When people talk about rock bands that have transcended the test of time, they typically talk about The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and other bands from the ’60s and ’70s. Maybe it’s just too soon, but when folks have this conversation, it seems they rarely, if ever, mention bands from the 2000s. It’s just not a normal answer in this casual debate. However, we’re going to try to change that.
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People remember the 2000s rock scene for its angsty lyrics and pop-friendly melodies with a hint of punk. However, the decade offered far more than just that and included many other bands other than The Killers, All Time Low, and Linkin Park. With all that in mind, here are three rock bands that defined and surpassed the 2000s rock scene.
The Strokes
The height of The Strokes’ career was unarguably in the early to mid-2000s, thanks to their debut album, Is This It. It peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 and featured popular songs such as “Someday” and “Is This It.” Well, that album was released 24 years ago, and still The Strokes continue to turn heads.
The Strokes’ last album, The New Abnormal, proved that the band was more than just part of the 2000s fad. Produced by Rick Rubin, The New Abnormal debuted and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. The singles “The Adults Are Talking” and “Ode To The Mets” are stand-alone classics that prove these guys still got it.
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy dominated the 2000s rock scene and achieved mainstream success after their 2005 album, From Under the Cork Tree. Which featured the incredibly memorable tracks “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” and “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More ‘Touch Me.’”
In the 2000s, the band was the epitome of the garage rock movement. However, in 2023, Fall Out Boy partially pivoted away from this sound with their album, So Much (For) Stardust. Following its release, the album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
Green Day
Even though Green Day has been around since the ’90s, most people associate the height of their success with the 2000s rock scene. Since then, Green Day has remained in the limelight thanks to their albums and surplus of live performances.
Most recently, Green Day released their 14th studio album, Saviors, in January 2024. Following the album’s release, it debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and had several songs appear on the Billboard Hot 100.
Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
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