What mainstream/popular bands do you like?

[nicmos]

I've only been on this board for a short time, and I love it because you can discover all sorts of bands that you hadn't heard of before.  But I feel like I don't have a good idea what the more mainstream preferences of the board members are, if anything.  This isn't the same thing as guilty pleasures (although it could be I guess); it can be artists that you genuinely have respect for.

I would prefer mainstream or popular to be defined by bands that have gotten broadcast radio airplay, I guess, format of the radio station doesn't matter.  But not prog

By like, I mean like a large part of their catalog, however you want to define a large part.  You don't have to own all their CDs or have ever gone to a concert of theirs.

It would also be interesting to divide it into bands that have been around for a while and pretty much everyone knows them, and more recent bands, who might have gotten a song or two on the radio, but you've found that they have a lot of good songs that don't get airplay too.  I don't want to be strict about it, so be lenient with your definitions.  Anything in the last 10 years can probably be considered recent.

So, using some answers that I would give, a format might be:

Old:
Foo Fighters (I realize they're not old in the large picture, but they've been at it for quite a while)
R.E.M.


Recent:
Sara Bareilles
Katy Perry (serious guilty pleasure; deal with it )
Eminem (not his early stuff though, which is why I put it in the recent category)
Snow Patrol


I think a lot of us use our music tastes to help us tell ourselves how we're different from most people.  But there's got to be music that we like, even though lots of other people like it too and we know it.

[?]

Amorphis and Sonata Arctica

[PixelDream]

I absolutely love Coldplay's first two records, after that only a few songs from X&Y and Viva La Vida. Their latest album doesn't do anything for me at all.

System of a Down.
Creed's first two records.
Kings of Leon (not that much but still, I like them).
Radiohead (the world's 'biggest' alternative band).

[Phoenix87x]

When I was a teenager, all I listened to was Prog rock/prog metal. Like all day everyday. Eventually I got incredibly tired of it and had to branch out and now its just one part of my musical interest. Still love prog though.

1. AC/DC
2. Adele
3. Aerosmith
4. Alter Bridge
5. Audioslave
6. Dave Matthews band
7. David Bowie
8. Def Lepard
9. Elton John (old elton john)
10. Foo Fighters
11. Stevie Nicks
12. Guns and roses
13. Incubus
14. Korn
15. Lauryn Hill
16. Lady Gaga
17. Led Zeppelin
18. Madonna
19. Marilyn Manson
20. Katy Perry
21. Megadeth
22. Metallica
23. Micheal Jackson
24. Neil Young
25. Oasis
26. The Offspring
27. Ozzy
28. Pearl Jam
29. Pink Floyd
30. Prince
31. Rage against the machine
32. RHCP
33. Rolling stones
34. Skid Row
35. Smashing Pumpkins
36. Stone Temple Pilots
37. Soundgarden
38. U2
39. Weezer
40. Kings of Leon
41. Radiohead
42. System of a down
43. Van halen
44. Stevie Ray Vaughan
45. Janis Joplin
46. Staind's first two albums
47. Queen
48. Daft punk
49. No doubt
50. Coldplay
51. Third Eye blind

[Zydar]

Coldplay
Foo Fighters

[Ruba]

^Where's The Beatles?

[TioJorge]

Oldies:
Metallica
Led Zeppelin
Ozzy
Pantera
Zakk Wylde
MF Doom
Public Enemy
Bob Dylan
Geto Boys

Newbies:
Gorillaz - definitely my favorite out of any mainstream band. Perhaps out of any 'category'.
Thrice
Linkin Park
The Killers
Deftones
Chevelle

That's all I can churn out right now but I'm sure there's a handful more.

[kirksnosehair]

In no particular order and this is by no means a complete list:


Foreigner
Stevie Ray Vaughn
The Edgar Winter Group
Rainbow
Alice In Chains
Heart
Pat Benatar
Def Leppard (first three albums)
Aerosmith (first 5 or 6 albums)
Rush (up to and including Moving Pictures)
Barry Manilow
Bon Jovi
Styx
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Van Halen (debut album)
Blue Oyster Cult
Led Zeppelin
The Eagles
Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne
The Bee Gees
Donna Summer
Boston
Queen
The Kinks
Dire Straights
The Who
Neal Young
Carole King
The Police
The Cars
AC/DC
Kiss
Steve Miller Band
Thin Lizzy
Warrant
Mott The Hoople
Golden Earring
The Doobie Brothers
Michael McDonald
The Manhattans
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Cheap Trick
Bad Company

[Zydar]

^Where's The Beatles?

I didn't read the whole OP so I thought it was just contemporary bands you wanted. My bad.

[rogerdil]

Deodato

[ReaperKK]

Incubus takes the cake for me, I'm a die hard fan.

I also like off the top of my head:
Katy Perry
Sara Bareilles
Feist
Alanis Morissette
Coldplay

[ColdFireYYZ]

The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Styx
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Allman Brothers Band
Blue Oyster Cult
Cheap Trick
Thin Lizzy
Alice Cooper
The Who
Van Halen
Elton John
Billy Joel
and a bunch of other classic rock bands. I also like, but don't really listen to, ABBA and The BeeGees.

As for new stuff, there's really no new, mainstream artists that I listen to regularly but I don't mind Coldplay, Alanis Morissette, Adele, Keith Urban, and Sara Bareilles.

[Zantera]

I listen to quite a lot of popular stuff, would be a pain listing it all.

[Ryzee]

I listen to quite a lot of popular stuff, would be a pain listing it all.

[TioJorge]

  Awesome contributions, guys. Why would you even bother posting that?

ohwait+1durrhurrr

Oh yeah and

Daft Punk - another major favorite of mine
System of a Down - these guys as well
Alice In Chains

[Ryzee]

Uh, I posted that because the topic was interesting to me and would be something I'd like to discuss in a more traditional discussion format (like you know, talking), but compiling and typing up a full list of all of the mainstream/popular bands I listen to (without even getting in to what exactly constitutes a mainstream/popular band) does sound like a bit more work then I'm prepared to do without monetary compensation.  I saw that Zantera basically took my exact thought from my brain and posted it here, so I quoted it just so I could contribute something.  Sorry it didn't meet your standards, fucking sorry about it bro sorry   

And to be honest, I don't even know what "ohwait+1durrhurr" is even supposed to mean.



Here, maybe this is better: I don't even know where to begin, but The Beatles are one of my favorite bands ever.  Doesn't get much more mainstream or popular than them yeah?

[Rattlehead]

Just to name a few... Metallica, Led Zeppelin, R.E.M., Radiohead, Alkaline Trio, Soundgarden, The Misfits, Slayer, Weezer (just their old stuff really).

I like System of a Down as well (used to be obsessed with them around 14-16 years old-ish), but I'm not really sure that I'd consider them mainstream/popular but I could very well be wrong.

[Jaffa]

Nobody's mentioned P!nk, so I'll go ahead and mention P!nk.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I listen to quite a lot of popular stuff, would be a pain listing it all.

[Accelerando]

Alter Bridge, of course. Also, I've been listening to Myles Kennedy's older stuff lately, stuff before he formed AB like Citizen Swing and The Mayfield Four. I seriously think he's a top 20 rock vocalist of all time.

Currently, some mainstream artists that i've been digging include Bruno Mars and Frank Ocean.

[Cedar redaC]

Alter Bridge
Rush
Eiffel 65- I only have their debut since it's the only one that's been issued in America, but I really like it.
A-Ha- I only have Hunting High and Low, but I really enjoy it as well.
Plus the Beatles and about a million other artists.

[BlobVanDam]

By this thread's standard of mainstream/popular, I'd say 95% of what I listen to falls into this category.

[TioJorge]

Uh, I posted that because the topic was interesting to me and would be something I'd like to discuss in a more traditional discussion format (like you know, talking), but compiling and typing up a full list of all of the mainstream/popular bands I listen to (without even getting in to what exactly constitutes a mainstream/popular band) does sound like a bit more work then I'm prepared to do without monetary compensation.  I saw that Zantera basically took my exact thought from my brain and posted it here, so I quoted it just so I could contribute something.  Sorry it didn't meet your standards, fucking sorry about it bro sorry   

And to be honest, I don't even know what "ohwait+1durrhurr" is even supposed to mean.



Here, maybe this is better: I don't even know where to begin, but The Beatles are one of my favorite bands ever.  Doesn't get much more mainstream or popular than them yeah?

Wrong thread then. The thread is specifically about listing and compiling mainstream bands. If you're too lazy to do that, then don't post and just look at all the other people listing their favorite mainstream bands, that's perfectly fine. They're not my standards, it's the OP's. I personally don't care, but don't kid yourself, it doesn't contribute anything; nothing at all. I'm pretty sure no one cares that you listen to a lot of mainstream (which doesn't tell us anything). Now, if you said that and listed bands, then that would be a contribution that people could care about because, y'know, it's what the threads about; actually telling us "all those" mainstream bands you listen to. There's hundreds of other threads about discussing (in detail) plenty of bands listed and if you'd like a topic about discussing all of them in one place, you can create a thread called "Discuss your favorite mainstream bands in detail (but don't list them cause that's too much work)". This isn't one, according to the OP.

But yeah, be a smartass a curse at me while you make your point or whatever. FYI, the +1 is basically a useless post that contributes to nothing but your post count.

On topic fishstick:
Eiffel 65: Wow,  I cannot believe I'm seeing this name. Add these guys to my list, they're great. At least, Europop is if you're into cheesy techno/dance.

[KevShmev]

Too many to list.

This isn't the same thing as guilty pleasures (although it could be I guess); it can be artists that you genuinely have respect for.

I never get tired of repeating this: to me, there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure.  I like what I like, and if anyone has a problem with any artist I listen to, that is their problem, not mine.

[TioJorge]

I would totally consider some of these to be guilty pleasures. That is, in my view, some of these people should be embarrassed to be listening to said band.

Much like I am for listening to Eiffel 65 right this very moment and bopping my head to it.

[KevShmev]

I would totally consider some of these to be guilty pleasures. That is, in my view, some of these people should be embarrassed to be listening to said band.

Again though, that is your issue, not the issue of the listener.  This idea of feeling shameful or guilty because you like something you aren't supposed to is so lame.

[Pols Voice]

The Beatles
Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty
Led Zeppelin
Collective Soul
Radiohead (ironically, they are more experimental than most non-mainstream bands)

[wolfking]

Pearl Jam
Live
Bush
Faith No More
Foo Fighters
Creed
System of A Down
Machine Head
Pantera
Slipknot
Oasis
Incubus
Matchbox 20
Soundgarden
Metallica
Hall and Oates
Tears For Fears
Audioslave
Korn
Tool
Smashing Pumpkins
Weezer
Collective Soul
Gin Blossoms
Fuel
Tonic
The Offspring
Duran Duran
Fleetwood Mac
Man Austrlaian artists that aren't known overseas that well (Jimmy Barnes, Grinspoon, Jebediah, Living End, Regurgitator etc.)

[nicmos]

Hall and Oates

 nice... wouldn't have expected that from wolfking.

[Progmetty]

Holy shit people! The listings of mainstream/popular bands posted so far indicate that the only musicians who are NOT mainstream/popular are those who have to carry their own luggage..

[TioJorge]

There's a few people who've named bands that definitely aren't mainstream or all that popular, but for the most part most of the bands named have been household names at one point in time. I mean, if people were listing the usual suspects that are thrown around in this place then yeah, it'd be kind of pointless; but there's plenty of mainstream bands being listed. Maybe our definitions of 'mainstream' differ, but to me if you can walk down the street of a highly populated city and more than a handful of people know exactly who you're talking about when asked about 'said band', I'd say that's mainstream. Being able to infiltrate the populous so that it's a common name among them. At least for my own posting, I don't think there's one band that isn't completely mainstream or otherwise immensely popular at one point and/or got loads of radio-play...that's pretty much the defining point of being mainstream to me.

It sounds like you're advocating that there aren't loads upon loads of mainstream bands...as if we're listing too many. I'd say it's the opposite. Mainstream bands completely dominate the music industry. Either that or you don't know many mainstream bands. In which case this thread has served its purpose wonderfully.

[nicmos]

I have to say, I'm getting a completely different picture of DTF than I had before this thread.  I wouldn't have expected these lists to be so long.

I hope there is a distinction though, between bands that you like just a couple songs from, and bands that you like quite a bit of stuff from.

I'll throw out some more for myself:

Van Halen (mostly but not all DLR era)
Eagles
Stone Temple Pilots (really underrated if that's possible, although their output varied in quality quite a bit)
Vertical Horizon
Tom Petty
John Denver
Michael Jackson (what can you say, he has quite a bit of catchy stuff)

[HarlequinForest]

Tool is probably the only "mainstream" band I have in my library.  Not to say there aren't many other mainstream bands I like, just, you know, not enough to have them in my library.

[?]

There's a few people who've named bands that definitely aren't mainstream or all that popular, but for the most part most of the bands named have been household names at one point in time. I mean, if people were listing the usual suspects that are thrown around in this place then yeah, it'd be kind of pointless; but there's plenty of mainstream bands being listed. Maybe our definitions of 'mainstream' differ, but to me if you can walk down the street of a highly populated city and more than a handful of people know exactly who you're talking about when asked about 'said band', I'd say that's mainstream. Being able to infiltrate the populous so that it's a common name among them. At least for my own posting, I don't think there's one band that isn't completely mainstream or otherwise immensely popular at one point and/or got loads of radio-play...that's pretty much the defining point of being mainstream to me.

It sounds like you're advocating that there aren't loads upon loads of mainstream bands...as if we're listing too many. I'd say it's the opposite. Mainstream bands completely dominate the music industry. Either that or you don't know many mainstream bands. In which case this thread has served its purpose wonderfully.

Well, I was half-joking when I mentioned Sonata Arctica and Amorphis, since they're not nearly as well-known as most of the artists/bands mentioned in this thread, but they do receive radio airplay and Gold discs for each new album in Finland, so I think they could be called mainstream at least here (and when it comes to Finland, Nightwish is definitely mainstream - everyone knows them).

Out of the non-Finnish bands, I like Pink Floyd, Tool and old Metallica (are these mainstream enough? ).

[TioJorge]

Yeah I definitely wouldn't consider Sonata and Amorphis mainstream at all. Nor would I for Nightwish since, in my view, mainstream applies to a worldwide view of popularity, and I'm betting the common person in most countries don't know who Nightwish is.

On the other hand, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't at least heard of Pink Floyd or Metallica, perhaps even Tool but to a lesser extent. But yeah, I think Metallica has probably even made it to a poor, dying African boys hut in some form. They're all over the world.