Alternative/Indie Rock

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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1998–present) Los Angeles-based emo-rock band led by Hollywood actor Jared Leto. Originally a family project with drummer brother Shannon, they endured some line-up changes before settling on lead guitarist Tomo Miličeviç. Though singer/guitarist Leto claims reluctance to use his name to promote the band, it has undoubtedly had an impact on the level of airplay they receive. Third LP This Is War (2009) broke the Top 20 in the ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Singer-songwriter, b. 1974) This Canadian singer recorded two teen-oriented albums that went nowhere in 1990 and 1992. Signed to Madonna’s Maverick label, major debut Jagged Little Pill (1995) was a multi-platinum success. Music aside, it was Morissette’s abrasive, honest, sharp lyrical concerns, ranging from anger at being jilted to confessional, that captivated. Singles like ‘Ironic’ and the Chilis-esque rock power of ‘You Oughta Know’ were huge hits. Second album Supposed Former ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 2003–present) Canadian performers Arcade Fire – Win Butler (vocals), Regine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, William Butler, Tim Kingsbury, Sarah Neufeld and Jeremy Gara (all multi-instrumentalists) – gave the public what they did not think they would like with the 2004 Funeral debut. Essentially a modern gothic masterpiece, the record covered dance, folk, baroque, dancehall, ragtime and lashings of melancholy in a way no other band were at the time. ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 2002–present) After fans posted early demos of theirs online and created a Myspace profile for them (before the band themselves were even aware of the site’s existence), Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys – Alex Turner (vocals), Jamie Turner (guitar), Matt Helders (drums) and Andy Nicholson (bass) – saw their wryly accurate take on northern English life consumed by the public. Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1992–present) Hailing from Northern Ireland, Ash comprise Tim Wheeler, (vocals, guitar), Mark Hamilton (bass) and Rick McMurray (drums). Initially trading as teenagers, their infectious blend of indie rock was captured on their debut album 1977 (1996). They had expanded to a wider palette on Nu-Clear Sound (1998) by which time they had added Charlotte Hatherley on additional guitar. Fourth album Meltdown (2005) was a mature rock album. In 2006, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 2001–07) Formed from various seminal rock groups of the heaviest ilk, Audioslave – Chris Cornell (vocals), Tom Morello (guitar), Brad Wilk (drums) and Tim Commerford (bass) – make a racket honed through experience gained in the likes of influential acts Rage Against The Machine and Soundgarden. Perhaps too dry to be taken in one sitting, their eponymous debut still served up ‘Cochise’ (2002), a track so immediately energizing that ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1984) Something of a mass of contradictions, Canada’s Lavigne has latterly been trying to shed the skater-pop image of her debut album Let Go (2002), which contained the massive single ‘Sk8er Boi’, in favour of a more mature, feminine approach. This was clear from her second album Under My Skin (2004), which displayed patently darker themes than the debut, but also through her decision to become the face of ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
104 Words Read More

‘Spaceman’, 1996 Another case of Levi’s jeans popularizing a song into a hit single – something they had done, not only with new songs, but also with reissues of classic soul songs in the 1980s – Babylon Zoo’s ‘Spaceman’ was an electro-pop hit that appealed instantly to a mid-1990s crowd, but would seem dated and clumsy today. Jas Mann (pronounced ‘jazz man’) was the group’s driving force, and he/they were pretentious ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 2004–present) In every way a vehicle for ex-Libertine Pete Doherty (vocals), Babyshambles – Adam Ficek (drums) and Drew McConnell (bass) – continually teeter on the edge of greatness but more often than not fail dismally, often as a result of their singer’s criminal misdemeanours. A shame, as debut Down In Albion (2005) had some fine moments – most notably the track ‘Pentonville’, a stirring reggae melody sung by an ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1970) Damon Gough’s charming Badly Drawn Boy alter ego found initial (if cult) success on the roster of the UK’s DIY Twisted Nerve label. A folk singer with allusions of grandeur, Gough sidestepped the tag of troubadour by soundtracking the About A Boy film (2002) and steadily learning to incorporate string sections and orchestras into his sound. He leapt from alternative oddball to daytime radio staple with ease, losing ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1970) By making music that incorporates eclectic influences from folk, hip hop, rock, electronica and studio prowess, Beck Hansen has become one of the most influential American solo artists. Early EPs, albums and singles like the classic ‘Loser’ were released on a variety of labels. When Beck signed to Geffen he retained the unheard-of right to release material on other labels. Odelay (1996) delivered every promise. Mutations (1998) was ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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Indie guitarist and producer Bernard Butler (b. 1970) was born in Tottenham, London. After learning violin as a child, he took up guitar at the age of 14, inspired by Johnny Marr, learning Smiths’ guitar parts by watching the band play live. He was also influenced by Bernard Sumner and Aztec Camera’s Roddy Frame. After replying to an advertisement in the ‘Musicians Wanted’ column of Melody Maker, he successfully auditioned ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1995–present) Belligerent Scottish rock trio Biffy Clyro – Simon Neil (vocals and guitar), James Johnston (bass) and his twin brother Ben (drums) – issued breakthrough album Puzzle, which reached No. 2 in the UK, in 2007 after their first three LPs failed to reach the Top 40. Follow-up Only Revolutions (2009) also hit the Top 10, ensuring their guitar-laden alt-rock permeated the airwaves and proving, after five years in ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
101 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1981–2001) Stuart Adamson began with Scottish punk band The Skids. His Caledonian heritage came to the fore with Big Country, as he employed guitar gizmos to create a choral ‘bagpipe’ sound. The epic, yearning songs of debut album The Crossing (1983) played well in America. The follow-up, the more political Steeltown (1984), was a UK No. 1, and singles such as ‘Wonderland’ and ‘Look Away’ fared well for Scotland’s ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
94 Words Read More

Alternative-rock guitarist Billy Corgan (b. 1967) was born in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after starting high school, Corgan began to learn guitar on an imitation Gibson Les Paul. His father, a musician, suggested that Billy listen to Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix but refused to teach him to play; consequently, Corgan was self-taught. His early influences were the mainstream rock of Queen, Boston, ELO and Cheap Trick, along with heavier outfits ...

Source: Rock Guitar Heroes, consultant editor Rusty Cutchin
417 Words Read More
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