🎸 Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)

A master of grunge metal and melancholic harmonies, Jerry Cantrell is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Alice in Chains. His signature guitar tone—dark, sludgy, and haunting—is a key pillar of the Seattle grunge movement. Lyrically, Cantrell often explores themes of pain, addiction, and introspection, crafting songs that are emotionally raw yet musically complex. His vocal harmonies with the late Layne Staley became a defining trait of the band’s sound.

🧠 Known for:

• Blending heavy metal riffs with grunge emotion

• Intricate harmonies and dual vocals

• Songs like Rooster, Would?, and Down in a Hole

🎤 Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

The creative force behind Radiohead, Thom Yorke is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and emotionally resonant artists in modern music. His voice—fragile, otherworldly, and intensely expressive—delivers themes of alienation, technology, and political disillusionment. As a composer, he’s pushed the boundaries of alternative rock, weaving in electronica, experimental jazz, and classical textures. Yorke is not just a frontman, but a visionary, shaping the sound of 21st-century rock.

🧠 Known for:

• Unique falsetto and emotional range

• Groundbreaking albums like OK Computer, Kid A, In Rainbows

• A fearless approach to sound experimentation

🎸 Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)

As the lead guitarist for Soundgarden, Kim Thayil helped forge the sound of early grunge with his heavy, down-tuned guitar riffs and Eastern-influenced scales. His playing is powerful yet unconventional, often mixing sludge, psychedelia, and metal. Thayil brought a philosophical and almost spiritual depth to grunge guitar work, preferring texture and dissonance over traditional solos. His contributions helped make Soundgarden one of the most musically complex bands of the grunge era.

🧠 Known for:

• Dense, layered guitar tones

• Songs like Black Hole Sun, Rusty Cage, Jesus Christ Pose

• Balancing heaviness with musical depth