What Makes a ‘90s Band?

Red Hot Chili Peppers

On November 28, 1997, I saw The Rolling Stones play the Kingdome in Seattle. I was 25, not a huge Stones fan, but I figured it might be my last chance to see a legendary band that had been around for 35 years... they were old, after all. I felt young among the thousands of longtime fans. But I also noticed people who were my age and others who spanned generations. Like me, they were probably excited to see a band from the ‘60s.

Third Eye Blind opened, a brand new band touring their 1997 debut. Today, Third Eye Blind is a 32-year-old band—and still touring, just like the Stones, and just like seemingly all of their ‘90s peers.

Oasis, who formed in 1991 and last toured in 2009, is currently selling out the stadiums of the world. I recently saw Alanis Morissette perform her 1995 debut album Jagged Little Pill (quite well) to a sold-out crowd. I’m bummed to have just missed Supergrass, and I can’t wait for Shudder To Think’s October shows. I’ll probably go see Everclear this fall. But not Everlast. Just last week I was blown away by Nine Inch Nails on their second sold-out night at Brooklyn’s Barclays center.

Oasis

It’s safe to say the ‘90s are back. Many ’90s bands, whether once massive or niche, are now drawing the biggest crowds of their careers. Partly nostalgia, sure. But I think it’s more about scale: in the mid-’90s, my alt-rock shows drew crowds aged 15–40. Now they’re 15–70. Original fans are back—sometimes with kids, even grandkids—alongside younger listeners and people of all ages who discovered this music through streaming and social media, where time doesn’t matter. It’s just like that Rolling Stones show, but now I’m in the middle generation.

But here’s the tricky part: what makes a band a “’90s band”?

Is it simply Weezer, No Doubt, Foo Fighters, Garbage, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, and all the bands that were all over American alternative radio in the mid-’90s?

Do Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains—all founded in the ‘80s—count?

Soundgarden

Radiohead had era-defining hits in the ’90s, but they never stopped making acclaimed albums—are they still a ’90s band? Bjork—same question. Beck, too?

Is Death Cab For Cutie—whose debut was released in 1998—a ‘90s band? Or are they a 2000s band because that’s when they rose to prominence in the mainstream? Deftones—same question.

I want to include Pantera. But GNR—no way, right?

Creed, tho?

What about The Cure or Pixies, who continue to release albums and tour, and who were massive in the ‘90s… but made their seminal albums in the ‘80s. Red Hot Chili Peppers broke through on their 5th album Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 1991, but they released 4 albums before that in the ‘80s. R.E.M. released 6 albums in the ‘80s… but many would argue that they’re a ‘90s band. “Enter Sandman” made Metallica a household name in 1991… on their 5th album.

Sonic Youth? Dinosaur Jr.? Flaming Lips? Cocteau Twins? Beastie Boys?

Who is more ‘90s? Pavement or Live? Or is it The Presidents?

I could go on and on. But I think you get the point.

So: what really defines a ’90s band? Is it when they started? When they peaked? The sound itself? And does it even matter?

I’d love to hear your thoughts—please jump into the comments.

Nabil

---

Comedian and author Youngmi Mayer is this week’s guest on my podcast Identified, Recent guests include John Legend, Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Neko Case, TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, Chase Jarvis, and Laura Lee from Khruangbin. Stay tuned for a rapidly growing list of musicians, comedians, authors and friends talking about family. Identified is available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, 100% free and ad free. LISTEN

---

My memoir is called My Life in the Sunshine. You can order it here, or listen to the audiobook on Spotify.

---

I hope to see you somewhere soon. Upcoming events are always listed here — 2 Northwest events are happening in early October.

Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn

Website Tweet IG FB LinkedIn Playlists