# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/41 "2005-10-20T16:45:46Z")
Guns ‘N’ Roses? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/42 "2005-10-20T16:53:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > When would that have been? U2’s been a mainstream-popular band, well, pretty much since anyone at all had heard of them. I remember when they were a crap little punk band playing little dives in Dublin. A LOT of people in Dublin do 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/43 "2005-10-20T16:59:16Z")
> [@Caissa](#): > > My thoughts exactly. Huge, huge gap. It really is amazing just how big **U2** really is! And how weak everyone else is. Is rock truly dead? Probably more of a niche product; there’s still some terrific stuff out there, it jist doesn’t have wide appeal. When Nickelback and Sheryl Crowe are being seriously considered as #2, things are pretty bad. I mean, Nickelback??? No wonder I find myself going to see DJs a lot more than concerts. Oh, and U2 most definitely were alternative up until the Joshua Tree era. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/44 "2005-10-20T16:59:51Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > 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. Yeah, back in the mid- to late-80s, when somebody said “alternative,” the first bands that would spring to mind were U2, the Cure, and R.E.M. All of these could probably be considered mainstream today. Back in the mid- to late 80s, if I’m remembering correctly, rock stations in Chicago like Z95 (which is now The Loop) would play your typical stadium-rock and hair rock. A typical play list would include Twisted Sister, Def Leppard, perhaps some Journey. ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/45 "2005-10-20T17:00:08Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Guns ‘N’ Roses? They’re over these days. Most of the original members are in the hasbeen supergroup Velvet Revolver, while Axel plugs along, beating women. ---
**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 20, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/46 "2005-10-20T17:01:28Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Guns ‘N’ Roses? Well, if Axl ever gets off the pot with _Chinese Democracy_, we’ll know if he’s still got it. But he’s been in seclusion for the better part of a decade now. The rest of the band (and Scott Weiland), **Velvet Revolver** , could be a contender with a few more hits under their belt. But you know Axl’s got problems when _Scott friggin’ Weiland_ looks professional by comparison. ---
**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, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/47 "2005-10-20T17:04:48Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > And how weak everyone else is. Is rock truly dead? Probably more of a niche product; there’s still some terrific stuff out there, it jist doesn’t have wide appeal. When Nickelback and Sheryl Crowe are being seriously considered as #2, things are pretty bad. I mean, Nickelback??? No wonder I find myself going to see DJs a lot more than concerts. This is a pretty important point, I think. Since the consolidation of American radio, I can think of only one supergroup that’s come out (Coldplay) and their British. The rest of the huge-draw, arena-rockers are old hat with great fans. If you still like rock, I’d recommend checking out some local music & some internet radio. There’s still interesting stuff being done, it’s just that putting out a single is such a financial investment these days (radio station payola, major label backing being big big money ventures) that the majors refuse to release anything challenging, interesting, or creative. Hence, Nickelback. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/48 "2005-10-20T17:20:09Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > They’re over these days. Most of the original members are in the hasbeen supergroup Velvet Revolver, while Axel plugs along, beating women. I suppose but their music is worlds ahead of some of the other bands mentioned thus far in this thread and they played some MTV event a few years back to a lot of excited fans. ---
**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/49 "2005-10-20T17:23:22Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I suppose but their music is worlds ahead of some of the other bands mentioned thus far in this thread and they played some MTV event a few years back to a lot of excited fans. “Worlds Ahead” is definately a matter of opinion. 80s & 90s rockers will always love G’n’R; they’re just wandering around with a fork in their backs these days. ---
**Author:** ![iluvurmom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iluvurmom/32/7276_2.png) [@iluvurmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iluvurmom)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/50 "2005-10-20T17:31:43Z")
oh sadness…I do agree that The Stones overall are perhaps more worthy of the title than Bon Jovi, esp. given their recent re-insurgance. But, damn…I love bon Jovi and I was very sad to see them knocked off the last list of top five. Come on Bone Jovi…big follow-up… Agreed with the Dave commentary, but I don’t ever put Dave or Coldplay in the rock band categories. Although fantastic, not so rock. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854/51 "2005-10-20T17:36:59Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > I remember when they were a crap little punk band playing little dives in Dublin. A LOT of people in Dublin do 😉 Hehe, I saw this in my e-mail and thought it was about Greenday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-biggest-rock-artist-in-the-world-right-now/326854.md?page=2)