40 Best 2000s Rock Bands Of All Time
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We list some of the best 2000s rock bands of all time. By 1998, rock suffered a severe drop off the Billboard charts, with the only notable records being Metallica’s Reload and Aerosmith’s Nine Lives. At this point, many would assume that rock music may have been limping towards its grave, but many rock bands over the horizon were about to take the music world by storm in the 2000s. Take a look at the list below to find out which rock bands dominated the 2000s era.
1. Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band that originated in Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, bassist Mickey Madden, lead guitarist James Valentine, drummer Matt Flynn and keyboardist PJ Morton. The band earned a Best New Artist Grammy Award on the strength of their first album Songs About Jane. They became pop superstars with a string of eight consecutive top 10 pop hit singles from 2011 through 2015.
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2. Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. Although the UK has definitely introduced formidable acts to the global arena such as The Bee Gees, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie, not many attained success quite as rapidly as Arctic Monkeys. Each of the band’s first five singles “I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor”, “When the Sun Goes Down”, “Leave Before The Lights Come On”, “Brianstorm” and “Fluorescent Adolescent” hit the UK Top Five. In the United Kingdom, the band became the first independent-label band to debut at number one in the UK with their first five albums.
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- We explore how Arctic Monkeys have stood the test of time
- Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner Tells How ‘The Car’ Brings Together Historic and Current Sounds of One of Rock’s Most Important Bands
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk, punk rock and psychedelic rock. The band consists of co-founders Anthony Kiedis (lead vocals) and Flea (bass), as well as drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, the latter of whom has been in the band across three stints. In 1987, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan album was released and reached 148 on the Billboard Hot 200. This period of the band’s history, though it saw their gradual ascent to commercial success, was marred by Kiedis and Slovak’s serious drug addictions. Slovak’s addiction caused his death in 1988, shortly after their promotional tour for the album. Kiedis failed to attend the funeral and Irons left the group once again. Nonetheless, the California alternative rockers mixed biting guitars with funk rhythms to become superstars in the 1990s and beyond. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are the most successful band in the history of alternative rock. They have won six Grammy Awards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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- Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Naked Truth – Rolling Stone
- How Red Hot Chili Peppers Found Themselves, Again
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: From the strip club to the stadium
- 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Since its formation in 1996, the band has sold more than 100 million albums and won two Grammy Awards. Rooted at the crossroads of aggressive metal and beat-driven hip-hop, Linkin Park became one of the most successful acts of the early 21st century by incorporating elements from across genres, injecting hardcore rap, raucous punk, atmospheric electronic, and even polished pop stylings into their music.
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- Why Linkin Park Became Successful So Quickly
- Linkin Park: The inside story of Hybrid Theory
- How Chester Bennington’s Dark Passengers Shaped His Life: Child Abuse, Addiction and Depression
- Chester Bennington’s Last Days: Linkin Park Singer’s Mix of Hope, Heaviness
5. Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1986 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt. For much of the band’s career, they have been a trio with drummer Tré Cool, who replaced John Kiffmeyer in 1990 prior to the recording of the band’s second studio album, Kerplunk (1991). Now considered one of the best-selling independent albums of all time, Kerplunk has sold almost 2 million copies internationally. Green Day’s success was built by forging a unique musical path on their own terms. The landmark album Dookie was released in 1994, as record Fuse Magazine called “the most important pop-punk album of all time.” With the massive popularity of singles like “Longview”, “Basket Case”, and “When I Come Around,” the album sold more than 10 million copies in the U.S., making Green Day became a bona fide musical phenomenon. The group has been nominated for 20 Grammy awards and has won five of them. The band was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015
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- The Best and Most Misunderstood of Green Day, According to Billie Joe Armstrong
- Inside Green Day’s Revolutionary Rebirth – Rolling Stone
- Why Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ is still so relevant today
6. Gorillaz
Gorillaz is a musical project created in 1998 by British musician Damon Albarn and British cartoonist Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of the Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a “virtual band” of cartoon characters. This band is composed of four animated members: 2D (lead vocalist, keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboard, and occasional vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion). The band’s 2001 debut album Gorillaz sold over seven million copies and earned them an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Successful Virtual Band. The Gorillaz characters only appear in animated form and are not alter-egos of real people, as is often mistakenly assumed. They have also won a Grammy among many other awards.
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- Gorillaz: The Story of the Virtual Band’s Debut
- Gorillaz: Man vs Machine
- How Gorillaz created their mind-bending alternate universe
7. Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy are famous for being an American rock band that first formed in Illinois in 2001. The band was formed by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, guitarist Je Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley. The band members were originally part of the hardcore punk scene and developed as a pop punk side project.
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- Fall Out Boy: The Fabulous Life and Secret Torment of America’s Hottest Band
- 14 Things We Learned on the Road With Fall Out Boy – Rolling Stone
- The Last Of The Real Ones: the long half-life of Fall Out Boy
- The resurrection of Fall Out Boy: “We had no idea whether people would still care about us”
8. Radiohead
Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitars, piano), Jonny Greenwood (guitars, keyboards, other instruments), Ed O’Brien (guitars, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass, synthesisers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion). Radiohead released their first single, “Creep”, in 1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).Radiohead’s third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater international fame. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, OK Computer has often been acclaimed as a landmark record of the 1990s. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time. In 2019, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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- The Untold Truth Of Radiohead
- How Radiohead Predicted Our Tumultuous Times, Years Ago
- Jonny Greenwood says he pretended to play keyboards when he joined Radiohead
9. The Killers
The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001, by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). With a mix of ’80s-styled synth pop and fashionista charm, the band’s multi-platinum 2004 debut, Hot Fuss, became one of the decade’s biggest releases, spawning four hit singles — including their most enduring hit, “Mr. Brightside” — and catapulting the group into the international spotlight. The Killers are considered one of the biggest rock bands of the 21st century, and the most successful act to ever emerge from Nevada, selling more than 28 million albums, including 10.8 million in the US alone.
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- The Best, Worst, and Most Misunderstood of the Killers, According to Brandon Flowers
- The Killers: “Music made it possible for me to dream”
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10. U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). U2’s early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music. U2 are among the all-time best-selling music artists, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
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- Why U2 Trusted a Guy in Flip-Flops With Their Future
- The story behind how U2 were discovered – GQ
- Why U2’s One is the ultimate anthem
11. Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1994. The band started as a one-man project for former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, following the suicide of frontman Kurt Cobain. The group took its name from “Foo fighter”, a nickname coined by Allied aircraft pilots for UFOs and other aerial phenomena. Over the course of their career, Foo Fighters have won 12 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album four times. The band has also won an American Music Award, four Brit Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards.
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- Inside Taylor Hawkins’ Final Days as a Foo Fighter – Rolling Stone
- Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters, His Memoir, Life After Nirvana
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12. Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band formed in Franklin, Tennessee, United States in 2003. The band currently consists of Hayley Williams (vocals, keyboard), Taylor York (guitar) and Zac Farro (drums). Following the departure of Josh and Zac Farro in 2010, the band released their self-titled fourth album in 2013. It gave the band their first number one on the US Billboard 200. It included the singles “Still Into You” and “Ain’t It Fun”, with the latter winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song,, making it Paramore’s first Grammy Award win.
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13. Blink-182
One of the most iconic punk rock bands of all time, Blink-182 helped shape the face of rock music during the 90s. The band was formed in August 1992 and originally consisted of Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Scott Raynor. Raynor was replaced by Travis Barker in 1998 due to some issues with alcohol on Scott’s part. Their third studio album Enema of the State (1999) was an enormous success on the strength of hit singles “What’s My Age Again?”, “Adam’s Song” and “All the Small Things”, which enjoyed massive airplay and became MTV staples. The follow-up album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001) reached number one in the United States, Canada, and Germany. The eponymously titled Blink-182 followed in 2003 and marked a stylistic shift for the group, infusing experimental elements into the group’s usual pop punk formula, resulting in a more mature sound. The band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide.
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- Don’t Grow Up, Blow Up: The Rise of Blink-182
- Why did Blink-182’s original line-up split and why did Tom DeLonge leave the band?
- All of Blink-182’s albums ranked, from ‘Dude Ranch’ to ‘California’
14. System of a Down
System of a Down (also known as SoaD or simply System) is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. All members of System of a Down are of Armenian descent, being born to Armenian immigrants or being immigrants themselves. The band enjoyed moderate success with their first singles, “Sugar” and “Spiders”, off their debut album System of a Down. However, their big break came from their sophomore effort, Toxicity, which debuted at No. 1 on the American and Canadian charts, eventually going multi-platnium. The album also has the dubious distinction of being the No. 1 album in America on the week of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The band has sold over 12 million records worldwide, while two of their singles, “Aerials” and “Hypnotize,” reached number one on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart. Their song “B.Y.O.B.” won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006.
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- “The Truth Doesn’t Recognize Retreat”: The Oral History of System of a Down’s ‘Toxicity’
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15. Kings Of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band’s early music was a blend of Southern rock and blues influences, but it has gradually evolved throughout the years to include a variety of genres and a more alternative, arena rock sound. Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band’s albums at the time peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Their third album, Because of the Times, also reached the number one spot.
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16. The White Stripes
The White Stripes were an alternative rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. They disbanded in 2011. The group consisted of songwriter Jack White (vocals, piano/keyboards, guitar) and Meg White (drums, vocals). The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002 after releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit music scene. Two of their albums, White Blood Cells and Elephant, were particularly popular. They were called “the greatest live act since Jimi Hendrix” by the British Guardian newspaper, earning them fans overseas. Their single “Seven Nation Army,” and its unique guitar riff, brought the band further acclaim. They grew from a pair of Detroit kids on 1999’s The White Stripes to international rock stars responsible for a trio of Grammy-winning albums (2003’s Elephant, 2005’s Get Behind Me Satan, and 2007’s Icky Thump). In 2015, Rolling Stone named them the sixth greatest duo of all time.
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- Behind the Band Name: The White Stripes
- The Mysterious Case of the White Stripes – Rolling Stone
- Revealing the White Stripes: The inside story of the early years
17. Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian hard rock band formed in Alberta in 1995. Its name originates from the nickel in change that band member Mike Kroeger gave customers at his Starbucks job, he would frequently say, “Here’s your nickel back”. The band comprised of lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chad Kroeger, guitarist/keyboardist/backup vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kreoger and drummer Daniel Adair. Nickelback streamlined the aggression of 1990s’ grunge, adding an arena-rock earnestness that’s proved irresistible to millions of fans. Detractors rejected the band’s heavy-handedly emotive style, personified by frontman Chad Kroeger’s deep-throated groan, but a steady string of radio-friendly rockers and manly ballads kept Nickelback albums in the charts throughout the 2000s. The band is widely regarded as Canada’s most commercially successful music group with more than 50 million albums sold worldwide.
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18. My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from New Jersey, United States formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro, Frank Iero and bassist Mikey Way. With their emo-punk songwriting, theatrical vocals, and neo-goth appearance, My Chemical Romance rose from the East Coast underground to the forefront of modern rock during the early 2000s. They released their major label debut Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge in 2004; the album was a commercial success, and was awarded platinum status a little over a year later. The band eclipsed their previous success with their 2006 concept album, The Black Parade, which gained generally favorable reviews among music critics. In 2014, the band released May Death Never Stop You: The Greatest Hits (2001–2013), a greatest hits album containing material spanning their entire career, as well as some previously unreleased material.
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- How a Sucker Punch Fueled the Rise of My Chemical Romance – Rolling Stone
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19. Muse
Muse is an alternative rock band from Teignmouth, England, United Kingdom. The band consists of Matthew Bellamy on lead vocals, piano, keyboard and guitar, Chris Wolstenholme on backing vocals and bass guitar, and Dominic Howard on drums and percussion. Muse are known for their energetic and extravagant live performances and their fusion of many music genres, including space rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, classical music and electronica. Muse have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards and eight NME Awards. In 2012 they received the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. As of June 2016, they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
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- Muse: The British Band to Look Back On and Call Classical
- It’s Time to Admit You Love Muse – GQ
- Muse’s Matt Bellamy on Why Band’s New Album, ‘Will of the People,’ Is Even Better Than a Best-Of
- A Tribute to Muse, the Band That Mounts the World
20. Weezer
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1992, currently consisting of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, lead guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals). The line-up has changed three times since its formation in 1992. The band specialized in catchy melodies, heavy guitars, and geekery, these alt-rock icons of the ’90s maintained a devoted cult for decades. Weezer has sold 10.2 million albums in the US and over 35 million worldwide.
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- The Strange Birth and Near Death of Weezer – Rolling Stone
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21. Slipknot
Slipknot is an American metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. The band was founded in 1995 by vocalist Anders Colsefni, percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray. The group’s sound is metal, with aggressive lyrics and at times a repulsive sense of humor. Fans are seemingly attracted not only to the catchy melodies of Slipknot’s songs, but also to the group’s symbolic persona. The band has sold over 30 million records worldwide.
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- Behind the History of the Band Name “Slipknot”
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22. The Strokes
The Strokes are an American rock band formed in 1998 in New York City. Upon the release of their debut album Is This It in 2001, the group met much critical acclaim. By bringing style, fun, and catchy songwriting back to rock music, the Strokes became one of the most influential bands of the early 21st century. In 2020, they released their first studio album in seven years, The New Abnormal, produced by Rick Rubin and released through Cult and RCA. Critics considered the album a return to form. It went on to win Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
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23. Evanescence
Evanescence is a Grammy-winning band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody (who left in 2003). The two met each other at a youth camp in 1994 and formed a band the next year. Originally considered by many to be part of the Christian rock scene — and for a short time promoted in Christian stores — the band has distanced itself from such categorization, even though Fallen (2003), their first major-label release, had some religious themes. Since then, the band has released a number of EPs, five studio albums, two live session albums, one compilation album and a career-spanning vinyl collection.
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- Evanescence’s Amy Lee Gets Back to Life
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24. Disturbed
Disturbed is an American alternative metal/hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1994. A hard-hitting, multi-platinum-selling heavy metal outfit based out of Chicago, Disturbed emerged in the late ’90s with an aggressive blend of hard rock and alternative and nu metal.
- Band formation:
- Genres: Heavy metal, Hard rock, Alternative metal, Nu metal
- Best album: 1994
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 9 million
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25. 3 Doors Down
3 Doors Down is an American rock band from Escatawpa, Mississippi, formed in 1994. The band consists of Brad Arnold (vocals), Matt Roberts (guitar/vocals), Todd Harrell (bass), Chris Henderson (guitar), and Greg Upchurch (drums/percussion/vocals). The band has been primarily described as post-grunge and alternative rock, while occasionally crossing into hard rock, and Southern rock. Their lyrical content contains overarching themes of angst, rebellion, revenge, yearning, and abandonment.
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26. Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are a Northern Irish rock band formed in 1993. Initially an indie rock band, the band rose to prominence in the early-mid 2000s as part of the post-Britpop movement. The band became wildly successful both in the U.K. and U.S., of their fourth album, 2006’s Eyes Open and the ballad “Chasing Cars” – a song that has spent a near-record breaking 90 weeks on the UK Top 75. Some of their other well known songs are “Run”, “Spitting Games”, “You’re All I Have”, “Hands Open” and “Take Back the City”. During the course of their career, Snow Patrol have won seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards and been nominated for six Brit Awards and one Grammy.
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- After 25 Years, Snow Patrol Gets More Honest Than Ever
- We Can’t Be Grumpy All The Time: An Interview With Snow Patrol
- Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody Reflects On The Band’s Beginnings And Success
27. Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind. The band’s sixth LP, Chase This Light (2007), became their highest-charting album and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
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- ‘No wasted motion’: An oral history of Jimmy Eat World’s ‘The Middle’
- Jimmy Eat World frontman Jim Adkins on finally giving in to the emo label, When We Were Young and fans now bringing their grown-up kids to shows
28. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock/post-punk band formed in New York City, New York in the late summer of 2000. The group’s music melds genres ranging from art punk and garage rock to electronic and new wave. Band member Karen O is known for her screaming, bluesy vocals and energetic stage presence, complemented by her outrageously colorful costumes. Their first three albums earned the band Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Music Album.
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- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’s Cool It Down by Keith Connolly
29. The Black Keys
The Black Keys are a rock band from Akron, Ohio, that formed in 2001. The band is comprised of Dan Auerbach who offers up vocals and guitar. Along with Patrick Carney on drums. The duo began as an independent act, recording their music in their basements and along with self-producing their music. The group’s commercial breakthrough came in 2010 with Brothers, which along with its popular single “Tighten Up”, won three Grammy Awards. Their 2011 follow-up El Camino peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The album and its hit single “Lonely Boy” won three Grammy Awards.
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- The Most Underrated and Satisfying of the Black Keys, According to Patrick Carney
- The Rise of the Black Keys – Rolling Stone
30. No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, that formed in 1986. Since 1994, the group has consisted of vocalist Gwen Stefani, bassist and keyboardist Tony Kanal, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Dumont, and drummer Adrian Young. They have sold over 33 million records worldwide.
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Read more:
- Behind the Band Name: No Doubt
- No Doubt: Inside the Tragic Kingdom – Rolling Stone
- How a scrappy suburban ska band took over the world
31. Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band emerged with a metalcore sound on their debut Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, which included primarily screamed vocals. The band changed their style on their third album and first major label release, City of Evil, which features more of a hard rock style. They have also created four original songs for the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, all of which were compiled together in the 2018 EP Black Reign.
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- The Untold Truth Of Avenged Sevenfold
- Avenged Sevenfold: from hardcore outcasts to heavy metal heroes
32. The All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects are an American rock band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist, Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor. The band achieved mainstream success with their debut self-titled studio album, The All-American Rejects, released in 2003. The band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide.
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- Interview with All-American Rejects’ Frontman, Tyson Ritter
- Here’s why the All-American Rejects’ return feels just like 2005
33. Deftones
Deftones is an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, formed in 1988, consisting of Chino Moreno (lead vocals and guitar), Stephen Carpenter (guitar), Sergio Vega (bass), Frank Delgado (keyboards and turntables), and Abe Cunningham (drums and percussion). As one of the progenitors of the ’90s nu-metal movement, Deftones quickly evolved beyond the scene, embracing their individual influences to create an artistic alternative metal hybrid that balanced beauty and brutality.
- Band formation: 1988
- Genres: Nu metal, Alternative metal, Art rock, Experimental rock, Shoegaze
- Best-selling album: White Pony (2000)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 5 million
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- Deftones’ White Pony: The explosive story of a post-nu metal classic
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34. Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is a rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States. The band is frequently labeled stoner rock, although they reject the label. They developed a style of riff-oriented, hard rock music which the band’s founder and mastermind Josh Homme described as “robot rock”, saying that he “wanted to create a heavy sound based on a solid jam, just pound it into your head”. Since then, their sound has evolved to incorporate a variety of different styles and influences. The band have been nominated for Grammy Awards seven times; four times for Best Hard Rock Performance, twice for Best Rock Album, and once for Best Rock Performance.
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- Time means nothing to Queens of the Stone Age
- Queens Of The Stone Age: The inside story of their momentous Reading & Leeds secret shows
35. Incubus
Incubus is an alternative rock band based in Calabasas, California. Incubus became one of the most popular alt-metal bands of the new millennium, setting themselves apart from a crowded field with a tireless touring ethic and a broad musical palette. Employing a versatile blend of heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip-hop, techno, post-grunge, and alternative rock, the band hit the mainstream in 1999 with their multi-platinum third album, Make Yourself, which featured the chart-topping single “Drive.”
- Band formation: 1991
- Genres: Alternative rock, Alternative metal, Funk metal, Nu metal
- Best album: Make Yourself (1999)
- Spotify monthly listeners: over 5.5 million
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- 6 secrets behind Incubus’ biggest hits
- Incubus’ Brandon Boyd: “I Personally Did Not Have Huge Aspirations For Rock Stardom”
- Incubus Singer’s Book Reveals The Sketchy Side Of Touring
- Incubus: Giving The Devil His Due
36. Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. They took their name from the children’s book called “Good Charlotte: The Girls of Good Day Orphanage,” written by Carol Beach York.
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37. Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty (originally spelled officially as Matchbox 20 aka MB20) is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995. The group currently comprises Rob Thomas (lead vocals, piano), Paul Doucette (rhythm guitarist, drums), Brian Yale (bassist), Kyle Cook (lead guitarist) and Ryan MacMillan (drums, percussion). Matchbox Twenty rose to international fame with their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You (1996) which was certified 12× Platinum (diamond) in the United States.
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Read more:
- Behind the Band Name: Matchbox Twenty
- Rob Thomas Has Never Been Less Cool, And He’s Fine With That
- 5 Songs You Didn’t Know Rob Thomas Wrote for Other Artists
38. Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire are an indie rock group from Montreal, Canada, and founded by the husband and wife duo of Win Butler and Régine Chassagn in 2001. The band came to prominence in 2004 with the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Funeral. However, it was their third studio album, The Suburbs, that received many accolades, including the 2011 Grammy for Album of the Year.
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Read more:
- Arcade Fire: “‘WE’ connects the dots between everything we’ve ever done”
- The Unforgettable Fire… Arcade Fire Interviewed!
39. Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie, is an American indie rock group that helped define the emo genre of music in the early 2000s. Original members were lead singer Ben Gibbard, guitarist Chris Walla, bassist Nick Harmer, and drummer Nathan Good. The band’s fourth album, 2003’s Transatlanticism, broke into the mainstream both critically and commercially. Death Cab for Cutie’s music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock.
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Read more:
- “Honoring The Past, But Not Bound By It”: An Interview With Death Cab For Cutie
- For Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, Music is a Time Machine
- Ben Gibbard on the Legacy of Death Cab for Cutie’s The Photo Album, 20 Years Later
40. Tool
Tool is an American progressive metal band from Los Angeles. Formed in 1990, the group’s line-up includes drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Justin Chancellor has been the band’s bassist since 1995, replacing their original bassist Paul D’Amour. Tool established themselves as one of America’s most enduring and unpredictable acts with an ever-evolving brand of muscular but mind-altering sonics, a wry sense of humor, and a mystical aesthetic that attracted a cult-like following of devoted fans with just a handful of albums spread across decades. The band has won four Grammy Awards, performed worldwide tours, and produced albums topping the charts in several countries.
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Read more:
- TOOL Band: Everything You Need to Know About TOOL
- “We tore them apart with chainsaws”: how Tool changed metal forever
- The Guide to Getting Into Tool, Rock’s Most Lovable Pseudo-Intellectuals
- How Tool’s Ænima taught us to find some comfort in the dark and unsettling
Honorable mentions
- Modest Mouse
- Interpol
- Wilco
- Spoon
- LCD Soundsystem
- OK Go
- The Flaming Lips
- Against Me!
- The Mars Volta
- Thursday
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