When grunge hit the mainstream in 1991 thanks to Nirvana’s Nevermind, it seemed like there was an endless supply of alt-rock bands. There was, but, of course, music changes and boy bands and nu-metal eventually pushed the Seattle sound out of the spotlight.

Some of the biggest bands of the era have stuck around and hit it big. Some of them have just stuck around. Here’s a look at some bands that were big in the ‘90s but that you might not realize are still making music—regardless of whether anyone wants them to or not!

Smashing Pumpkins

With albums like Siamese Dream and the epic Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness , this Chicago outfit was at the top of the alt-rock pile. Then, drugs and singer Billy Corgan’s ego destroyed the group resulting in some lame-o side projects. The group reunited (if singer + drummer+ hired hands=reunion), in 2006 for a new album, Zeitgeist, not that anyone should care.

Stone Temple Pilots
Ok, so technically this band has been broken up for several years while frontman Weiland was off making tabloid headlines, court appearances and records with Velvet Revolver. However, the boys reunited in 2008 for a summer reunion gig. Initially written off as mere Pearl Jam/Alice in Chains wannabes thanks to songs like “Sex Type Thing” (video here), the band managed to build a solid career for itself, despite the critical onslaught.

Mudhoney
They didn’t explode in the mainstream the same way Pearl Jam and Nirvana did, but Seattle’s Mudhoney were prominent figures in the grunge scene just the same. Songs such as “Touch Me I’m Sick” are underground classics, making this band one of those groups that many musicians cite as an influence, for good reason. The band’s latest effort, The Lucky Ones, was released in last month. The band is seemingly always on tour, see dates here.

Pearl Jam

Now, for some people this one seems pretty obvious, but considering the band’s decade-long invisibility to radio and MTV, we’re guessing that lots of folks outside of the circle of diehards who collect the live albums the band releases with a nearly Grateful Dead-like frequency, may have believed the band rode off into the Seattle sunset. However the band is alive and well, the boys are even playing Bonnaroo this weekend.

Hole
Regardless of whether Kurt Cobain did or didn’t write the songs for Hole’s breakthrough album, Live Through This, the fact remains that the band had a following before that album, and after it, too. From dirty riot grrl roots to Billy Corgan-assisted popstars, Hole was probably the biggest female group of the era (our apologies to guitarist Erik Erlandson). Whether the band will regroup remains to be seen. Courtney Love’s most recent effort was a solo project, America’s Sweetheart. Hopefully, the next Hole album will suck less.

Nada Surf
This trio was part of the less-grungy segment of the alt-rock nation. The NYC nerd-rock group was largely (and rightfully) written off as a one-hit-wonder after scoring a buzz-worthy MTV video with 1996’s deadpan ode to teenage self-absorption, indie-rock whininess and sour grapes, “Popular.” (watch video here) The spoken word track finds the group offering dating tips for the pre-O.C. set such as “wash your hair.” Ironically, the guys had that greasy, bedhead look going on. At any rate, this band continues to release records, for some reason.

Who Did We Miss?
Do you have a favorite ‘90s band that everyone has forgotten about?
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