After leaving Helloween in 1989, the band he founded, guitarist Kai Hansen (b. 17 January 1963, Hamburg, Germany) teamed up with ex-Tyran Pace vocalist Ralf Scheepers. The intention was to record an album of existing material that had been deemed uns…

Creative pop songs, set with groovy beats and rhythmic guitars.

Power blues featuring sizzling guitar work and down home gritty vocals.

After he departed Hawkwind in the mid-1970s, bassist/gravel-voiced singer Lemmy formed the hard-rocking Motorhead. Referred to by punk rockers as "the only metal band that matters," the rowdy trio was one of the leaders of the early-'80s New Wave of …

Metallica deflated the pomposity of 1970s rock, while reinvigorating heavy metal with their fast, fierce, and surprisingly melodic sound. Pioneers of the thrash metal subgenre, vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich set down the fo…

U2's Bono was one of the few real rock heroes of the 1980s, leading the Irish band to international recognition with a charged, political approach to music. The band's early efforts brought a stadium-size presence to alt-rock, with Bono's expressive …

This French band was formed in 1986 by Manu Chao (b. Oscar Tramor, 26 June 1961, Paris, France; guitar, vocals), his brother Antonio Chao (trumpet), and his cousin Santiago Casiriego (drums). Formed from the remnants of the Paris-based rockabilly out…

Toronto-based vocalist Myles spent much of her early career unsuccessfully shopping for a recording contract in her native Canada, but when she and writing partner Christopher Ward changed tack, targeting an American deal with a David Tyson-produced …

Spanish pop duet Estopa formed by brothers Jos and David Muoz made an impressive debut with the release of their self-titled debut album released by BMG-Ariola The group became a top-selling act in less than a year Playing a mixture of flamencopop an…

In the early 1980s, aspiring New Jersey musician John Bongiovi assembled a rock band, secured a record deal, and changed his name to Jon Bon Jovi. By 1986, Bon Jovi's brand of melodic hard rock was a runaway hit, with the band's third album, SLIPPERY…

Robert Palmer was best known as the smoothie who monopolized MTV in the 1980s, crooning "Addicted to Love" before a backdrop of guitar-wielding models, though he had far more substance than that image would suggest. The British soulster began in an E…

Though '90s intercontinental rock band Garbage first attracted interest due to founder Butch Vig's lofty production resume (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, et al), the group soon earned a reputation (and audience) fully on its own merits. With a wide ran…

Formed in 1994 in East Berlin, Germany, this confrontational alternative rock band first came to international prominence when film and television director David Lynch (Twin Peaks) declared his admiration and commissioned them to work with him. By th…

While the 1980s Los Angeles rock scene will forever be associated with pretty-boy glam metal, it also spawned Guns N' Roses, one of the most in-your-face, streetwise, and controversial bands of the era. Axl Rose & company's roots lay in The Stones, A…

Coming out of the grass-roots Gilman St. punk scene of the early-1990s Bay Area, Green Day exploded into the mainstream with their third album, 1994's DOOKIE. The trio's punk energy and pop hooks, influenced by first-generation punks like the Buzzcoc…

The Australian band Midnight Oil made several excellent albums of guitar-fueled alt-rock during its long career, which began in the 1970s and lasted into the 21st century. Despite international hits that included "Beds Are Burning" and "Forgotten Yea…

Scorpions are one of Germany's most popular rock exports. As part of the first wave of 1970s heavy metal, the band played a tight melodic version of the increasingly harder and heavier rock that was becoming popular at the time. Scorpions would go on…

Chart-toppers in their native Finland, Nightwish was formed in 1996 by classically-trained vocalist Tarja Turunen (b. 17 August 1977), Tuomas Holopainen (b. 25 December 1976; keyboards) and Emppu Vuorinen (b. Erno Vuorinen, 24 June 1978; guitar), as …

German punkmetal band Die Toten Hosen formed early in the 80s from the ashes of two Dsseldorf punk bands ZK and KFC Considering that three members of the Hosen were named Andreas they took assumed names to avoid confusion vocalist Campino b Andreas F…

Before The Smashing Pumpkins, alternative rock had yet to touch upon the grandiose arena rock of the 1970s. Leader/singer/guitarist/songwriter Billy Corgan composed songs that were somehow part Boston, Cure, Queen, and Jane's Addiction. The Pumpkins …

Paul Spencer (b. Crewe, Cheshire, England) and Scott Rosser (b. Llanelli, Wales) first met on a Pop Music And Recording course at Manchester's Salford College in 1989. After graduating the duo recorded several limited edition singles that found favou…

Formed in 1998 by DJ Gismo born Ismo Lappalainen and BOW short for Brothers of the Words born Raymond Ebanks the Finnish hip-hopelectro-funkhouse outfit burst into the local pop music scene in 1999 with the release of their first smash Freestyler Aft…

This non-traditionalist modern rock act from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA was formed by Jimmy Pop Ali (vocals) and Lupus (guitar). The original line-up made their debut with 1994's Dingleberry Haze EP, which was released on the independent Cheese …

b. Anthony Ray, 12 August 1963, USA. Seattle based MC and producer Sir Mix-A-Lot broke with "Posse On Broadway", a statement of intent released on his own label in 1986, which went on to sell over a million copies. Further crossover success arrived w…

Xzibit is one of the most respected rappers in the West Coast underground. The Detroit-born/L.A.-based MC created a nice buzz with his 1996 debut, AT THE SPEED OF LIFE, which displayed Xzibit's fierce, technically dazzling flow, and a creative emphas…

This sophisticated melodic US rock band was put together by guitarists Jim Peterik (formerly of the Ides Of March) and Frankie Sullivan in 1978. Recruiting vocalist Dave Bickler, they recorded their self-titled debut as a three-piece. This featured a…

This fusion unit was formed in 1970 by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger (b. 12 May 1936, Berlin, Germany). Doldinger had led his own quartet since 1962, enjoying a good reputation in Europe and the USA. His intention with Passport was the exploration of a…