1990s Rock Bands That Never Made It Big but Should Have

The underground met the mainstream in the 1990s when it came to rock music. Grunge bands like Nirvana went from obscurity to massive fame quite quickly, and it was quite a sight to see. Still, quite a few rock bands from the 1990s never made it big for some reason. And we think they should have! Let’s look at a few examples of such underrated rock outfits.

1. Screaming Trees

Screaming Trees weren’t entirely a grunge band, but they were integral to the eventual growth of the genre in Seattle. Among underrated bands like Melvins and Mudhoney, Screaming Trees does not get brought up as much as they should. “Nearly Lost You” was their biggest career hit in 1992, but issues within the band kept them from becoming more successful. Their lead singer Mark Lanegan passed on in 2022, so we’ll likely never see a revival of the band anytime soon.

2. Ween

Some would argue that Ween is far from underrated. However, we’re going to say they “never made it big” as a mainstream act, specifically. But how could they, with songs like “Mutilated Lips” and “Spinal Meningitis”? They’re the pinnacle of alternative music, complete with jammy elements of funk and metal, plus a bit of country sprinkled in. Even if they aren’t built to resonate with mainstream audiences, they do deserve more love for what they do.

3. The Verve

If you were around in the 1990s, you probably remember “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. It was a British rock classic for a while and even scored a Grammy nom. The Verve as a whole had so much more to give, but they never quite took off internationally. They’re still beloved musicians across the pond, but few alt-rock fans in the US know who they are.

4. Buffalo Tom

Buffalo Tom released quite a few studio albums through the years, most of which were released in the 1990s. They did have a bit of success back then, and they were particularly loved for their stage presence during live performances. Big Red Letter Day from 1993 gave them national attention, but more or less failed to thrive as an internationally-known mainstream rock act.

5. Soul Asylum

Soul Asylum is one of the most underrated 1990s rock bands that never made it big on this list. Even during their heyday, the band struggled to gain recognition. It took six whole album releases for them to hit mainstream audiences with Grave Dancers Union in 1992. Their 1995 follow-up Let Your Dim Light Shine was sorely undervalued, and the band never made it as big as they could have. Luckily, they appear to still be touring today.

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