The Top Psychedelic Rock Bands of the 1990s
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Join us as we take a look at the top psychedelic rock bands of the 1990s. From the classic sounds of The Doors to the more modern psych rock of The Flaming Lips, we’ll explore the best of the best in this genre.
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins were an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Formed by frontman Billy Corgan (lead vocals, guitar) and James Iha (guitar, backing vocals), the band included D’arcy Wretzky (bass guitar) and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums) by the time of their 1990 debut album Gish. They found success with the 1993 follow-up Siamese Dream and 1995’s double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, with 20 million records sold in the United States alone by 1996.
The Smashing Pumpkins broke up in 2000 after a tumultuous tenure characterized by lineup changes and increasingly elaborate stagecraft. Corgan and Chamberlin reunited in 2018 and have since toured extensively while working on new material for a forthcoming album. もっと見る
Nirvana
Hailing from Aberdeen, Washington, Nirvana was one of the most successful bands of the early 1990s. The band was led by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain, who became a generational icon before his tragic death in 1994. Nirvana’s music combined elements of punk rock, alternative rock, and heavy metal to create a unique sound that was both aggressive and melodic. The band’s 1991 album Nevermind showcased this sound to great effect and went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time. Nirvana’s other albums include In Utero (1993) and MTV Unplugged in New York (1994).
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band’s lineup consists of founder Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), Jeff Ament (bass), and Matt Cameron (drums). Pearl Jam is one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 85 million records worldwide. They have also been credited with revitalizing the genre of rock music.
The band released their debut album, Ten, in 1991. The album was a commercial success, selling more than 13 million copies in the United States alone. It produced three hit singles: “Even Flow”, “Alive”, and “Jeremy”. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Pearl Jam’s second album, Vs., was released in 1993. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and sold more than 950,000 copies in its first week of release. The album produced three hit singles: “Go”, “Daughter”, and “Animal”.
In 1996, Pearl Jam released their third studio album, No Code. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and received positive reviews from critics. The album produced the hit single “Who You Are”. In 1998, the band released their fourth studio album, Yield. The album received mixed reviews from critics but still debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.
During the 2000s, Pearl Jam released several more albums including Riot Act (2002), Pearl Jam (2006), Backspacer (2009), Lightning Bolt (2013), and Gigaton (2020). They have also continued to tour extensively throughout the world.
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez. Although widely associated with grunge music, the band’s sound incorporates heavy metal elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released five studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations and two DVDs.
The band rose to international fame as part of the Seattle grunge movement of the early 1990s. The band’s first album, Facelift (1990), was a commercial success that peaked at number 18 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart. The success of the singles “Man in the Box”, “Sea of Sorrow”, and “Would?” led to Alice in Chains’ appearance on MTV Unplugged in 1996, which boosted sales of their album MTV Unplugged: Alice in Chains (1996). The band’s second studio album, Dirt (1992), debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It included five singles that peaked within the top 20 positions of the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart: “Would?”, “Them Bones”, “Angry Chair”, “Rooster”, and “Down in a Hole”.
The death of Layne Staley in 2002 created a void within the band. Jerry Cantrell organized several tributes to Staley; however, it wasn’t until 2006 that William DuVall joined as co-lead vocalist to officially fill Staley’s vacated role – effectively reuniting what many consider to be one of grunge’s most influential bands. Since its reunion tour with DuVall taking over as lead vocalist, Alice in Chains has released one studio album – Black Gives Way to Blue (2009) – which debuted at number five on Billboard 200 chart and received two Grammy nominations for Best Hard Rock Performance (“Check My Brain”) and Best Engineered Album – Non-Classical.”
Soundgarden
Soundgarden was one of the most successful and influential American rock bands of the 1990s. They were one of the first grunge bands to achieve mainstream success, and their dark, heavy sound helped define the genre. Soundgarden’s singer/guitarist Chris Cornell was a powerful and dynamic frontman, and their performances were always explosive. The band’s other members were also highly talented musicians, and they wrote some of the most memorable songs of the era. Soundgarden broke up in 1997, but they have since reunited and are still making great music.
Stone Temple Pilots
The band’s debut album, Core, was released in 1992 and quickly went double platinum. The album featured the singles “Sex Type Thing” and “Plush,” which were both top ten hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The band’s follow-up album, Purple, was released in 1994 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album featured the hit singles “Big Empty” and “Interstate Love Song.” Stone Temple Pilots continued to enjoy success in the late 1990s with the release of their fourth album, No. 4, in 1999.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group’s musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk rock and psychedelic rock.
The chili peppers are one of the best-selling bands of all time with more than 80 million records sold worldwide, including over 40 million paid digital downloads. They have been nominated for sixteen Grammy Awards, winning six, and are the most Grammy-nominated band in history. In 2012, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters are an American rock band, formed in Seattle in 1994. The band was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of Nirvana after the death of Kurt Cobain. The band’s name comes from the term “foo fighter”, used by Allied aircraft pilots in World War II to refer to unidentified flying objects.
Over the course of their career, the Foo Fighters have released eight studio albums, one live album, four extended plays (EPs), six video albums, and 30 singles. The band has won eleven Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album four times. They have also been nominated for five Brit Awards—winning two—and were nominated for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2014, their first year of eligibility.
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummerBrad Wilk. Rage Against the Machine is well known for its political commentary, as well as its fusion of hard rock and hip hop.
The band released its self-titled debut album in 1992 to commercial and critical success, with their second album, Evil Empire, reaching number one on the Billboard charts in 1996. In 2000, the band released its third album, The Battle of Los Angeles, which peaked at number one on the charts while also receiving critical acclaim. The band’s fourth and final album, Renegades, was released in 2000 and was less successful than its predecessors.
Rage Against the Machine has sold over 16 million records worldwide. The group has won multiple Grammy Awards and been nominated for several others. In 2005, they were ranked number 45 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. In 2017, Rolling Stone placed Rage Against the Machine at number 86 on its “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” list.
