Foo Fighters

Initially a solo project conceived by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters wound up carrying the torch for heavy, melodic arena rock, becoming one of the biggest -- and most enduring acts -- to emerge from the alt-rock boom of the 1990s. Once his self-recorded eponymous album turned into a hit in 1995, Grohl turned Foo Fighters into a full-fledged band whose lineup coalesced after the 1997 release of The Colour and The Shape.

With 1999's There Is Nothing Left to Lose, Foo Fighters' sound gelled into a recognizable signature built upon the hooky loud-quiet-loud template of Pixies and Nirvana; a modern rock sound anchored by Grohl's love of classic guitar rock. Alone among their peers, Foo Fighters displayed a rigorous work ethic, recording and touring relentlessly into the 2020s, racking up hit albums, multiple Grammy wins and, eventually, a 2021 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

All this activity allowed the Foos to experiment, whether it was on 2005's double-album In Your Honor, the travelog of 2014's Sonic Highways, or the danceable, feel-good anthems on 2021's Medicine at Midnight. The dedication to work also carried Foo Fighters through tragedy when their drummer Taylor Hawkins unexpectedly died in 2022. Grohl rallied the group to deliver But Here We Are, a cathartic tribute to their colleague.