50 of The Best Alternative Guitar Songs of the 90s. January 23, 2015 By Klaus Crow 10 Comments. Bigstock photo. Oh dear, they were really good times for young guitar players like myself who adored rock music. There were so many alternative rock bands back then you got lost in the woods, but that didn’t bother most of us. Apr 25, 2016 - With reunions of bands such as Babes In Toyland, and The Breeders, re-issues from classic '90s albums like.
This list of guitarists includes notable musicians, known principally for their guitar playing, for whom there is an article in Wikipedia. Those who are known mainly as bass guitarists are listed separately at List of bass guitarists.
A[edit]
- Abbath Doom Occulta (ex-Immortal, ex-I, Abbath)
- 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott (Pantera)
- Aaron 'El Hefe' Abeyta (NOFX)
- Mick Abrahams (Jethro Tull)
- Stuart Adamson (The Skids, Big Country, The Raphaels)
- Marcus Adoro (Eraserheads)
- Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth, Storm Corrosion)
- Fredrik Åkesson (Opeth)
- Jan Akkerman (Focus)
- Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz)
- Nate Albert (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Kickovers)
- Steve Albini (Big Black, Rapeman, Shellac)
- Art Alexakis (Everclear)
- Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth)
- Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
- Carlos Alomar (David Bowie)
- Michael Amott (Arch Enemy)
- Christopher Amott (ex-Arch Enemy, Armageddon)
- Trey Anastasio (Phish)
- Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
- Nicke Andersson (Hellacopters, Supershit 666)
- André 3000 (Outkast)
- Faraz Anwar (Mizraab)
- Gem Archer (Heavy Stereo) (Oasis)
- Jamie Arentzen (American Hi-Fi)
- Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day, Pinhead Gunpowder, Foxboro Hot Tubs, The Network)
- Tim Armstrong (Operation Ivy, Rancid, Transplants)
- Paul Arthurs (Oasis)
- Jeff Arwadi (Altera Enigma, Kekal)
- Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets)
- DJ Ashba (BulletBoys, Beautiful Creatures, Sixx:A.M.)
- Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon)
- Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
- John Ashton (The Psychedelic Furs)
- Paul Atkinson (The Zombies)
- Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys)
- Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake)
B[edit]
- Jim Babjak (The Smithereens)
- Ayub Bachchu (Love Runs Blind)
- Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall)
- Randy Bachman (Bachman–Turner Overdrive, The Guess Who)
- Dave Bainbridge (Iona)
- Ian Bairnson (Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project, Kate Bush)
- Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion)
- Dave Baksh (Sum 41, Brown Brigade)
- David Ball (Soft Cell)
- Balsac the Jaws of Death (GWAR)
- Bruce Bouillet (Racer X)
- Terry Balsamo (Evanescence)
- Perry Bamonte (The Cure)
- Benji Madden (Good Charlotte)
- Paul Banks (Interpol)
- Peter Banks (Yes)
- Carl Barât (The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things)
- Don Barnes (38 Special)
- Mick Barr (Orthrelm)
- Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
- Paul Barrere (Little Feat)
- Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish)
- Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
- Steve Bartek (Oingo Boingo)
- Michael Angelo Batio (Nitro)
- Roland Bautista (Earth, Wind & Fire)
- Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers)
- Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey's McGee)
- Eric Bazilian (The Hooters)
- Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake)
- Michael Bearpark (Darkroom, No-Man)
- Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)
- Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group, Beck, Bogert & Appice)
- Justin Beck (Glassjaw)
- Jason Becker (Cacophony, David Lee Roth)
- Walter Becker (Steely Dan)
- Peter Beckett (Player)
- Adrian Belew (King Crimson, The Bears; Talking Heads, David Bowie, Frank Zappa)
- Brian Bell (Weezer, Space Twins, The Relationship)
- Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
- Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
- Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
- Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs)
- Miki Berenyi (Lush)
- Guy Berryman (Coldplay)
- Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
- Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band)
- Randall Bewley (Pylon)
- Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland)
- Anders Björler (At the Gates, The Haunted)
- Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved)
- Jack Black (Tenacious D)
- Ryland Blackinton (Cobra Starship)
- Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night)
- Zach Blair (Hagfish, GWAR, Only Crime, Rise Against)
- Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub)
- Ron Block (Alison Krauss)
- Conny Bloom (Hanoi Rocks)
- Bob Bogle (The Ventures)
- Marc Bolan (T.Rex)
- Marcie Bolen (The Von Bondies)
- Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple)
- Bono (U2)
- Nicke Borg (Backyard Babies)
- Adrian Borland (The Sound)
- Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit)
- Mark Boston (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band)
- Tony Bourge (Budgie (band))
- James Bourne (Son of Dork)
- Pierre Bouvier (Simple Plan)
- James Bowman (Against Me!)
- Will Boyd (American Princes)
- Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
- James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
- Michelle Branch (The Wreckers)
- Laurent Brancowitz (Phoenix)
- Srđan Branković (Alogia)
- Vito Bratta (White Lion)
- Creed Bratton (The Grass Roots)
- Jacques Brautbar (Phantom Planet)
- Thomas Bredahl (Volbeat)
- John Brewster (The Angels)'s
- Vic Briggs (Eric Burdon & The Animals)
- Chris Broderick (Megadeth)
- Dave Brock (Hawkwind)
- Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse, Ugly Casanova)
- Devin Bronson (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson)
- Kix Brooks (Brooks & Dunn)
- Eric Brosius (Tribe)
- Jackson Browne (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
- Oli Brown (RavenEye)
- Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper)
- Mark Bryan (Hootie & the Blowfish)
- Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
- Buckethead (Guns N' Roses, Praxis, Deli Creeps, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains)
- Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
- Jonny Buckland (Coldplay)
- Ely Buendia (EraserheadsPupil)
- Charlie Burchill (Simple Minds)
- Ben Burnley (Breaking Benjamin)
- Christian Burns (BBMak)
- Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers)
- Vinny Burns (Ten)
- James Burton (Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, John Denver)
- Kristian Bush (Sugarland)
- Bernard Butler (Suede, The Tears)
- John Butler (John Butler Trio)
- Glen Buxton (Alice Cooper)
- Roddy 'Radiation' Byers (The Specials)
- David Byrne (Talking Heads)
C[edit]
- Fito Cabrales (Platero y Tú, Fito & Fitipaldis)
- Kevin Cadogan (Third Eye Blind)
- Chris Caffery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
- Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's)
- Paul Caiafa (The Misfits, Kryst the Conqueror, Gorgeous Frankenstein)
- Randy California (Spirit)
- Jo Callis (The Rezillos, The Human League)
- Mateo Camargo (Madina Lake)
- Greg Camp (Smash Mouth)
- Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
- Phil Campbell (Motörhead)
- Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard)
- Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
- Joey Cape (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Bad Astronaut)
- Jesse Carmichael (Kara's Flowers)
- Stephen Carpenter (Deftones)
- Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever)
- John Valentine Carruthers (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
- Maybelle Carter (Carter Family)
- Ferdinando Carulli[1]
- Neko Case (The New Pornographers)
- Nick Catanese (Black Label Society)
- Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, Nailbomb)
- Dino Cazares (Fear Factory, Divine Heresy)
- Danny Cedrone (Bill Haley & His Comets)
- Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo)
- Nic Cester (Jet)
- Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin)
- Manny Charlton (Nazareth)
- David T. Chastain (Chastain)
- Chris Cheney (The Living End)
- Phil Chevron (The Pogues)
- Michael Guy Chislett (The Academy Is..., Hillsong United)
- John Christ (Danzig)
- Charlie Christian (Benny Goodman)
- Stephen Christian (Anberlin)
- Martin Cilia (The Atlantics)
- Jake Cinninger (Umphrey's McGee)
- John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
- Liam Clancy (The Clancy Brothers, Makem and Clancy)
- Eric Clapton (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos)
- Angus Clark (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
- Mike Clark (Suicidal Tendencies)
- Steve Clark (Def Leppard)
- 'Fast' Eddie Clarke (Motörhead)
- Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses, Rock Star Supernova)
- Frank Claussen (Theatre of Tragedy)
- Zal Cleminson (Sensational Alex Harvey Band)
- Henry Cluney (Stiff Little Fingers)
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
- Jesse Colburn (Avril Lavigne)
- Phil Collen (Def Leppard)
- Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne)
- Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- John Collins (The New Pornographers, The Evaporators)
- Paul Collins (The Beat)
- Paul Colman (Newsboys, Paul Colman Trio)
- Gary Lee Conner (Screaming Trees)
- John Connolly (Sevendust)
- Nico Constantine (Madfly, Comes with the Fall)
- Steve Conte (New York Dolls), (Eric Burdon)
- Ry Cooder (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, The Seeds)
- Jamie Cook (Arctic Monkeys)
- Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty, The New Left)
- Rusty Cooley (Dominion, Outworld)
- Gaz Coombes (Supergrass)
- Korey Cooper (Skillet)
- John Corabi (Angora, The Scream, Mötley Crüe, Union)
- Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
- Chris Cornell (Soundgarden)
- Gene Cornish (The Rascals, Fotomaker)
- Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers)
- Jim Corr (The Corrs)
- Jeff Cotton (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band)
- Andy Cox (The Beat, Fine Young Cannibals)
- Graham Coxon (Blur)
- Andrew Craighan (My Dying Bride)
- Philo Cramer (Fear)
- Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon)
- Jason Cropper (Weezer)
- Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper (The Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the M.G.'s)
- David Crosby (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Byrds)
- Robbin Crosby (Ratt)
- Josh Cunningham (The Waifs)
- Rivers Cuomo (Weezer, Avant Garde, Homie)
- John Curulewski (Styx)
D[edit]
- Britt Daniel (Spoon, Divine Fits)
- Dante DeCaro (Hot Hot Heat, Johnny and the Moon)
- Denis D'Amour (Voivod)
- Aaron Dalbec (Bane, Only Crime)
- Brody Dalle (The Distillers)
- Sean Danielsen (Smile Empty Soul, World Fire Brigade)
- Jol Dantzig (Wilson Pickett, Shaw Blades, Jim Carroll)
- Glenn Danzig (Danzig)
- Lenny Davidson (The Dave Clark Five)
- Dave Davies (The Kinks)
- Ray Davies (The Kinks)
- Keeley Davis (Denali, Engine Down)
- Maura Davis (Denali)
- Mike Davis (Nocturnus)
- Mahyar Dean (Angband)
- Chris DeGarmo (Queensrÿche)
- Vance DeGeneres (Cowboy Mouth)
- Dean DeLeo (Talk Show, Stone Temple Pilots)
- Tom DeLonge (Blink-182, Box Car Racer, Angels & Airwaves)
- Warren DeMartini (Ratt)
- Dave Dederer (The Presidents of the United States of America)
- Brad Delson (Linkin Park)
- Paul Dempsey (Something for Kate)
- Tommy Denander (Michael Jackson, Paul Stanley, Alice Cooper, Ricky Martin, Toto)
- Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, Firewater)
- Tom Denney (A Day To Remember)
- Amir Derakh (Orgy, Julien-K, Rough Cutt)
- Rick Derringer (The McCoys)
- Jason De Ron (Altera Enigma, Paramaecium)
- Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult)
- C.C. DeVille (Poison)
- Mat Devine (Kill Hannah)
- Dennis 'Denny' Dias, Steely Dan
- Die (Dir En Grey)
- Steve Diggle (Buzzcocks)
- Pete Doherty (The Libertines, Babyshambles)
- Peter Dolving (Mary Beats Jane, The Haunted)
- Dan Donegan (Disturbed)
- Edsel Dope (Dope)
- Paul Doucette (Matchbox Twenty)
- Captain Kirk Douglas (The Roots)
- K. K. Downing (Judas Priest)
- Dr. Know (Bad Brains)
- Dregen (Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters)
- Bruce Driscoll (Blondfire, Brookville)
- Glen Drover (Megadeth, King Diamond, Eidolon)
- Steven Drozd (The Flaming Lips)
- Ian D'Sa (Billy Talent)
- Billy Duffy (The Cult)
- Jan Dumée (Focus, On the Rocks)
- Tom Dumont (No Doubt, Invincible Overlord)
- Gary Duncan (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
- Andy Dunlop (Travis)
- Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn)
- Francis Dunnery (It Bites)
- Jesse James Dupree (Jackyl)
- Sherri DuPree (Eisley)
- William DuVall (Neon Christ, Madfly, Comes with the Fall, Alice in Chains)
- Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage)
- Jakob Dylan (The Wallflowers)
E[edit]
- Elliot Easton (The Cars, The New Cars)
- The Edge (U2)
- Nokie Edwards (The Ventures)
- Richie Edwards (Manic Street Preachers)
- Kian Egan (Westlife)
- Stephen Egerton (Descendents)
- Mike Einziger (Incubus)
- Tripp Eisen (Static-X, Dope, Murderdolls)
- Mattias Eklundh (Freak Kitchen)
- Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo)
- John Ellis (The Stranglers)
- Justin Emerle (Echo Orbiter)
- Rik Emmett (Triumph), (Solo)
- John Engelbert (Johnossi)
- Eric Erlandson (Hole)
- Sully Erna (Godsmack)
- Omar Espinosa (Escape the Fate, LoveHateHero)
- Euronymous (Mayhem)
- Jason Everman (Nirvana, Soundgarden)
F[edit]
- Craig Fairbaugh (Transplants, +44)
- Bruce Fairweather (Mother Love Bone, Green River)
- Nick Falcon (The Young Werewolves)
- Todd Fancey (The New Pornographers)
- Bernard Fanning (Powderfinger)
- Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
- John Farrar (The Shadows)
- Andrew Farriss (INXS)
- Tim Farriss (INXS)
- Josh Farro (Paramore)
- Eric Faulkner (Bay City Rollers)
- Don Felder (Eagles)
- Jay Ferguson (Sloan)
- Jeremy 'Jinxx' Ferguson (Black Veil Brides)
- Dean FertitaQueens of the Stone Age, The WaxwingsThe Dead Weather
- Zach Filkins (OneRepublic)
- Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails, Guns N' Roses)
- Jon Finn (Jon Finn Group)
- Jörg Fischer (Accept)
- Roger Fisher (Heart)
- Warren Fitzgerald (Oingo Boingo, The Vandals)
- John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants)
- Lester Flatt (Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, Foggy Mountain Boys, Nashville Grass)
- Flattus Maximus (GWAR)
- Tom Fletcher (McFly)
- Brandon Flowers (The Killers)
- Robb Flynn (Machine Head)
- John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
- Tom Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
- Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five)
- Jerome Fontamillas (Switchfoot)
- Lita Ford (The Runaways)
- Marc Ford (The Black Crowes)
- Chris Foreman (Madness)
- Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)
- Richard Fortus (The Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love, Guns N' Roses)
- Oz Fox (Stryper, SinDizzy)
- Les Fradkin (Beatlemania (musical))
- Peter Frampton (Humble Pie, The Herd)
- Black Francis (Pixies)
- Lars Frederiksen (Rancid, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards)
- Ace Frehley (KISS)
- Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister)
- Glenn Frey (Eagles)
- Matthew Friedberger (The Fiery Furnaces)
- Marty Friedman (Megadeth, Cacophony)
- Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
- Fred Frith (Henry Cow, Art Bears)
- Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)
- Uri Frost (Katamine)
- John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Koichi Fukuda (Static-X)
- Bobby Fuller (The Bobby Fuller Four)
- Jim Fuller (The Surfaris)
- Justin Furstenfeld (Blue October, The Last Wish)
- Magne Furuholmen (a-ha)
G[edit]
- Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
- Shane Gallagher (+44)
- Tim Gane (Stereolab)
- Charly García (Sui Generis, Porsuigieco, La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, Serú Girán)
- Enrik Garcia (Dark Moor)
- Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
- Chuck Garvey (moe.)
- Kyle Gass (Tenacious D)
- Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold, Pinkly Smooth)
- Björn Gelotte (In Flames)
- Antony Genn (The Mescaleros, The Hours)
- Dave Genn (Matthew Good Band)
- Lowell George (The Mothers of Invention, Little Feat)
- Rocky George (Suicidal Tendencies)
- Janick Gers (Iron Maiden)
- Per Gessle (Gyllene Tider, Roxette)
- Barry Gibb (Bee Gees)
- Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees)
- Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, ¡All-Time Quarterback!)
- Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
- Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X)
- Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation)
- Nick Gilder (Sweeney Todd)
- Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)
- David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
- Vince Gill (Pure Prairie League)
- Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
- Chad I Ginsburg (CKY)
- Nicolas Godin (Air)
- Lynval Golding (The Specials)
- Sander Gommans (After Forever)
- Pier Gonella (Mastercastle–Necrodeath)
- Adam Gontier (Three Days Grace)
- Dave Gonzalez (The Paladins, Hacienda Brothers)
- Myles Goodwyn (April Wine)
- Nina Gordon (Veruca Salt)
- Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
- Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
- Chris Goss (Masters of Reality)
- Stone Gossard (Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam)
- Manuel Göttsching (Ash Ra Tempel)
- Johnny Goudie (Goudie)
- Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!)
- James Grant (Love and Money)
- Rocky Gray (Soul Embraced)
- Boris Grebenshchikov (Aquarium)
- Dallas Green (Alexisonfire, City and Colour)
- Freddie Green (Count Basie)
- Gary Green (Gentle Giant)
- Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
- Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet)
- Brian Greenway (April Wine, Mashmakhan)
- Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
- Dave Gregory (XTC)
- Ryan Griffiths (The Vines)
- Carl Johan Grimmark (Narnia, Rob Rock, Saviour Machine, Beautiful Sin)
- Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana)
- Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth)
- Trey Gunn (King Crimson), (David Sylvian)
- Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Guns N' Roses, Brides of Destruction)
- Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion, Error)
- James Gurley (Big Brother and the Holding Company)
- Michael Gurley (Dada)
- Gus G (Firewind)
H[edit]
- Steve Hackett (Genesis, GTR)
- Bill Haley (Bill Haley and His Comets)
- Kristen Hall (Sugarland)
- Johan Hallgren (Pain of Salvation)
- Mike Hamilton (Kenny Loggins, Peter Kater, Jay Ferguson)
- Page Hamilton (Helmet)
- Shannon Hamm (Death, Control Denied)
- Chuck Hammer (Lou Reed, David Bowie, Guitarchitecture)
- Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
- Peter Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator)
- Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes)
- Michael Hampton (Funkadelic)
- Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
- Frank Hannon (Tesla)
- Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray)
- Isaac Hanson (Hanson)
- Joel Hanson (PFR)
- Fareed Haque (Garaj Mahal)
- Bob Hardy (Franz Ferdinand)
- Bill Harkleroad (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band)
- Jessica Harp (The Wreckers)
- Dhani Harrison (thenewno2)
- George Harrison (The Beatles)
- Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads)
- Mark Hart (Supertramp, Crowded House)
- Bob Hartman (Petra)
- Les Harvey (Stone the Crows)
- Pye Hastings (Caravan)
- Charlotte Hatherley (Ash)
- Ian Haug (Powderfinger)
- Dan Hawkins (The Darkness)
- Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
- Nick Hawkins (Big Audio Dynamite II)
- Colin Hay (Men at Work)
- Hiroyuki Hayashi (Polysics)
- Peter Hayes (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
- Warren Haynes (The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule)
- Dave Haywood (Lady Antebellum)
- Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic)
- Pete Haycock (Climax Blues Band)
- Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
- Matt Heafy (Trivium)
- Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle)
- Charles Hedger (Cradle of Filth)
- Christian Hejnal (Scarling.)
- Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech, Vital Tech Tones)
- Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Band of Gypsys, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows)
- Don Henley (Eagles)
- James Hetfield (Metallica)
- Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks, Bad Religion)
- Nick Hexum (311)
- hide (X Japan)
- Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
- Robert 'Bucket' Hingley (The Toasters)
- Tom Hingley (Too Much Texas, Inspiral Carpets)
- Paul Hinojos (At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta)
- Taka Hirose (Feeder)
- Joel Hoekstra (Night Ranger, Whitesnake, Rock of Ages (musical))
- Jules Hodgson (KMFDM)
- Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
- Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles)
- Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)
- Allan Holdsworth (UK)
- Dexter Holland (The Offspring)
- Joshua Homme (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age)
- James Honeyman-Scott (The Pretenders)
- Matt Hoopes (Relient K)
- Doug Hopkins (Gin Blossoms)
- Mark Hoppus (Blink-182, +44)
- Keith Hopwood (Herman's Hermits)
- Tomoyasu Hotei (Boøwy)
- Michael Houser (Widespread Panic)
- Steve Howe (Yes, GTR, Asia)
- Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle)
- Keith Howland (Chicago)
- C. B. Hudson, (Blue October)
- Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal)
- Steve Hunter (Alice Cooper)
- Wayne Hussey (The Mission, The Sisters of Mercy)
- Mick Hucknall (Simply Red)
- Eugene Hütz (Gogol Bordello)
- Hyde (L'Arc-en-Ciel, VAMPS)
- Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
I[edit]
- Scott Ian (Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death)
- Angel Ibarra (Aiden)
- Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance)
- James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle)
- Ihsahn (Emperor, Thou Shalt Suffer, Peccatum, Hardingrock)
- Chris Impellitteri (Impellitteri)
- Elliot Ingber (The Mothers of Invention, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band)
- Roberto Iniesta (Extremoduro)
- Inoran (Luna Sea, Fake?, Tourbillon)
- Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell)
- Arve Isdal (Enslaved)
- Ichiro Ito (Every Little Thing)
- Maja Ivarsson (The Sounds)
- Anders Iwers (Ceremonial Oath, In Flames, Cemetary, Lacuna Coil)
J[edit]
- Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
- Stevie Jackson (Belle and Sebastian)
- Tito Jackson (The Jackson 5)
- Spencer James (The Searchers)
- Tony James (Carbon/Silicon)
- Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon)
- Al Jardine (The Beach Boys)
- Stephan Jenkins (Third Eye Blind)
- Joan Jett (The Runaways, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
- Heri Joensen (Týr)
- Alain Johannes (Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age)
- Lars-Olof Johansson (The Cardigans)
- John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie)
- Daniel Johns (Silverchair)
- Jimmy Johnson (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)
- Kelly Johnson (Girlschool)
- Mike Johnson (Thinking Plague)
- Wayne Johnson (The Manhattan Transfer)
- Wilko Johnson (Dr. Feelgood)
- Tom Johnston (The Doobie Brothers)
- Davey Johnstone (Elton John)
- Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation)
- Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas (Jonas Brothers)
- Adam Jones (Tool)
- Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones)
- Daniel Jones (Savage Garden)
- Danny Jones (McFly)
- Kelly Jones (Stereophonics)
- Mick Jones (Foreigner)
- Mick Jones (The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite, Carbon/Silicon)
- Rod Jones (Idlewild)
- Stacy Jones (American Hi-Fi)
- Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
- Joey Jordison (Murderdolls)
- Ben Jorgensen (Armor for Sleep)
- Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots)
K[edit]
- Kaoru (Dir En Grey)
- Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand)
- Andre 'Virus' Karkos (Dope, Device)
- Billy Karren (Bikini Kill)
- Ben Kasica (Skillet)
- Terry Kath (Chicago)
- Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane)
- John Kay (Steppenwolf)
- Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group)
- Bill Kelliher (Mastodon)
- Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
- Ken Kitamura (L'Arc-en-Ciel)
- David Kennedy (Angels & Airwaves)
- Big Kenny (Big & Rich)
- Daniel Kessler (Interpol)
- Dave Keuning (The Killers)
- Ryan Key (Yellowcard)
- Herbert Khaury (Tiny Tim)
- Cheyenne Kimball (Gloriana)
- Ben King (The Yardbirds)
- Dave King (Flogging Molly)
- Kerry King (Slayer)
- Donald Kinsey (Bob Marley and the Wailers, Peter Tosh)
- Bill Kirchen (Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen)
- Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)
- Kôji Kiriki (Malice Mizer, Eve of Destiny)
- Jon Klein (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
- Frank Klepacki (I AM, Home Cookin'
- Forrest Kline (hellogoodbye)
- Josh Klinghoffer (The Bicycle Thief, John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish, The Littlest Man Band)
- Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
- Jeffrey Kollman (Bombastic Meatbats)
- George Kooymans (Golden Earring)
- Peter Koppes (The Church)
- Pasi Koskinen (St. Mucus, Ajattara, To Separate the Flesh from the Bones)
- Paul Kostabi (White Zombie)
- Wayne Kramer (MC5)
- Norbert Krief (Trust)
- Robby Krieger (The Doors)
- Chad Kroeger (Nickelback)
- Richard Kruspe (Rammstein)
- Jan Kuehnemund (Vixen)
- Damian Kulash (OK Go)
- Bruce Kulick (Kiss)
- Dave Kushner (Wasted Youth, Infectious Grooves, Zilch, Velvet Revolver)
- Paul Kossoff (Free)
L[edit]
- Jesse Lacey (Brand New)
- Patrick Lachman (Halford, Damageplan)
- Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
- Denny Laine (Paul McCartney, Wings, The Moody Blues, Ginger Baker's Air Force, Colin Blunstone)
- Shawn Lane, (Black Oak Arkansas)
- Ler LaLonde (Primus)
- Paul Landers (Rammstein)
- Tito Larriva (The Plugz, Cruzados, Tito & Tarantula)
- Andrew Latimer (Camel)
- Roope Latvala (Children of Bodom)
- Hugh Laurie (Fry and Laurie)
- Adam Lazzara (Taking Back Sunday)
- Bernie Leadon (Eagles)
- Fin Leavell (The Summer Obsession, Nightswim, Against All Authority)
- Derek Leckenby (Herman's Hermits)
- Alex Lee (Placebo)
- Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
- Shane Lee (Six & Out)
- Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age, A Perfect Circle)
- Sébastien Lefebvre (Simple Plan)
- John Lennon (The Beatles)
- Deke Leonard (Man (band))
- Jared Leto (Thirty Seconds to Mars)
- Adam Levine (Maroon 5, Kara's Flowers)
- Vaden Todd Lewis (Toadies)
- Aaron Lewis (Staind)
- Bob Lewis (Devo)
- Matty Lewis (Zebrahead)
- Herman Li (DragonForce)
- Alex Lifeson (Rush)
- Jani Liimatainen (Cain's Offering, Sonata Arctica)
- John Lilley (The Hooters)
- Rickey Lime (Scarling.)
- Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
- Mikko Lindström (HIM)
- Sead Lipovača (Divlje jagode)
- Russell Lissack (Bloc Party)
- Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
- Duncan Lloyd (Maxïmo Park)
- Richard Lloyd (Television)
- Pete Loeffler (Chevelle)
- Nils Lofgren (E Street Band)
- Karl Logan (Manowar)
- John Lombardo (10,000 Maniacs, John & Mary)
- Jeff Loomis (Nevermore, Sanctuary)
- Joe Long (The Four Seasons)
- Sami Lopakka (Sentenced)
- Courtney Love (Hole)
- Clint Lowery (Sevendust, Dark New Day)
- Scott Lucas (Local H)
- Steve Lukather (Toto)
- George Lynch (Dokken)
- Jeff Lynne (The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, Traveling Wilburys)
- Jimmy Lyon (Eddie Money, The Greg Kihn Band)
M[edit]
- Colin MacDonald (The Trews)
- Brian 'Too Loud' MacLeod (Chilliwack, Headpins)
- Wade MacNeil (Alexisonfire)
- Benji Madden (Good Charlotte)
- Jari Mäenpää (Wintersun, Ensiferum)
- Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace)
- Daron Malakian (System of a Down, Scars on Broadway)
- Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
- Mana Mana (Moi dix Mois, Malice Mizer)
- Harvey Mandel (Canned Heat)
- Julian Mandrake, (Canvas, Blue October)
- James Mankey (Concrete Blonde)
- Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
- Kee Marcello (Easy Action, Europe, Kee Marcello's K2)
- Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush)
- Steve Marker (Garbage)
- Bob Marley (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
- Del Marquis (Scissor Sisters)
- Johnny Marr (The Smiths, Modest Mouse)
- Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie)
- Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)
- Bernie Marsden (UFO (band), Whitesnake)
- Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers)
- Billy Martin (Good Charlotte)
- Chris Martin (Coldplay)
- Jim Martin (Faith No More)
- Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
- J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
- Tak Matsumoto (B'z)
- Dave Matthews (Dave Matthews Band)
- Lee Mavers (The La's)
- Brian May (Queen)
- Sonny Mayo (Snot, Hed PE, Amen, Sevendust)
- Steve Mazur (Our Lady Peace)
- Nick McCabe (The Verve)
- Ian McCallum (Stiff Little Fingers)
- Nick McCarthy (Franz Ferdinand)
- Paul McCartney (The Beatles), (Wings)
- Chris McCaughan (The Lawrence Arms)
- George McConnell (Beanland, Kudzu Kings, Widespread Panic)
- Andy McCoy (Hanoi Rocks)
- Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
- Danny McCulloch (The Animals)
- Jimmy McCulloch (Wings, Thunderclap Newman, Stone the Crows, Small Faces, The Dukes)
- Eric McFadden (Eric Burdon)
- John McFee (The Doobie Brothers, Southern Pacific)
- John McGeoch (Magazine, Visage, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Public Image Ltd, The Armoury Show)
- Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
- Tim McIlrath (Rise Against)
- James McIlroy (Cradle of Filth)
- Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Neurotic Outsiders)
- Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire)
- John McKay (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
- John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
- Troy McLawhorn (Dark New Day, Evanescence)
- John McNally (The Searchers)
- Tony McPhee (The Groundhogs)
- Dave McPherson (InMe)
- Michelle Meldrum (Phantom Blue, Meldrum)
- Colin Meloy (The Decemberists)
- Eric Melvin (NOFX)
- Pat Metheny (Pat Metheny Group)
- Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy, Common Rider)
- Alyson Michalka (78violet)
- Amanda Michalka (78violet)
- Darren Middleton (Powderfinger)
- Qaasim Middleton (Nat & Alex Wolff)
- Radomir Mihailović (Smak)
- Tomo Miličević (Thirty Seconds to Mars)
- Amy Millan (Stars)
- Deron Miller (CKY)
- Dominic Miller (Phil Collins)
- Jerry Miller (Moby Grape)
- Roger Miller (Mission of Burma)
- Steve Miller (Steve Miller Band)
- Federico Miranda (Gandhi)
- Miyavi (Skin)
- Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil)
- Brian Molko (Placebo)
- Michael Monarch (Steppenwolf)
- Ronnie Montrose (Montrose, Gamma)
- Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, Skid Row)
- Nathan Moore (Surprise Me Mr. Davis, ThaMuseMeant)
- Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
- Vinnie Moore (UFO), (Vicious Rumors)
- Shaun Morgan (Seether)
- Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman)
- Marc Moreland (Wall of Voodoo, The Skulls)
- Chino Moreno (Deftones)
- Ruthie Morris (Magnapop)
- Sterling Morrison (The Velvet Underground)
- Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple)
- Jason Moss (Cherry Poppin' Daddies)
- Bob Mothersbaugh (Devo)
- Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü)
- Cameron Muncey (Jet)
- James Murphy (Death, Testament)
- Dave Mustaine (Megadeth, Metallica)
- Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
- Zach Myers (Shinedown)
- Gary Myrick (Havana 3am)
N[edit]
- Miyu Nagase (Zone)
- Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
- Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, Camp Freddy)
- Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro, Marmaduke Duke)
- Michael Nesmith (The Monkees)
- Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
- Carl Newman (The New Pornographers)
- Grant Nicholas (Feeder)
- Craig Nicholls (The Vines)
- Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)
- John Nolan (Straylight Run, Taking Back Sunday)
- Noodle (Gorillaz)
- Noodles (The Offspring)
- Paul Noonan (Bell X1)
- Aaron North (The Icarus Line, Nine Inch Nails)
- John Norum (Europe, Dokken)
- Bradley Nowell (Sublime)
- Ted Nugent (The Amboy Dukes, Damn Yankees)
O[edit]
- Ed O'Brien (Radiohead)
- Richard Oakes (Suede)
- John Oates (Hall & Oates)
- Ric Ocasek (The Cars)
- Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)
- Kele Okereke (Bloc Party)
- André Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
- Criss Oliva (Savatage)
- Stefan Olsdal (Placebo)
- Ami Onuki (Puffy AmiYumi)
- Jason Orange (Take That)
- Marc Orrell (Dropkick Murphys)
- Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
- Buzz Osborne (Melvins, Venomous Concept)
- Ryo Owatari (Do As Infinity, Missile Innovation)
P[edit]
- Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm)
- Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies, The Vanity Project)
- Michael Paget (Bullet for My Valentine)
- Clive Painter (Broken Dog, The 99 Call, Tram (band), The Real Tuesday Weld)
- Jett Pangan (The Dawn)
- Richard Palmer (Supertramp)
- Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
- Russ Parrish (Steel Panther)
- Andy Partridge (XTC)
- Jeff Pearce (Hearts of Space, William Ackerman)
- Mike Pender (The Searchers)
- Kirk Pengilly (INXS)
- Patrick Pentland (Sloan)
- Raymond 'East Bay Ray' Pepperell (Dead Kennedys)
- Heitor Teixeira Pereira (Simply Red)
- Franky Perez (Scars on Broadway)
- Luther Perkins (The Tennessee Three)
- Joe Perry (Aerosmith, The Joe Perry Project)
- Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes)
- Eric Peterson (Testament)
- Vicki Peterson (The Bangles)
- Gregori Chad Petree (Shiny Toy Guns)
- John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
- Tom Petty (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Traveling Wilburys)
- River Phoenix (Aleka's Attic)
- Jonny Phillips (musician) (Oriole)
- Anthony Phillips (Genesis)
- Yannis Philippakis (Foals)
- Yosi Piamenta (Yosi Piamenta)
- Dave Pino (Andrew W.K., Waltham (band), Damone (band), Powerman 5000)
- Al Pitrelli (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Asia, Megadeth)
- Jake Pitts (Black Veil Brides)
- Sergio Pizzorno (Kasabian)
- Joel Plaskett (Thrush Hermit, Joel Plaskett Emergency)
- Dean Pleasants (Suicidal Tendencies)
- Morris Pleasure (Sideman)
- Lex Plotnikoff (Mechanical Poet)
- Chris Poland (Megadeth)
- Nick Pollock (Alice N' Chains, My Sister's Machine)
- Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne)
- Michael Poulsen (Dominus, Volbeat)
- Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
- Chet Powers (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
- Kid Congo Powers (The Gun Club, The Cramps, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
- Dougie Poynter (McFly)
- Sam Prekop (The Sea and Cake)
- Igor Presnyakov (Iggypres)
- Didi Priyadi (Kekal)
- Jade Puget (Redemption 87, AFI)
- Martin Pugh (Steamhammer, Armageddon, 7th Order)
- Gian Pyres (Cradle of Filth)
Q[edit]
- Robert Quine (Lou Reed)
R[edit]
- Trevor Rabin (Yes)
- Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople, Bad Company)
- Johnny Ramone (Ramones)
- Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
- Søren Rasted (Aqua)
- Jaret Reddick (Bowling for Soup)
- Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground)
- Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
- Vini Reilly (The Durutti Column)
- Keith Relf (Renaissance)
- Tim Renwick (Al Stewart)
- Paul Reynolds (A Flock of Seagulls)
- Sheldon Reynolds (Commodores, Earth, Wind & Fire)
- Tim Reynolds (TR3, Dave Matthews Band)
- Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
- Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
- Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, The Lounge Lizards)
- John Rich (Lonestar, Big & Rich)
- Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
- Max Richards (The Bonfire of the Vanities)
- Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon)
- Mike Riggs (Rob Zombie, Scum of the Earth)
- Marc Riley (The Fall)
- Jason Roberts (Norah Jones, Hymns (band), The Candles)
- Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
- Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motörhead)
- Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies)
- Robbie Robertson (The Band)
- Rowan Robertson (Dio, Bang Tango)
- Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes)
- Omar Rodríguez-López (At the Drive-In, De Facto, The Mars Volta)
- Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser (Blue Öyster Cult)
- Roy Rogers (singing cowboy)
- Roy Rogers (slide guitarist)
- Tony Rombola (Godsmack)
- Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
- Mick Ronson (David Bowie)
- Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts)
- James Root (Slipknot, Stone Sour)
- Andy Ross (OK Go)
- Ryan Ross (The Young Veins, Panic! at the Disco)
- Gavin Rossdale (Bush, Institute)
- Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
- Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Robert Roth (Truly)
- Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)
- Steve Rothery (Marillion, The Wishing Tree)
- Martin Rotsey (Midnight Oil)
- Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfish)
- Todd Rundgren (Nazz, Utopia, The New Cars)
- Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal)
- Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)
- Paul Ryan (Origin)
- Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
S[edit]
- Greg Sage (Wipers)
- Stevie Salas (George Clinton)
- Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
- Samoth (Emperor, Thou Shalt Suffer, Arcturus, Satyricon, Zyklon-B, Zyklon, Scum)
- Claudio Sanchez (Coheed and Cambria)
- Justin Sane (Anti-Flag)
- Carlos Santana (Santana)
- Giuliano Sangiorgi (Negramaro)
- Joey Santiago (Pixies, The Martinis)
- Yağmur Sarıgül (maNga)
- Satchel (Steel Panther)
- Manabu Satô (Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois)
- Joe Satriani (Chickenfoot)
- Boz Scaggs (Steve Miller Band)
- Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon)
- Craig Scanlon (The Fall)
- Wes Scantlin (Puddle of Mudd)
- Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
- Marcus Siepen (Blind Guardian)
- Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions)
- Al Schnier (moe.)
- Tom Scholz (Boston)
- Neal Schon (Journey, Santana, Bad English)
- Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied, Voodoocult)
- Knut Schreiner (Euroboy)
- Robert Schwartzman (Rooney)
- Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker, Jets to Brazil)
- Andy Scott (Sweet)
- Dominic Scott (Keane)
- Howard E. Scott (War)
- Keith Scott (Bryan Adams)
- Wayne Sermon (Imagine Dragons)
- John Sekula (Mushroomhead, State of Conviction)
- Gabe Serbian (Cattle Decapitation, Holy Molar)
- Leo Setiawan (Kekal)
- Brian Setzer (Stray Cats, The Brian Setzer Orchestra)
- James Shaffer (Korn)
- Dave Sharp (The Alarm, Stiff Little Fingers)
- Kim Shattuck (The Muffs, The Pandoras)
- Tommy Shaw (Styx, Damn Yankees)
- Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks)
- Nick Sheppard (The Cortinas, The Clash, Head)
- Rodney Sheppard (Sugar Ray)
- Jeff Sherman (Glass)
- Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
- Scott Shields (The Mescaleros)
- Chris Shiflett (No Use for a Name, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Foo Fighters)
- Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park)
- Drew Shirley (Switchfoot)
- Jon Siebels (Eve 6)
- Charlie Simpson (Fightstar)
- Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio)
- Tim Sköld (Marilyn Manson)
- Alex Skolnick (Testament, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
- Skwisgaar Skwigelf (Dethklok)
- Acey Slade (Trashlight Vision, Dope, Murderdolls)
- Mike Slamer (City Boy)
- Slash (Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Blues Ball, Road Crew)
- Martin Slattery (The Mescaleros)
- Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers, What Is This?)
- Pat Smear (Germs, Nirvana, Foo Fighters)
- Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
- Fred 'Sonic' Smith (MC5, Sonic's Rendezvous Band)
- G. E. Smith (Hall & Oates)
- Keith Smith (Anarchy Club)
- Paul Smith (Maxïmo Park)
- Robert Smith (The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees)
- Donita Sparks (L7)
- Larry Sparks (The Stanley Brothers, Clinch Mountain Boys)
- Bob Spencer (Skyhooks), (The Angels)
- Bill Spooner (The Tubes)
- Bruce Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band)
- Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Faith No More)
- Lester Square (The Monochrome Set)
- John Squire (The Stone Roses)
- David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap)
- Paul Stanley (KISS)
- Mikael Stanne)
- Wayne Static (Static-X)
- Vlatko Stefanovski (Leb i sol)
- Chris Stein (Blondie)
- Ken Steorts (Skillet)
- Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer, Foxtrot)
- Mike Stern (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
- Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria)
- Rogers Stevens (Blind Melon)
- Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
- Allan Stewart (Idlewild)
- Eric Stewart (10cc, The Mindbenders, Hotlegs)
- John Stewart (The Kingston Trio)
- Rod Stewart (The Jeff Beck Group, The Faces)
- Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
- Bob Stinson (The Replacements)
- Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother)
- Barry Stock (Three Days Grace)
- Jason Stollsteimer (The Von Bondies)
- Freddie Stone (Sly and the Family Stone)
- Mike Stone (Queensrÿche)
- Izzy Stradlin (Guns N' Roses)
- Joel Stroetzel (Killswitch Engage)
- Jesper Strömblad (In Flames)
- Joe Strummer (The Clash)
- Daryl Stuermer (Genesis, Phil Collins)
- Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy)
- Ron Strykert (Men at Work)
- Alex Suarez (Cobra Starship)
- Sugizo (Luna Sea, S.K.I.N., X Japan)
- Muhammed Suiçmez (Necrophagist)
- Frankie Sullivan (Survivor)
- Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf)
- Andy Summers (Eric Burdon & The Animals), (The Police)
- Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order)
- Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquillity)
- Peter Svensson (The Cardigans)
- Michael Sweet (Stryper)
- Rob Swire (Pendulum, Knife Party)
- Jussi Sydänmaa (Lordi)
- John Sykes (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake)
- Red Symons (Skyhooks)
T[edit]
- Ty Tabor (King's X)
- Fred Tackett (Little Feat)
- Joey Tafolla (Jag Panzer)
- Akira Takasaki (Loudness)
- Marv Tarplin (The Supremes, The Miracles)
- Evan Taubenfeld (Avril Lavigne)
- Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
- Corey Taylor (Stone Sour)
- Courtney Taylor-Taylor (The Dandy Warhols)
- Graeme Taylor (Gryphon)
- John Taylor (Duran Duran)
- Mick Taylor (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, The Rolling Stones)
- Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic)
- Bobby Tench (Hummingbird A&M)
- Miika Tenkula (Sentenced)
- Teppei Teranishi (Thrice)
- Thomas Thacker (Gob, Sum 41)
- Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Guns N' Roses)
- Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
- Tommy Thayer (Kiss)
- Matt Thiessen (Relient K, Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes)
- Randy Thomas (musician) (Sweet Comfort Band, Allies)
- Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty)
- Hughie Thomasson (Outlaws)
- Pearl Thompson (The Cure)
- Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
- Mick Thomson (Slipknot (band))
- Blair Thornton (Bachman–Turner Overdrive)
- Johnny Thunders (The Heartbreakers)
- Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze)
- Andy Timmons (Danger Danger)
- Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
- Paul Tobias (Guns N' Roses)
- Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)
- Simon Tong (The Verve, The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
- Peter Tork (The Monkees)
- Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance)
- Sam Totman (DragonForce)
- Ralph Towner (Oregon)
- Mark Lee Townsend (DC Talk)
- Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, The Devin Townsend Band)
- Pete Townshend (The Who)
- Simon Townshend (The Who, Casbah Club)
- Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge, Creed)
- Joseph Trohman (Fall Out Boy)
- Robin Trower (Procol Harum)
- Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band, The Derek Trucks Band)
- Corin Tucker (Heavens to Betsy, Sleater-Kinney)
- Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap)
- Luca Turilli (Rhapsody of Fire)
- John Turnbull (The Blockheads)
- Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)
- Ike Turner (Kings of Rhythm, Ike & Tina Turner Revue)
- Mike Turner (Our Lady Peace, Fair Ground)
- Steve Turner (Mudhoney, Green River)
- Dan Tyminski (Alison Krauss)
- Olli Tukiainen (Poets of the Fall)
U[edit]
- Keith Urban (The Ranch)
- Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco)
- Midge Ure (Slik, Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Ultravox, Visage)
- Farin Urlaub (Die Ärzte, Soilent Grün, King Køng)
V[edit]
- Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, Whitesnake)
- Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake)
- Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
- Steve Van Zandt (E Street Band)
- Donnie Van Zant (38 Special)
- Nick Valensi (The Strokes)
- Hilton Valentine (The Animals)
- James Valentine (Maroon 5)
- Sergio Vallín (Maná)
- Mike Varney (Outlaws)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble)
- Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
- Zacky Vengeance (Avenged Sevenfold)
- John Verity (Argent, Charlie)
- Tom Verlaine (Television)
- Henry Vestine (Canned Heat)
- Brian Viglione (The Dresden Dolls, The World/Inferno Friendship Society)
- Elias Viljanen (Sonata Arctica)
- Jacky Vincent (Falling In Reverse)
- Vinnie Vincent (KISS)
- Lee Ving (Fear)
- Cody Votolato (The Blood Brothers)
- Rocky Votolato (Waxwing)
- Emppu Vuorinen (Nightwish)
W[edit]
- Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (a-ha)
- Jason Wade (Lifehouse)
- Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me)
- Dave Wakeling (The Beat, General Public)
- Patrick Walden (Babyshambles)
- Geordie Walker (Killing Joke)
- Jon Walker (The Young Veins, Panic! at the Disco)
- Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie)
- Gordon Waller (Peter and Gordon)
- Denny Walley (The Mothers of Invention, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, Frank Zappa)
- Joe Walsh (James Gang, Eagles)
- Rich Ward (Fozzy)
- Dustie Waring (Between the Buried and Me)
- Baz Warne (The Stranglers)
- Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek)
- Stan Webb (Chicken Shack)
- Dean Ween (Ween)
- Gene Ween (Ween)
- John Weider (Eric Burdon & The Animals)
- Dave Weiner (Steve Vai)
- Jona Weinhofen (I Killed The Prom Queen, Bring Me The Horizon, Bleeding Through)
- Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac)
- Brian Welch (Korn)
- Bruce Welch (The Shadows)
- Paul Weller (The Jam, The Style Council)
- John Wesley (Porcupine Tree)
- Leslie West (Mountain)
- Jim West ('Weird Al' Yankovic)
- Robert Westerholt (Within Temptation)
- Tim Wheeler (Ash)
- Clarence White (The Kentucky Colonels, Nashville West, The Byrds, Muleskinner)
- Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)
- Andrew White (Kaiser Chiefs)
- Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs)
- Jason White (Green Day, Pinhead Gunpowder)
- Snowy White (Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, David Gilmour)
- Steve White (PIG, KMFDM)
- Vince White (The Clash)
- Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
- John 'Charlie' Whitney (Family, Streetwalkers)
- Buddy Whittington (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers)
- Jonny Wickersham (Youth Brigade, U.S. Bombs, Social Distortion)
- Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go's)
- Hayley Williams (Paramore)
- Rich Williams (Kansas)
- Pete Willis (Def Leppard)
- Marty Willson-Piper (The Church)
- Alan Wilson (Canned Heat)
- Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
- Nancy Wilson (Heart)
- Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Blackfield)
- Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche, Soulbender)
- Steve Winwood (Traffic, Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group)
- Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory)
- Wong Ka Kui (Beyond)
- Paul Wong (Beyond)
- Sigurd Wongraven (Satyricon)
- Craig Wood (Avril Lavigne, Gob)
- Ronnie Wood (Small Faces, The Jeff Beck Group, The Rolling Stones)
- Brian Wooten (White Heart)
- Bob Wootton (The Tennessee Three)
- Owen Wright (Mistrust, My Sister's Machine)
- Zakk Wylde (Pride and Glory, Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)
Y[edit]
- Taylor York (Paramore)
- Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
- Yumi Yoshimura (Puffy AmiYumi)
- Angus Young (AC/DC)
- James 'JY' Young (Styx)
- Jeff Young (Megadeth)
- Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
- Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
- Yael Yuzon (Sponge Cola)
Z[edit]
- Roy Z (Rob Rock, Bruce Dickinson)
- Buddy Zabala (Eraserheads, The Dawn)
- Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)
- Frank Zappa (The Mothers of Invention)
- Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
- Billy Zoom (X)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Mario Torta, 'Carulli, Ferdinando (M[aria?] Meinrado Francesco Pascale Rosario)', The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London: Macmillan Publishers, 2001).
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_guitarists&oldid=902762685'
The birth of MTV in 1981 changed the game of the music industry. The art form of the music video was born and the importance of image became even more powerful. Nothing defined this new art form like Michael Jackson’s 1982 music video for “Thriller”. Produced in partnership with MTV, the video set viewers’ expectations high with its technically advanced visual narrative, massive budget and Hollywood director.
The ’90s was a decade filled with music videos that both challenged and delighted the viewer. Some pushed boundaries and some were unlike anything we’d ever seen before. A single video could take an underground emerging genre to the masses; it could ignite fashion trends and inspire technological and design innovation; it could act as a political statement or a glimpse into another world but ultimately, it could sell millions of records.
Below is our list of 25 music videos that are iconic in their ability to capture the essence of ’90s pop culture.
Nothing really says ’90s like George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” music video. After stating he would never step in front of a camera again, Michael cast iconic ’90s supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Tatjana Patitz in his video after being inspired by Peter Lindbergh’s 1990 British Vogue cover. Instead of playing love interests, Michael was the first to have supermodels play the lead role of a music video.
Michael’s struggle with fame can be seen throughout the video as his signature props from his breakout single “Faith” video (the leather jacket, guitar and jukebox) ignite in flames as the word “freedom” is repeated.
No video harnessed the essence of the ’90s grunge era like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Set in a high school gym, the video’s premise is an anarchist pep rally. Nirvana fans volunteered to fill the bleachers but after being on set for 12 hours, they were irritated and restless. Near the end of shooting, Cobain suggested they trash the set and the iconic footage reflecting raw teen angst and destruction was captured. While the single wasn’t expected to be a hit, audiences immediately responded to the song and requested the video so often Nirvana ended up winning Best New Artist and Best Alternative Group at the MTV Music Video Awards.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is Nirvana’s biggest hit having reached platinum status. The song earned Nirvana two Grammy nominations (Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal and Best Rock Song) and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of “The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” in 1997.
You can’t think of ’90s music videos and not picture Alicia Silverstone flipping the bird to her ex-boyfriend as she jumps off an overpass. Everything about this video screams ’90s: plaid shirts, Doc Martens, t-shirt dresses, belly-button piercings (the video is said to have sparked the naval piercing craze), not to mention 16-year-old Alicia Silverstone herself. “Cryin'” was the first of three Aerosmith videos for Silverstone including “Amazing” (1993) with Jason London and “Crazy” (1994) with Liv Tyler (1994).
Spike Jonze’s 1999 video for “Praise You” was the first glimpse of the concept of a flash mob. The craze would begin later in the 2000s with the emergence of YouTube but in 1999, no one had seen anything like it. After sending Fatboy Slim his solo dance video for “The Rockafeller Skank”, Jonze landed creative control for the “Praise You” video. Shot on a camcorder in guerrilla style, assistant director Roman Coppola recorded Jonze (performing as “Richard Koufey”) leading the fictional Torrence Community Dance Group in a routine outside of a California movie theatre. Fatboy Slim can be seen at the end of the video when he looks into the camera as Jonze describes his “b-boy moves.”
Sinéad O’Connor’s video for her version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” is one of the most iconic videos of all time. The intimate video won multiple awards at the MTV Music Video Awards including the coveted Video of the Year Award making O’Connor the first ever female recipient. The power of “Nothing Compares 2 U” lies in its loneliness: the dark empty background, grim lighting, footage of O’Connor walking alone through Paris’s Parc de Saint-Cloud and most effectively, the extended closeup shots that intensify the emotion that floods her face. The moment her real tears appear and fall down her face makes this video captivating 27 years later.
The video for the Foo Fighters’ single “Big Me” captures two moments in ’90s pop culture history: cringeworthy Mentos commercials and the emergence of the Foo Fighters. After writing and recording the entire debut Foo Fighters album himself in an effort to heal from the death of Kurt Cobain, the self-titled record was the first music most Nirvana fans heard from Grohl. While much of the album stays true to the grunge-rock genre, “Big Me” is something completely different. The fourth single is ultra pop and became a crossover hit for the band. Embracing the jingle-like melody of the single, the band agreed to a parody video concept. Replacing Mentos with Footos, the band mocked the corny Mentos commercials and created what would be the first in their series of hilarious music videos.
TLC’s second No. 1 single came with 1995’s “Waterfalls.” Written by Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, Organized Noise, and Marqueze Etheridge, “Waterfalls” deals with the widespread ’90s issues of HIV/AIDS, drug crime and drug-related murder rates. “Waterfalls” is said to be the first No. 1 song in which the AIDS epidemic is specifically referenced in the lyrics.
“Criminal” was one of the most controversial videos of the ’90s. Although it was the fifth single from Fiona Apple’s debut album Tidal, it was the breakout track of the record. Scenes of an extremely thin 19-year-old Apple shedding her clothing, laying in the laps of half-naked men and lying naked in a bathtub sparked slut-shaming against her in the media as well as accusations of promoting the gaunt heroin-chic body trend of the ’90s. Apple defended her video by revealing in 1998 that after she was raped at age 12, she had developed an eating disorder in order to get “rid of the bait that was attached to my body” and that doing the “Criminal” video was a way for her to face her insecurities.
Written by R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry, “Everybody Hurts” addressed the issue of suicide, the sixth-highest cause of death in the U.S. at the time. Focused on the message of the song, director Jake Scott (son of director Ridley Scott) displayed subtitles of the lyrics throughout the subtitled thoughts of strangers who sit stuck in a traffic jam. As thoughts like, “You die. You turn to dust,” “I’ll talk when I want to,” and “Leave me alone” appear, Berry’s empathetic lyrics respond on the screen with phrases like, “sometimes everybody cries” and “everybody hurts sometimes.” As the chorus repeats “hold on,” everyone gets out of their cars and disappears walking the Texas Interstate together.
Spike Jonze upped the ante of the badass Beastie Boys track “Sabotage” with the visual element of ’70s-style cop show action sequences. The combination of Jonze’s camera angles, car stunts, and chase scenes are the perfect visuals for the explosiveness of the song’s dynamics. The retro costumes, wigs and moustaches worn by The Beastie Boys as they portray various fictional characters gives the video a ridiculous humour making it even more engaging to watch. After losing in each of the five categories the video was nominated in at the 1994 MTV Music Video Awards, MCA rushed the stage in his Nathaniel Hornblower disguise from the video and interrupted Michael Stipe’s speech, protesting the fact that “Sabotage” had failed to receive any awards. 15 years later the video won the Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman) Award.
Spike Jonze strikes again with the nostalgia-soaked Weezer video for “Buddy Holly.” With its hand claps and lyrical references to ’50s icons Mary Tyler Moore and Buddy Holly, the video is right at home in Arnold’s Diner from the set of Happy Days. After tirelessly sorting through episode footage, Jonze edited clips of the cast around actor Al Molinaro’s cameo and footage of the band creating a seamless blend of three eras: ’90s music, ’70s television, and ’50s fashion.
Radiohead’s music video for “Karma Police” is one of the band’s most memorable music videos. Director Jonathan Glazer (who also directed “Street Spirit (Fade Out)“), called the video a failure at the time, explaining that his attempt to have subjective, minimalist camera use and to create something hypnotic and dramatic from a single perspective wasn’t achieved. Fans disagree. 20 years later, the video is still as captivating as it was in 1997. It was reported that Glazer had originally pitched the video idea to Marilyn Manson. Luckily fate intervened saving the concept for the well-matched lyrics of “Karma Police.” From the perspective of the driver’s seat, we participate in the hunting down of a man running from the car on a country road as Thom Yorke loosely mouths the lyrics in the back seat. After finally collapsing, the man realizes the car is leaking fuel and sets the car ablaze as the viewer’s last perspective is from within the burning car. Yorke himself collapsed during the making of the video. Rumour spread that the lethargic Yorke had been accidentally inhaling carbon monoxide through the car’s air-conditioning system and that after filming he fainted and nearly died.
The music video for Daft Punk’s “Around The World” is immediately mesmerizing in its design and intricate choreography. Directed by Michel Gondry (also known for The Chemical Brothers’ “Let Forever Be”, Bjork’s “Bachelorette” and “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters), the video features groups of dancers representing the different instruments in the song: The robots represent the singing voice, the tall athletes in tracksuits with small prosthetic heads symbolize the bass guitar, the synchronized swimmers represent the high-pitched keyboard, the skeletons symbolize the guitar line and the mummies represent the drum machine. Gondry wrote in the liner notes of his DVD set, “If I had to pick one of my videos to be the favorite one, this one could do.”
Two icons of the ’90s joined forces in 1996: Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beavis and Butt-Head. Created for the soundtrack of Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, the Red Hot Chili Peppers covered “Love Rollercoaster” — a funk original by the Ohio Players in 1975. The animated video captures the reckless rock-and-roll reputations of both the cartoon duo and the band (with Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro replacing guitarist John Frusciante) as Flea free-falls off a roller-coaster, Beavis breathes fire, Butt-head destroys a city, head-banging ensues and they all end up naked in the end of the animated ’90s chaos.
Who knew a dude walking down a street could be so enthralling? What makes the video for The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” so effective is its direction. Created as an homage to Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Sympathy”, director Walter A. Stern created the feel of a single continuous shot with over 50 takes. Lead singer Richard Ashcroft walks down a London street without changing his pace or direction bumping fellow pedestrians, knocking a woman onto the ground, walking over the hood of a car, only stopping once for a moving car in his path. The video ends with the rest of the band joining him and becomes the shot that would be the starting point for their next music video, “The Drugs Don’t Work.”
Daft Punk director Michel Gondry returns to our list for the stunning visual of “Let Forever Be” by The Chemical Brothers featuring Noel Gallagher. Gondry created a mind-blowing kaleidoscopic dream world in which a girl’s nightmares are visualized with elements of surrealism, Busby Berkeley-inspired choreography and the manipulation of dimension and scale. Instead of using digital effects to depict multiplying objects, Gondry used real objects, dancers and choreography to create the flaring and kaleidoscope effects throughout the video.
Director Jonathan Glazer appears on our list again for the mind-bending music video for “Virtual Insanity.” Jamiroquai’s most well known video, it blew the MTV Music Video Awards away with 10 nominations and four wins including Breakthrough Video, Video of the Year, Best Cinematography and Best Special Effects. Throughout the video Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay glides along a floor that appears to move in all directions underneath of him while furniture slides around the room. Though the floor appears to be moving throughout the video, it is actually the set that moves, creating an optical illusion. While the moving set manipulates the space, Jay Kay’s presence and smooth choreography creates a focal point for the viewer that only adds to the fascination of the video. Watch Glazer describe how he made “Virtual Insanity.” here
Two words: Bee Girl. Blind Melon’s “No Rain” became one of the most played music videos on MTV in its time thanks to Heather DeLoach’s portrayal of a little tap-dancing girl in a homemade bee costume. The video begins with the girl being laughed at after she performs a tap dance at a talent show. After crying onstage she wanders the streets meeting strangers until she eventually comes a gated field where Blind Melon is playing. Seeing a group of people dancing in bee costumes, the girl is overjoyed to have found people like her. Although the song has an upbeat melody, the lyrics of “No Rain” deal with themes of loneliness, depression and the longing for happiness. The little girl’s journey throughout the video reflects both emotional elements of the song – the yearning to feel accepted as well as the joy felt in the music itself. The “No Rain” video inspired Pearl Jam’s 1994 song, “Bee Girl.”
Lauryn Hill’s video for “Doo-Wop (That Thing)” is an ode to the roots of the neo soul movement with the visualization of both ’60s soul and ’90s hip-hop culture. Shot with a split screen, the video portrays block parties from two different eras. The Lauryn on the left is the doo-wop queen singing the soft backing vocals and performing choreographed dance moves while the Lauryn on the right delivers the song’s rap lyrics and has the swagger of a hip hop artist in her performance.
Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” video was premiered simultaneously in 28 different countries, resulting in a record-breaking 500 million viewers. The “Black or White” video is full of ’90s pop culture with cameos by Tyra Banks, Cheers star George Wendt and Macaulay Culkin in a bedroom with posters of Bart Simpson and Wayne Gretzky. Described as “a rock ‘n’ roll dance song about racial harmony” by Jackson’s label Epic, the video features Jackson dancing with various cultures around the world. What made the video so memorable was the morphing technique used as actors of different races and genders sing the chorus and seamlessly transform into each other. The extended version of the video in which Jackson morphs out of a black panther and begins a 4 minute dance sequence in which he grabs his groin, zips up his pants, smashes windows, trashes a car and blows up an inn created controversy and caused networks to ban the last section of the video.
With her music video for “Vogue,” Madonna and director David Fincher brought the voguing scene from underground New York gay clubs to the mainstream. The song brought disco back from the dead and ushered house music into popular music. The video pays homage to photographer Horst P. Horst’s famous photographs from the ’30s as well as legends from Hollywood’s golden era as Madonna lists glamorous icons like Bette Davis, Ginger Rogers, and Grace Kelly in the lyrics. The iconic Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra designed for her Blonde Ambition Tour made its first public appearance in “Vogue.”
The video concept for “Ironic” is super simple but, man, did it work. Nominated for six MTV Music Video Awards, the video took home three wins at the 1996 ceremony. The multiple versions of Morissette singing together in a car amplified the irresistible sing-along quality of the song’s chorus. After bursting onto the mid-’90s music scene with the intensity of “You Oughta Know” and “All I Really Want,” this light-hearted video was an extension of the playful lyrical style of Morissette’s third single, “Hand In My Pocket.” “Ironic” went on to win a Juno Award, two Grammy nominations and become Morissette’s highest-charting single to date.
The Spice Girls stormed into the pop world with their video for “Wannabe” bringing their message of “Girl Power” with them. The video, completed in one continuous shot, captured the free-spirited, rambunctious energy of the all-girl group. Filmed in London, the video shows the girls crashing the Midland Grand Hotel dressed in the signature styles of their Spice Girl identities: Sporty, Scary, Ginger, Posh and Baby Spice. “Wannabe,” written in 30 minutes in their first professional songwriting session, was found to be the most recognizable song of the past 60 years according to a 2014 study by the University of Amsterdam. Their album, Spice, became the best-selling album by a female group in history and one of the most successful albums of all time. For a group whose original lineup was broken-up within two years of “Wannabe”‘s U.S. release, their domination of the pop world with two platinum albums and a feature film that broke the record for the highest-ever weekend debut on Super Bowl weekend grossing over 77 million dollars is pretty remarkable.
The video for Eminem’s debut single “My Name Is” introduced the world to one of the most controversial entertainers in music history. Rapping lyrics like “I’ll f*ck anything that walks / When I was little I used to get so hungry I would throw fits / How you gonna breastfeed me mom, you ain’t got no tits,” viewers got the first taste of Eminem’s unapologetic abrasiveness. Released in 1999, the video acts as a mini 1990s time capsule with its references to Primus, Nine Inch Nails, Spice Girls, Pamela Lee (Anderson), Marilyn Manson, Usher and Bill Clinton. As he would in later videos, Eminem played multiple characters and celebrities while he acted out his graphic lyrics. Recorded in one take, the song earned Eminem his first Grammy Award as well as the MTV Music Video Award for Best New Artist in a Video.
Britney Spears has released 44 music videos and yet her debut in “…Baby One More Time” will forever be her legacy. The sexualized school girl uniform, the pink puffs in her pigtail braids, the dancing sequences, the midriff – Spears established her career with a hit song and an unforgettable image. The credit for the iconic concept and wardrobe of “…Baby One More Time” is due to 16-year-old Spears who pitched the ideas to director Nigel Dick after disapproving of his plan to create an animated video. Instead, the video takes place in Venice High School (the same high school where Grease was filmed) where Spears daydreams about dancing throughout the school in front of her crush (oddly played by her cousin, Abercromie & Fitch model Chad Spears). With its chart-topping status and platinum sales, “…Baby One More Time” immediately opened the floodgate for female teen pop stars. Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore all appeared on the music scene the following year. In 2008, Total Request Live named “…Baby One More Time” the most iconic music video of all time and chose it to be the last video ever to be played on the show. “…Baby One More Time” remains Britney Spears’s best-selling single with over 10 million copies sold making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Image via Wikipedia Commons