Top Ten Alternative Artists of All Time

Selecting only 10 top bands to choose as your top alternative bands of all time is a daunting task, and you maybe asking yourself how or why each of the top alternative artists on my list got there. So let me tell you.

Personal preference obviously plays a big role in selecting my top picks but that's not all that went into it. In fact, I'm not above putting an artist on my list that I don't even listen to, if they have had a big impact on the music world. In order to be a top alternative artist of all time the band has to have had a big impact on the alternative genre as it is today. So I also put a heavy weight on how many other alternative bands they have influenced and how groundbreaking their work was for their time. If they opened the door to a new style that wasn't popular before they came along, they get big points in my book whether I like that style or not.

I didn't number this list or place them in any particular order, because who am I to say who the very best alternative band of all time is? The best I can do is narrow it down to the ten top alternative bands. I don't expect everyone to agree with my picks so I'd love to know what you think. Please take a moment to vote on who you think is the best alternative artist is from my list and use the comments section of the bottom of the page to tell me who you think I missed. I hope you enjoy reading this list as much as I enjoyed creating it! If you want to see other genres check out my top tens of music homepage.

The Velvet Underground is an American rock band that was first active, in several forms, from 1965 to 1973. Their most famous members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both became solo artists following their time spent with The Velvet Underground. The alternative band was never successful commercially  while they were together, but the band is often noted by critics as one of the most influential and important groups of their time as well as being an inspiration to many future musicians.

The Velvet Underground is known for being a part of the New York City subcultural art collective that surrounded Andy Warhol's Factory and his Exploding Plastic Inevitable events. The challenged conventional societal standards of the time with their music and lyrics, and paved the way for other musicians to follow suit. The band was known for their experimentation, and also introduced a nihilistic outlook through some of their music. They have been cited as a pivital movement in the rise of punk rock and alternative rock with their outsider attitude and experimentation.

The Smiths was an English rock band that started in Manchester in 1982. with the partnership of Morrissey (vocals) and Johnny Marr (guitar) as the band's songwriters. Some other famous members of the Smiths were Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). They have been called them one of the most important alternative rock bands to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s by critics. The group is known for having a major influence on future artists. Morrissey's was known for writing lovelorn tales of alienation and had an large audience in the youth culture who, at the time, were bored by the omnipresent synthesizer-pop bands who were everywhere in the early 1980s, and Marr's complex melodies are known to have had a big impact on returning guitar bades music popularity.

The group signed with Rough Trade Records, independent record label. Under that label they released several compilations four studio albums, as well as numerous singles. They had limited success outside the thier home country while they were together, and never reached a number higher than 10 on the charts in the UK with any single, However, The Smiths managed to win a following that grew over time, and today they remain a favorite among both the cult and commercial worlds. The band broke up in 1987 due to several disagreements between Morrissey and Marr. They had had several offers to reform since, but have turned them all down to date.

R.E.M. is an American rock band that started in Athens, Georgia, in 1980. The group's original members included Michael Stipe as the lead vocalist, Peter Buck on guitar, Mike Mills on bass guitar, and Bill Berry on drums. R.E.M. in known for being one of the first popular alternative rock bands, Buck's unique guitar style that in known for it's ringing and arpeggiated quality helped them gain early attention, as well as Stripe's unclear vocals. The first single released by R.E.M.was "Radio Free Europe". This single was released in 1981 under the Hib-Tone. record label. In 1982, they followed that single with another named Chronic Town. Sortly after, R.E.M. switched to the I.R.S. Records label and in 1983, they released Murmur, their critically acclaimed debut album The band continued to build its reputation through subsequent releases over the next few years, endless touring, and by leveraging college radio for support. R.E.M. finally found mainstream success with "The One I Love", a hit single of 1987. After which they signed with Warner Bros. Records, and in 1988 began playing in large arenas worldwide espousing political and environmental concerns.

R.E.M. was viewed as a pioneer of the alternative music by the early 1990's and were enjoying broad mainstream success. Two of their most successful albums of the time were Out of Time, released in 1991 and Automatic for the People which was released in 1992. Those albums took a turn from the the band's established sound. But later returned to the rock oriented sound with their 1994 release of Monster. After a six year break in touring, R.E.M. began a tour to support their new album; the Monster tour in known for being jaded with medical emergencies endured by by three of their members.

In 1996, R.E.M. re‑signed with Warner Bros. for a what was reported to be and $80 million contract. The highest payout for recording contract in history, at the time.  Bill Berry left the band, the following year while Buck, Mills, and Stipe continued as a three man group. Over the next ten years, the band continued it's career morphing through several changes in musical style with mixed success. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Joy Division was formed in 1976 as an English rock band in Salford, Greater Manchester. The group was originally named named Warsaw, and consisted of Ian Curtis doing vocals and, occasionally, guitar, Bernard Sumner on guitar and keyboard, Peter Hook playing bass guitar and backing vocals and Stephen Morris on drums.

Joy Division developed a style and sound that pioneered the post-punk movement of the late 1970s rapidly evolving from the punk rock influences of their birth. Jon Savage, a well known music critic said the The Joy Division "were not punk but were directly inspired by its energy". They released their debut An Ideal for Living in 1978 and caught the attention of Tony Wilson, a Manchester television personality. And their first album, Unknown Pleasures, was released in 1979 on Factory Records, Wilson's independent record label. This release drew critical acclaim from the British press. Although the band continued to find success, Ian Curtis, the groups vocalist had ongoing problems with depression. Some personal problems he was dealing with at the time included a diagnosis of epilepsy and a pending divorce. He often had seizures during performances and found it increasingly difficult to continue.

Curtis, overwhelmened with depression, committed suicide In May 1980, as the band was about to begin their first American tour. Joy Division released their second album, Closer in 1980. "Love Will Tear Us Apart," a single from that album quicly became the band's highest charting single. The remaining members of the band reformed to create the band, New Order, and went on to achieve continued

David Robert Hayward-Jones, better known as David Bowie was born on 8 January 1947 He is an English musician who is also known for his acting, record producing and arranging. He was popular in over 50 years of music and in frequently changing both his music and his image. David Bowie is known for being an innovator, especially for his activities in the 1970s. Many musicians have named him as a major influence in their work and he is particullar known for having a distinctive voice and creating pieces with intellectual depth.

David Bowie first gained attention 1969, when the song "Space Oddity", although he released an album and numerous singles prior to this, Spacie Oddity was his first hit, quickly reaching the top 5 in the UK charts. Following that release, Bowie spent about three years out of the public eye experimenting with his style and re-appeared in 1972 as the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. This persona was built around his hit single "Starman" and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Ziggy was known for musical innovation and a striking visual presentation.

Bowie had his first major American crossover success in 1975 when he released "Fame", a number one hit single. Fame was co-written with John Lennon, and was part of the hit album Young Americans. This album had radical shift in style that wasn't received well by his base fan group in his home country. And then he recorded a minimalist album Low which raised the eyebrows of both his record label and his American newly found American fans. This was the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that would follow over the next two years. These three collaborations went on to become know as the "Berlin Trilogy" and won back the hearts of his fans in the UK.

Bowie found limited success in the late 1970s, but released the single "Ashes to Ashes" in 1980 along with it's parent album, Scary Monsters and Super Creeps and joined with Queen for the the single "Under Pressure", which topped the charts in 1981. However, he reached his peak in 1983 with the album Let's Dance, which included the hit singles "Let's Dance", "China Girl", and "Modern Love".

Bowie was ranked numberr 29 in the BBC's 2002 poll of the 100 Greatest Britons and he is 39th in Rollling Stone's list of the 100 greatest rock artists of all time. He career he has sold an estimated 136 million albums, and is one of the ten best-selling acts in UK pop history. In 2004,

Radiohead is an English alternative rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The group is made up of Thom Yorke singing lead vocals, and playing rhythm guitar, piano, beats, Jonny Greenwood playing lead guitar, keyboard, and other instruments, Ed O'Brien playing guitar, and backing vocals, Colin Greenwood on bass guitar, and synthesizers, and Phil Selway on drums.

"Creep" was the first single released by the alternative band, in 1992. After limitied success initially, several months after the release of their debut album Pablo Honey in 1993, the song became a worldwide hit. And with the release of their second album The Bends in 1995, Radiohead's popularity rose in the United Kingdom. The band is known for featuring textured guitar parts and fans and critis alike seemed to love Yorke's falsetto singing. Ok Computer was the third album to be released by the band. It's release in 1997 Radiohead to even greater international fame. That album featured themes of modern alienation and an expansive sounds, it has often been cited as a landmark record of the 1990s.

Radiohead's musical sytleevolved with the incorporation of experimental electronic music, Krautrock, post-punk and jazz influences in 2000 and 2001 with the relases of Kid A and Amnesiac respectively. Critic opions were divided with these albums, however, the band remained popular. Hail to the Thief was released in 2003, featuring a mix of guitar-driven rock, electronics and lyrics that were inspired by headlines. This was the band's last album under record label, EMI. They went on to independently release their seventh album, In Rainbows in 2007. This ablum was originally ony available as a digital download for which each customer could set their own price, and was later in stores which led to it's success both critically and in the charts.

 In 2005, Radiohead was ranked number 73 in Rolling Stone's list of "the greatest artists of all time". And the band's later albums brought them a wide audience, and their early sounds in the albums The Bends and OK Computer remain influential on today's British rock music.

Sonic Youth started in New York City in 1981. The American alternative band lineup consists of Thurston Moore on vocals and guitar, Kim Gordon on vocals, bass, and guitar, Lee Ranaldo also on vocals and guitar, Mark Ibold playing bass, and Steve Shelley on drums.

Early on, Sonic Youth was part of the music movement known as the No Wave, an art and music scene in New York City. They were among the first of American noise rock groups. The alternative band was big in the American underground, carrying out their interpretation of hardcore.At the time, the American underground was built more around the DIY ethic of the genre rather than its specific sound. Because of this, Sonic Youth became a pivotal influence in the rise of the alternative rock.

The band has a wide variety of influences, including Patti Smith, a protopunk musician and the composer, John Cage. They are known for having "redefined what rock guitar could do", through their use of a wide variety of unusual, even unorthodox guitar tunings, and addind additional objects to guitars such as drumsticks and screwdrivers which alter the instruments' quality and sound.

U2 started in Dublin, Ireland. This alternative rock band consists of Bono singing vocals and playing guitar, The Edge on guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Adam Clayton playing bass guitar, and Larry Mullen, Jr. on drums.

The groups members were all teenagers at the time the band was born in 1976 and they had  limited musical knowledge and skills. However, by the mid-1980s, U2 was a top act internationally. They found a great deal more success with their live performances than they did with record sales until the release of their hit album, The Joshua Tree in 1987. That album elevated the alternative band's stature "from heroes to superstars", according to Rolling Stone. U2 reinvented themselves with their 1991 release of the album Achtung Baby in response to the dance and alternative rock revolution and a sense of stagnation musicially that was shared by the band members. This release was accompanied by the Zoo TV tour.  The alternative band has turned to a more conventional rock sound since the year 2000, this sound, however, retains the evidence of their earlier works..

U2 has sold over 145 million albums worldwide and they have been awarded more Grammys than any other band at a staggering 22. The band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, the first year they were eligibe. They are listed as #22 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. They have campaigned for human rights and social justice causes, throughout their career, including Amnesty International, the ONE Campaign and Bono's DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa) campaign.

Red Hot Chili Peppers was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. This alternative rock band included Anthony Kiedis on vocals, John Frusciante playing guitar, Michael "Flea" Balzary on bass, and Chad Smith on drums. They feature varied musical style has brought together traditional rock and funk while including elements of punk rock, and psychedelic rock.

The bands original members were Kiedis and Flea, as well as Hillel Slovak on guitar and Jack Irons on drums. Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988, which also led to the departure of Irons. D.H. Peligo, a former Dead Kennedys drummer, replaced Irons for a short time until Smith, the permantant replacement was found. Slovak was replaced by Frusciante a lesser known guitarist of the time. With this group, they recorded their 4th and 5th albums Mother's Milk in 1989 and Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 1991.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the key album that led to the success of the band, selling more than thirteen million copies. However, Frusciante was uncomfortable with the fame that came with this success left the band in the middle of the tour for that album in 1992. Dave Navarro, a former Jane's Addiction member joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers to replace Frusciate and participated in the recording of One Hot Minute in 1995. This album was also successful, but it to the previous success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, selling less than half the copies. Navarro had creative differeince with the band not long after the release and left the guitar spot open once more.

Frusciante, had turned to heroine during his time away from the group and had just completed rehap when he was invited back to the band by Flea in 1998. After which, they recorded Californication in 1999. That album sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide, and become the band's most successful album to date. They continued their success with the release of the albums By the Way in 2002, Stadium Arcadium in 2006. Their 2006 double album release went on to become their first number 1 album in the US.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers has won seven Grammy Awards and have more than fifty million albums worldwide. They have eight singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and three of those in the Top 10 They have also enjoyed five #1 singles on the Mainstream Rock charts, and carry a record of eleven #1 singles on the Modern Rock charts

The Pixies started in Boston, Massachusetts in 1986. This alternative band had limited success in their early years and disbanded in 1993. However, they reunited in 2004. The band is made up of Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Kim Deal, and David Lovering. The Pixies had trouble finding success in the US, but much more successful in the in Europe.

The band features a style of alternative rock that is influenced by surk and punk rock, they can range anywhere from highly melodic to extremely abrasive within the same song. The group's main songwriter if Francis, who has distinctly desperate, yowling delivery. He normally writes songs about offbeat subjects such as UFO's that are both crypic and captivating. Many of the band's songs contain references to violent Biblical imagery, mental instability, physical injury, and incest.

Many people see this group as a catalyst to the alternative rock boom of the 1990s. Kurt Cobain, a big fan of the group has noted the debt Nirvana owes to the Pixies, along with similar tributes by other alternative bands

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