral Jam, 3. Alice in Chains, 2. Stone Temple Pilots, and 1. Nirvana. I was expecting to see Nirvana as #1 (not having them as #1 just made this list ridiculous to me at the end).

[@curtislindsey1736]

Pearl Jam is my favorite but I knew they'd never be # 1, but this list is all over the place.

[@Vyxsin69]

While I don't agree with the order of this list, this whole video is a carbon copy of my teen years. I listened to all of these bands and then some... and still do! I'm currently having a Limp Bizkit/Fred Durst obsession lol. Grunge, Alternative and Nu-metal are my favorite genres from that era. I listen to 90s music 99% of the time because I can't stand most of today's music. I miss the 90s so damn much 😔 Best years to be a teen. Best years to be alive, period! 💯

[@foxx5tv686]

Grew up in the 80s and 90s, never heard of pavement and the flaming lips. Queens of the stone age should be replaced by foo fighters and Nirvana should be in the #1 spot IMO. You could also add maybe Oasis, chili peppers, REM, Cake, Garbage, Hole, No Doubt to replace the 9 and 10 spots. The rest of the list made sense. I thought Collective Soul and Everclear had some cool songs too.

[@RicardoJunqueira]

I wish you could know you're living your golden years before they pass. I miss those days.

[@suchanhachan]

Some people might say it's better not to know...What makes those years golden is your ability to enjoy them with oblivious abandon...

[@jfinsd7070]

I was in my mid 20s at the time. Getting married and having kids. This music takes me back to time where I had no idea what the hell I was doing. My 3 favs of your list RATM, NIN and Queens of the Stoneage.

[@mmmtsp]

When I saw Nirvana at #2 I thought they were going to do something lame like putting the Pixies at #1, but I have no issues with Radiohead.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

The Pixies started in the 80s, so glad they didn't.

[@steventhrasher3608]

@@RadioLaPrincess I don't think it so much matters when they started, it matters when their heyday was. Nirvana formed in 1987 after all.

[@jrob18mvp]

Pixies is way better than Nirvana but more 80s than 90s. Also it's just Pixies.

[@fuffmcbuff7555]

Pixies are overrated anyways

[@mmmtsp]

@@jrob18mvp lol

[@danabnormal5988]

Blur!! One of my favourite groups still.

[@sweetexorcist7322]

How do you not include oasis but include blur and again why are the flaming lips here

[@kathleendrabczyk]

@@sweetexorcist7322 couldn't agree more. my oasis obsessed self won't accept

[@jadepixie2719]

oasis was not included in this list because they’re more Britpop than alternatives rock. This list mainly focuses on alternative rock bands.

[@bremex]

@@jadepixie2719 britpop was a movement, not a genre per se

[@mattdante225]

It was the 90s, this should have been a top 50 list.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

I disagree, it should have been a top 100 list!

[@kimbre01]

Bush and Live are missing from this list.

[@DustinKopperman]

Pavement and The Flaming Lips and The Offspring and Sublime and The Cranberries and Blur and Weezer and Green Day and Queens Of The Stone Age and Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots and Sonic Youth and Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine and Nine Inch Nails and Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana and Radiohead made it onto my first mixtape on the phone or on the CDs

[@JeniferRedman]

Bleed the freak Alice in chains 1:04

[@josebeteta8105]

Where were Foo Fighters? Them and the RHCP were my favorite in middle school during the 90s.

[@trevoraba3824]

How about these bands?... Live, Collective Soul, Bush, Better Than Ezra, Dishwalla, Silverchair, Sugaray, Candlebox, 3rd Eye Blind, 7mary3, Matchbox20, Goo Goo Dolls, Gin Blossoms and The Nixon. I loved them in the 90's...

[@robertprice5243]

Did you put Radiohead at number one over Nirvana to be grunge?

[@michaelmalone7231]

Somewhere, an alternate universe exists where the following happened in the 90s. 1. Seattle never happened. 2. Hillel Slovak didn't overdose. 3. U2, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth and The Cure were still the ambassadors for alt rock. 4. Black Flag, Pixies, The Replacements, Husker Du, The Smiths and Jane's Addiction had got their shit together and not broken up. 5. Trent Reznor would've had second thoughts about any association with Marilyn Manson. and finally, 6. Joe Strummer would have taken better care of himself, leading up to his heart attack in 2002.

[@rodelreyes9839]

PEARL JAM IS STILL MY NO.☝..😊❤🇵🇭

[@azymondiaskingofthedragons2897]

I was only a kid in the 90s, so I was only focused on Pokemon, Power Rangers, Barney and Gargoyles, but this seemed to be a great era to be a teen. The Swinging 60s have nothing on the Nostalgic 90s. Long live the Nostalgic 90s!!!

[@foxypink3359]

This is one of the rare instances that I actually agree with the order of this list.

[@sandhya315]

Putting stone temple pilots right above Alice in Chains is an especially egregious choice tho.

[@crystalrodriguez1516]

While most of the bands on this list are fcking great I cannot believe there was no Hole, Garbage, Oasis....and Alice in Chains at #11 no ma'am! They are easily in the top 3!

[@ND-OPS]

Damn Oasis is so underrated

[@Genx1967er]

I think so many people including critics snub them because of their cocky attitude. They were quite the assholes to many.

[@NickCC23]

Love my 90s Alt-rock!

[@michaelm9067]

If Sonic Youth and RHCP are on this list (both started in the 80s), then R.E.M. should have been #1.

[@nicholaskirchner3912]

Truth! R.E.M. were greatly admired by the #1 and #2 entries on this list. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by the #5 entry on the list. Two #1 albums in the 1990s. I have no idea how they didn't make this list. Definitely the most glaring omission.

[@matiyas27]

I've been thinking about REM for the past couple months and wondering if they are still around. And wondering how come I haven't seen them on any of WatchMojo's lists lately? 🤔

[@michaelm9067]

@@matiyas27 R.E.M. “called it a day” back in 2011. They do still all make music individually but I miss them together terribly. One of my biggest regrets is never getting to see them live as they’ve been my favorite band for nearly 30 years now.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

@@michaelm9067 REM had the best fan club of any act, ever. I looked forward to my Christmas package, usually with a calendar and a CD/DVD. I wish they would reunite.

[@RadioLaPrincess]

@@nicholaskirchner3912 I suspect they meant "started in the 80s but got big in the 90s" or that the person putting this list together didn't know that. As much as I love R.E.M., they became hugely mainstream in the 80s and while were a 90s band, they were known in the 80s. Not taking away from them as an influential band at all and an alternative band is still alternative even if they become a huge mainstream band,.

[@allsilent424]

Oh man, Nine Inch Nails The Fragile is freaking amazing!

[@Babababear254]

Honestly, this list is pretty solid until the end. If you’re reading this , I am a huge Nirvana fan, and I ain’t hiding it. However, tell me if any of these statements are debatable. 1. “Creep” wouldn’t have been a hit if it wasn’t for Nevermind. 2. Ok, computer and Nevermind are known as all time classics, but Nevermind would be higher on the list. 3. Kurt Cobain is more iconic and relevant to the genre, era, and most artists from pop, rap, and rock, than Thom Yorke. I bet you can’t say “Yes” to all three

[@takibledsoe331]

I just knew Radiohead would be #1. PERFECT!! They are the BEST!!!

[@princebloodgrave8097]

Korn, Limp Bizkit, Tool, Live, Hole, Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson, No Doubt, Garbage, REM, the Cure, Depeche Mode, 90s Metallica, lots of Canadian alternative bands, etc.

[@dannyaraya8017]

Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Sublime, Sound Garden > nirvana

[@niles8102]

Growing up is knowing some of your favorite musical artists will pass. It f***ing suuuucks....rip

[@joewerner6939]

Thank You for this, all these bands helped raise me and I love them all. I’m not even going to hate on the order, even though I would have all the grunge bands at the top lol

[@nicolas.grisanti]

My favorite music decade ❤❤❤❤

[@bajesus15]

The best music decade of all time. Alternative rock in the 90s is at the top of the mountain

[@BRO77TX]

The 50-60-70-80's would like to have a word with you!!

[@gsly6081]

@@BRO77TX the 10s-20s-30s-40s would like to have a word with you

[@AshPrimeDCFC]

Alice in Chains would be my #1 and Soundgarden a close #2. Two of my all-time favourite bands.

[@xsadler]

Very good list, but the power of Nirvana has to be #1. Radiohead was amazing, but nothing swept the world like Nirvana at that time.

[@rockbronzeman6458]

Radiohead kept being amazing, and still IS amazing. Guess that’s why it’s No. 1

[@AgustinRodriguez-dd6mj]

Nirvana not number 1? They're literally the band that brought alternative rock to the mainstream, before them alt bands only got airplay on college radio stations, Watchmojo screw up here.

[@michaelmalone7231]

Funny, I do remember U2, R.E.M., The Cure, The Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, and New Order getting mainstream exposure. But I may be mistaken.

[@jameshoffman7217]

thanks for giving the pumpkins the credit they deserve

[@JoshR813]

I agree with this list. Good job Mojo.

[@thestocksource8393]

Prodigy? Republica? Oasis? Garbage? And what about Bush? Probably the biggest name excluded

[@samuelstephens6904]

Definitely missing some greats here: Sunny Day Real Estate, Failure, and Hum in particular. Grunge gets way too much attention when there were other kinds of alternative music in the 90s running parallel to it like post-hardcore, emo, shoegaze, space rock revival, etc. And frankly, these other genres actually have legacies worth talking about while grunge gave us buttrock mostly.

[@Springfeeeel]

AiC not in top 10? Take this thumbs down from me guys.

[@crystalshaw8744]

Love this list and I don't care who is number one.

[@dwsmatos8373]

Alice in Chains, Primus, Kyuss and Soundgarden 👌

[@KarlDelaney99]

Can mention Kyuss without mentioning Queens

[@fuffmcbuff7555]

I love Primus, they suck so much

[@harlo1979]

Primus sucks

[@fuffmcbuff7555]

@@harlo1979 you’re damn right

[@estev08]

Pretty good list for the most part. Don’t really consider QotsA a 90s band though. More 2000s. And I love Radiohead but to put them over Nirvana for top 90s band is insane

[@chinthing1]

As an unofficial spokesman for the metal community, we are claiming Alice in Chains as our own.

[@estev08]

AIC definitely has crossover appeal with metal and alternative fans

[@parker7720]

Alice In Chains should be top 5

[@untillthat]

Love that Smashing Pumpkins gets some top 3 love and recognition here!

[@dorientjewoller113]

WTF! Not even mentioning The Screaming Trees or Faith No More.

[@anaistm174]

Placebo… Although they’re still a great band today.😻😺

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

So good 👍

[@matthewmesser]

ALICE IN CHAINS NUMBER 11???? THATS CRAZY!!!! NUMBER 1 WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!

[@harlo1979]

Alice in Chains at 11 is just disrespectful

[@SomethingScotty]

Seems like the only reason Beck was excluded was because someone at WatchMojo just doesn't like him. The criteria for not including him is flimsy at best, and I'm not even a huge Beck fan. I can still see the influence he had in the 90's and on bands today though.

[@jabbarmuhammad8804]

I'm a huge fan of 90s rock

[@xXMachineGunPhillyXx]

Ranking The Red Hot Chili Peppers over Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam 👀.. is certainly a take lol

[@randomuser5200]

Foo Fighters?

[@oozzziiii]

that’s shit.

[@PlaidOnFlannel]

Seems like Queen of the Stone Age was unnecessary. Only one album in the 90s. Better suited for a 00s alternative bands list. Even Kyuss would make more sense on this list. R.E.M. definitely should've been mentioned. For the 80s and 90s. They influenced most of the bands listed here.

[@mainHERO88]

I came here to see where Beck would land (and then get extremely pissed if he wasn't on the list at all) but you started the video by saying that people like him wouldn't even be on the list! That man deserves all the credit he can get.