Here’s a thought-provoking question — which bands are regarded as the “Big 4” in Gen Z’s interpretation of dad rock?

It feels like just a moment ago when the term “dad rock” referred to a collection of iconic classic rock bands that were staples in the playlists of fathers everywhere. However, as time progresses, we find ourselves at an interesting intersection where today’s youth have their own surprising selections that they classify under this category.

Interestingly enough, many of us have transitioned into parenthood ourselves. So, in a way, we are now part of this dad rock generation.

Last year, we analyzed a comprehensive study that identified the most popular dad rock bands across various states, based on feedback from a survey of 3,000 individuals. Initially, we were taken aback by the inclusion of bands like Nickelback, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, and Blink-182.

…And then it hit us — every generation has its own signature collection of dad rock bands that resonate with them.

Thus, we have identified the “Big 4” bands representative of the most recent generations. The criteria are straightforward — the “Big 4” for any generation must comprise bands that gained popularity during the teenage years of that particular cohort. While some bands may have peaked in different eras, it’s essential to recognize that these generations often span wide age ranges, crossing various decades and musical trends.

We hesitated to designate a “Big 4” for Gen Z’s dad rock because it’s a bit jarring to think that bands which emerged merely 20 years ago are now being categorized as dad rock. Yet, we finally decided to tackle this task and present our findings.

READ MORE: Discover the ‘Big 4’ Bands from Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial Dad Rock

According to the Pew Research Center, individuals classified as part of the Gen Z demographic were born between 1997 and 2012. Consequently, the earliest members of Gen Z entered their teenage years in 2010, while the youngest will just be hitting their teenage years this year, in 2025.

Continue scrolling to uncover the four bands we have selected to epitomize the dad rock sound of the Gen Z generation.