The Ultimate Band

THE ULTIMATE BAND Number 1 singles, Grammy award wins and superstar status. Every band wants them, but who has managed to have them all? KEY O Platinum in the US * Hollywood Walk of Fame Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nationality American Australian British Irish Swedish Category winner LAUNCHED LABEL LINE-UP CHART SUCCESS AWARDS OFF THE RAILS AABA 4 members 8 studio albums Thanks to Eurovision 1 famous solo Number one singles career Easily the greatest band to have launched their career from the infamous song competition Agnetha Fältskog US o trips to rehab arrests Infighting led to break-up Grammys Brits followers 9 years together '1955 '1960 ' 1970 "1980 '1990 2000 2010 AC:DC 6 members 15 studio albums छछछछछछ C00co cc0o EE Always the bridesmaid Never had a number one single, despite albums consistently going platinum 60k followers Grammys trips to rehab Brits arrests No infighting 42 years together '1955 ' 1960 ' 1970 ' 1980 '1990 '2000 ' 2010 5 members 15 studio albums 00 Kicked the habit ДАА Number one singles Drink and drug addiction threatened the band's future US o 4 1m Grammys Brits followers trips to rehab arrests Mild until management ordered every member to go to rehab in the '80s infighting 45 years together 1955 1980 1990 '1960 1970 2000 ' 2010 ARCTIC MONKEYS 4 members 5 studio albums Number one singles UK .. Made it on MySpace In the true style of the '00s, they made it big online before landing a record deal 1.5m followers Grammys Brits trips to rehab arrests No infighting 13 years together '1955 '1960 ' 1970 1980 1990 2000 '2010 5 members 28 studio albums ДААА 0000 Come what may Despite mental illness, addiction, cancer and legal battles the band completed a 50th anniversary world tour in 2012 1 4. Number one singles US o000 25k followers Grammy Brits Severe trips to rehab Brother Records arrest infighting 54 years together ' 1960 Most studio albums '1955 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 LAUNCHED LABEL LINE-UP CHART SUCCESS AWARDS OFF THE RAILS THE 4 members 13 studio albums BEATLES Occo0o 000 EEE Co0o Top of the pops 4 famous solo Number one singles careers Their chart success remains unbeaten, despite having only been together for 10 years Paul McCartney John Lennon UK 00 000. 4 Brits 2.6m followers 3 US o0000000o00000000 George Harrison Ringo Starr arrests Infighting led to break-up Grammys trips to rehab Apple Records 10 years together Most number 1 singles '1955 1960 1970 1980 1990 '2000 ' 2010 3 members 23 studio albums BEELEES 0000ccc00 0000ccC00 INKE 1 famous solo Most awesome comeback career Robin Gibb After initial fame, the band reinvented itself and went on to become the biggest disco group of the '70s Number one singles 4. 1 UK. .. Grammys trip to rehab Brit arrest Severe followers US o0000 infighting 45 years together '1955 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 '2010 Blendk 6 members 10 studio albums ДА Longest break-up Number one singles Spent 16 years apart - during which time Stein battled illness and Harry pursued a solo career - before 158k followers US o000 trips to rehab Grammys Brits arrests Mild infighting reuniting in 1998 25 years together '1955 ' 1980 '1990 2000 '2010 ' 1960 ' 1970 BON JOVI 3 members 13 studio albums Follow the leader 1 famous solo career Number one singles US o000 Jon Bon Jovi is reportedly the only member signed to the record label: the other bandmates Jon Bon Jovi 1 1.6m followers Grammy Brit trips to rehab arrest Mild infighting are technically his employees 32 years together '1955 '1960 '1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 COLDPLAY 6 studio albums 4 members Ultimate bland Number one singles UK .. US o Proof that it's possible to be in a credible rock band without anyone getting arrested or sent to rehab 8 14.1m Grammys Brits trips to rehab followers arrests No infighting 19 years together Most Brits Most followers '1955 ' 1960 '1970 '1980 1990 ' 2000 "2010 LAUNCHED LABEL LINE-UP CHART SUCCESS AWARDS OFF THE RAILS D=P=CH= MOD= 5 members 13 studio albums EE All got too much Every member suffered a mental breakdown during the band's peak 2.1m followers Grammys Brit trip to rehab arrests Mild infighting success in the early '90s 35 years together '1955 '1960 '1970 1980 "1990 "2000 ' 2010 4 members 9 studio albums кер 000ocec0o EE EE Number one singles US o0 Late success "He's hot, he's sexy and he's dead' ran the famous Rolling Stone cover during the '80s Morrison cult resurgence 380k Grammys trips to rehab followers Brits arrests No infighting 8 years together ' 1960 '1955 '1970 1980 1990 '2000 ' 2010 4 members 7 studio albums ZAVES Number one singles US o0000 All American 2 famous solo careers First met in a Disneyland backing band for Linda Don Henley Glenn Frey Grammys Brits trip to rehab followers arrest Severe Ronstadt and went on to become the best-selling American 30 years together group in history infighting '1955 1960 ' 1970 | 1980 1990 2000 ' 2010 FLEWOD MAC 5 members 17 studio albums Co0000eco ДА пП EE Most complicated 2 famous solo careers Number one singles The band has seen two failed relationships, one on/off affair, two trips to psychiatric hospital and one member join a cult Stevie Nicks UK• US o 83k Lindsey Buckingham Grammy Brit followers trips to rehab arrests Severe infighting *........* 48 years together '2010 '1955 ' 1960 1970 1980 ' 1990 2000 FeO FICHTERS 4 members 8 studio albums The silver lining Following the abrupt end of Nirvana, drummer Dave Grohl began working on future Foo Fighter hits 11 4 2m Grammys trips to rehab followers Brits arrest Mild infighting 21 years together '1955 1960 '1970 '1980 '1990 "2000 '2010 CHART SUCCESS LAUNCHED LABEL LINE-UP AWARDS OFF THE RAILS GUNS N'ROSES 5 members 6 studio albums EE EE Barely recognisable 1 famous solo Number one singles US o career Axl Rose is the Slash only current member from the original line-up, who went their 1.7m Grammys Brits Severe followers trips to rehab arrests infighting own ways in 1997 30 years together '1955 ' 1960 ' 1970 '1980 1990 "2000 '2010 KIINGSIEON 4 members 6 studio albums Most unlikely rock stars Number one singles UK Brothers went from 540k being raised by an evangelist preacher to singing about fiery sex Grammys Brits trips to rehab followers arrests Mild infighting 15 years together '1955 '1960 '1970 '1980 '1990 2000 " 2010 4 members 9 studio albums LDITEIN 00000o oo EE Most likely to reunite 2 famous solo careers Robert Plant Robert Plant rumoured to have said he would be willing to reunite with former bandmates Jimmy Page 518k followers Grammy No Swan Song Records Brits trips to rehab arrests infighting 12 years together '1955 ' 1960 ' 1970 1980 1990 '2000 '2010 4 members 9 studio albums HETALLIC 0000ceoco Biggest control freaks Sued label in 1994, 1 2.7m fought Napster in 2000 and eventually agreed to release music Grammys Brits trip to rehab Mild Blackened followers arrest infighting Recordings *******............ 34 years together on Spotify in 2012 '1955 1960 1970 '1980 "1990 " 2000 2010 3 studio albums NIRVANA 3 members Coo Most era-defining Smells Like Teen Spirit dubbed anthem for apathetic teens of the '90s 605k Grammy Brit trip to rehab followers arrests No infighting 7 years together '1955 ' 1960 ' 1970 ' 1980 1990 '2000 2010 LAUNCHED LABEL LINE-UP CHART SUCCESS AWARDS OFF THE RAILS oasis 5 members 8 studio albums 00000000 EEE EEE Got away with it Number one singles UK....... The British bad boys are strong contenders for the most unruly band to have avoided rehab 555k followers trips to arrests Infighting led rehab Big Brother Recordings Grammys Brits to break-up 18 years together '1955 ' 1960 '1970 '1980 '1990 '2000 '2010 5 members 10 studio albums 0ccccc CCO Biggest conscience Have a carbon- neutral policy and once donated proceeds of single downloads to Monkey- wrench 2.8m followers Grammy Brits trip to rehab arrest Severe infighting Records environmental 25 years together charity '1955 ' 1960 '1970 1980 1990 2000 '2010 5 members 14 studio albums PINK FroyD 000coc cco Most successful album 2 famous solo careers Number one singles David Gilmour Dark Side of the Moon has spent a record-breaking 16 years on the Billboard album UK. US o 1.2m Roger Waters Grammy trips to rehab Brits arrests Severe followers infighting 32 years together chart '1955 1960 ' 1970 '1980 ' 1990 ' 2000 " 2010 THE POLICE 3 members 5 studio albums Rogue lead singer 1 famous solo Number one singles career UK..... US o Sting started to take control of the band, before deciding to leave altogether and Sting 5 trips to arrests Infighting led rehab Grammys Brits followers to break-up pursue a solo career 9 years together '1955 '1960 ' 1970 '1980 1990 2000 2010 QUEEN 4 members 17 studio albums 000000 C0 000000o Most democratic 2 famous solo careers Number one singles All four members have written a number one single for the band Freddie Mercury Brian May UK..... 3 US 00 793k followers trips to rehab Grammys Brits arrests Mild infighting 45 years together '1955 ' 1960 ' 1980 1990 " 2010 1970 2000 LINE-UP LAUNCHED LABEL CHART SUCCESS AWARDS OFF THE RAILS AE.M. 4 members 15 studio albums Occ o co Least likely to reunite Lead singer Michael Stipe claims to 'despise nostalgia' 3 Grammys 89k followers 3 Brits Severe trips to rehab arrest infighting 31 years together '1955 '1960 ' 1970 1980 1990 2000 "2010 RADIOHEAD 5 members 8 studio albums C0000O 0 O Least rock 'n' roll 1 famous solo career Lead singer Thom Yorke still lives in his native Oxford and was described by one interviewer as an 'achingly sensible chap' Thom Yorke 3 1.4m Grammys trips to rehab Brits arrests No Ticker followers infighting Tape 30 years together '1955 1960 '1970 ' 1980 1990 ' 2000 ' 2010 RED HOT Chili Peppers 4 members 10 studio albums 000cce eco ДАА EE Come a long way From wearing strategically placed tube socks in the "80s to winning three Grammys in 2006. 3 1.7m Grammys Brit trips to rehab Severe followers arrests infighting 32 years together '1955 ' 1960 '1970 ' 1980 '1990 '2000 2010 the Rodlinghons 4 members 21 studio albums C000c0 Oco 00000 Ooco AARA Most rock 'n' roll 1 famous solo career Ongoing battles with drug abuse, the establishment and each other's Mick Jagger Number one singles UK . US o000000o 2 11 Rolling 1.4m Grammys Brits Mild followers trips to rehab arrests Stones infighting Records egos make them quintessential rock 'n' roll rebels 53 years together Most platinum albums Most off the rails '1955 1960 1970 1980 1990 ' 2000 '2010 4 members 13 studio albums 000000O 00 Grammy darlings Number one singles Comfortably hold the record for most Grammys won by a group, although still a way off Sir Georg Solti's whopping 31 wins UK...0. 22 3 US o 381k followers Grammy Brits trip to rehab arrests Mild infighting 39 years together Most Grammys '1955 ' 1960 '1970 1980 1990 2000 '2010 Notes: 1. Famous solo careers show band members who had at least one top 10 hit as a soloist in either the Billboard or UK singles or albums charts. 2. Number of band members represents the number in the band's most famous line-up and does not include all previous members. Sources: Recording Industry Association of America, BPI (British Recorded Music Industry), Billboard Charts Archive, The Official Charts Company, Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone, MTV, NME, Guardian, Ultimate Classic Rock, bands' official websites and twitter accounts. BBC iibstudio for CULTURE