12 Greatest Hard Rock Frontmen Of The '90s

If it weren't for Kurt Cobain, the 90's as we know it would probably not have existed. Clad in a flannel shirt and mountains of slacker attitude, Cobain ushered in the new guard for rock music once Nirvana broke onto the scene with "Smells Like Teen Spirit." While there were more engaging performers in the 90's, Cobain had a stage presence and attitude that was all his own.

From the way he conducted himself in interviews to the way he interacted with fans, Cobain always had the mindset of the typical indie kid, trying everything he could to downplay his celebrity status. However, it was so hard to ignore him once he took to the stage, where his off-the-wall spasticity was let out in full force. With each song, you couldn't get a handle on where anything was headed, from the band absent-mindedly destroying their instruments to Kurt jumping into the crowd to him performing in a more subdued acoustic setting.

Even when it seemed like he couldn't be asked to care about his surroundings, Cobain had that certain X-factor that turned him into the unofficial spokesman for the next generation of rock musicians. By being one part sensitive songwriter and another part punk transplant, Cobain bridged the old guard with the new to take the next step in rock's evolution.