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We quite often hear of UK bands (and for that matter comedians) not being able to 'crack' America, but I was having a discussion about whether there are any bands who were/are BIG in America but who are almost unheard of here, or who never sold any records here. Does EVERYTHING that's big there make it over here?
We had no good suggestions. Do you?
(p.s. To answer my own question, I guess there are some huge mainstream right-wing country artists who are largely ignored here. But in rock and pop?
[Post edited 14 Nov 2022 16:03]
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USA music question on 20:11 - Nov 14 with 2401 views
USA music question on 17:55 - Nov 14 by Pinewoodblue
When the British Invasion waned US did their own thing and a lot of US bands failed to make it in UK, Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears, I'des of March, Association , Family Stone Buckinghams all spring to mind as being big in States but non- runners, or one hit wonders here..Have seen most of them live at Abbey Road on the River or on Flower Power Cruise.
The most disappointed group we saw were Lovin Spoonful, just one of original member who although a non singing drummer back in the day was front man. Have however seen John Sebastian, as a solo performer, and he was amazing as were THe Cowsills. Not been back to States since 2019 doubt if will make it again as the flight is too much for the wife.
INXS were huge for quite a while in the States before finally breaking the UK,I remember from watching Casey Kasems Americas top 10/20 ? on saturday mornings in the late 80's.
'Wayne released an album with The Pink Fairies titled Cocaine Blues. Four tracks were recorded live at Dingwalls in London in 1978'
And to make gtsb jealous I saw Ten Years After at Reading in, I think, 1973.
Definitely jealous. I would've loved to have seen Fred Sonic Smith with MC5 too. Alvin Lee, Leo Lyons ,Wayne Kramer and Fred Smith. They don't make them like that anymore.
My first thoughts were Bush but I’m about nine people too late.
They’re called Bush because they’re from Shepherds Bush, yet play like an early 90s Seattle grunge band.
The Grateful Dead often get discussed in terms that imply they’re huge. Many sellout shows, numerous ‘Deadhead’ fans idolising the band. I get the impression they’re big in America, I’ve not really met any Deadheads.
On the same logic I’ve also not met anyone who admits to going to a Coldplay gig and yet I see pictures of thousands of people in stadium gigs so someone must like them?
(…same for Ed Sheeran…😬)
Similar to the Grateful Dead, a lot of prog bands are big in America. I think I saw Phish mentioned in this thread, Rush too. Whereas prog bands in the UK are mostly people from the 70s in leotards and capes hunched over keyboards, in the US they have some kind of stoner cool and sell out arenas.
RVRB: https://app.rvrb.one/channels/have-guitar-will-listen -
Listen to music when WFH, set your own music to DJ and find new recommendations from others
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USA music question on 22:19 - Nov 14 with 2278 views
Ok so I’ve just seen that the Grateful Dead have also been named earlier in this thread. Another classic move from me, I really should pay more attention.
RVRB: https://app.rvrb.one/channels/have-guitar-will-listen -
Listen to music when WFH, set your own music to DJ and find new recommendations from others
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USA music question on 22:34 - Nov 14 with 2268 views
USA music question on 17:41 - Nov 14 by floridablue
Can't be many bigger or richer than Jimmy Buffett. Sells out massive stadiums and not only music but restaurants and resorts.
Is there any British equivalent to Jimmy Buffett? To me he seems to be some kind of 'national treasure' in America, (or at least some states) mostly just by wearing loud shirts and singing Jesse Winchester songs louder.
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USA music question on 23:50 - Nov 14 with 2226 views
Is there any British equivalent to Jimmy Buffett? To me he seems to be some kind of 'national treasure' in America, (or at least some states) mostly just by wearing loud shirts and singing Jesse Winchester songs louder.
Yes, I'd say he is seen as a 'national treasure' , certainly in the southern coastal states. It's his laid-back Key West beach style trop rock music that appeals. I've been along to two of his events here and the party starts early morning outside the venues (as it does with NFL tailgating) with the booze flowing and his 'parrot head' fans parading around in their coconut bras and grass skirts! I would honestly say, my most fun concerts. Huge Margaritaville resort recently opened a few miles away from where I live and seems very popular a stone's throw from all the Disney parks. he must be close on a billionaire by now!
[Post edited 14 Nov 2022 23:52]
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USA music question on 03:07 - Nov 15 with 2151 views
In a similar vein - there are 3-4 rock bands that are Australian icons and folks down here are absolutely flabbergasted when I say I've never heard of them. Which is odd given how so many UK acts/artists seem even bigger here than in the UK (especially 80s UK acts - Nik Kershaw's work from the 80s springs to mind as something that is still regularly played on the radio). Examples of Australian acts who I've never heard of until I moved here:
Silverchair - 5 x Number 1 albums in Australia from 95 to 07; Top 10 albums in the US; only one of the albums scraped into the top 40 in the UK charts.
Cold Chisel/Jimmy Barnes - despite being born in Scotland Jimmy Barnes (initially as front man to Cold Chisel and then as a solo artist) is a national treasure with 12-15 #1 albums going back to the 70s - but not one album in the UK Top 100.
Powderfinger - an alternative rock act from the late 90s and 00s with six #1 albums in Australia - never made it overseas.
Birds of Tokyo - a big act from the last 15 years. 5 x Top 3 albums in Australia but no success overseas.
Then you have the acts that would be one hit wonders in the UK but who are huge here - the likes of John Farnham, Men At Work, Midnight Oil and Gotye.
Of course there are many big Australian acts internationally: AC/DC, INXS, Kylie, Bee Gees, Tame Impala, Crowded House, Nick Cave - but most of them (perhaps except Kylie and the Bee Gees) were big in Australia for a few years before making it big internationally.
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USA music question on 08:37 - Nov 15 with 2111 views
Might have something to do with US-led multinationals forcing US acts onto radio play lists in ye olde days.
You’ll also find big American acts that are largely ignored in huge swathes of the states.
I’d suggest the headline act at the Monterey festival, the mamas and the papas were not terribly liked here. Nor were bands such as Little Feat or The Outlaws…. Big US bands that supported The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on a tour over here.
Some of those silly US bands with big hair never seemed overly popular here at the time. Nor perhaps the even sillier Kiss.
Gloria Estefan? Not many Cubans here to boost sales.
USA music question on 16:08 - Nov 14 by GlasgowBlue
Garth Brooks springs to mind.
I remember when I was in Vegas around a decade ago and there were billboards everywhere for "Garth at the Wynn" which became an in-joke among my friends because we had no idea who this dude was. It was only when we looked him up that we realised how insanely popular he was.
Is there any British equivalent to Jimmy Buffett? To me he seems to be some kind of 'national treasure' in America, (or at least some states) mostly just by wearing loud shirts and singing Jesse Winchester songs louder.
USA music question on 12:11 - Nov 15 by Pinewoodblue
If we can include Canada can we add Guess Who to the list?
Although they did have a UK hit with the disparaging 'American Woman', but they are very popular in Toronto - I got taken to see a free concert in the park by Randy Bachman ( weill not taken by Randy Bachman, he was on stage and I was taken by a Canadian woman...but not in that sense...)
Another band that were huge in Canada but nowhere else:
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