This article will discuss what is the definition of alternative music and will talk about which bands fall into this genre.

When most people think of alternative music, they automatically think of punk or hardcore and will immediately take their stance of which bands are or are not alternative bands.

The “Most Punk Band In The World”, Green Day, is a band that you will see playing everything from dance to classic rock.

The term “Alternative” is not synonymous with punk or hardcore, however these bands are the foundation to alternative rock. Blur, Radiohead, and The Beatles are some of the bands that helped create alternative rock with their sound that put them on the music map.

Bands and musicians that may fall under the “Alternative” category include a lot of the bands you would see on alternative rock radio and television shows that follow the musical genre. They are, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, The Cure, Blur, Tones on Tail, U2, Muse, The Shins, and Wilco.

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In this article, we are talking about 10 Alternative Rock bands that fall under the “Alternative” category and they are, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, The Cure, Foo Fighters, U2, Muse, The Shins, Wilco, and The Cure.

1. Radiohead

There are few bands that come close to Radiohead and it would be hard to say any band will ever come close. From their inception, the band’s music has remained consistent to the sound that has influenced so many other bands to be classified under the alternative rock genre.

The band has only been around for a little over 20 years and they have left an influence on artists like Beck, Pink, Coldplay, and many others.

Radiohead’s music doesn’t come across as in your face and aggressive as some other bands and instead it is more subtle and mellow.

With their music being a mixture of pop, rock, and heavy metal, many bands that you hear at your local bar would be considered “Alternative” bands.

The band has sold over 40 million records worldwide, which includes the band’s highly acclaimed album “In Rainbows”, which was released in 2007.

Their latest album “A Moon Shaped Pool” was released in May of 2016 and has sold over 800,000 copies in the first week and many believe is Radiohead’s best album since their 1996 album “OK Computer”.

2. Foo Fighters

Since they first started in the early 90’s, Foo Fighters have been one of the best and most consistent alternative rock bands of our generation.

The band’s first two albums “Foo Fighters” and “There Is Nothing Left to Lose” helped propel them onto the stage of the Grammy’s and they were nominated for the Best Hard Rock performance for “My Hero” from their first studio album in 1994.

Their 2000 debut “The Colour and the Shape” was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards and they won Best Metal Performance for “Walk”.

They also won another Best Hard Rock Performance nomination for “Times Like These” in 2001.

They also won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for “Learn to Fly” in 2004.

Their 2005 album “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” earned the band two more Grammy Awards for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.

3. U2

U2’s music is widely recognized as one of the most enduring alternative rock albums of all time. Released in 1987, the band’s hit album “The Joshua Tree” quickly became a record that changed the music landscape forever.

The album sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and is also one of the biggest selling albums in music history.

The album earned the band multiple Grammy nominations and the album was also awarded the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

The album was re-released in 1993 in a remastered version, which also won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album in 1995.

4. Beck

Beck is a Los Angeles born, San Diego based singer-songwriter, record producer, and record executive. Beck grew up in a musical family and was exposed to the many genres of music that were part of his home growing up.

He was influenced by his parents and older brother that both played the guitar and did a lot of recording as well as his cousins. Beck credits Jimi Hendrix for a big part of his success.

The main driving force behind Beck’s career has been his ability to speak to a wide audience.

While he has had many hit singles in his career, he is best known for the songs “Loser”, “Where It’s At”, “A-Punk”, and “Up All Night”, and the album “Mellow Gold”.

5. Green Day

Green Day’s first studio album “Dookie”, was released in April of 1994 and sold over 3 million copies in the first week of release.

The album spawned three top 5 singles, the platinum selling “Longview”, and two top 10 singles, “When I Come Around” and “Basket Case”.

A year later the band released “Dookie 2” which sold over 2.5 million copies in the US and also sold well worldwide.

The band has won many accolades since their debut album release in 1994, including 3 Grammy Awards, the MTV Video Music Award for “Nookie”, as well as a Blockbuster Award.

6. R.E.M

R.E.M. is an American rock band that was formed in Athens, Georgia. The band consists of lead vocalist Michael Stipe, rhythm guitarist Peter Buck, lead guitarist Gordon Gano, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry.

The band began their career in 1985 under the name Peter and the Mysterians with Buck on lead guitar, Gano on lead vocals, bassist Dave McDonald, and drummer Tim Gaines.

The band has had many hits over the years and won many awards including two Grammy Awards and the American Music Award.

7. Beyoncé

Beyoncé is an American singer, songwriter and actress who is best known for her hit singles “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” “Crazy In Love,” and “Drunk In Love”.

She also featured on the hit singles “Halo” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by fellow American R&B singer Jay-Z, which were respectively the longest and the most successful chart topper of his career.

Her album “I Am… Sasha Fierce” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and spawned the hit singles “Partition”, “Bootylicious”, “Crazy In Love,” and “Irreplaceable”.

The album was certified six times platinum and sold over 13 million copies worldwide.