30 Seconds To Mars

Actor Jared Leto--perhaps best remembered by Generation X fans as dreamy Jordan Catalano from the TV show MY SO-CALLED LIFE--and his brother, drummer Shannon Leto, are the nexus of this popular MTV-ready alternative band who debuted in 2002. Despite harsh scrutiny from the music press, Jared Leto proved himself a writer of thoughtful, cinematic lyrics and compelling, almost prog-like music that drew inspiration from bands like Radiohead, Pink Floyd, and Nine Inch Nails. The band has worked hard to dispel the initial actor-on-a-lark stigma and made two generally well-received albums in the early 2000s, the second of which spawned three singles that shot up the US rock charts.

• pop
• 2000s