Love em or Hate em Rock bands

[TZ]

We've had threads about most overrrated and most underrated (which is a form of saying loved or not) but I'm interested in the groups that really seem to inspire passions of both sorts..My own favorite Rush, seems to be this way. The fans are very very devoted and passionate..and the people who dislike Rush seem very very strong in their dislike for them. Another band that seems to be this way is Led Zepplin. I grew up the daughter of a devoted Zep fan (my mom even went to their concerts in the 70's) and while they aren't particularly favorites of mine, I really didn't realize how many people seem to dislike them.
Other groups like this? (and I don't mean like the Beatles whose near universal approval does seem to tick off a certain small percentage of people)

[Richardo]

1. Steely Dan

I personally like their first-iteration stuff (through Gaucho) quite a bit.

The new stuff (Two Against Nature etc) not so much. They sound like they're trying too hard to sound like Steely Dan.

[eyepaddle]

2. Great topic TZ;

I'd say my favorites Judas Priest would fall into this category--they've sold something like 35 million albums and since I've bought about thirty of those (those old cassette tapes never lasted that long). I'm figuring that means they've probably got no more than 7 or 8 million people who've actually picked up one of their albums (I'm figuring I'm on the high side of the curve, but not overwhelmingly so).

Of course they've been around so long they seem to have somehow become slightly respectable as a sort of nostalgia act--which completely was not the case in the 80s when many people, especially critics, could not wait to tell you how much they sucked.

[TZ]

3. I saw something on VH1 talking about them recently

Saying they are a totally underrated band that gets bashed alot but they REALLY helped establish the Metal genre. So it seems they do fit the category to a tee.:)

[dawg]

4. Yes

All the "hipster" hate hurled at Rush goes double for Yes. Love them or hate them, they defined the genre of progressive rock, and their influence on bands that came after them is undeniable. And yet no nomination to the Rock Hall, and nothing but uniform hate from the rock press.

[mitchum]

5. Grateful Dead and Velvet Underground

[TZ]

6. People hate on the Grateful Dead?

I've never been a huge fan, but I thought that most people at least respected their abilities. Jerry Garcia was quite the musician, IMO.
Huh.

[BurtWorm]

13. I couldn't stand the Grateful Dead 30 years ago.

I'm able to tolerate them somewhat more now that they're more or less defunct. I just thought it was a lot of gas. I know I wasn't the only one.

There was a Sarah Silverman show a few years ago that enacted an old joke about the Dead, that if you took away the drugs from their concerts, even Deadheads would realize how boring the band is. "You mean *this* is what I've been following around the country when I could have been in grad school?"

[dawg]

7. To me, those are the two bands that get all the love.

Throw Big Star in there and you have the trifecta.

[Rhythm]

8. The Grateful Dead

I don't care for 'jam-bands' in general anyway.

[Rosie1223]

9. Leave Britney Alone!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

haters

[TZ]

11. lol

I'm not counting 12 and 13 year olds as true music fans....they are celebrity followers...:P

[Tikki]

10. Madonna

Dreadful...(The Tour)


Tikki

[BurtWorm]

12. Lady Gaga

too.

[NoGOPZone]

14. Kiss

Rap music as a genre.
Michael Jackson, even before allegations of sexual abuse.

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. I've never understood the Rush hatred. I can see why some people don't like their music,

but the visceral hatred of them goes waaaaaaaaay beyond any sensibility.

Even if one doesn't like they're music, one must still admit that they're fucking amazing musicians.

So says I, a HUGE Rush fan.

[Forkboy]

17. That's how I feel about it.

I don't get the Rush hate. There are bands out there, often liked by those who hate Rush, that only have a fraction of the talent or music writing skills.

[some guy]

31. their there, not they're

Even if one doesn't like they're music . .

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

You're fucking helpful.

:eyes:

One typo, that's clearly a typo since I typed it correctly earlier, and you act like an asshole know-it-all douchebag about it.

Congratulations.

[REP]

35. I don't enjoy their music, yet I like them as personalties and appreciate their musicianship

But Lee's singing voice .... Argh.

[OmahaBlueDog]

36. Isn't it the same complaint people voice about "Boston"? All the songs sound the same

Also, they caught some of the same criticism that folks used to level at art rock groups like "EL&P" after the release of 2112 (with the title suite clocking in at over 20 min.)

[Flaxbee]

16. Jon Bon Jovi seems like a good guy, but I despise

his namesake band. Hate it. Hate it. Though I have mellowed with age, and can listen to a song or two of theirs without running from the room.

Never really liked Duran Duran, though again, age has mellowed me.

I don't understand the deep and abiding hatred for the Eagles, though, I must admit. Or the Beach Boys. But growing up in San Clemente in the 70s and 80s, with my older sisters and their friends listening to that music, might be why I still like the music - brings back good memories.

[TZ]

18. The Eagles is one I don't get either.

I can acknowledge not liking their style of music but not acknowledging that their music has been highly influential over the years?

[Flaxbee]

20. Exactly.

The Eagles have been HIGHLY influential. To me, JBJovi didn't really bring a different sound to the table, whereas the Eagles did.

[Forkboy]

19. I don't listen to much of anything well known, so it's hard for me to say.

The band the Melvins seems to stir strong reactions in people. The ones who love them really love them (like me, 2nd fave band of all time), but there are some people who really hate them.

Personally, I just want hair like Buzzo.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpONmUSswE0&feature=related

[HughBeaumont]

23. When they opened for Primus in 1993, they got booed mercilessly

The people in the Melvins' pit (including myself) were infuriated at this reaction and held up middle-fingers to the jeerers. Not-gettin-it sonsabitches :mad: :rofl:

I think it was that point in time or a couple of years later that the early college radio/metal/thrash-loving Primus fans sort of got weeded out by their now ekoostik hookah/SCI/dmb/Phish-favoring fans.

[TZ]

24. Wow. Do him and Troy Palomau go to the same hair dresser?

:rofl:

[Burma Jones]

21. Zappa

Never heard anyone say, "Oh he's OK"

[HughBeaumont]

22. Dave Matthews Band.

I fall in the "hate" category for this one. I don't think it's one of those bands you can take or leave. Infuriating that all the talent writes mostly overproduced, patchouli-scented hippity-dancey radio crap.

Barenaked Ladies are the same way. In fact, many 90s/00s alt-radio bands do.

[NoGOPZone]

25. Phish. Also, two aspects of Led Zeppelin

Their live performances, either you think they were fantastic or incredibly sloppy.
Their plagiarism. Either they're the huge scumbags or its overblown because it happens all the time.

[flvegan]

26. Nirvana.

Some folks think Cobain was a god. Others, like me, can't bloody stand them.

[TZ]

27. Thats oddly the one thing we agree on musically

I NEVER understood the Nirvana thing.

[blondeatlast]

29. Agreed; I've felt so alone all this time. nt

[jobycom]

28. Some bands you hate because they sound bad, others just because everyone else plays them so much.

Like Rush. They don't really bother me, I'd just rather listen to something else. Boston and the Allman Brothers are like that, too.

Steely Dan really grates in my ears like a rusty hacksaw. I recognize why people like them, and I can tell they are innovative, but to me their sound is awful. It's like coffee, I guess. Some people like it, some can't drink it. Even if it's good coffee, I can't drink it, because the whole taste of coffee hits a gag reflex with me. Like Steely Dan.

So I think some bands generate that strong reaction because their sound is so unique that it will only appeal to certain audiences, and others generate that reaction in part just because they are popular and hard to get away from, so people who don't like them build up a slow resentment that they are on. Like Rush, to me. I had pretty much forgotten they existed until they became a favorite topic around here.

Then there are the bands you hate passionately only because your little sister loves them. Train does that to my older daughter. :)

Aaron Neville seems to be one of those. I love him, a lot of people hate him.

[TZ]

30. "Then there are the bands you hate passionately only because your little sister loves them..."

OMG, I totally understand that...When we were young in the late 70's and early 80's my younger sister loved the BeeGees. And in particular the 45 of "Tragedy". She played that. Over. And over. And over. And over.....I've always really liked disco but even though I know the BeeGees did some really good disco (that I do like) I think my sister wore me out permanently on them (plus the follow up movie to Saturday Night Fever..."Staying Alive"..she LOVED that and watched it on video over and over again in the late 80's which didn't help) :rofl:

[jobycom]

32. Heh! I was talking about my two kids, but now I'm worried this battle will linger.

My 11 year old loves "Soul Sister" by train. It's an okay little imitation of Jason Mraz--not the greatest song, but certainly not the worst. My oldest daughter, 17, was in the back seat when that song came on one time, and wanted the younger to change it. A fight ensued, so now my 17 year old, who is very musical (the only classes she makes As in involve music), trashes the song fiercely every time it comes on. She swears it's not because of that incident, that Train is just AWFUL!!!1 I told her there are worse songs she likes, and the poor kid is musically honest enough to have to admit it, but she still HATES TRAIN!!!!1

So last weekend Morgan is hanging out with a choir friend, and we're all in the car, and "Soul Sister" comes on, and I turn it up for my younger kid, and just before Morgan can scream about it, her friend yells out "Oh, I LOVE that song!" and starts singing. :rofl: I actually felt sorry for Morgan.

And I love the BeeGees. There. You've got one to hit me with, now. :)

[KamaAina]

34. Coldplay

almost possible to do both at once. :shrug:

[Kat45]

37. Springsteen

His fans love him (and I am one of them) and he gets critical acclaim but there are a lot of people that absolutely hate him, including most of my male friends.

Bon Jovi is another one that the love/hate thing would apply to.

A lot of folks hate Nickelback and Creed, but with the number of albums they sell I would assume that their fans love them.

I agree with the posters who cited the Dead (and I am one who hates them).

[valerief]

38. I hate rock bands. nt