Hope Davis
Table of Contents
If a band has millions of fans, you can be sure they have millions of haters. Some bands receive much more criticism than others, many for good reasons, others for seemingly nothing at all.
If you’re interested in learning more about the most hated famous bands of all time, you’re in the right place. Get comfortable as we discuss some bands with less-than-stellar reputations among fans.
1. U2
First on our list of the most hated famous bands of all time is U2, who are led by lead singer Bono. One of the biggest reasons fans turned against them was the forced download of 2014 – millions of Apple users were met with their album Songs of Innocence in their purchased section, all without public permission.
2. Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is a heavy metal band that came together in 1999. There’s a multitude of reasons why people don’t like them: their music is bland and uninteresting, their fans harbor a hatred toward anyone who hates them, and they don’t sound like other traditional heavy metal groups.
3. Mumford and Sons
Mumford and Sons is a British folk rock band that grew in 2007 and has produced several hits since then. Unfortunately, they got a little too mainstream with popular tunes like “I Will Wait,” leading to an inevitable onslaught of hatred from listeners.
4. The Doors
The Doors were a rock band in the 60s. headed by Jim Morrison. They’re largely hated because of the “love him or hate him” stylings of Morrison.
Related: How Did Jim Morrison Die?
5. Creed
Next on our list of the most hated famous bands of all time is Creed, a group whom many assumed had Christian roots thanks to many references in their performances and songs. This imagery, mixed with their psychotic episodes and repetitive songs, proved too much for many.
6. Nickelback
Unfortunately for Nickelback, most people agree on their hatred of the band. Not only do many think their songs are generic, but they also wore goatees, bracelets, and torn jeans in most public appearances, which was too much for even the late 90s and early 2000s.
7. Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses had a historic run in the late 80s and early 90s. Unfortunately, lead singer Axl Rose is legendary for showing up to shows late and being difficult to work with, though he’s rehabilitated his reputation as of late.
8. Metallica
Metallica is a heavy metal rock band that gained a massive following. Their hatred comes from two ends of the spectrum: some disliked the dark content, while others felt the band went too mainstream with their later album releases. Plus, their thrash metal sound isn’t for everyone.
9. Linkin Park
Linkin Park, though popular with fans and commercially successful, rubbed many people the wrong way with their rap/rock sound and lyrics that many saw as whiney.
Related: How Did Chester Bennington Die?
10. Smashmouth
One of the most hated famous bands of all time is Smash Mouth, most well-known by the younger generation as the band that made a song for the movie Shrek. Their music is irritatingly catchy to some, while others dislike the behavior onstage of singer Steve Harwell.
Related: How Did Steve Harwell Die?
11. Phish
Phish is an American rock band that’s been going strong since the 80s. Like any jam band, people hate them because they see their music as pretentious and their fans as weird and cultish.
12. Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is a crazy name for a band, and their songs tend to match. Many tunes by this group have violent lyrics, leading some to avoid their concerts and refrain from listening out of fear.
13. Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides have some of the strongest fans in the music industry while holding some of the fiercest haters. Haters find lead singer Andy Biersack to be frustrating and think the lyrics to their songs are too generic and irritatingly angst-filled.
14. Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit was a pioneering force in the nu-rock era, but their lead singer Fred Durst is a magnet for hatred. Durst is known to be obnoxious, macho, and egotistical, which even led to an apology from drummer Tim Commerford for influencing them.
15. 98 Degrees
The band 98 Degrees emerged as a vocal group in the late 90s, right at the start of the early 2000s boy band craze. Of course, many hated them because they thought they were too cheesy.
16. Radiohead
Radiohead is an experimental rock band that landed a shocking amount of fame for its unique sound. Haters find their music self-indulgent and boring.
17. Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is easily one of the most hated famous bands of all time. Those with this opinion tend to say that the members are pretentious and overrated, leading to a lower quality of music.
18. Stone Temple Pilots
Hatred of Stone Temple Pilots is mostly due to the antics of their lead singer, late grunge legend Scott Weiland, who was a polarizing figure. Some saw their grunge rock sound derivative as well.
19. Maroon 5
Maroon 5 started their career strong and took a nosedive, though they are still pushing through today. Many loathe the Adam Levine-lead band because they began as an actual band, then shifted to a boring pop sound as soon as they garnered fame.
20. Nirvana
Every band that has a huge following and reputation is hated by many, and that’s no different with Nirvana. The grunge rock of the Kurt Cobain-led band changed music, but that doesn’t stop people from using the lazy epithet ‘overrated‘ to describe them.
Related: 18 Best Nirvana Songs
21. Korn
Korn was a band that paved the way for nu-metal in the 90s. That in itself is enough of a reason to hate them.
22. KISS
Next on our list of the most hated famous bands of all time is KISS, a group you either love or loathe. Many consider their makeup too much and hate Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons’s arrogance.
Related: Rock Critics and Music Snobs Are Wrong About KISS
23. Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter is a band that would put itself in the category of Christian metal. Their sound is unlike most formats of Christian music, leading to a hatred of the band from those who think the music is inappropriate for the genre.
24. Dave Matthews Band
The Dave Matthews Band had many hits, which eventually led to their public downfall. The band became hated after taking very few risks with their tunes and accidentally tying their name to obnoxious college sports jocks and their beer-pong endeavors.
25. Coldplay
Coldplay is somehow one of the most well-loved and hated bands, all at the same time. Much of their hatred grew when they earned a halftime slot at the Super Bowl, with many stating their music was too bland to earn such a prestigious performance.
26. Slipknot
Slipknot emerged as an iconic heavy metal band in the middle of Iowa in 1995. Their take on metal is seen as laborious by haters.
27. Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath was an English rock band that quickly became one of the pioneers of metal music. They formed under frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who would go on to have a massive solo career.
Although Black Sabbath is highly beloved by many metal fans, they are simply too intense for many music fans. Plus, the lineup was constantly changing during their career made them a difficult band to be a fan of.
Related: 10 Best Ozzy Osbourne Songs
28. Green Day
Last on our list of the most hated famous bands of all time is Green Day. Popular theories for their poor reputation include their being too emo, that they watered down “punk,” and their attack on the Bush administration with “American Idiot.”
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