Averse to well-trodden commercial paths, these bands sought musical innovation, layered melodies and artistic freedom. From underground heroes to worldwide festival headliners: vote for your favorite indie and alternative rock band!
Cast your vote - the ranking shifts live based on the votes.
Radiohead
Changed rock history forever with OK Computer and the groundbreaking electronic experiment Kid A.
Arctic Monkeys
Broke records in 2006 with the fastest-selling British debut album ever and reinvented themselves with AM.
Never got the cult obsession with Arctic Monkeys. Completely overhyped by critics.
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The Strokes
Single-handedly revived indie rock in 2001 with their raw, stylish debut Is This It.
Total rock royalty.
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The Cure
Led by Robert Smith, they became the ultimate pioneers of post-punk, new wave and gothic rock.
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The Smiths
Morrissey's melancholic lyrics and Johnny Marr's chiming guitar lines formed the foundation of British indie music.
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Pixies
Their dynamic 'quiet-loud-quiet' formula was the direct blueprint for the breakthrough of bands like Nirvana and Weezer.
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Muse
Combined alternative rock with bombastic classical influences and spacey sci-fi themes into spectacular stadium shows.
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The Killers
Conquered the world from 2004 onward with indestructible festival anthems like Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me.
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Arcade Fire
With their baroque, gripping indie rock and the masterpiece Funeral, they won the highest praise worldwide and a Grammy for Album of the Year.
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R.E.M.
Paved the way from the college circuit for alternative rock to reach the global mainstream with monster hits like Losing My Religion.
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A landmark release: changed rock history forever with OK Computer and the groundbreaking electronic experiment Kid A.