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Dec 1, 2014 · So what better time to discuss the 25 Best Alternative Bands of the 1980s? Just call it synergy! New Order is touring, as are two original Smiths, Morrissey and Johnny Marr (separately, of...
- Rob O'connor
- September 13, 2012
- 4 min
- September 12, 2012
Aug 5, 2024 · Bands quickly realized they did not need major label representation to have an impact, and this resulted in some of the best rock music of all time. This list contains the most popular alternative songs of the '80s, as voted on by rock music lovers from around the world.
Mar 8, 2022 · 10 Best Alternative Rock Bands Of The 1980s. A Little Left of the Dial. by Tim Coffman. March 8th, 2022. Asylum. It's easier to think that the entire alternative music scene was birthed the...
- Tim Coffman
- Nirvana
- R.E.M.
- U2
- Cage The Elephant
- Radiohead
- Weezer
- Violent Femmes
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Arctic Monkeys
The first band on our list is perhaps the most influential alt-rock band of all time, Nirvana. The year 1987 witnessed the birth of this band. Their musical style is grunge, punk rock, hard rock, and alternative rock. Nirvana exploded onto the mainstream just a year later with the classic song “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This came from their smash-h...
Our next alt-rock band is R.E.M., one of the flagship groups of the alternative rock movement. Founded in 1980 and remaining active for 31 years, R.E.M. has proven to be one of the best-selling alt-rock bands of all time. R.E.M. is noteworthy for creating a bridge between the tried-and-true sounds of mainstream rock and the more edgy work that woul...
The next group on our list, U2, might come as a surprise. After all, it was founded in the ’70s and might be considered a more mainstream rock band. The band made its first splash with songs like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).” The fab four of Irish rock took a turn for the alternative in the early 1990s. No album demonstr...
With Cage the Elephant, we take a jump into the alt-rock history of the twenty-first century. The band was formed in 2006 and found enormous success with their self-titled debut album. The most successful singles from the album are “In One Ear” and “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” Cage the Elephant’s sound offers a mix of catchy lyrics, heart-poundi...
Another foundational band in alt-rock music history is Radiohead. Though Radiohead was formed in 1985, it first found global appeal with its 1993 hit “Creep.” From there, the band established itself as an alternative icon, perhaps second only to Nirvana. The legendary band has released nine studio albums. Nearly all of these have achieved meteoric ...
The boundaries between alt-rock and punk are blurry. But if there’s a bridge between the two, it’s certainly Weezer. Notably, the band has been in existence for over 30 years. Within that period, they cemented themselves as a titan among alt-rockers. What made that possible is also one of their greatest achievements: their power to evolve. Their se...
The next band on our list is Violent Femmes. Though the band’s musical style is alternative rock, it skews toward the folk side of things. Thus, one of their other genre designations is folk punk. Some of their most famous songs are really works of art. Think of “Blister in the Sun” and “Gone Daddy Gone.” Both of these blend the head-banging power ...
If there were a Mount Olympus of alt-rock bands, then The Smashing Pumpkins would most certainly be sitting on a godly throne. The band was considered one of those who popularized this genre. What makes The Smashing Pumpkins so interesting? They bring a different approach to alternative rock than we’ve seen on this list so far. While bands like Wee...
The next seat in alternative rock immortality belongs to Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of the best-selling bands of all time. Formed in 1982, Red Hot Chili Peppers is a band of abundance. They’ve had 14 members, 14 #1 singles, 13 studio albums, and 120 million records sold. For all their popularity, the band’s style is a bit challenging to pin down. T...
The English rock band Arctic Monkeys is one of the defining alternative rock bands of the aughts. They hit the scene right in time for the early-2000s explosion of the Internet. The band is famous for its staccato vocals and complex lyricism. Both of these persisted across the band’s seven albums and five EPs. In keeping with their place in alt-roc...
Apr 15, 2024 · The best alternative songs of the 1980s span punk, post-punk, new wave, college rock, underground, goth, new romantic, ska, power pop, hardcore, and indie rock.
Feb 11, 2020 · If your sense of alt-rock history goes back no earlier than Nirvana or Radiohead, this is your introduction to a time when it really was an alternative — to major label dominance, to...
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Aug 12, 2024 · After all, there are plenty of artists who reside outside the limited universe of Top 40 radio who wouldn't be considered alternative: folk, metal, country, reggae, bluegrass, orchestral, jazz, blues, some hip-hop and others.
