Bands whose names start with the letter ‘S’ have made an indelible impact across every era and genre of rock music. From pioneering grunge rockers like Soundgarden to theatrical prog masters Styx, iconic acts starting with ‘S’ have created some of popular music’s most beloved anthems.
They have pushed sonic boundaries, championed emerging musical movements, and entrenched themselves as radio mainstays.
This article explores the stories behind 10 significant bands that start with the letter S – tracing their origins, analyzing their sounds, spotlighting their biggest hits, and honoring their cultural legacies.
Each band put its unique stamp on rock history with game-changing albums and era-defining live shows, earning multi-generational fanbases.
| Band Name | Genre(s) | Defining Album(s) | Key Hit(s) | Notable Contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundgarden | Grunge, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic Rock | Superunknown | “Black Hole Sun” | Pioneering the grunge movement, a unique blend of heavy metal and psychedelic rock |
| Smashing Pumpkins | Alternative Rock, Dream Pop | Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness | “1979”, “Today”, “Disarm” | Fusing heavy metal guitars with ethereal pop melodies, defining the alternative rock scene |
| Stevie Wonder | R&B, Pop, Soul | Innervisions, Songs in the Key of Life | “Superstition”, “Sir Duke” | Mastery of synthesizers, socially conscious lyrics, innovative electronic textures |
| Slipknot | Heavy Metal, Nu Metal, Alternative Metal | Iowa | “Wait and Bleed”, “Spit It Out” | Aggressive mix of metal and hip hop, distinctive masks and stage personas, anarchic live shows |
| Slayer | Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal | Reign in Blood | “Angel of Death”, “Raining Blood” | Defining the thrash metal genre with extreme speed and aggression, dark and macabre lyrics |
| Scorpions | Heavy Metal, Hard Rock | Love at First Sting | “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, “Wind of Change” | Pioneering European metal, a blend of hard rock and power ballads, international success |
| Skid Row | Glam Metal, Hard Rock | Skid Row | “18 and Life”, “I Remember You” | Capturing the spirit of late 80s glam metal with a streetwise attitude, raucous stage shows |
| Sublime | Rock, Reggae, Punk, Ska, Hip Hop | Sublime | “What I Got”, “Santeria” | A unique blend of genres, socially conscious lyrics, enduring popularity despite lead singer’s death |
| Stone Temple Pilots | Grunge, Hard Rock, Alternative Rock | Core | “Plush”, “Interstate Love Song” | Blending grunge with glam and psychedelic flavors, introspective lyrics, and evolving sound over the years |
| Styx | Progressive Rock, Arena Rock, Pop Rock | The Grand Illusion | “Come Sail Away”, “Mr. Roboto” | Theatrical live performances, rock opera concept albums, bridging progressive and pop sensibilities |
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10 Best Bands That Start With S
The letter ‘S’ holds the band name of some of the legendary bands. Let’s check the most popular ones that have influenced the masses with their music:
1. Soundgarden
Soundgarden was one of the pioneering bands that defined the grunge rock movement of the early 1990s. Their heavy metal riffs combined with psychedelic rock elements created a unique sound that characterized the Seattle music scene.
How did Soundgarden’s unique blend of heavy metal and psychedelic rock define the Seattle sound?
Soundgarden brought together the heavy, down-tuned guitars of metal with the altered song structures and trippy effects of psychedelic rock. This fusion produced dark, sludgy textures that evoked Seattle’s gloomy weather and surreal, swirling atmospheres.
Their guitar tones were often described as sounding like “black hole sun”. Soundgarden demonstrated that heavy music could be creative, cerebral, and introspective. Their innovations influenced fellow Seattle bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana.
Chris Cornell’s four-octave vocal range and Kim Thayil’s grinding guitar style were signature parts of the band’s sound.
What were the themes and influences behind their introspective and poetic lyrics?
Soundgarden’s lyrics poetically expressed disillusionment with society. Frontman Chris Cornell’s words examined feelings of alienation and despair. His writing was inspired by philosophers like Camus as well as personal struggles with addiction.
The band rejected the escapist themes prevalent in conventional rock for a more thoughtful rumination on existential questions. Many lyrics used dark imagery like black holes and revelations to symbolize despair.
At the same time, Soundgarden avoided being overtly preachy or political in their lyrics, preferring a more abstract poetic style.
How did Chris Cornell’s powerful vocals and stage presence contribute to the band’s legacy?
Chris Cornell possessed an impressive four-octave vocal range combined with an emotive delivery that could shift seamlessly from a soothing croon to a bone-rattling scream. His dynamic vocal performances transfixed audiences and he brought an intensity and passion to Soundgarden’s live shows that was widely praised.
Cornell had a magnetic charisma onstage that conveyed the emotion behind Soundgarden’s music. His long curly hair flailing as he stalked the stage also became an iconic image. His vocal prowess and commanding presence left an indelible mark on Soundgarden’s sound and image.
From their early Seattle club shows to later arena spectacles, Chris Cornell defined Soundgarden as a live act.
2. Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins were pivotal players in the rise of alternative rock with their blend of guitar-heavy rock and dream pop elements resonating strongly among Generation X.
What was the significance of Smashing Pumpkins’ role in the alternative rock scene?
The Smashing Pumpkins broke out at a time when alternative rock was still largely part of the underground. 1991’s Gish and 1993’s Siamese Dream fused heavy metal guitars with ethereal pop melodies into radio-friendly anthems for disaffected youth.
The contrast between almost shoegaze-esque dreamy guitars and aggressive punk drumming created sonic tension. The band’s emotional honesty and accessible sound helped bring alternatives into the mainstream, paving the way for other offbeat bands.
The Smashing Pumpkins proved that alternative artists could achieve commercial success without compromising artistic vision. Singles like “Today”, “Disarm” and “1979” became defining songs of the era.
How did their blend of heavy guitar riffs and dreamy melodies resonate with fans?
Frontman Billy Corgan stuffed Smashing Pumpkins songs with layers of guitars that alternated between pummeling punk aggression and airy pop. These contrasts – heavy and light, dark and dreamy – connected with youth who felt torn between rage and melancholy.
The band was known for wearing contrasting clothing as well, sometimes dressing in black Gothic robes and other times in white shirts or pastel colors. Corgan’s anguished lyrics compounded that mood while the pop hooks provided a cathartic release. Fans latched onto this sonic purging of mixed emotions.
What were their most critically acclaimed and influential albums?
The double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, released in 1995, is regarded as the Smashing Pumpkins’ artistic peak. Wildly diverse in styles yet cohesive in mood, it encapsulated all that the band was capable of – from acoustic delicacy to thunderous rock, baroque pop to synth experimentation.
Siamese Dream (1993) and Gish (1991) were also critical and commercial smash hits that set the template for alternative rock with their contrasts between heaviness and airy melodies. The band’s influence only grew stronger after their initial dissolution and periodic reunions.
Their mixture of styles has been cited as an influence by bands from various genres – from metal groups like Slipknot to indie rock bands like The Shins. The Pumpkins disproved the notion that alternative bands couldn’t reach mainstream success without watering down their sound.
Smashing Pumpkins left behind a rich legacy of sonic innovation that shaped the trajectory of 90s rock. Their daring ambition inspired countless alternative artists to expand their musical horizons. Despite various breakups and reunions, the Smashing Pumpkins’ iconic albums continue to inspire new generations.
3. Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s mastery of synthesizers and electronic textures revolutionized R&B and took his music into innovative new directions in pop. His classic 1970s albums Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life are considered creative pinnacles of the era.
How did Stevie Wonder’s innovative use of synthesizers and electronic elements shape his sound?
Wonder embraced synthesizers early on, utilizing them as songwriting tools for layering keyboard textures. He brought an experimental approach, manipulating electronic timbres to evoke a spectrum of moods from futuristic to dreamy. This added a new dimension to his soulful vocals and pop melodies.
Wonder also employed electronic effects to alter his voice, creating vocal layers that acted as complementary instruments. His synth innovations made his music highly evocative and influential. The clavinet keyboard featured heavily in many of his funkiest grooves as well.
What were the themes and influences behind his socially conscious and uplifting lyrics?
Many Wonder lyrics conveyed messages of black empowerment and unity in the face of racism and inequality. Coming of age in the 1960s Civil Rights Era shaped his socially progressive point of view. Spiritual themes celebrating love and inner positivity also permeated his songs, influenced by his religious upbringing.
Wonder brought hope and upliftment to countercultural youth through songs promoting self-acceptance and fighting for just causes. His lyrics gave voice to the progressive politics of the era with enduring anthems like “You Haven’t Done Nothin” and “Living for the City”.
How did his live performances and showmanship captivate audiences?
Wonder was a bundle of infectious energy on stage, swaying and dancing to the beat as his fingers flew across keyboards. His joy and passion for performing was evident in his mannerisms and vocal delivery, instantly connecting him to audiences.
He often brought students on stage to dance along, culminating shows in a euphoric communal celebration. Wonder’s charisma and musicality made his concerts exhilarating spectacles that turned songs into full-fledged artistic statements.
Costume changes, interpreter accompaniments, and preaching interludes show a full multimedia experience. His sets converted arenas into uplifting dance parties that celebrated African American culture.
4. Slipknot
Slipknot set itself apart from other metal bands in the late 90s with their aggressive mix of heavy metal, grindcore, and hip hop paired with violent imagery and anarchic live shows, appealing to fans looking for more extreme sounds.
What was the impact of Slipknot’s aggressive and confrontational nu-metal sound?
Slipknot merged metal and hip hop – then an unprecedented move – into a crushing hybrid sound delivered at a breakneck pace. Their intense vocal delivery paired growls and screeches with rapid-fire rap cadences over downtuned guitars and frantic drums. This bold combination of styles united metalheads and hip-hop fans.
Songs like “Wait and Bleed” and “Spit It Out” became mosh pit anthems. It paved the way for nu-metal’s rise. Slipknot also set new standards for extremity in metal, influencing Deathcore and the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Their use of multiple vocalists, custom percussion, and sampler technology made them sonically unique.
How did their distinctive masks and stage personas contribute to their mystique?
The band performed wearing disturbing masks and matching jumpsuits, their identities hidden. Each member had a unique mask and outfit that took on an alter ego personality with names like “Clown,” “Corpsegrinder” and “Ratboy.”
This created an air of mystery and menace, distinguishing them from traditional metal bands while the anonymity allowed the music to take central focus.
The visual spectacle made their live shows all the more intense and shocking. Their look proved hugely influential in the masked merchandising around 2000s metal and horrorcore rap acts.
What were their most successful and controversial albums?
Slipknot’s 2001 sophomore album Iowa pushed boundaries for abrasive heaviness in metal, inspiring countless extreme subgenres with its raw nihilism. Songs like “Disasterpiece” and “People = Shit” have become moshpit anthems. 1999’s eponymous debut Slipknot also put nu-metal on the mainstream map, going platinum on the strength of singles like “Wait and Bleed.”
Controversially, the album insert included full nudity. The band courted controversy and condemnation from religious groups, only raising their profile. Slipknot brought provocation back to metal while showing the durability of nu-metal. They ushered heavy music into bold new realms and left an imprint on extreme metal style.
5. Slayer
As one of the “Big Four” originators of thrash metal, Slayer provided the blueprint for no-holds-barred extreme metal with their breakneck drums, blistering guitar solos, and offensive lyrics inspiring generations of metal bands.
How did Slayer’s uncompromising and extreme thrash metal sound define the genre?
Slayer hardened thrash metal into a merciless sonic assault. They ratcheted up already fast thrash tempos to untenable speeds paired with Tom Araya’s throat-shredding yells and hair-trigger time signature changes. Twin guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman added chaotic solos and pinch harmonics.
Songs like “Angel of Death” set new standards for violence in metal. Slayer’s relentless aggression, raw production, and taboo themes epitomized uncompromising thrash taken to its most extreme endpoints. Their atonality and use of chromatics created an almost avant-garde sound.
What were the themes and influences behind their dark and macabre lyrics?
Slayer’s lyrics explored topics like homicide, Satanism, genocide, and warfare from the darkest angles. Their provocative perspective was partly influenced by vocalist Tom Araya’s experiences as a paramedic in economically depressed areas.
The band sought to reveal the grim realities of violence and corruption hidden beneath middle-class society. Their savage music mirrored the brutal themes. Heavily into the occult, Slayer also penned songs celebrating metal as a subcultural alternative to organized religion. The controversy only buoyed their legend.
How did their live performances and stage presence contribute to their cult following?
Slayer concerts were violent melees where fans let loose to the band’s aggressive music. Stage divers dove from balconies and mosh pits churned violently. Slayers themselves raced manically across the stage, hair whipping wildly as they shredded guitars without restraint. Marshall stacks pushed to ear-splitting volumes added to the bedlam.
Their no-holds-barred performances let fans revel in chaotic aggression and subversive imagery. This won them an intensely dedicated subcultural fanbase that lived for their dangerous energy. Their confrontational attitude aligned with the dark perspective of their lyrics.
6. Scorpions
With career sales of over 100 million records worldwide, Germany’s Scorpions was one of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands. While many viewed them as just another hair metal act, the Scorpions pioneered heavy rock decades before MTV and are considered influential godfathers of European metal.
What was the significance of Scorpions’ role in the development of heavy metal?
Scorpions were among the first European bands to adopt leather, spikes, and power chord guitars prototypical of later metal. Their third album In Trance, released in 1975, contained prototypical speed metal tracks that predated the NWOBHM movement by several years.
In Trance along with Virgin Killer and Taken by Force pioneered much of the heavy metal template and pointed the way for Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and others. Scorpions demonstrated that language was no barrier to rocking as hard as American or British bands.
How did their blend of hard rock and power ballads resonate with audiences?
The Scorpions had a knack for crafting fist-pumping metallic anthems like “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “No One Like You” alongside highly emotive power ballads such as “Still Loving You.”
This mix of tempos and textures accounted for their broad appeal – metal fans loved their heaviness while pop audiences were drawn to their melodic sensibility. Throughout the 80s the band made skillfully executed albums that crossed over between hard rock and pop.
What were their most successful and chart-topping hits?
Throughout the 80s and early 90s, the Scorpions scored hits like “No One Like You,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Wind of Change” and “Send Me an Angel” with regularity. Their 1984 album Love at First Sting contained multiple smashes like “Still Loving You” and sold over 9 million copies.
MTV played Scorpions videos in heavy rotation and exposed them to mainstream audiences globally. This success culminated when “Wind of Change” became a worldwide #1 hit in 1991 as the Berlin Wall came down. In the 90s, their ballad “Still Loving You” enjoyed resurgent popularity.
Decades later, the Scorpions remain the best-selling German rock band with over 100 million records sold. Their longevity and continued touring success cement their status as national heroes.
7. Skid Row
New Jersey rockers Skid Row were icons of 80’s glam metal known for their outsized personalities and raucous stage shows. Their self-titled 1989 debut was a cornerstone of the hair metal movement before grunge shifted tastes towards alternative rock.
How did Skid Row’s blend of glam metal and hard rock capture the spirit of the late 80s?
Skid Row paired pop metal’s flashy aesthetics and melodic sensibilities with a streetwise attitude all their own. Hard rock anthems “Youth Gone Wild” and “18 and Life” had a rough edge lacking in poppier bands. But the focus on good times and rebellion rather than introspection placed them firmly in glam metal terrain.
Songs like “I Remember You” captured the “last blast” atmosphere of sunset strip metal’s glory days before changing tastes doomed it overnight. Yet, they carved a unique niche between Motley Crue’s sleaze and Bon Jovi’s romanticism.
What were the themes and influences behind their lyrics and images?
Skid Row sang of fast living and youthful rebellion against a backdrop of bigger-than-life rock star posturing. The band projected a bad boy image mixing punk aggression with Sunset Strip glitz. Their lyrics focused on partying, fighting authority, and sticking up for disenfranchised youth.
Raucous lead singer Sebastian Bach perfectly embodied a cocky mental attitude. Mashup fashion of punk accessories, metal t-shirts, and colorful scarves reflected their hybrid sound. The combo of punk ’tude and pop-metal hooks made them heroes to blue-collar kids living the rock n’ roll dream.
How did their live performances and stage presence contribute to their success?
Onstage, Skid Row lived up to their wild reputation. Sebastian Bach strutted, snarled, and windmilled his hair with rock star charisma, personifying metal’s excess. His powerhouse vocals and commanding presence electrified crowds.
Add in chaotic mosh pits, Bach’s constant dashes across the stage, and his perilous balcony dives, and Skid Row concerts became legendary as thrillingly dangerous events.
Their kinetic live energy and rebellious magnetism made the band youth culture heroes. MTV airplay then catapulted them to multi-platinum fame until grunge changed the climate.
8. Sublime
Sublime blended rock, reggae, punk, ska, and hip hop into an infectious style that remained hugely popular after the 1996 overdose death of lead singer Brad Nowell. Their music’s sunny vibes and messages of tolerance resonated especially strongly in their native SoCal.
What was the unique blend of genres and styles that defined Sublime’s sound?
On their breakthrough self-titled third album, Sublime fused laidback grooves and mellow vibes from reggae and ska with propulsive rhythms and distorted guitars from punk and hip hop.
Brad Nowell’s freewheeling vocal delivery shifted fluidly between singing, rapping, and toasting as diverse instruments like standup bass and synthesizers drifted in and out of the mix.
This singular combination created an upbeat, danceable sound that was quintessentially Long Beach. Their music evoked driving to the beach with the windows down with its mix of styles.
How did their socially conscious and introspective lyrics resonate with fans?
Sublime sang about social ills like drug addiction and difficult personal relationships in a self-aware yet non-preachy manner.
Nowell’s confessional lyrics about his struggles with heroin addiction and depression were poignant without begging for sympathy. Songs like “Date Rape” and “April 29, 1992 (Miami)” tackled violence and rebellion in troubled times.
These honest lyrics made fans feel less alone in hardship through their candidness. Nowell wrote about struggles like poverty and addiction in his community with empathy and wisdom beyond his years. The message was that music itself provided solace and that darkness made the good times shine brighter.
Songs like “What I Got” and “Santeria” spoke to outcasts just trying to get by. While the lyrics revealed pain, the music surrounding them felt joyful and free.
What was the impact of Bradley Nowell’s untimely death on the band’s legacy?
Nowell’s fatal overdose at age 28 cemented his mythic status as a doomed rock star a la Jim Morrison. His absence left Sublime’s career unfinished right as their highly anticipated major label debut dropped. This lent the album extra emotional heft – now a bittersweet epitaph rather than a celebration.
Posthumous concert bootlegs took on tragic gravity. The surviving members mainly moved on to other projects after attempts to replace Nowell proved futile. As such Sublime’s small catalog froze them in time, crystallizing their longevity.
Their music remains timeless for summer listening. Nowell is remembered as a troubled genius who left an indelible mark before his time was up.
9. Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots brought an alternative edge to classic rock with their brooding lyrics and blend of grunge grit with glam and psychedelic flavors standing out from the punk austerity of Seattle peers. Their 1992 debut Core was one of the biggest smashes of the grunge era.
How did Stone Temple Pilots’ blend of grunge and hard rock set them apart?
While firmly within the grunge wave, STP gave that style a grimly colorful spin. Where Nirvana and Pearl Jam played stripped-down punk-metal hybrids, STP restored a splash of trippy rock theatrics. Singer Scott Weiland channeled Jim Morrison’s brooding baritone and Mick Jagger’s snaky charisma over the band’s Zeppelin-style crunch.
Drawing equally from glam, psych, and punk, albums like Core and Purple showed grunge’s diversity. Their flirtations with Beatles-esque psychedelia also showed grunge could be experimental. Critics initially dismissed them as derivative before their songwriting strengths showed through.
What were the themes and influences behind their introspective and poetic lyrics?
Weiland’s lyrics chronicled internal struggles with addiction and dysfunctional relationships. His painful candor resonated with the alternative nation.
Poetic turns of phrase lent gravitas to raw confessionals. While less political than Seattle peers, STP matched them for emotional authenticity. Weiland’s vocal delivery used Cobain’s pained sensitivity as a starting point for more extroverted emoting.
The lyrics formed resonant portraits of characters losing themselves many misfits related. Weiland funneled his troubles into cathartic songs.
How did their sound evolve over the years, from their early days to their later works?
From Core’s grungy hard rock to 1996’s more psychedelic Tiny Music…Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop to later forays into glammed-up arena rock, STP showed a sonic fluidity that kept them from being pigeonholed. They alternately tightened up into driving rock or stretched out into colorful jamming.
From 2013 – 2015, Chester Bennington, who was the lead vocalist of Linkin Park, also contributed to Stone Temple Pilot which was later replaced by Jeff Gutt after Chester’s tragic death.
10. Styx
Styx bridged progressive and pop sensibilities with panache. Their onstage magical mysticism and rock opera concept albums cemented their legacy as one of the 1970s and 80s’ premiere arena rock attractions.
How did Styx’s blend of progressive rock and power ballads capture the hearts of audiences?
Styx added theatrical pomp and fantasy themes to progressive rock’s artistic ambition, amplifying its entertainment value for mainstream crowds. Dennis DeYoung’s soaring vocals gave emotional heft to the musical intricacy while the band’s flashy stage shows thrilled concertgoers.
Songs like “Come Sail Away” and “Mr. Roboto” realized Prog’s playful storytelling potential. Their balance of skilled musicianship and pop accessibility made Styx a staple radio presence through the late 70s and early 80s.
Critics initially dismissed the band as overly commercial before their songwriting strengths showed through. But their ability to be high-minded and fun endeared them to audiences. Styx brought substance to arena rock with conceptual themes about conflict and conformity.
Their balance between guitar virtuosity and pop convention made songs like “Renegade” and “The Best of Times” relatable epics. For fans, Styx blended the thrill of discovery with the comfort of the familiar.
What were their most successful and chart-topping hits?
Throughout the late 1970s and early 80s, Styx was a radio staple with smash hits like “Come Sail Away,” “Babe,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Renegade” and “Lady.” Their pop prowess peaked between 1978 and 1983 when Styx scored an impressive four triple-platinum albums in a row.
Dennis DeYoung’s emotive voice-powered heartrending power ballads that became wedding staples. In this period Styx firmly established themselves among America’s most popular bands with a peerless string of melodic rock gems.
How did their theatrical live performances and stage shows contribute to their success?
Clad in ornate fantasy costumes, Styx took audiences on imaginative journeys filled with drama and surprise elements like mini rock operas, extended keyboard/guitar dueling solos, and lavish light shows.
Like Rush, they brought Prog’s creative visual aesthetics to arenas, amplifying its entertainment value for mainstream crowds.
Their joy in performance was infectious and turned concerts into spectacles, cementing loyal followers that drove album sales. For fans, Styx shows were beloved events demonstrating rock’s unlimited potential. Their popularity paved the way for bands like Journey and REO Speedwagon.
Band Name starting with letter S: Final Words
From the heavy metal code embedded in Slayer’s DNA to the laidback SoCal vibes of Sublime, bands emblazoned with ‘S’ have left an indelible mark on rock music’s stylistic spectrum. They rode emerging waves like grunge and glam metal to commercial heights while also pioneering entirely original fusions.
Their iconic songs and albums have gone multi-platinum, soundtracking youth rebellion for decades. Many have weathered lineup changes and music industry shifts without sacrificing integrity. Some careers ended prematurely, immortalizing troubled geniuses.
But most continue evolving their sounds and building their audiences today. The breadth of creativity and dedication to artistic vision exhibited by these ‘S’ bands ensures their outputs remain timeless.
Their collective fearlessness to embrace risk and innovation paved exciting new routes for rock music that will inspire experimentalism for generations to come.
