alternative rock artists

At a glance

777 published alternative rock artists; 4,221 studio albums have verified cover art.

When they started

Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1990s (244 artists).

Where they come from

Countries with the most alternative rock artists. United States leads with 290.

• United States 290
• United Kingdom 147
• Canada 61
• Japan 56
• Ireland 25
• Australia 22
• Sweden 16
• Brazil 12

Often paired with

Genres that share artists with alternative rock. The most shared is pop rock, with 102 artists in both.

• pop rock 102
• rock music 102
• indie rock 71
• pop music 64
• alternative metal 53
• Q3071 45
• hard rock 41
• pop-punk 38

Covers from alternative rock

4,221 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.

Leaders

Radiohead has the most release groups (400); Frank Zappa the longest career (64 years); Alanis Morissette the most awards (66).

More alternative rock artists

Showing 1–108 of 108 artists

Imagine Dragons

United States · Group · 2008–present

pop rock, alternative rock, electropop, new wave

52.8M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 1

Robbie Williams

United Kingdom · Person · born 1974

pop music, pop rock, dance music, electronic music, soft rock, alternative rock, Britpop

14.2M listeners · 92 wikis · Tier 1

R.E.M.

United States · Group · 1980–2011

folk rock, alternative rock, college rock, jangle pop

23.4M listeners · 69 wikis · Tier 2

Radiohead

United Kingdom · Group · 1985–present

experimental rock, art rock, alternative rock, art pop, electronic rock, Britpop, neo-prog, chamber pop

47M listeners · 90 wikis · Tier 1

Ellie Goulding

United Kingdom · Person · born 1986

alternative rock, synth-pop, electropop, indie pop, dream pop, folktronica, alternative music, indietronica

54.9M listeners · 77 wikis · Tier 1

Duran Duran

United Kingdom · Group · 1978–present

hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, heavy metal music, alternative rock, art pop, synth-pop, electropop, new wave, electronic rock, New Romantic

16.4M listeners · 92 wikis · Tier 1

Arctic Monkeys

United Kingdom · Group · 2002–present

psychedelic rock, alternative rock, indie rock, post-punk revival, garage rock

56.5M listeners · 70 wikis · Tier 1

Travis Scott

United States · Person · born 1991

rock music, psychedelic rock, contemporary R&B, pop rock, hip-hop, trap music, alternative rock, pop rap, Southern hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, alternative R&B, psychedelic rap, psychedelic music, psychedelic hip-hop

62.2M listeners · 58 wikis · Tier 1

Depeche Mode

United Kingdom · Group · 1980–present

alternative rock, synth-pop, new wave, electronic rock, electronica, dark wave, industrial music

21.1M listeners · 82 wikis · Tier 1

The Cranberries

Ireland · Group · 1989–2003

rock music, folk rock, pop rock, alternative rock, post-punk, new wave, grunge, jangle pop, indie rock, indie pop, dream pop, Celtic rock

40.2M listeners · 72 wikis · Tier 2

Muse

United Kingdom · Group · 1994–present

rock music, hard rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, space rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, symphonic rock

21.9M listeners · 82 wikis · Tier 1

Nickelback

Canada · Group · 1995–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

29M listeners · 66 wikis · Tier 1

OneRepublic

United States · Group · 2009–present

pop rock, alternative rock, cello rock

47.2M listeners · 64 wikis · Tier 1

The Killers

United States · Group · 2001–present

alternative rock

36.4M listeners · 70 wikis · Tier 1

Evanescence

United States · Group · 1994–present

hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, industrial rock, gothic metal, symphonic metal

28.4M listeners · 73 wikis · Tier 1

30 Seconds to Mars

United States · Group · 1998–present

progressive rock, alternative rock

10.7M listeners · 95 wikis · Tier 2

Halsey

United States · Person · born 1994

pop music, contemporary R&B, alternative rock, art pop, synth-pop, electropop, alternative R&B, indie pop, alternative pop

54.6M listeners · 58 wikis · Tier 1

Neil Young

Canada · Person · born 1945

rock music, hard rock, folk rock, experimental rock, rockabilly, country music, blues, country rock, jazz, alternative rock, grunge, Southern rock

12.7M listeners · 80 wikis · Tier 1

The Cure

United Kingdom · Group · 1976–present

alternative rock, post-punk, new wave, gothic rock

25.7M listeners · 73 wikis · Tier 1

XXXTentacion

United States · Person · born 1998

contemporary R&B, heavy metal music, hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, rap rock, trap music, alternative rock, nu metal, rap metal, cloud rap, emo rap, SoundCloud rap, lo-fi music, punk rap, hardcore punk, trap metal, lofi hip-hop

31M listeners · 68 wikis · Tier 2

Foo Fighters

United States · Group · 1995–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

23M listeners · 66 wikis · Tier 1

Twenty One Pilots

United States · Group · 2009–present

pop rock, rap rock, alternative rock, electropop, reggae, alternative hip-hop, indie pop

39.2M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 1

Gorillaz

United Kingdom · Group · 1998–present

pop rock, electronic music, hip-hop, alternative rock, art pop, electropop, indie rock, trip hop

37.6M listeners · 59 wikis · Tier 1

Blink-182

United States · Group · 1992–present

alternative rock, pop-punk

20.3M listeners · 71 wikis · Tier 1

Fall Out Boy

United States · Group · 2001–2009

pop rock, alternative rock, pop-punk, emo pop

26.3M listeners · 56 wikis · Tier 2

Tracy Chapman

United States · Person · born 1964

pop music, folk rock, soul, blues, alternative rock, American folk music

15.6M listeners · 67 wikis · Tier 1

Juice Wrld

United States · Person · born 1998

contemporary R&B, hip-hop, trap music, alternative rock, pop rap, alternative hip-hop, emo rap, SoundCloud rap, mumble rap

30M listeners · 51 wikis · Tier 2

My Chemical Romance

United States · Group · 2001–2013

hard rock, alternative rock, Q3071, alternative metal, pop-punk, emo, gothic rock, post-hardcore

19.1M listeners · 70 wikis · Tier 2

Tame Impala

Australia · Group · 2007–present

psychedelic rock, alternative rock, psychedelic pop, indie rock, neo-psychedelia, dream pop

60.9M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 1

Alanis Morissette

Canada · Person · born 1974

rock music, pop music, experimental rock, pop rock, dance-pop, progressive rock, alternative rock, electronica, post-grunge

10.8M listeners · 82 wikis · Tier 2

John Mayer

United States · Person · born 1977

rock music, pop music, blues rock, folk rock, soul, country music, blues, pop rock, country rock, folk music, soft rock, alternative rock, blue-eyed soul, indie rock, acoustic music

14.9M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 1

Soundgarden

United States · Group · 1984–2017

hard rock, heavy metal music, alternative rock, alternative metal, grunge, stoner metal

12M listeners · 65 wikis · Tier 2

The Offspring

United States · Group · 1984–present

alternative rock, Q3071, pop-punk, skate punk, melodic hardcore

22.3M listeners · 60 wikis · Tier 1

Rosalía

Spain · Person · born 1992

folk music, alternative rock, art pop, reggaeton, Latin pop, Latin R&B, urbano music, flamenco, new flamenco, avant-garde

25.1M listeners · 57 wikis · Tier 1

Moby

United States · Person · born 1965

electronic music, alternative rock, Q3071, electronic rock, house music, ambient music, techno, electronica, trip hop, downtempo, chill-out music

9.9M listeners · 68 wikis · Tier 2

Keane

United Kingdom · Group · 1995–present

alternative rock, piano rock

24.5M listeners · 56 wikis · Tier 1

Panic! at the Disco

United States · Group · 2005–2023

pop rock, alternative rock, synth-pop, pop-punk, baroque pop, emo pop

27M listeners · 52 wikis · Tier 2

a-ha

Norway · Group · 1982–present

pop rock, soft rock, alternative rock, synth-pop, new wave, electronic rock

24.9M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 1

The Neighbourhood

United States · Group · 2011–present

alternative rock

49.5M listeners · 37 wikis · Tier 1

The Smashing Pumpkins

United States · Group · 1988–2000

alternative rock

17.1M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 2

Group

The White Stripes

United States · Group · 1997–2011

blues rock, alternative rock, post-punk revival, garage rock, punk blues

15.6M listeners · 63 wikis · Tier 2

Kings of Leon

United States · Group · 1999–present

alternative rock

27.4M listeners · 50 wikis · Tier 1

Alice in Chains

United States · Group · 1987–present

alternative rock, alternative metal, grunge

13.2M listeners · 66 wikis · Tier 1

Weezer

United States · Group · 1992–present

rock music, alternative rock, indie rock, pop-punk, garage rock, power pop, emo, geek rock, nerd music

22.2M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 1

The Script

Ireland · Group · 2007–present

pop music, pop rock, alternative rock

33.6M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 1

Blur

United Kingdom · Group · 1988–present

pop rock, art rock, alternative rock, art pop, indie rock, Britpop, lo-fi music

14.5M listeners · 62 wikis · Tier 1

Kid Cudi

United States · Person · born 1984

contemporary R&B, Midwest hip-hop, alternative rock, Q3071, pop rap, grunge, alternative hip-hop, neo-psychedelia, emo rap, trip hop, psychedelic rap, psychedelic hip-hop

26.9M listeners · 46 wikis · Tier 1

Three Days Grace

Canada · Group · 1992–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

20.4M listeners · 52 wikis · Tier 1

Dominic Fike

United States · Person · born 1995

rock music, pop rock, rap rock, alternative rock, alternative hip-hop, indie rock, indie pop

47.2M listeners · 32 wikis · Tier 1

Eros Ramazzotti

Italy · Person · born 1963

pop music, pop rock, alternative rock

8M listeners · 71 wikis · Tier 2

WILLOW

United States · Person · born 2000

rock music, pop music, contemporary R&B, jazz, progressive rock, electronic dance music, hip-hop, alternative rock, alternative R&B, indie rock, indie pop, pop-punk, alternative pop, dream pop, neo soul, experimental pop

15.6M listeners · 56 wikis · Tier 1

Jason Mraz

United States · Person · born 1977

pop music, funk, pop rock, jazz, alternative rock, reggae, blue-eyed soul, surf music, alternative hip-hop

18.8M listeners · 51 wikis · Tier 1

Lewis Capaldi

United Kingdom · Person · born 1996

pop music, pop rock, soft rock, alternative rock, blue-eyed soul

25.6M listeners · 44 wikis · Tier 1

B.o.B

United States · Person · born 1988

rock music, pop rock, alternative rock, pop rap, Southern hip-hop, dirty south, alternative hip-hop

27.6M listeners · 42 wikis · Tier 1

Snow Patrol

Scotland · Group · 1994–present

alternative rock

14.2M listeners · 57 wikis · Tier 1

Christina Perri

United States · Person · born 1986

pop music, pop rock, alternative rock, Christian music

19.7M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 1

Creed

United States · Group · 1994–2012

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

17.1M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 2

No Doubt

United States · Group · 1986–present

rock music, pop music, pop rock, alternative rock, Q3071, new wave, pop-punk, ska, reggae rock, post-grunge, reggae fusion, ska punk

16.3M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 1

The Kid Laroi

Australia · Person · born 2003

pop music, contemporary R&B, alternative rock, pop-punk, emo rap, Australian hip-hop

40.1M listeners · 32 wikis · Tier 1

Lil Peep

United States · Person · born 1996

rap rock, trap music, alternative rock, alternative hip-hop, pop-punk, emo rap, lo-fi music

19.6M listeners · 48 wikis · Tier 2

The Goo Goo Dolls

United States · Group · 1986–present

alternative rock, indie pop

40.6M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Empire of the Sun

Australia · Group · 2007–present

electronic music, glam rock, electronic dance music, alternative rock, synth-pop, new wave, electronic rock

38.3M listeners · 29 wikis · Tier 1

Gotye

Belgium · Person · born 1980

rock music, alternative rock, indie rock

19.9M listeners · 44 wikis · Tier 1

Hoobastank

United States · Group · 1994–present

alternative rock

17.4M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 1

Papa Roach

United States · Group · 1993–present

rap rock, alternative rock, nu metal

15.8M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 1

Joji

Japan · Person · born 1992

contemporary R&B, comedy hip-hop, alternative rock, alternative R&B, lo-fi music, trip hop, surreal humour, black comedy, satire, comedy music, satirical music

26.5M listeners · 37 wikis · Tier 2

Audioslave

United States · Group · 2001–2007

alternative rock, alternative metal

16.3M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 2

Person

Jeff Buckley

United States · Person · born 1966

folk rock, soul, gospel music, blues, alternative rock

12.6M listeners · 52 wikis · Tier 2

INXS

Australia · Group · 1977–2012

alternative rock, dance-rock, new wave, funk rock, pub rock

9.5M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 2

Beck

United States · Person · born 1970

soul, alternative rock, alternative hip-hop, indie rock, lo-fi music, psychedelic music, anti-folk

7.6M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 2

3 Doors Down

United States · Group · 1996–present

hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

17.8M listeners · 43 wikis · Tier 1

The 1975

United Kingdom · Group · 2002–present

alternative rock, new wave, indie rock, indie pop, power pop

22.3M listeners · 37 wikis · Tier 1

The Cardigans

Sweden · Group · 1992–present

rock music, pop rock, alternative rock, indie rock, power pop

15.6M listeners · 45 wikis · Tier 1

The Verve

United Kingdom · Group · 1990–2009

psychedelic rock, space rock, alternative rock

17.4M listeners · 42 wikis · Tier 2

mgk

United States · Person · born 1990

hip-hop, rap rock, alternative rock, pop rap, alternative hip-hop, pop-punk

14.7M listeners · 46 wikis · Tier 1

M.I.A.

Sri Lanka · Person · born 1975

pop music, dance music, alternative rock, progressive rap, pop rap, world music, alternative hip-hop, electronica, experimental hip-hop

9.6M listeners · 54 wikis · Tier 3

Mika

Lebanon · Person · born 1983

pop music, glam rock, alternative rock, power pop

7.5M listeners · 60 wikis · Tier 2

Lykke Li

Sweden · Person · born 1986

pop music, dance-pop, alternative rock, art pop, synth-pop, electropop, indie pop, dream pop

17.9M listeners · 39 wikis · Tier 1

Pixies

United States · Group · 1986–present

alternative rock, indie rock

10.5M listeners · 51 wikis · Tier 3

Robert Smith

United Kingdom · Person · born 1959

alternative rock, post-punk, new wave, gothic rock

7M listeners · 51 wikis · Tier 2

The Fray

United States · Group · 2002–present

alternative rock, piano rock

21.5M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 1

Sufjan Stevens

United States · Person · born 1975

electronic music, alternative rock, classical music, folk-pop, indie rock, indie pop, lo-fi music, baroque pop, indie folk, chamber pop

15.7M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 1

beabadoobee

Philippines · Person · born 2000

space rock, alternative rock, folk-pop, indie rock, indie pop, bedroom pop, slacker rock

25.8M listeners · 29 wikis · Tier 1

Shruti Haasan

India · Person · born 1986

pop rock, alternative rock, folk-pop, Indian film music, Carnatic music

8.5M listeners · 54 wikis · Tier 3

Foster the People

United States · Group · 2009–present

alternative rock, indie pop

18.9M listeners · 35 wikis · Tier 1

Julieta Venegas

United States · Person · born 1970

rock music, pop music, folk rock, pop rock, alternative rock, Latin pop, indie pop, cumbia

19.1M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 1

Trippie Redd

United States · Person · born 1999

contemporary R&B, rap rock, Midwest hip-hop, trap music, alternative rock, cloud rap, alternative hip-hop, alternative R&B, pop-punk, emo rap, SoundCloud rap, mumble rap, experimental hip-hop, rage

25.1M listeners · 28 wikis · Tier 1

Imogen Heap

United Kingdom · Person · born 1977

alternative rock, synth-pop, ambient music, indie rock, electronica, dream pop, trip hop, folktronica

20.6M listeners · 31 wikis · Tier 1

Skillet

United States · Group · 1996–present

hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, nu metal, Christian rock, post-grunge, industrial metal, symphonic metal

12.3M listeners · 42 wikis · Tier 1

Jamiroquai

United Kingdom · Group · 1992–present

pop music, funk, alternative rock, dance-rock, funk rock, jazz-funk, acid jazz, nu-funk

9.7M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 2

Nate Ruess

United States · Person · born 1982

pop music, alternative rock

20.5M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Kimbra

New Zealand · Person · born 1990

pop music, soul, rhythm and blues, alternative rock

18.8M listeners · 32 wikis · Tier 1

Labrinth

United Kingdom · Person · born 1989

rock music, pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, funk, pop rock, electronic music, dance-pop, hip-hop, alternative rock, synth-pop, drum and bass, grime, dubstep, post-dubstep

19.4M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Incubus

United States · Group · 1991–present

alternative rock, funk metal

10.8M listeners · 42 wikis · Tier 3

Cage the Elephant

United States · Group · 2006–present

psychedelic rock, blues, alternative rock, Q3071, indie rock, garage rock

16.6M listeners · 31 wikis · Tier 1

4 Non Blondes

United States · Group · 1989–1989

alternative rock

14.5M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 2

LP

United States · Person · born 1981

pop rock, alternative rock, indie rock, indie pop

11.2M listeners · 40 wikis · Tier 3

Breaking Benjamin

United States · Group · 1999–present

alternative rock, alternative metal, nu metal, post-grunge

9.7M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 3

Portishead

United Kingdom · Group · 1991–present

experimental rock, alternative rock, electronica, trip hop, downtempo

7.4M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 3

Crowded House

Australia · Group · 1985–present

rock music, alternative rock

15.5M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Stone Temple Pilots

United States · Group · 1989–present

alternative rock, grunge

9.3M listeners · 39 wikis · Tier 3

Gnarls Barkley

United States · Group · 2003–2010

contemporary R&B, rhythm and blues, electronic music, alternative rock, neo soul

10.6M listeners · 36 wikis · Tier 2

Mon Laferte

Chile · Person · born 1983

pop music, pop rock, alternative rock, Latin pop, alternative metal, indie pop, bolero

18.8M listeners · 23 wikis · Tier 1

Counting Crows

United States · Group · 1991–present

rock music, pop rock, alternative rock, post-grunge

13.3M listeners · 31 wikis · Tier 1

Jimmy Eat World

United States · Group · 1993–present

alternative rock, pop-punk, power pop, emo pop

10.6M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 3

Kurt Cobain

United States · Person · born 1967

alternative rock, grunge

129 wikis · Tier 2

Pierce the Veil

United States · Group · 2006–present

experimental rock, pop rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, pop-punk, hardcore punk, emo, post-hardcore

10.4M listeners · 32 wikis · Tier 3

Milky Chance

Germany · Group · 2012–present

pop music, alternative rock, indie pop, folktronica

15.9M listeners · 22 wikis · Tier 1