VH1: Top Songs Of Last 25 Years
Artist: Nirvana
Year: 1991
Album: Nevermind
History: Nirvana, part of the Seattle grunge scene, was formed in 1988, and comprised lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and David Grohl. The band disbanded after Cobain's death in April 1994.
Photo: Cobain, Dec. 13, 1993.
No. 2
Artist: Michael Jackson
Year: 1982
Album: Thriller
History: An eccentric pop artist, Jackson has spent almost his entire life as a public performer. He was a founder of the Jackson Five at the age of 4.
Photo: File photo
No. 3
Artist: Guns N' Roses
Year: 1987
Album: Appetite For Destruction
History: The controversial band was started by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner. Guns and Gardner were soon replaced by Steven Adler and guitarist Slash.
Photo: Axl Rose performs on MTV, Aug. 29, 2002.
No. 4
Artist: Eminem
Year: 2002
Album: 8 Mile
History: The white Detroit rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, also goes by the alias Slim Shady. His song lyrics have outraged many. He made his acting debut in 2002 in "8 Mile."
Photo: Eminem performs June 3, 2003.
No. 5
Artist: U2
Year: 1991
Album: Achtung Baby
History: Founded in 1978, this popular Irish quartet consists of frontman Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (David Evans), Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. Bono has made headlines as an advocate for a number of causes including Third World debt.
Photo: U2, Feb. 20, 2001.
No. 6
Artist: Run-D.M.C. (with Areosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry)
Year: 1986
Album: Raising Hell
History: Hip-hop pioneers, the trio was founded in 1982 by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell. In October 2002, Mizell was shot dead.
Photo: Mizell, McDaniels, and Simmons, Feb. 25, 2002.
No. 7
Artist: Prince
Year: 1984
Album: Purple Rain
History: Minneapolis' Prince, whose real name is Prince Rogers Nelson, is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He made headlines when he changed his name to a symbol and then changed it back.
Photo: Prince, Oct. 3, 1988.
No. 8
Artist: Whitney Houston
Year: 1992
Album: The Bodyguard
History: The pop and soul singer began singing Gospel as a child. In July 1992, she married singer Bobby Brown and made her acting debut in "The Bodyguard." In recent years, she has been dogged by reports of substance abuse.
Photo: Houston at the MTV European Music Awards.
No. 9
Artist: The Police
Year: 1983
Album: Synchronicity
History: The UK trio came together in the late '70s. Members were Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting. Their debut recording, "Roxanne" failed to chart but has since become a classic. The trio played its final live show in June 1986.
Photo: Sting in concert.
Artist: Madonna
Year: 1984
Album:Like A Virgin
History: The pop diva with a raunchy persona made in her name in clubs in the early '80s. From 1985-87, she turned out a string of hits and made her debut as an actress. Married to a British film director, this mother of two lives in London.
Photo: Madonna performs on Feb. 24, 1999