Seattle wasn’t really put on the map of great American music cities until grunge exploded into the mainstream in the early 90s. That said, the city has been producing some amazing bands and musicians for decades. Seattle’s music scene is as diverse as it is influential, having played a major role in shaping modern indie, rock, and pop music.
In this article, I’ll explore 18 of the top musicians from Seattle, from classic rock legends to hip-hop pioneers.
1. Nirvana
No list of Seattle musicians would be complete without Nirvana. Formed in Aberdeen, Washington (about two hours southwest of Seattle), Nirvana brought grunge to the global stage and influenced countless acts across the country. The band’s breakout album, Nevermind, sold more than 30 million copies and catapulted the band into fame. Seattle lit the fuse for grunge, but Nirvana was the explosion.
After releasing just 3 studio albums, Nirvana’s career was tragically cut short with Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994. Still, in just a few short years, the band redefined alternative rock.
2. Jimi Hendrix
Seattle’s most iconic classic rock export was none other than Jimi Hendrix. Considered by many (myself included!) to be one of the best guitarists of all time, Hendrix was both technical and expressive, bending the guitar to his will like no one else before him. He only released three studio albums before his untimely death in 1970, but in that short span, he left his mark. His version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock still gives me chills, and his influence can be heard in virtually every guitarist who came after him.
3. Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam followed in Nirvana’s footsteps and quickly became one of the most successful rock bands of all time. The band formed in Seattle in 1990 and released their debut album Ten in 1991, which sold over 13 million copies in the U.S. alone.
They’ve released eleven studio albums to date and have sold over 85 million records worldwide. They’re known for never playing the same setlist twice in a row, and fans still trade bootlegs of their legendary live shows like baseball cards.
4. Alice in Chains
Another highly successful band to come out of Seattle in the 90s was Alice in Chains. While they still undoubtedly fit in the grunge scene, Alice in Chains have a noticeably heavier and darker sound. Lead singer Layne Staley’s raw, anguished vocals gave the band an intensity that still hits like a gut punch decades later. Alice in Chains’ 1992 album Dirt went 5x platinum and is by far their most successful album. In 1996, the band also delivered one of the most unforgettable MTV Unplugged performances of the era, second only to Nirvana’s legendary performance in 1993.
5. Macklemore
One of the most famous hip-hop artists from Seattle, Macklemore, shot to global fame when he released his breakout single “Thrift Shop” in collaboration with Producer Ryan Lewis. I might be aging myself here, but when Macklemore released this song, I was a freshman in high school, and it became a defining tune for my generation.
Macklemore is by no means a one-trick pony and has released music in a variety of different styles. Other popular tunes include “Same Love”, “Otherside”, and “Can’t Hold Us”.
6. Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie originally formed in Bellingham, Washington, a city around 1.5 hours north of Seattle. However, the band eventually moved to Seattle to pursue their music career. Led by frontman Ben Gibbard, Death Cab for Cutie was a defining indie band of the early 2000s. Their 2003 album Transatlanticism became a cult favorite and led to the band being signed to Atlantic Records. In 2005, Death Cab for Cutie released Plans, which went Platinum in the USA and became their most commercially successful album.
7. Foo Fighters
While the Foo Fighters didn’t technically form in Seattle, the band’s roots are firmly planted there thanks to founder Dave Grohl, the former drummer of Nirvana. After Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994, Grohl stepped out from behind the drum kit and started writing and recording what would become the Foo Fighters’ self-titled debut. In fact, he played nearly every instrument on that album himself.
Since their breakout in the mid-1990s, the Foo Fighters have become one of the most successful rock bands of all time, selling more than 32 million albums worldwide.
8. Soundgarden
Most people will tell you that Nirvana is responsible for popularizing grunge, but Soundgarden was actually making music first. In 1984 singer Chris Cornell and guitarist Kim Thayil formed Soundgarden and helped define the grunge genre’s sludgy sound by blending punk influences with heavy metal.
Soundgarden’s 1994 album Superunknown was a massive success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and eventually going 5× Platinum in the U.S. This album included some of the band’s most popular hits, such as “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman”.
Led by legendary Seattle musician Chris Cornell, the band stood out for its powerful vocals and experimental edge.
9. Queens of the Stone Age
Okay, hear me out, Queens of the Stone Age might be known for their desert rock roots, but while the band has spent most of their careers in California, their Seattle connection runs deep. Frontman Josh Homme moved to Seattle in 1995 and formed the band with other prominent Seattle musicians of the time.
Former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl played drums on their iconic 2002 album Songs for the Deaf, which became the band’s breakout release. Despite several lineup changes, the band has remained active over the years and released 8 full-length studio albums.
10. Heart
A classic rock band that formed in the early 1970s by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, Heart was one of the most successful rock bands to come out of Seattle. In fact, they were one of the only Seattle musicians to make it big in the 1970s. Blending hard rock and folk influences, the Wilson sisters broke barriers in a male-dominated genre. Their 1977 album Little Queen featured the smash hit “Barracuda,”. Over the years, Heart sold over 35 million records and earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
11. Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes may not have kicked down the door like the grunge giants before them, but they carved out a space of their own. A major player in the 2000s music scene in Seattle, the band found early success on indie blogs before their 2008 self-titled debut put them on the map. Fleet Foxes brought a new kind of folk-rock into the mainstream with layered vocals and poetic lyrics. Their follow-up, Helplessness Blues, cemented their status as one of the most influential indie bands of their era.
12. The Postal Service
The Postal Service might’ve only released one album, but what an album it was! This Seattle-based side project from Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie) and producer Jimmy Tamborello came together almost entirely by mail (hence the name). Their only album, released in 2003, Give Up, was extremely successful, selling more than 1 million copies in the US alone. The Postal Service has a truly unique sound, a blend of indie rock and glitchy electronica done in a way that felt way ahead of its time. “Such Great Heights” became an instant indie anthem and remains in my constant rotation to this day.
13. Band of Horses
Though originally formed in South Carolina, Band of Horses became closely tied to Seattle’s music scene in the mid-2000s. Frontman Ben Bridwell relocated to the Pacific Northwest, and the band released their breakout debut Everything All the Time in 2006 through Seattle’s Sub Pop Records. The album featured “The Funeral,” a haunting indie-rock anthem that’s been used in more movie trailers than I can count. With emotional lyrics and a distinct atmospheric sound, Band of Horses found a loyal fan base and carved out their spot in the Seattle music scene.
14. Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse was founded in the nearby suburb of Issaquah, but in my opinion, they are a Seattle band through and through. Formed in the early ’90s, the band spent around a decade in the underground making obscure music before breaking through with the album Good News for People Who Love Bad News. That album gave us some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Float On,” a song that brought Modest Mouse into the mainstream. Isaac Brock’s off-kilter vocal delivery became a defining sound of the era. While Modest Mouse might’ve taken the long road to fame, they’ve been a staple in the alternative rock music scene ever since.
15. The Head and the Heart
Before they were playing sold-out shows, The Head and the Heart were regulars at open mics in Seattle dive bars. In fact, the founding members met at open mics at the Conor Byrne pub in Seattle. The band’s self-released debut album quickly gained traction, so much so that Sub Pop Records signed them that same year. The album was then remastered and released, and eventually received a platinum certification.
Head and the Heart rode the wave of the early 2010s folk revival. While the band certainly wasn’t as successful as big names like Mumford and Sons or the Lumineers, they built a steady following. Honestly, the band’s success is pretty impressive considering they started out playing for tips at coffee shops and released their debut album independently!
16. Sir Mix-a-Lot
A pioneer in early rap music, Sir Mix-a-Lot put Seattle hip-hop on the map. Born Anthony L. Ray in the Emerald City, he was catapulted to fame in 1992 with the smash hit “Baby Got Back.” The song shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and even earned Sire Mix-a-Lot a Grammy Award for the best rap solo performance. Love it or hate it, that song became a cultural moment (and still gets played at just about every wedding). Surprisingly, Sir Mix-a-Lot wasn’t a one-hit wonder. The Seattle musician eventually moved to self-producing his albums and even helped produce several local Seattle hip-hop artists, such as Ayron Jones.
17. Pedro the Lion
While never a chart-topper, Pedro the Lion had a significant influence on the underground indie rock scene. The band, led by singer-songwriter David Bazan, built a loyal following and focused on raw lo-fi production. Their 2002 concept album Control is a cult classic and was by far the band’s most successful release.
After a long hiatus, Pedro the Lion reunited in 2017 and has continued to release albums that maintain the same level of authenticity as their early releases.
18. Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile might be one of the most successful singer-songwriters to ever come out of the Seattle area. The female guitar player and singer was raised in Ravensdale, just outside the city. Carlile built her career the old-fashioned way. She toured relentlessly, created truly personal music, and let word of mouth do the rest. Her 2007 single “The Story” is a staple folk song that put the Seattle artist on the map. The raw emotions and vulnerable lyrics in this song make me glassy-eyed every time I hear it. She has won 11 Grammy Awards and sold more than half a million records in the USA.
