# The most unconventional bands to achieve success
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 1, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000 "2003-06-01T21:27:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@blanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blanx)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/21 "2003-06-02T13:00:33Z")
**GWAR**. I realize we’re not talking mondo success here, but the fact that many of you will recognize the name, considering the nature of their act…
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/22 "2003-06-02T13:43:31Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by nitroglycerine \*
> \*\*They have a big new multi album deal and a nu-metal guy producing their new record, so I don’t expect the hits to stop anytime soon.
> \*\*
and to think that I thought “wrong number” was popishly non-Curish enough :eek:
(Actually, Wrong Number is my fave Cure song, so production by a k3wl jack might not be oh so bad. At least if the result sounds anything like “Sparks Are Gonna Fly” by Catherine Wheel, a nu-metallish take on their former sound.)
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### Author:  [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/23 "2003-06-02T13:58:55Z")
**Queen** , more than anyone else, I think. Although, for the short-lived wide appeal that they enjoyed in the early 90s, I’d say that **They Might Be Giants** comes in as a close second.
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### Author:  [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/24 "2003-06-02T14:05:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by WordMan \*
> \*\*I nominate **The Breeders** - Kim and Kelley Deal’s band. They had a pretty big hit about 10 - 12 years ago, _Cannonball_ which was very catchy and poppy. But the album it was on (can’t even remember the name) was waaaay out there… \*\*
The album is **Last Splash** , and is still one of my faves.
I popped in to say Sonic Youth, though I see that **nitroglycerine** beat me to it.
This thread just serves to remind me how dumb record producers think the public is. Really, it’s amazing that so many interesting and avant garde musicians have such a wide audience, and that they’ve achieved as much success as they have. People aren’t stupid, and can appreciate great music even when it isn’t “packaged.”
Sorry, back to your very excellent thread.
Oh, and I’ll throw in **Laurie Anderson** and **Velvet Underground**.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/25 "2003-06-02T14:31:22Z")
**The B-52s**.
Top that.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/26 "2003-06-02T14:38:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> GWAR. I realize we’re not talking mondo success here, but the fact that many of you will recognize the name, considering the nature of their act…
I’m not sure that’s true - there have been plenty of schlocky, gimmicky metal bands before. Ever heard of KISS?
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### Author:  [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/27 "2003-06-02T14:40:03Z")
How about **Soul Coughing**?
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### Author:  [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/28 "2003-06-02T14:43:34Z")
C’mon now, how about **Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band**.
Everybody sing along now…
_Bat Chain Puller…_
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### Author:  [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/29 "2003-06-02T14:44:04Z")
GWAR is so far beyond anything KISS has done that it’s farcical to mention them in the same sentence. Kiss is rock glam, sparkly pyro…GWAR is a living, breathing, gooey sticky nightmare of grossness.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/30 "2003-06-02T14:45:08Z")
KISS wasn’t quite as glam when they started. And while GWAR may be taking it farther, they’re certainly building on the same foundation. Same with Marilyn Manson following Alice Cooper (and Ozzy) and a bunch of others.
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### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/31 "2003-06-02T14:45:25Z")
Barenaked Ladies
And, considering his voice, Bob Dylan.
Julie
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### Author:  [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/32 "2003-06-02T14:47:52Z")
I must pop in to say the Grateful Dead, as their road to success was really grass-roots without the usual methods of promotion and publicity. They paved the way for a lot of jam bands, most notably Phish, who sell out stadiums while never getting air time or top-forty singles.
For unconventional music, I’m going to go with Kate Bush. As unique as Christina Rossetti. Her music sounds like nothing else.
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### Author:  [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/33 "2003-06-02T15:10:54Z")
_The Incredible String Band_
Okay, I know no one under age 45 ever heard of them, but they did (and still do) have a cult following. They were the quintessential psychedelic, multi-instrumental, hippie folk band of the 60s, with vocals that have been described as sweetly sublime or much like dying cows.
If I want the house to myself, all I have to do is crank 'em up.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/34 "2003-06-02T15:19:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by refusal \*
> \*\*\*\*.
>
> (Um, but **Led Zep** are cock rock with pretentious touches, and thus guaranteed to sell well. They were always a huge albums band. \*\*
Guaranteed to sell well? I’ve got news for you: in 1968, what they did wasn’t guaranteed to sell 10 copies. You needn’t like it, you needn’t listen to it, but you DO have to understand that what they did was far from the mainstream at the time. Today, their sound is old hat, especially because they spawned so many imitators.
But if Led Zeppelin sounds mainstream (or even conservative) today, that’s largely because they redefined what’s mainstream.
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### Author:  [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/35 "2003-06-02T15:21:44Z")
**The Violent Femmes** are pretty freakin’ weird.
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### Author:  [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/36 "2003-06-02T15:38:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Morgainelf \*
> \*\*
> Oh, and I’ll throw in **Laurie Anderson** and **Velvet Underground**. \*\*
Sorry, but what commercial success did the Velvet Underground have? Their highest charting album only hit #198, and much of that came from their association with Andy Warhol. Never had a hit single, either. Now, I love the Velvet Underground, but they were the Original Alternative Band. Just because they have achieved popularity among non-mainstream rock listeners (famous for their odd tastes anyway) does not equal overall popularity or success. I for one have never heard a Velvets song on the radio, except once on college radio (and I don’t even remember what song).
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### Author:  [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/37 "2003-06-02T16:19:19Z")
**Sigur Ros** anyone? They sing in some wierd amalgam of Icelandic and some language the lead singer made up. And they get quite a bit of critical praise for it and are quite well known in Europe at least.
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### Author:  [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/38 "2003-06-02T17:49:56Z")
Ah, and what about the all mighty Ween?
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### Author:  [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/39 "2003-06-02T17:51:46Z")
I have to second **Kate Bush** and **The B52s** and add **Grace Jones, kd lang** and **Tracy Chappman**
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### Author:  [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-unconventional-bands-to-achieve-success/179000/40 "2003-06-13T14:55:56Z")
Actually, after a bit of thinking, while I’m talking about… unconventional… Finnish bands, I might as well mention Eläkeläiset. Basically, think of a group that does nothing but Weird Al-style polka covers, and you’re pretty near the mark. Except it’s not really polka, it’s humppa.
And again, they were succesful in Finland and enjoy a bizarre cult reputation in Germany. (Especially considering they persistently sing in Finnish and at one gig, after hearing that people in some German city were a bit touchy about gays and Nazis, opened with a merry shout “Hello, homo-Hitlers!”) There are many songs where I, at least, have heard the humppa cover before the original ([Here’s](http://www.lut.fi/~jahuttun/elake/orig_index.html) a list of songs covered on their records.)
(Incidentally, like many Finnish bands, they come from my hometown Joensuu, and our family is/was actually renting to their drummer. I think.)
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