Alternative Press through the years.

Swipe through the covers and watch the magazine evolve alongside alternative music and the artists who defined it.

The Early Years

The first cover in the archive features Nirvana, Issue 44, from January 1992, right as grunge was about to take over. Smashing Pumpkins followed in Issue 61, August 1993, capturing a genre still figuring out its own identity.

The Mid-90s Run

Bad Religion landed the cover for Issue 78 in January 1995, with Rancid close behind in Issue 79 that February, two covers that put punk's second wave front and center. Radiohead appeared in Issue 87, October 1995, a sign the magazine's reach was widening well beyond punk and grunge.

Turn of the Century

Fiona Apple's Issue 111 cover ran in October 1997, followed by Insane Clown Posse in Issue 139, February 2000, and Outkast in Issue 153, April 2001, three covers that show how far "alternative" had stretched by the early 2000s.

Into the Present

The archive jumps forward to Yves Tumor in Issue 412, Fall 2023, and closes with Hayley Williams in December 2025, proof the magazine has kept pace with alternative music across more than three decades.

Which era of Alternative Press was your favorite?

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