In many ways, Alice in Chains was the definitive heavy metal band of the early '90s. Drawing equally from the heavy riffing of post-Van Halen metal and the gloomy strains of post-punk, the band developed a bleak, nihilistic sound that balanced grinding hard rock with subtly textured acoustic numbers. They were hard enough for metal fans, yet... [+] Read More

Yes No

Maktub, whose name means "it is written" in Arabic, formed in 1996 as a pet project of four Seattle club musicians. Reggie Watts (vocals/synthesizer), Davis Martin (drums), Alex Veley (keyboards), and Kevin Goldman (bass), came together from various parts of Seattle's burgeoning soul community to create a groove-oriented, brooding R&B sound. Led... [+] Read More

Yes No

Pearl Jam rose from the ashes of Mother Love Bone to become the most popular American rock & roll band of the '90s. After vocalist Andrew Wood overdosed on heroin in 1990, guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament assembled a new band, bringing in Mike McCready on lead guitar and recording a demo with Soundgarden's Matt Cameron on drums.... [+] Read More

Yes No

Singer/songwriter Pete Droge's career was helped immeasurably by his friendship with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. McCready helped Droge secure a deal with American Records to release his 1994 debut, Necktie Second. Droge is a rootsy rocker in the vein of Tom Petty and John Mellencamp, with the occasional introspective ballad. On the... [+] Read More

Yes No

Few rock groups of the '80s broke down as many musical barriers and were as original as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Creating an intoxicating new musical style by combining funk and punk rock together (with an explosive stage show, to boot), the Chili Peppers spawned a slew of imitators in their wake, but still managed to be the leaders of the... [+] Read More

Yes No

Just about every rock & roller nowadays lists '70s rock as a major influence, but few rockers are down with the misunderstood genius Prince. Unlike others, though, Satchel has no problem admitting their worship of the Purple One (vocalist Shawn Smith in particular, who explores his Prince fixation even more in his two-man side project... [+] Read More

Yes No

Soundgarden made a place for heavy metal in alternative rock. Their fellow Seattle rockers Green River may have spearheaded the grunge sound, but they relied on noise rock in the vein of the Stooges. Similarly, Jane's Addiction were too fascinated with prog rock and performance art to appeal to a wide array of metal fans. Soundgarden, however,... [+] Read More

Yes No

Stone Temple Pilots were able to make alternative rock into stadium rock; naturally, they became the most critically despised band of their era. Accused by many critics of being nothing more than rip-off artists, pilfering from Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains, the band nevertheless became major stars in 1993. And the influences of... [+] Read More

Yes No