# Who is the second biggest rock artist in the world right now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854 "2005-10-19T03:04:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/21 "2005-10-19T20:46:48Z")
Also, the **White Stripes**. They may loom a little larger in my cosmology than yours; I think they still mainly play clubs. But they’ll still be a big deal when **the Killers** and **Franz Ferdinand** are quarter bin detritus. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/22 "2005-10-19T20:52:39Z")
What about The Dave Matthews Band? Not Rock? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/23 "2005-10-19T21:20:42Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > What about The Dave Matthews Band? Not Rock? Personally, I’d say “no”. But if Coldplay is being included, I guess we’re keeping the definition as loose as possible. ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/24 "2005-10-19T21:21:05Z")
I think **Radiohead** and **Prince** also deserve consideration. Prince had two shows scheduled here in D.C. last year and demand was so high they had to add a third. Selling out the MCI Center three nights in a row is no small achievement. The one thing against him is that he hasn’t had a blockbuster single in quite some time. You could say the exact same thing about Radiohead, but though they do release singles, they’re just not a singles-oriented band. People buy Radiohead albums for the album as a whole, and rarely cause they need to own a few songs off it. They have yet to even try touring arenas, though they sell out enormous ampitheaters and, when they headline a festival, pretty much everyone there makes it a point to see them play, which means they’re drawing about 50-70 thousand people. But, yeah, **U2** is really the only band these days that can sell out an outdoor stadium AND is still making music that’s both critically and commerically popular. The Stones and McCartney, and increasingly Aerosmith, are really just traveling nostalgia shows, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/25 "2005-10-19T21:39:47Z")
As much as the music snobs would like to discount him, Dave Matthews Band is probably your mythical number two. They’re hugely popular. Put out a ton of high charting singles and they have a ridiculously fanatical following. The rest of the top 5 I think would look like this: 1. Green Day 2. Coldplay 3. Sheryl Crow Six and seven would probably be a shootout between The Foo Fighters and The White Stripes. And Franz Ferdinand will be around a long, long time. I think The Killers are probably going to be the new Strokes. They’ll wish they could be the new Hives. ---
**Author:** ![Caissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Caissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caissa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/26 "2005-10-19T21:45:25Z")
I think **The White Stripes** need a couple more years under their belt before they can be considered. Jack is coming on strong, however. **DMB** , hmm, I dunno. Good choice, though. **Radiohead** is a worthy pick. **Prince** , whew, that’s a tough one. I hadn’t even considered Prince, because these days I consider him more of a R&B/Pop artist. I’m a huge fan, but I don’t think he makes the Top 5 given he’s dubious status as a “Rock Artist” and lack of radio singles in the last ten years. Revised Top 5: _1) U2 2) Green Day 3) Foo Figthers 4) Aerosmith 5) Bon Jovi_ BTW, Green Day gets major mojo points for releasing _Jesus of Suburbia_ as a single (last quarter of Oct.). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/27 "2005-10-19T21:53:00Z")
Would not Pearl Jam be somewhere quite high on this list? (and I can’t believe Nickelback is even being seriously considered) ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/28 "2005-10-19T22:07:33Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Would not Pearl Jam be somewhere quite high on this list? > (and I can’t believe Nickelback is even being seriously considered) I think Pearl Jam follows under the “recent popular singles or CDs” rule. Which is the same rule that makes Nickelback a moderate contender. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/29 "2005-10-19T23:17:03Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > **The Stones** are a huge concert draw, but they tend to sell a fraction of the number of albums of whoever their opening act is. I personally haven’t bought a new Stones album since **Some Girls**. Well somebody’s buying them. _A Bigger Bang_ reached #3; so did _Bridges to Babylon_; and _Voodoo Lounge_ got to #2 (#1 in the UK). Their most recent live album flopped, but the Stones haven’t released a studio album that failed to make the Top 10 since their debut. (Chart statistics on [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones_discography).) ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/30 "2005-10-20T02:29:02Z")
I work for a ticket broker (read: scalper) and I can attest, at least, for demand & resale value of some of these things. U2 & the Stones are far away leaders, although I think U2’s kind of overstayed their welcome & played tooooo many shows this year. Aerosmith, not so much. I’m surprised it took so long for Dave Matthews to poke up his little head, as he sells out constantly and has an obscene fan base, young & old (and hell, the first couple CDs are phenomenal). Green Day definately belongs up here. Springsteen too (and if you haven’t, read Mansion on the Hill–mesmerizing book about that gent). And whoever poo-pooed Nickelback, well sir: I applaud you. For a variety of reasons. I’ve never sold a Nickelback ticket, never enjoyed a Nickelback song. I’d mention, also, AC/DC & Kiss. Neither qualify as a number two in your criteria, but Kiss enjoys a rabid mob of alliegance while AC/DC…well, I just like AC/DC. They pump out singles every other year and sell out their fair share of arenas. Plus, you gotta love the school boy uni. Also, you’re pretty hard pressed to find AC/DC nay-sayers. Aerosmith on the other hand; don’t get me started. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/31 "2005-10-20T05:14:34Z")
Great question. I agree that U2 is far and away #1 among relevant acts. But the distance to Number 2 is huge. All the other bands are pretty weak in a historical sense. Green Day, Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, etc… wouldn’t even be top 20 in the 1960s or 70s. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/32 "2005-10-20T06:06:16Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Her fans love her to death, but there aren’t as many of them as there were 12 years ago. **The Beekeeper** isn’t on the **Billboard** 100 and she hasn’t had a radio-friendly single since “Cornflake Girl,” circa 1995. Spark made it to #13 on Billboard. That’s pretty radio friendly in my book. But you’re right about the decline in her popularity. ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/33 "2005-10-20T08:07:07Z")
Green Day is certainly up there. When your least-popular album (“Warning”) still gets three or four mainstream radio hits, you are the definition of “big time.” Radiohead are probably up there as well, although as someone mentioned, they don’t get much (if any) airplay, so their popularity is often masked. However, “Kid A” hit number one through nothing but online word-of-mouth, and they routinely sell out entire international stadium\* tours, \*with each show selling out within minutes of going on sale online. ---
**Author:** ![Caissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Caissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caissa)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/34 "2005-10-20T13:17:56Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Well somebody’s buying them. _A Bigger Bang_ reached #3; so did _Bridges to Babylon_; and _Voodoo Lounge_ got to #2 (#1 in the UK). Their most recent live album flopped, but the Stones haven’t released a studio album that failed to make the Top 10 since their debut. (Chart statistics on [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones_discography).) You know, you raise a good point, The Stones have moved more units in recent years than I originally thought: A Bigger Bang (1 Mil.), Bridges To Babylon (1 Mil.), Voodoo Lounge (2 Mil.). Their lack of charted singles in recent years hurts them, but their total album sales and tour success keeps them in the running. Bon Jovi drops down, The Stones move up: _1) U2 2) Green Day 3) Foo Figthers 4) Aerosmith 5) The Rolling Stones_ > [@Birdmonster](#): > > And whoever poo-pooed Nickelback, well sir: I applaud you. For a variety of reasons. I’ve never sold a Nickelback ticket, never enjoyed a Nickelback song. Well I’m certainly not a big fan either, although I must admit I like their sorid tale of debauchery known as _Figured You Out_. Great rock song! But these guys have to be considered. Since 2000, they’ve had 11 Mainstream Rock hits, including 6 #1’s! Their albums are huge as well: Silver Side Up (6 Mil. US - 8 Mil. CAN), The Long Road (3 Mil. US - 4 Mil. CAN), and their new one hit #1. Like them or not, these guys are a force in the world of rock today. > [@soylent gene](#): > > But the distance to Number 2 is huge. My thoughts exactly. Huge, huge gap. It really is amazing just how big **U2** really is! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/35 "2005-10-20T13:49:18Z")
> [@thwartme](#): > > Heh. > > I remember when U2 was alternative, not mainstream. When would that have been? U2’s been a mainstream-popular band, well, pretty much since anyone at all had heard of them. With all due respect, anyone who thinks “The Joshua Tree” was an “alternative” album is using a different definition of “alternative” than any other human alive. I mean, forget the question of whether it sold too many copies to be alternative. Even if it hadn’t, what makes it “alternative”? They were already an immensely popular band; “Pride” was a monster hit BEFORE “The Joshua Tree.” ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/36 "2005-10-20T14:43:16Z")
**Nickelback** ’s a force in rock today?! This saddens me. I don’t doubt your numbers at all, but damn, are they awful. Not my cup o’ tea at all. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/37 "2005-10-20T14:59:29Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > When would that have been? U2’s been a mainstream-popular band, well, pretty much since anyone at all had heard of them. > > With all due respect, anyone who thinks “The Joshua Tree” was an “alternative” album is using a different definition of “alternative” than any other human alive. I mean, forget the question of whether it sold too many copies to be alternative. Even if it hadn’t, what makes it “alternative”? They were already an immensely popular band; “Pride” was a monster hit BEFORE “The Joshua Tree.” U2 was the very definition of “alternative” before _The Joshua Tree_. “Pride” was a moderate success for their breakthrough single, but they were still largely the darling of critics, college radio DJs, and cutting-edge fans. \*Joshua Tree \* is what catapulted them to the household name level of superstardom (and is, in many ways, one of their weakest albums – but that’s for a different conversation). ---
**Author:** ![Caissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Caissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caissa)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/38 "2005-10-20T15:40:26Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > **Nickelback** ’s a force in rock today?! This saddens me. I don’t doubt your numbers at all, but damn, are they awful. Not my cup o’ tea at all. Cmon dude, you know you like _Figured You Out_. When you hear that in your car, you turn it up and sing it out loud like the rest of us. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/39 "2005-10-20T16:26:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > They were already an immensely popular band; “Pride” was a monster hit BEFORE “The Joshua Tree.” “Pride” is off of “The Unforgettable Fire” which is their fourth album. I would say their Live Aid performance is what put them into the mainstream. Well, that and Bono’s highlighted mullet. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/40 "2005-10-20T16:39:38Z")
> [@KSO](#): > > “Pride” is off of “The Unforgettable Fire” which is their fourth album. I would say their Live Aid performance is what put them into the mainstream. Well, that and Bono’s highlighted mullet. This jibes with my memory. I think of U2 as having been “alternative” when compared to the “mainstream” rock acts of the early '80s like Styx, Journey, Foreigner, etc. I am thinking of the years between _Boy_ and _War_, and maybe extending that into around the time the “Sunday Bloody Sunday” video first got into rotation on MTV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854.md?page=3)