The Smiths　

The Smiths were the definitive British indie rock band of the ’80s, marking the end of synth-driven new wave and the beginning of the guitar rock that dominated English rock into the ’9 ..more

STYX　

Although they began as an artsy prog rock band, Styx would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late ’70s and early ’80s, due to a fondness for bombastic rockers and so ..more

Stryper　

Heavy metal has been associated with ol’ Beelzebub ever since its inception, but a few acts took the opposite route and put their Christian beliefs in hard-rocking songs, such as Stryper. Formed in ..more

sombr　

Soft Machine　

Soft Machine were never a commercial enterprise and indeed still remain unknown even to many listeners who came of age during the late ’60s and early ’70s, when the group was at its peak. In their ..more

Small Faces　

Small Faces were the best English band never to hit it big in America. Outside Europe, all anybody remembers them for is their sole hit, Itchycoo Park, which was hardly representative of their {\ ..more

Sigur Ros　

Named in part after a sister of one of the bandmembers, Reykjavik, Iceland’s Sigur Ros (Victory Rose) was formed by guitarist and vocalist Jon Por Birgisson (who later went by the name Jonsi) ..more

Sweet　

In some ways, the Sweet epitomized all the tacky hubris and garish silliness of the early ’70s. Fusing bubblegum melodies with crunching, fuzzy guitars, the band looked a heavy metal band, but were ..more

Strapps　

Steve Hackett　

Steve Hackett is best known as the guitarist with Genesis during their best years as both a progressive and commercial band, across ten albums of their history. His arrival in the group’s lineup ..more

The Strokes　

Equally inspired by classic tunesmiths like Buddy Holly and John Lennon and the street-smart attitude and angular riffs of fellow New Yorkers Television and the Velvet Underground, the S ..more

Simply Red　

Led by the vocalist Mick Hucknall, the English blue-eyed soul band Simply Red became international stars with their debut album, Picture Book. On the hit ballad Holding Back the Years, Hu ..more

Squeeze　

As one of the most traditional pop bands of the new wave, Squeeze provided one of the links between classic British guitar pop and post-punk. Inspired heavily by the Beatles and the Kinks, ..more

Simple Minds　

Best known in the U.S. for their 1985 number one hit Don’t You (Forget About Me) from the film The Breakfast Club, Scotland’s Simple Minds evolved from a post-punk art rock band influenced ..more

Sabaton　

Swedish band Sabaton have been a major force in the power metal field since the mid-・0s, but had to battle through significant difficulties to get there, which may explain their eventual creative ..more

The Stone Roses　

Meshing ’60s-styled guitar pop with an understated ’80s dance beat, the Stone Roses defined the British guitar pop scene of the late ’80s and early ’90s. After their eponymous 1989 debut a ..more

SODOM　

This German black metal band’s early lineup consisted of Tom Angelripper (bass/vocals), Aggressor (guitar/vocals), and Chris Witchhunter Dudek (drums). They were heavily influenced by thras ..more

The Smile　

Soulfly　

Upon his exit from Sepultura in late 1996, singer/guitarist/songwriter Max Cavalera almost automatically set out to form his next musical endeavor, the ultra-heavy Soulfly. Besides leaving on ..more

Sex Pistols　

The Sex Pistols may have only been together for two years in the late ’70s, but they changed the face of popular music. Through their raw, nihilistic singles and violent performances, the band revo ..more