Who are GenX'ers music icons?

Though not my favorites the X icons are the grunge bands. Nirvana sort of defines the whole movement, plus Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, etc. That being said REM defined the whole college band thing and are hugely influential and one of my favorites from the 80s.

In addition to every band mentioned by djspinner above, Tool, Beck, New Order/joy Division, Smiths, Bob Mould, Depeche Mode, Metallica, Echo and the Bunnymen are but a fraction of the iconic X bands I enjoyed and still do. Talking Heads, cowboy junkies too. Probably more than most I listed I enjoyed Pink Floyd though definitely not an X band. Goodness, I’m getting hit with a wave of memories.

When I was listening to classic rock radio in high school, Hendrix, The Who, Creedence, etc songs were about 20 years old.  Nirvana's Nevermind is 30 years old this year!

@michaelsherry59 Let me guess, you likely have not heard of most of those above mentioned bands and musicians. Listening to Classic Rock radio can do that. It also leads to the death of Rock music.

... Melvins, Mudhoney, Neurosis, Nirvana ...

Guess it depends on your meaning of icon, but from their generation: R.E.M., Kurt Cobain, Paul Westerberg, Ian MacKaye, Chuck D, Beastie Boys, PJ Harvey, 2Pac, Metalica, Kathleen Hanna, Lauryn Hill, Radiohead, Beck, Bjork.

Guns-n-Roses, Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Oasis, Primal Scream, Prodigy, Suede, Screaming Trees ...