Ted Nugent, Blind Melon, The Elms, Jonny Lang, The Why Store

Ted Nugent
Throughout his lengthy career, guitar wildman Ted Nugent has reveled in the controversy and criticism that always seems to follow in his path. While there's no denying his exceptional talent on the six-string, his knack for penning arena rock anthems, or his standing as one of rock's...

The Why Store
Alternative groove-popsters Why Store trace their origins to Muncie, Indiana's Ball State University, where vocalist/guitarists Chris Shaffer and Michael David Smith met up with Greg Gardner (then a drummer, later the bass player).

Jonny Lang
Modern blues in the '90s had a weird phenomenon of teenage blues guitarists rocketing to popularity with their first album. The entire trend culminated with Jonny Lang, a guitarist from Fargo, North Dakota, who released his solo debut album Lie to Me when he was 15.

The Elms
In 1996, a couple of brothers from New York, Christopher and Owen Thomas, formed a Christian pop/rock group they named Just Visiting. Owen Thomas did the vocals, guitar, piano, and songwriting while Christopher Thomas added drums, percussion, and vocals.

Blind Melon
Whereas most up and coming alternative bands of the early '90s borrowed from the leaders of the pack (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, etc.), Blind Melon was an exception to the rule -- their roots lay in classic rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin).