Glenn Frey was one of the founding members of The Eagles. In addition to lending his great guitar skills, Frey wrote most of their iconic songs, such as Take It Easy and Heartache Tonight, making one of them a symbolic bans of the California soft rock sound. The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles in 1971 and became one of the world’s best-selling bands, with over 200 million records sold.
With their iconic and undying ‘Hotel California,’ this band is one of the only musical teams on our list that is still actively touring today! Today they are still touring the United States and playing their iconic greatest hits.
Jack White
Leader of the two-man band White Stripes, Jack White, created the band in 1997 along with his sister percussionist and singer sister, Meg White. The guitarist, vocalist, singer, and pianist shot to fame in 2002 with their hit song "Seven Nation Army," expertly reviving garage rock with a signature opening riff that can instantly be recognized to this day.
The Detroit-born musicians were on a roll but disbanded in 2011 and have been inactive since. They will be remembered for their simple yet unique composition and arrangements. Their three last albums got them a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. To get a feel for The White Stripes, listen to"Fell In Love With A Girl."
Gary Rossington
The Jacksonville, Florida-born musician, born in the year 1951, grew up to form the iconic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, created became a staple of the American rock lover. Rossington was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins.
Gary Rossington's guitar stylings were felt most in “Sweet Home Alabama” This patriotic American hit is the band's most-known song to date and is widely thought to be the quintessential classic rock song of all time.
Mike McCready
Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990, Pearl Jam was the essential band of that time. While frontman Eddie Vedder had a lot to do with that, it was also due to guitarist Mike McCready whose midtempo melodies in songs like "Alive" and "Even Flow" kept the moshers goings.
Pearl Jam first burst into the mainstream music scene with its 1991 debut album "Ten" and helped popularize grunge music in the early '90s. They are also known for often undertaking tough issues such as the environment, foreign politics, and world hunger and putting them into their music.
Peter Buck
The co-founder and lead guitarist of one of the most loved alternative rock bands of all time, R.E.M has been praised for his work in the band and outside of it. Still, he is mostly recognized by his band, which he formed with Michael Stipe and Mike Mills. Nirvana and Pavement described R.E.M. as a pioneer of the alternative rock genre.
The band received seven nominations at the 34th Grammys for their 1991 album 'Out of Time, while the hit song “Losing My Religion” reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The band retired in 2011. To feel the full force of Peter Buck's alternative 90s stylings, to "Out of Time," “Nightswimming,” and “It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”