Top 5 Alt-Rock Pioneers

Alternative rock has been a fairly new arrival in the pantheon of rock music. While initially finding steam in the 80's, the genre saw an intense surge in the 90's, with bands as diverse as Radiohead, Nirvana, and Rage Against the Machine all being labeled as "alternative" music acts. Now it seems that alternative music is so big that people are forgetting what the music is an alternative to.

Regardless, many of these acts would not be around today if it wasn't for these alternative acts of old to lay the groundwork. The artists compiled here are examples of people who helped define what the alternative scene was to become in later years. Whether it be through sound, image, or general aesthetic, each of these artists had that extra ingredient that caught the eye of many artists from the Nineties to the present day, and have since been recognized as musical groundbreakers.

This list is a look back to a time when alternative was a genre quietly mentioned in the underground. Once these artists broke on the scene, it was okay for all artists to break into the woodwork by being themselves despite what may be popular at the time.

If I told you that Neil Young was one of the greatest influencers on alt-rock based upon listening to his hits, you'd probably call me a musical heretic of the highest degree. While Neil's rustic Americana sound feels like the furthest thing from alternative, his mindset towards the music business left an indelible mark on modern artists.

Throughout his career, Neil Young has made a name for himself as an artist who follows his own muse. Even though his label has tried to push him towards his musical strengths, Neil Young turns a deaf ear to his critics and does whatever music suits him at the moment. This has led to him having a bit of a rocky discography, but he always is doing whatever the hell he wants.

From an aesthetic point of view, Young's attitude towards the music business had a huge impact on the alternative scene, so much so that he has earned the nickname the Godfather of Grunge. With praise heaped upon him from bands such as Pearl Jam and Sonic Youth, Neil Young is able to add alternative pioneer to his ongoing list of accolades across his 50+ year career