You’ll notice a pattern in this list of rock bands who tried their hand at pop music. Each one decided to give pop music a shot after years into their careers at the top of the rock world. Each one tried their collective hands at doing something different, yet not so different all at once. Some of their efforts paid off. But for others, well… At least they gave it a shot. Let’s take a look!
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1. U2
U2 have long been known for changing things up, from their musical stylings to their overall aesthetic. For the most part, the way they experimented with their own fame paid off. However, the band’s attempt to dive into pop music with the late-1990s album Pop wasn’t the smartest venture.
Sadly, this album lacked a lot of the songwriting talent that U2 had been known for up until that point. Their ability to put together a melody that sticks can still be heard on that album, and the song “Discotheque” is honestly quite fun. However, we’re glad that U2 decided to pivot back to their rock music ways after the Pop days were over.
2. KISS
Well, putting KISS on this list was inevitable. KISS first made it big with their unapologetic hard rock and heavy metal stylings, complete with the kind of on-stage makeup and outfits that would make any traditional parent in the 1970s sweat. By the late 1970s, they were ready to try something different and poppier.
Dynasty was KISS’ attempt to get (somewhat) into pop music, and the result was a disco-adjacent record full of falsetto vocals and songs that didn’t really feel like rock music at all. “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” is still a hit today, but most of the band couldn’t really vibe with disco and they moved away from the sound shortly after.
3. Aerosmith
After finally getting a certified hit with “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’”, the members of Aerosmith were determined to extend their time in the spotlight for as long as possible. So, they decided to snatch up all the mainstream elements of popular music in the 2000s and make Just Push Play in 2001.
There is some pretty good material on that album. However, the tracks just aren’t all that memorable, and some critics chastised the band for not “acting their age.”
4. Def Leppard
This is probably one of the most recognizable examples of rock bands who tried to produce chart-topping pop songs. Def Leppard is obviously known for their heavy metal and hard rock music. When X came out in the early aughts, listeners were kind of surprised.
X is a pop rock album through and through. “Long Long Way To Go” is a solid track, but most of the album ended up being very overly produced in a way that you’ll find common in early 2000s pop records.
Photo by Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT
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