artists

1. Task 6

2.  1. R.E.M.
 2. Nirvana
 3. The Smiths
 4. Radiohead
 5. Sonic Youth
 6. U2
 7. Elvis Costello & the Attractions
 8. Joy Division
 9. Pixies
 10. The Cure
 11. Pearl Jam
 12. Red Hot Chili Peppers

3.  R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980
by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and
drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands,
R.E.M. released its first single, "Radio Free Europe", in 1981 on the
independent record label Hib-Tone. The single was followed by the
Chronic Town EP in 1982, the band's first release on I.R.S. Records. In
1983, the group released its critically acclaimed debut album, Murmur,
and built its reputation over the next few years through subsequent
releases, constant touring, and the support of college radio. Following
years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit in 1987
with the single "The One I Love". The group signed to Warner Bros.
Records in 1988, and began to espouse political and environmental
concerns while playing large arenas worldwide.
 By the early 1990s, when alternative rock began to experience broad
mainstream success, R.E.M. was viewed by subsequent acts such as
Nirvana and Pavement as a pioneer of the genre and released its two
most commercially successful albums, catapulting it to international
fame, Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992), which
veered from the band's established sound. R.E.M.'s 1994 release, Monster,
was a return to a more rock-oriented sound, but still continued its run of
success

4.  Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and
bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession
of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990. Despite
releasing only three full-length studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come
to be regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era.
 In the late 1980s Nirvana established itself as part of the Seattle grunge scene, releasing its
first album Bleach for the independent record label Sub Pop in 1989. The band eventually
came to develop a sound that relied on dynamic contrasts, often between quiet verses and
loud, heavy choruses. After signing to major label DGC Records, Nirvana found unexpected
success with "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the first single from the band's second album
Nevermind (1991). Nirvana's sudden success widely popularized alternative rock as a whole,
and the band's frontman Cobain found himself referred to in the media as the "spokesman of
a generation", with Nirvana being considered the "flagship band" of Generation X. In
response, Nirvana's third studio album, In Utero (1993), featured an abrasive, less-
mainstream sound and challenged the group's audience. The album did not match the sales
figures of Nevermind but was still a commercial success and critically acclaimed.
 Nirvana's brief run ended following the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, but various
posthumous releases have been issued since, overseen by Novoselic, Grohl, and Cobain's
widow Courtney Love. Since its debut, the band has sold over 25 million records in the
United States alone, and over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-
selling bands of all time.Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014,
its first year of eligibility.

5.  The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of
vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Critics
have called them the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British
independent music scene of the 1980s. Q magazine's Simon Goddard argued in 2007 that The
Smiths were "the one truly vital voice of the '80s", "the most influential British guitar group of the
decade" and the "first indie outsiders to achieve mainstream success on their own terms". The NME
named the Smiths the "most influential artist ever" in a 2002 poll, even topping the Beatles.
 Based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, the group signed to the independent
record label Rough Trade Records, on which they released four studio albums, The Smiths (1984),
Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987). Four of
their albums (including three studio albums) appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest
Albums of All Time. They have also released several compilations, and numerous non-LP singles.
 The Smiths had several singles reach the UK top twenty and all four of their studio albums reached
the UK top five, including one which topped the charts. They won a significant following and
remain cult favourites, although they had limited commercial success outside the UK while they
were still together. The band broke up in 1987 and have turned down several offers to reunite.
 The band's focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound, and their fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk,
were a repudiation of synthesiser-based contemporary dance-pop – the style popular in the early
1980s. Marr's guitar-playing on his Rickenbacker often had a jangly sound reminiscent of Roger
McGuinn of the Byrds. Marr's guitar-playing influenced later Manchester bands, including the Stone
Roses and Oasis. Morrissey's lyrics combined themes about ordinary people with a mordant sense of
humour.

6.  Stevie Nicks
 Janis Joplin
 Amy Lee
 Tina Turner
 Joan Jett
 Ann Wilson
 Pat Benatar

7.  Evanescence is an American rock/metal band occasionally seen as alternative, they
were founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and
guitarist Ben Moody. After recording independent albums, the band released their
first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17
million copies worldwide and helped the band win two Grammy Awards and seven
nominations, as well as scoring No. 6 in CBS's "Top Bestselling Albums of the Last 10
Years" (2008). A year later, Evanescence released their first live album, Anywhere
but Home, which sold more than one million copies worldwide. In 2006, the band
released their second studio album, The Open Door, which sold more than five
million copies.
 The line-up of the group has changed several times: David Hodges leaving in 2002,
co-founder Moody left in 2003 (mid-tour), bassist Will Boyd in 2006, followed by
guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray in 2007. The last two changes led
to a hiatus, with temporary band members contributing to tour performances.
Billboard ranked Evanescence No. 71 on the Best Artists of the Decade chart.
 Announced in June 2009, the newest line-up of the band eventually returned with
Evanescence, their self-titled third studio album, released on October 11, 2011. It
debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 127,000 copies in sales. The album
also debuted at No. 1 on four other different Billboard charts; the Rock Albums,
Digital Albums, Alternative Albums, and the Hard Rock Albums charts. The band
spent 2012 on tour in promotion of their new album with other bands including The
Pretty Reckless and Fair to Midland.