The world has stayed glued to their musical renditions. They are accomplished, super-successful names, and what makes them even closer to the hearts is they were mostly there during the growing up years for a large section of the human population- who started falling for the concept of 'bands.' International music has stayed witness to some of the best music these artists produced and, in turn, got their due recognition too. But listening closely, you would sense they aren't that special. They are not without their share of flaws, and people have realized this with time. Here's a look at some of these famous bands- often overrated.
Metallica
It's often said that Metallica is great as a band, but they're overhyped to an extent! And this has been primarily stressed by those who haven't heard much apart from songs on their set lists (probably like 'Enter Sandman').
Their quality deteriorated significantly over the years, but Metallica stayed at the top of the game during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their riffs and catchy music will always be a favorite for many, but nothing out-of-the-box or exceptional would make the band the 'best.'
The Rolling Stones
Regarding hard rock, The Rolling Stones defined the genre well. They showcased what was known as a somewhat grittier and rustier side of English music. Not many might know, for the band's stage performances started as early as the 1960s.
The Rolling Stones as a band remained at the very forefront of the British invasion of bands during their prime. The rebellious and youthful counterculture mainly identified the members in the 1960s. But for the most part, they became repetitive and failed to reinvent anything new, which made them quite overrated.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
A hugely successful alternative rock band of all time, Red Hot Chili Peppers defined the classic genre in their unique style. Their songs would, however, be considered mediocre at best. There was fun, excitement, and all that characterized a feel-good vibe in all their numbers.
A mix of grunge and funk stayed the team members' USP! People loved listening to their songs even when there wasn't a great range or depth in their sound. This fun band has often been tagged as one of the greatest to have ever walked on the earth. But that's not the case.
Dave Matthews Band
There's a Grammy this band has to its name! But take a look within, and you'll see it's just another ordinary jam band. Their songs are undoubtedly played a tad differently during almost every live performance. But going different doesn't necessarily mean they have the original and non-monotonous effect.
Another logic that most die-hard fans often say is how the band isn't for everyone. This band stands out for the guy who loves wearing those plaid, button-down shirts throughout the year alongside boat shoes. And those who know him genuinely adore him and his band. But for everybody else, it might be pointless to follow this band.
The Beatles
It would be no less than a crime to say that the Beatles are overrated! Blasphemous as it may sound - followers of this band will revolt outright upon hearing this. But not everyone feels that way. Sadly, they're just scared to spell that aloud.
The Beatles invented modern pop music in a unique style. Theirs was a development from jazz, blues, music halls, and rock and roll. And realistically speaking, they did a good job. From the beginning, the Beatles was tagged as a premier band. Yet, this group never defined a sound and transitioned from psychedelic to ballad and hard rock via a few albums.
AC/DC
Have you ever heard of a band that 'everyone loves? That's what AC/DC is known for. But ask people to name a few songs, and they would perhaps stick to a couple of them, like 'Highway to Hell.' Dissect their style, and all you get is the plain rock genre, put that on a universal platform, package it well, and now peddle it to everyone around.
The music is good, but that's less of a piece and more of the 'raspy screaming' of Brian Johnson! It's indecipherable to most people who don't align with the band being called a 'hit machine' in the 80s. Also, the band was very commercial in outlook and had minimal emotional aspects.
Coldplay
There was a time when Coldplay was tagged as the 'modern-day Beatles.' That's weird! Coldplay produced hits after hits at one point, and 'Yellow' undisputedly stands as their best, at least known for the most part. But even if you love the lyrics of 'I will try to fix you, it won't do you any sound other than getting cringe-worthy after some time.
We love Chris Martin and his marvelous renditions. Also, he's a favorite singer too. But the leading man isn't sufficient to draw the band's popularity. In recent times, collaborations with Beyonce and the Chainsmokers also didn't prove worthy.
Nirvana
When you remember the bands of the 1990s, Nirvana comes to mind. Amazing was another name given to the band's performances; let's put it straight, they lived up to the expectations for a long time. All thanks to the unforgettable Kurt Cobain and his unique voice, the man lent a different touch to the band's overwhelming popularity.
But where was the creativity? If not overrated, but Nirvana sans Cobain was practically non-existent! However, there was scope for the band to prosper, at least cling to the 1990s. It didn't happen.
Bon Iver
This was an indie-folk band that slowly had Justin Vernon whisper and hum easy-to-play guitar musical notes. So listeners often fell asleep or got bored after a point! Not for everyone, though, but this occurred to many.
The underground music scene owes a lot to the band, especially when they weren't playing mainstream music. Also, the fan base didn't act loyal. Most actually realize that they enjoyed this band because many didn't know who they were. And Vernon's soft voice impacted little. So nothing worked out much.
Queen
What? Like, really? Who dared to put this band here? Freddie Mercury stays a top-notch favorite worldwide even today regarding talent heads among musicians and stage performers. And it's a blunder to call his band overrated.
The queen is indisputably an original band, recognized for their experimental albums containing terrific singles. What went wrong was the band never really released an album containing tracks, all of which stayed exemplary over the years. Merely 'We are the Champions' and 'We Will Rock You couldn't decide their fate!
Maroon 5
Had it not been for 'Songs about Jane,' the pop-rock band would have had difficulty setting its presence on the international map! But then, that was the first and last album that showcased the grit and strength of the band members. Keep moving forward, and you'll see Adam Levine's falsetto define the rest of the band's collections.
Replete with singing skills, the band ensured its albums sold out moments after their release (promotions and marketing never went wrong). But who can deny that the current pop genre and its 'cookie-cutter lyrics' also characterized this band?
Journey
Not many might have heard of this band, but it was an arena one through and through. This band honestly had a so-called 'acquired taste.' It catered to formulaic music aficionados. And sadly, that wouldn't have anyway lasted. At least, when it came to competing with contemporaries, they were left far behind.
The music was polished enough, but can boredom be left behind? It was impossible that Steve Perry would belt out the lyrics every time the crowd followed along. This formula mode and repetitiveness spelled doom for the album, even when most of their singles were real classics.
Aerosmith
That initial fame of the 1970s vanished into thin air just like that. And no one knew it would happen to Aerosmith. As the world knew, team members were writing rock songs and acquiring instant fame. They were called the 'bad boys from Boston'!
Aerosmith had solid American roots. The band went through a series of ups and down again and again, but the members stayed strong. They released a few songs, after which they produced hits too, and moved into the 80s. But peculiarly, they switched their sound to radio-friendly pop songs, which didn't click with the audience.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The biggest issue with this band (and the Revisited one) was how they hailed from California but sand like they belonged to Louisiana. Watch out for their lyrics and all such compositions- most of which revolve around the bayou, catfish, and the Mississippi River, among others.
Of course, owing to their themes, most people grouped them in the southern rock category. And naturally, fans were furious! This is how they became overrated since they didn't belong to the south and didn't possess the authentic sounds of Southern Rock either.
Imagine Dragons
Nothing special remains about this band. The team did have several awards and hits under their belt, but that didn't create any marks for them. The band mostly made music that became reminiscent of hard rock- like the loud, thumping, visceral sounds and more.
Much like a few of their contemporaries, they also adopted a set formula- sing, cue the bass drop, and again sing, and even then, drop in a few techno-Esque apocalyptic sounds inside! Weird it was. But let's not forget that they offer the world a few good singles, if not the others.
Boston
The American rock band from the namesake city gained prominence in the 1970s and 80s. Their debut album, Boston, is still one of the best-selling albums in the history of the USA, with more than 17 million of its copies sold like hot burgers. Boston is known in the musical circuit as an arena rock band, combining some elements of hard rock and progressive rock into their creations.
However, Boston started losing many of its fans after the massive success of the first album, and there are only two or three 'decent songs' in each of their successive albums. Many of their former fans believe Boston has become a lab-made corporate band. They were somewhat successful in mixing the corporate ethos into their musical creations, but that's it.
Green Day
Green Day, the American rock band formed in California in the late 1980s, has been a power trio for most of their career. They were a fun band until the start of the 2000s, but as people started listening to good music, they felt the band was overplayed and overrated.
From an instrumental perspective, Green Day is not at the same standard as many of their contemporary bands and musicians, such as Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. Many rock-lovers think that Green Day has become just the opposite of punk. They are more of a mall-punk band than a punk rock band.
Radiohead
They were formed in 1985, but their debut single, Creep, threw them from relative obscurity to super-stardom. The English band has won six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards. Not only that, they are the most nominated band for the Mercury Music Award. The irony is that Radiohead constantly refuses to play Creep at live shows.
Leaving aside their disdain for their first significant hit, non-fans find their music depressing and gloomy. In one of their shows in Montreal, Thom Yorke, the lyricist himself, simply refused to play the song as they were "tired of it." The band still gets a lot of press attention and loads of money, but for the majority, it's just another boring band.
Bon Jovi
To date, Bon Jovi, the band led by none other than Bon Jovi himself, has released three live albums, five compilation albums, and sixteen studio albums. With more than 130 million copies of these albums sold worldwide, they are one of the most successful US rock bands in album sales. Not only that, they have performed close to 3,000 concerts worldwide.
The band became immensely popular in the 1980s. However, with time, they forgot to reinvent themselves. They appeared like a metal rock band, but their songs were radio-friendly. Back in the day, their songs could capture the spirit of teen angst, but the nuance or texture in their vocals is missing now. Also, the element of surprise in their songs is even less, and many of their former fans now find their music cheesy and monotonous.
The Eagles
The Eagles are one of the most successful musical bands ever. They have sold 100 million albums worldwide, and Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) is still the most sold album in the USA and North America. However, critics say their music is cliched and one of the most perishable. Their music is catchy, but at the same time, they are the most unanimated big-name rock band. Except for Joe Walsh, nobody seems to enjoy themselves during live performances.
Off-stage, their image, ticket prices, lifestyle – everything is bloated. They are a bunch of grown-ups who behave like they are cowboys, but they do not even know how to ride horses. Also, they are one of the most corporate rock bands that rock lovers do not like.
Genesis
English rock band Genesis pioneered progressive rock music in the early 70s and led the way to popularize the genre on the British island. The group enjoyed smashing success throughout the time and has been cited as one of the most influential music bands of all time. Almost all individual artists who contributed to the group, such as Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, and Phil Collins, are hailed as superstars in the music industry.
Despite their huge commercial success, where they sold over 100 million albums worldwide, this best-selling musical group has failed to produce something extraordinary that sustains the long run. The individual brilliance of Genesis members subsided the group's output quite often.
Oasis
Another British band that rocked the stage throughout the 90s and 2000s era is Oasis. While the band had gone through several line-up changes, the popularity of Liam and Noel Gallagher remained the same, being core members of the band. It's not tough to find the influence of Oasis songs in popular English culture.
Oasis produced several best-selling albums like Definitely Maybe, (What's the Story) and Morning Glory? to name a few. However, the diversity in Oasis songs is minimal. Unlike others, there's nothing more Oasis can offer but a few hit songs like Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger. Besides, the notoriety of the Gallagher brothers is well-known due to their uncalled-for on-stage behaviors and feuds.
U2
U2 is more known for their live performances and tours that they have made throughout the year than their songs. Yes, I agree their lyrics are expressive and coupled with the vocals of Bono; they have been quite successful since the late 80s but are not justified compared to their contemporaries like The Who. The band is too much revolving around the vocalist Bono whose personal image carries the entire group, which could be fatal.
U2 saw commercial success ever since the 80s and went on recording so many chart-topping singles and popular albums through the 80s and 90s. Over the years, they have worked with their musical genres to make them more diverse and appealing to their fans.
Guns N' Roses
Unfortunately, Guns N' Roses also made it to the list as we want to ensure no overhyped band is left behind. The hard rock band has quite an influence on rock music fans. It consists of some of its superhit songs like Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child O' Mine, to name a few. The lead vocalist Axl Rose and guitarist Slash took the band to a different level through their unique vocal tone and guitar skill. Appetite for Destruction was their debut album, and it topped the Billboard 200 chart.
Sure once they had taken the world of hard rock by storm, but if you consider the overall music quality of Guns N' Roses, it's nothing special than Slash's guitar riffs and the vocal of Axl Rose.
KISS
KISS is known for their live performances where they rock the stage with shocking stuff such as fake blood-spitting, pyrotechnics, Smoke, and more. The performers of KISS show up in a face full of makeup and fancy costumes to look like comic book characters. They also popularized the shock rock genre, emphasizing unique live concerts that give the band a distinctive character.
KISS's unique music style, where they mix hard rock and heavy metal, may have its fair share of fans where the band sold millions of albums worldwide, but behind their fancy makeups and overly showoffs, the distraction from music is evident. Exciting the crowd can't subdue the music quality for long.
The Doors
If you list all American bands that made headlines for the wrong reasons, The Doors will surely top the list. The band members like Jim Morrison, John Densmore, and Krieger might influence many people with their music, but they also found their way into multiple controversies. Besides, The Doors don't sound like a good rock genre, with Morrison trying to be an out-of-this-world guy whenever he performed.
Despite counting them as an overrated band, they had managed to cement a place in popular culture with multiple best-selling albums out there. They saw line-up changes due to the death of numerous members but still managed to get going for a long time.
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is one of the pioneers of the hair metal genre. The founder member Nikki Sixxquoted how he wanted to form a fantastic band where the influence of David Bowie, Sex Pistols, and Black Sabbath would be blended, But what makes them truly unique is how all the band members have successfully maintained an androgynous persona whenever they showed up.
However, it's shocking to find out some of Mötley Crüe's tracks are awful, and even Nikki Sixx never shies away from accepting that. Metal music doesn't require terrible yelling and hair swinging to make its presence worthy, as Mötley Crüe does.
Poison
American metal band Poison is the classic example of how music doesn't require at all to gain a fan base. They are genuinely overhyped but somehow manage to tour all these years. They have a reasonably large number of female followers, even today, less for music and more for band members.
Poison rose to prominence in the 80s and enjoyed commercial success throughout the 90s. They made it into so many lists of most refined glam metal and even in hair bands. But they never made it to the 100 million sold albums club like their counterparts. Perhaps their most significant single is Every Rose Has Its Thorn, which made it to the Billboard Hot 100 list and even topped the chart.
Deep Purple
Deep Purple may be a famous rock band, but they have also managed to grace an amusing accolade, the loudest band in the world. Their lyrics and philosophical appeal are always overshadowed by the loud music that gets the better of everything else. This is what the Guinness Book of World Records anointed them.
Deep Purple made its way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 one of the most influential rock bands. Their single Smoke on the Water became an instant hit when released, and songs like Highway Star and Space increased their popularity. But the loudness of music in Smoke on the Water may bug you due to its heavy rock music and may let the lyrics fade away.
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac was initially founded to carry the soulful legacy of British blues. Following a quick initial success with Albatross and Oh Well with the founder duo guitarist Peter Green and drummer Mick Fleetwood, Steve Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham reshaped the band's genre to more of a pop/rock kind.
Despite the initial ups and downs, the band attained substantial commercial success with top-selling singles such as Dreams, Own Way, and You Make Loving Fun. But after the short-lived success, it failed to offer something new in the later years. At one point, the band went on hiatus, and members were busy pursuing solo careers. Over time, the departure of members and multiple lawsuits against each other led to the degeneration of the music quality they used to produce in the 70s.
Bob Dylan
You might be surprised to see Bob Dylan on this list. Dylan is a legendary figure when it comes to American culture and music. His song Blowin' in the Wind might blow away so many heads worldwide, but his music didn't transcend the overall music culture. You cannot just worship him as a god-like musical personality and give him the Nobel Prize for literature when his songs are not poetic enough to justify the reward.
His songs consist of watered-down lyrics in an attempt to go deep and touch the human soul, but in reality, Dylan used to be a fame-hungry teen whose revolt against the socio-political norms might be a farce. Dylan began his musical career as a folk artist but later made a mark in the country, traditional pop, jazz, and even rock music.
Nirvana
Nirvana fans, there's bad news for you as your favorite band deserves a little hall of shame due to its overrated music. More than the true fans of Nirvana, some people love to put on a Nirvana t-shirt, and over time it has become popular culture. But what about the music? It seems like the fandom of Kurt Cobain outsmarts the question. For example, take Nirvana's famous track Smells Like Teen Spirit, which sounds like the Pixie genre or maybe a rip-off of the same.
Nirvana hogged all the limelight back in the 90s with its single Smells Like Teen Spirit and enjoyed global popularity for a long time. It was part of their second album Nevermind.
Weezer
Another 90s band became popular due to its unique alternative rock music and produced quite a few popular tracks that people still can't get over. Following the great success of Weezer's Blue Album, the second album Pinkerton was initially a commercial failure due to its unusual sounds and dark theme. But later, it became a cult that garnered critical praise. A lot of Weezer's singles topped Billboard's several charts. Weezer is still active doing worldwide tours.
Despite the enormous commercial success of Weezer, it failed to carry on the cult status in later years. Things headed downhill due to this, as Weezer could not produce something unique to quench the thirst of its fans. Although the band members garnered a huge fan base worldwide, their output is nowhere near the initial days when they defined alternative rock through their compositions.
Bob Marley
Jamaican singer and songwriter Bob Marley is the man who took Jamaican music to the international arena to become the face of the nation. Marley became a household name through his megahit single No Woman, No Cry. In 1984 his Jamaican reggae beats reaped the fruits again, and this time it was bigger. The Album Legend sold millions of copies worldwide.
But his legendary status also attracted severe criticism too. The topic he used to sing was drab, and trifle elements make his lyrics less intriguing. It may hook some people worldwide, but in the long run, the music of Bob Marley will not live forever.
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters was the brainchild of breakaway Nirvana guitarist Dave Grohl. Grohl was multi-talented and was the reason behind the band's initial stardom and later climbing the rock charts of the country. The Nirvana-like music and chorus Grohl took with him later caused them critical acclaim. The debut album Foo Fighters became a hit, and there was no look down from then.
However, the 15 Grammy winner band is not as good as its fans portray. Grohl was a great drummer but the less we talk about his lyrical mastery, the better. He is often pictured as a wannabe rockstar whose lyrics were never up to the mark.
Adele
The iconic British singer has garnered a massive fan following over the period. She saw huge commercial success right after her debut and has pocketed many prestigious awards such as Grammy and Golden Globe, to name a few. Her USP is, of course, the vocal that made her a hot-selling singer worldwide.
Despite being one of the modern-day pop queens, as illustrated by many, Adele's songs revolve around some hopeless love and loss topics. Whether she does this according to her fans' demands, some people love to hear her sing some upbeat tracks instead of same-old shady lyrics. It seems she cannot get over it.
Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead was a rock band that remained the same from top to bottom. Grateful Dead was known for its psychedelic music and garnered immense fame throughout the late 60s, 70s, and even 80s. Grateful Dead improvised the jam-rock culture back then and became a household name in the rock community.
The psychedelic-sounding music might have been trendy in the 60s and 70s, but when the 90s music hit them hard, the output of the Grateful Dead became cringy. But they failed to comprehend the Wind of change in the popular music culture. The band members also needed to realize they were getting old for the psychedelic music and had to call off the journey they did in 1995.
Pearl Jam
Is Pearl Jam also overhyped? Unfortunately, a lot of critics think so. But why did the rock and roll sensation of the 90s go down the hill to become an overrated band? We all know Pearl Jam's contribution to the underground grunge movement and how they became famous. But why they tried to think otherwise is beyond our understanding. While the last fun songs of Pearl Jam may sound cliche to us, the lyrics lack depth and become drab at a time.
Pearl Jam's breakthrough in the rock scene of the 90s, along with Nirvana, was a milestone event in the US music industry. It enjoyed plenty of commercial success throughout the 90s and earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Mumford & Sons
British rock band Mumford & Sons influenced a lot of listeners through its soulful folk and alternative tracks. The debut album of the band featured on the UK Chart and Billboard. Having been inspired by different literary works of famous writers, the lyrics of Mumford & Sons are poetic and go well with the banjo and acoustic guitar.
To be poetic, Mumford & Sons sometimes becomes lyrically too powerful to listen to. With a fancy guitar and melodious banjo tunes, Mumford & Sons tends to overpower the lyrical elements with its swaying songs that don't make sense.