To share a somewhat controversial opinion by way of paraphrasing Homer Simpson; “Everyone knows rock attained perfection in the ’90s, it’s a scientific fact,” and frankly, if you asked us, we might just agree with you. Sure, a lot of acts from the ’90s have fallen into that category in which going along to their gigs is just met with derision and sneers (Creed, anyone?), but a vast majority have managed to buck that trend and maintain quality for years.
With US rock juggernauts Helmet heading to Australia next month to play their classic 1994 record Betty in full, we’ve decided to take a look back at 16 bands from the nineties who have managed to avoid falling into obscurity and still manage to kill it.
Let’s be fair though, the ’90s produced so many amazing bands that a list like this can only just scratch the surface, but we’re going to take a look back at a small selection of these bands who can still crush it onstage and off.
Helmet
Helmet released their first album, Strap It On, in 1990 and made critics fall in love with them almost instantly. After releasing their first major label record, Meantime, in 1992, the group fielded offers from eight different record labels, ultimately landing them a $1 million recording contract for their follow-up record.
That record, Betty, has gone on to be considered a classic of the genre for legions of fans, and received almost universal critical acclaim from music critics. Helmet have undergone a breakup in that time, and shuffled their lineup a couple of times, but frontman Page Hamilton’s blazing licks and powerful vocals still kick as much ass as they ever did.
The Living End
The Living End should need no introduction at this point. With a 23 year history behind them, and seven albums to show for it, the group have constantly been at the forefront of Aussie rock fans’ consciousnesses.
From their early days in which they were perceived as snotty, self-entitled brats (the exact thing they rebelled against in ‘Prisoner Of Society’, remember), to their days being considered Aussie rock royalty, The Living End constantly pump out the goods. With the band still giving fans what they want with their most recent album, Switch, last year, the boys are set to be hanging around for years to come still.
Radiohead
This week marks 20 years since Radiohead dropped their third record, OK Computer, arguably one of the most important albums of the last few decades. Everyone already knew Radiohead were the poster-boys of the 90’s indie-rock movement thanks to their first two albums Pablo Honey and The Bends, but OK Computer sent their fame into overdrive.
Utilising an experimental approach to music and instrumentation, the group ended up starting a run of albums that would not only cement themselves one of the biggest rock bands in the world, but one of the most influential music groups in years. With Radiohead’s most recent album, A Moon Shaped Pool, being released last year, the group are still on top of their game and thankfully show no signs of slowing down.
Veruca Salt
If you were listening to music back in 1994, then Veruca Salt’s American Thighs would have proved inescapable. The debut album from this US rock group proved to be a huge hit in alternative circles, with tracks like ‘Seether’, and ‘Number One Blind’. They continued their assault in 1997, thanks to the hit ‘Volcano Girls’, but some of their follow-up albums were relatively forgettable.
With a comeback album of sorts in 2015, it heralded the return of Veruca Salt, and following an Aussie tour soon after, it proved that Nina Gordon and Louise Post can still rock the house like nobody’s business.
Queens Of The Stone Age
Formed in the wake of the breakup of Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age instantly made a name for themselves as one of the strongest rock bands going around. Sure, the great majority of their fame didn’t occur until the early 2000’s with Rated R, and Songs For The Deaf, but their debut record stands out as one of the best stoner rock debuts in years. Today, the group are still recording and touring and putting on amazing shows no matter where they go.
Foo Fighters
You can’t make a list of great 90’s rock acts without including the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl had already stolen our hearts due to his work as the skinsman in Nirvana, but when that band met its untimely end, Dave Grohl started his own band, with him doing all the work. Soon enough, the project became more of an actual band rather than a solo project, and the hits just wouldn’t stop coming.
These days, Foo Fighters have had so many hits they’re the most-featured band throughout the history of the Hottest 100, and their Australian shows are now almost considered a rite of passage for any young music fan.
You Am I
You Am I, lead by the charismatic Tim Rogers, have been an Aussie household name for well over 25 years now, and with good reason. Thanks to the stunning array of tracks they laid down with their debut record Sound As Ever in 1993, which included the Aussie anthem ‘Berlin Chair’ amongst others, the group have been churning out hit after hit for decades.
With the group still touring and giving Aussie rock fans an education on what its like to be in a real band, seeing them live is one of the smartest moves you can make.
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam have been in the news a bit lately thanks to a bitter Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame fight, but no matter how bad the blood between the members may get, there’s no denying that Pearl Jam are one of the most important rock bands of the 90’s. After breaking onto the music scene with Ten back in 1991, the group began their decades-long career of chart success.
With a penchant for putting on amazing, marathon shows, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’ve gotten tired of this rock business and packed it all in. Thankfully, the boys are still going strong and are still managing to deliver one of the best shows you could ever see.
Regurgitator
The ‘Gurge have been a staple of the Aussie music scene for decades now, and fans have loved them for every minute of that time. From their humorous songs, to their intense and rockin’ live shows, Regurgitator have managed to embody the true essence of alternative music in tis country for years.
With the group occasionally taking breaks from touring to record music which always gets an amazing reception, Regurgitator are intent on delivering some of the best music and live shows you’ll see and hear in this country.
Blink-182
Blink-182 and catchy music are almost synonymous with each other. With the group reaching 25 years of existence this year, they’ve managed to crank out dozens of amazing tunes full of their trademark toilet humour, and brilliantly catchy music. Despite founding member Tom DeLonge having left the band in 2015 to, uh, hunt aliens, the group are still rocking harder than ever thanks in part to the guitar talents of Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio.
With a history of singles under the belt that would make any musician jealous, Blink-182 are undoubtedly one of the most popular, and raunchy, pop-punk bands still going around.
Nine Inch Nails
Sure, Nine Inch Nails might have released their first record in 1989, but can you think of a band that defined the alternative rock scene in the 90’s better than Nine Inch Nails? From their landmark performance at Woodstock 94 to the groundbreaking albums of The Downward Spiral and The Fragile, Trent Reznor and co. have managed to deliver some of the most iconic anthems of industrial rock.
Despite a few hiatuses here and there, Nine Inch Nails are still going strong and releasing new music, with Trent Reznor recently mailing fans a mysterious powder to help promote their new EP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL72Tyxe1rc
Spiderbait
Prior to 2004, a lot of Aussies were somehow unaware of Spiderbait. When they hit the big-time with their cover of ‘Black Betty’, a multitude of new fans were blessed with the chance to be able to discover their back catalogue for the first time. While the band were already huge in alternative circles thanks to hits like ‘Monty’, ‘Shazam!’, and the first Aussie song to top the Hottest 100, ‘Buy Me A Pony’, the mid-2000’s saw the mainstream stand up and take notice, bring Spiderbait to heightened levels of popularity they’ve revelled in ever since.
With the group recently celebrating 20 years of their breakthrough record, Ivy And The Big Apples, with a series of sold-out shows that were the talk of Aussie music fans everywhere, the group are thankfully showing no signs of stopping any time soon.
Weezer
When fans first saw the accompanying film clip to Weezer’s ‘Buddy Holly’, they knew there was something that set this band apart from the rest. With their first self-titled album, often dubbed The Blue Album by fans, going on to boast a number of memorable hits for the band, the group saw immediate success both internationally, and here in Australia.
While the group haven’t toured Australia as much as fans here would like them to, fans in the group’s native USA are frequently treated to a rock show that boats more hits than an Anthony Mundine fight, an that ain’t half bad.
Jebediah
From the second that Kevin Mitchell’s nasal voice rang out on ‘Leaving Home’, Aussies were hooked on the Jebs. With a slew of hits hitting the airwaves from their debut record Slightly Odway, named for the slightly odd way that they make and record music, the group were quick to climb the Aussie charts and take over the triple j airwaves.
With Mitchell these days spending some time as his solo alter ego of Bob Evans, Jebediah shows aren’t as plentiful as they used to be. However, any time that the Perth musos get together, they put on a show that manages to treat their fans to a musical history lesson by way of their massive cache of hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVAiGf-fku0
Rammstein
One of Germany’s best known artists, outside of Nena and her ’99 Luftballons’, Rammstein have been blowing the minds of fans for years, and have managed to deliver some of the most consistently brilliant live shows in the process. From their hard-rocking tunes, to their pyrotechnics-heavy live shows, Rammstein have a visual element to their music and shows that most bands dream of imitating.
With a history of delivering some of the hardest rocking tunes imaginable, and delivering one of the few live shows that require sunscreen to watch, Rammstein are certainly one band who have managed to kill it on stage and off for well over 20 years now.
Placebo
According to Wikipedia, Placebo have released a total of 31 singles in their 23 year career. No matter who you talk to, that’s one heck of a career. When the band burst onto the scene in 1996 with their self-titled debut, they saw limited chart success in Australia.
By the time they released their second record Without You I’m Nothing, Placebo became champions of the indie-rock scene thanks to tracks like ‘Pure Morning’, ‘Every You Every Me’, and ‘You Don’t Care About Us’. This served as the start of a series of amazing albums that would crown the group as indie royalty.
With the group celebrating 20 years since their debut record last year, we can only hope that we’ll see them on Aussie shores again soon so that we may experience the majesty of a Placebo show once more.
Hanson
Now, bear with us on this one, but Hanson are actually still pretty nifty these days. Sure, they once made their way onto Rolling Stone’s list of ten worst bands, but that list put Hanson at number four and Nirvana at number five, so we can’t really put much stock into their opinion.
But with Hanson touring this year to celebrate 25 years of existence, these boys from Oklahoma are set to put on a damn good show, and if the folks lining up for 10 hours outside Adelaide’s HQ venue for their 2014 show are anything to go by, the fans are going to love their performances too.
Helmet 2017 Australian Tour Dates
Monday, 24th April Rosemount Hotel, Perth
Thursday, 27th April The Gov, Adelaide
Friday, 28th April 170 Russell, Melbourne
Saturday, 29th April Manning Bar, Sydney
Sunday, 30th April Brightside, Brisbane
