Rock Artist Bios
Rock has always thrived on defiance, emotion, and the raw nerve of saying what others won’t—but pinning down exactly who qualifies as “rock” is a messy business. Some artists blur the lines, some tear them up completely. For this list, the spotlight stays on those who’ve forged lasting legacies—acts whose music still hits like a punch to the chest, whose fingerprints are all over the genre’s past and present. These are the voices that didn’t just play rock—they left a mark.
Rock Artist Profiles
AC/DC
William and Margaret Young left Glasgow, Scotland in 1963 for Sydney, Australia. With a low population and abundant resources Australia promised a better life …
Aerosmith
Aerosmith’s self-titled debut didn’t do much in 1973 nor did the single “Dream On” (it would rise from the ashes a couple years later) …
Alice Cooper
This is the story of how good kids, from presumedly good families, went horribly wrong.One might ponder how a band of Phoenix, AZ high …
All Time Low
Any band that starts out covering Blink 182 and takes their name from the lyrics in a New Found Glory song (“Head On Collision”) …
Allman Brothers Band
Phil Walden, head of Capricorn Records, suggested Duane Allman, a renowned session guitarist, start his own group. First, Duane installed his brother as the …
Asking Alexandria
After two Metalcore efforts, Asking Alexandria singer Danny Worsnop sustained a torn vocal cord. Doctors told Worsnop to rest. But he reassured fans that …
Badfinger
Instead of Badfinger, they should have called themselves Bad Deal because that’s what they got.Badfinger was signed by The Beatles’ Apple Records. Paul McCartney …
Beach Boys
The Beach Boys featured three talented brothers, Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, a cousin, Mike Love and a friend, Al Jardine. Of them all, …
Black Crowes
Some groups build a huge audience but once the hits stop, so do they. Others, like the Black Crowes, led by the Robinson brothers, …
Black Sabbath
When the term “Heavy Metal” (taken from the William Burroughs novel “Soft Machine”) was coined in the late-60s it was used to describe loud, …
Blink-182
Blink-182 is the story of a cancer survivor, UFO enthusiast and a publicity maven.Blink formed in Poway, CA. After releasing an EP and a …
Blue Oyster Cult
Hailing from Long Island, Blue Oyster Cult formed in ‘70 and managed to land a recording contract in ‘72. On the way, they became …
Buckcherry
Buckcherry formed in 1995. Whether the band’s name was a spoonerism of ‘Chuck Berry’ or the moniker of a drag queen acquaintance ‘Buck Cherry’, …
China Crisis
College or Modern Rock radio listeners in the mid-‘80s likely remember the songs “Working With Fire And Steel,” “Black Man Ray,” “King In A …
Cream
Cream was the brainstorm of drummer Ginger Baker. He had been toiling away with several British Blues and Jazz outfits, including the Graham Bond …
David Bowie
Like so many young musicians, David Jones was in and out of a number of unmemorable bands. But it was while he was a …
Def Leppard
Def Leppard played their first gig in ’78 and were recording the following year. While doing passably well in their native U.K., they didn’t …
Duran Duran
There are some groups so “on trend” it’s scary. MTV, launched in the early ’80s, was initially in dire need of content. Equally important, …
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times… as a member of the Yardbirds, Cream, and as …
Extreme
Countless bands are remembered for one thing: a song, an album or even involvement in a notorious event. It’s unfair since bands are often …
Fall Out Boy
Three years after Chicago’s Fall Out Boy formed Island Records provided an advance for the group’s major label debut “Take This To Your Grave.” …
Fleetwood Mac
This is a story of the convoluted and sometimes torturous road taken by drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. These two Brit Blues …
Foo Fighters
A Foo Fighter: A World War II term used to refer to mysterious aerial phenomena. When Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain committed suicide, which also ended …
Frijid Pink
“House Of The Rising Sun” is a traditional Folk song that was first recorded in the ‘30’s and later covered by Pete Seger, Joan …
Godsmack
Godsmack, a name lifted from an Alice In Chains’ song, have released eight studio albums. “Faceless” (’03), “IV,” (’06) and “The Oracle” (’10) were …
Good Charolette
It took a life-altering event to prod Benji Madden and his identical twin brother Joel down the Rock road – a Beastie Boys’ concert …
Green Day
Guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt started their first band when they were fourteen, eventually becoming Green Day. After a couple albums …
Greta Van Fleet
There are a lot of valid reasons for skipping the high school prom but being on tour is usually not one of them. With …
Guns N’ Roses
At seventeen, former choirboy William Bailey decided to change his last name to Rose, his dad’s last name. ‘Bailey’ belonged to his step-father. Picking …
Heart
Sibling rivalry is well known but sometimes it can have positive results. When Ann Wilson started playing guitar her sister Nancy vowed to play …
More Rock Artist Profiles
Hi Vis
Graham Sayle, a longtime U.K. hardcore Punk devotee, fronts High Vis. He and his bandmates faced difficult childhoods, dead-end jobs and saw friends and …
Hole
Where does this story begin? For most, any awareness of Courtney Love or Hole probably began with Kurt Cobain. Kurt and Courtney, the John …
Hootie & The Blowfish
Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View,” released in ’94, was the #3 best-selling debut album of all time, behind Whitney Houston’s self-titled effort …
Incubus
High school is a great place to start a Rock band. However, it’s difficult to keep the thing going once everyone graduates. In ’91, …
INXS
INXS started with the Farris Brothers (guitarist Tim, keyboardist Andrew and drummer Jon) in ’79. School friends, bassist Gary Beers, guitarist/sax player Kirk Pengilly …
John Mellencamp
When you get kicked out of a group called Snakepit Banana Farm you might want to reconsider your career options. And what could be …
Kings Of Leon
Like countless musicians, Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill earned their musical chops playing in church. Only when their father left the ministry did the …
KoЯn
When Sexart ran into LAPD (another group) things started to happen. LAPD members James “Munky” Shaffer (guitar) and Brian “Head” Welch (guitar) saw vocalist …
Nine Inch Nails
On the strength of a three-song demo Nine Inch Nails got signed by TVT Records. “Industrial Nation,” released in ’88, was a powerful debut …
Paramore
Talent shows are held all over the country. Kids are run through the mill from the time they are able to walk, talk, sing, …
Paul McCartney & Wings
Paul McCartney has trophies, honors and accolades to fill a large warehouse. And they are deserved. His combination of raw talent, a stunning work …
Poison
If you’re gonna be a big hair & make-up band it might be a good idea to have a licensed cosmetologist in the group …
Pop Evil
Often the relationship between a band and their label can be contentious. But rarely is it made public – or at least as public …
Ramones
New York’s CBGBs was a unique Rock venue. Just off Houston St. in the Bowery on the Lower East Side, the club was easy …
Soundgarden
The most unsettling aspect of Grunge was the death toll – either by drug overdose or suicide. The list includes Kurt Cobian (Nirvana), Layne …
Steppenwolf
Who the hell was Mars Bonfire? He was Dennis Edmonton, a guitarist and composer of “Born To Be Wild,” which was recorded by Steppenwolf …
Ten Years After
Remember “Woodstock,” the film chronicling a few hundred thousand people wallowing in the mud to hear the cream of late ’60s Rock. The fest …
The Black Keys
Formed in Akron, OH, the one-time bowling capital of America, Blues-Rock duo The Black Keys (Dan Auerbach – guitar/vocals and Pat Carney – drums) …
The Cure
Was Robert Smith ever happy? At age fourteen, The Cure frontman, stated his ambition was to “sit on a mountain and die.” Don’t set …
The Go-Go’s
Not since the Beach Boys, nearly two decades earlier, had a band been more consistently happy and upbeat. It shouldn’t be surprising since The …
The Knack
The word on The Knack was they recorded their debut album “Get The Knack” in eleven days for eighteen-thousand dollars. It went platinum in …
The Libertines
The Libertines career was short-lived and modest but could have been more… if not for Peter Doherty’s ongoing drug abuse.Doherty and guitarist/vocalist Carlos Barat …
The Police
At the beginning of ’77, ex-schoolteacher Gordon Sumner a.k.a. Sting (so named for his fondness for a black and yellow stripped jersey he constantly …
The Stooges/Iggy Pop
David Bowie must be the patron saint of comebacks. When Mott The Hoople was ready to call it quits Bowie, a major fan, gave …
The Wallflowers
The world is littered with the failed offspring of the famous. Bob Dylan is a legend. Jakob (pictured) is his son. After the Wallflowers, …
Third Eye Blind
Like many groups, San Francisco’s Third Eye Blind got going in fits and starts. The original incarnation fractured leaving only guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Stephen Jenkins and …
Three Days Grace
Three Days Grace bassist Brad Walst and singer-guitarist Adam Gontier hailed from the small Canadian burg of Norwood. Drummer Neil Sanderson grew up twenty-five …
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
An appearance on the “FM” soundtrack (“Breakdown”) helped establish Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. “Refuge,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “The Waiting,” and “You …
Tool
Bassist Paul D’ Amour and guitarist Adam Jones came to Hollywood, the land of eternal promise, to get jobs in the movie biz. But …
Velvet Revolver
After leaving Guns N’ Roses, Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) played a charity gig. They realized they still had a …
Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon always had a unique perspective. He earned it. After his first album bombed, Zevon found work writing commercial jingles. If that doesn’t …
Yes
Loading their songs with rapid-fire chord changes (“Roundabout”), key changes (playing in one key is just too restrictive) and time changes (they weren’t content …
ZZ Top
Between ’70 and ’73, ZZ Top records were huge in the great state of Texas – and nowhere else. They even managed to draw …
Featured Albums
Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia
Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia delivers a cinematic blend of ethereal ambience and crushing metal, as Vessel’s haunting vocals glide over lush melodies …
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced
The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s first studio album, Are You Experienced is considered by many to be among the best albums ever made, the record …
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Considered one of the earliest art rock LPs and a precursor to progressive rock, Sgt. Pepper is a pivotal piece of British psychedelic music …
Moby Grape – Moby Grape
The self-titled debut album by Moby Grape, deserves recognition among the best rock albums for its seamless blend of rock, folk, blues, and psychedelia …
Small Faces – Small Faces
This album captures the youthful energy and rebellious spirit of 60s Britain showcasing their raw talent and dynamic style. Known for Steve Marriott’s powerful …
The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle
Odessey and Oracle is a baroque pop masterpiece, blending lush melodies and psychedelia. Though overlooked at first, its beauty and innovation made it a …
Cream – Wheels of Fire
Across this sprawling double album, you can hear the group lean harder into their blues roots while blowing out the speakers with raw volume …
Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly is a landmark album in heavy metal and psychedelic rock. The album’s title track is a 17-minute epic that is …
The Band – Music from Big Pink
The Band – Music from Big Pink Music from Big Pink didn’t crash the party—it ghosted into the room, sat in the corner, and …
The Doors – Waiting for the Sun
Waiting for the Sun is considered one of the best rock albums for its dynamic blend of poetry, psychedelia, and raw rock energy. This …
The Moody Blues – In Search of the Lost Chord
In Search of the Lost Chord by The Moody Blues is an ambitious exploration of spiritual and philosophical themes, wrapped in rich, experimental soundscapes …
Jeff Beck – Truth
Truth by Jeff Beck is an essential rock album for its pioneering role in hard rock and heavy metal. Truth features Jeff Beck’s masterful …
Country Joe and the Fish – Electric Music for the Mind and Body
Electric Music for the Mind and Body remains a pivotal album in the psychedelic canon, offering a snapshot of a band unafraid to experiment …
The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico Few albums feel truly dangerous, but The Velvet Underground & Nico still carries …
Elvis Presley – Something For Everybody
Something for Everybody is a snapshot of Elvis Presley in the middle of his career—less the brash, electric force he once was, but still …
The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones’ debut bursts with raw energy, reinventing American blues and R&B with gritty covers and youthful rebellion, setting the stage for their …
The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
This was the first Beatles album featuring all original songs, highlighting their evolution as songwriters and their signature harmony-driven sound. The album captures the …
The Beach Boys – All Summer Long
All Summer Long was the Beach Boys’ first album that was not centered around vehicle or surfing themes, and is regarded as their first …
The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man
Mr. Tambourine Man is the sound of American music turning a corner, blinking into the bright, uncertain sunlight. The Byrds didn’t just borrow folk’s …
The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Pet Sounds is a fragile masterpiece—reimagined with heartbreak, orchestration, and raw sincerity. Brian Wilson trades surf rock for introspection, layering harmonies and oddball sounds …
The Beatles – Yesterday and Today
Yesterday and Today might not have been crafted with any big artistic statement in mind, but it catches a real moment: a band too …
Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde
Blonde on Blonde is frequently considered one of the greatest albums by critics. The album’s tracks, which combine a modernist literary sensibility with the …
The Byrds – Fifth Dimension
Fifth Dimension finds The Byrds breaking free—no Dylan, no Clark, just raw psychedelia, raw ambition, and cosmic riffs. It’s messy, bold, and brilliant, a …
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers – Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton
Blues Breakers was Clapton’s electric blues coming-out party—raw, loud, and rooted in grit. Mayall gave him space, and he tore through it like fire …
The Bryds – Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds had already established themselves as folk-rock pioneers, but Younger Than Yesterday proved they weren’t content to stick to jangly protest anthems and …