Biggest Band on Earth

mrk2 · July 2013

Foriginal Sin wrote:

Pearl Jam Was the biggest band on Earth from 93-95 when they sold out shows instantly and had the top 2 highest selling albums ever (until 2000) but No Code scared a lot of people away. Other bands that have been the 'biggest' since then in no particular order; Creed, lots of boy bands, Foo Fighters, DMB, among others. Arcade Fire, absolutely not. You do have to be a household name to hold that title.

Fastest selling, not highest. The arenas they played during that era were not that big, not counting some odd dates on the short 95 tour.

Guns N Roses, Metallica, Madonna, U2, Rolling Stones were still bigger in 93-95 than PJ. Actually selling out huge stadiums around the world during that time. Even U2's piece of crap collection of outtakes (Zooropa) from that time has sold more to date than VS or Vitalogy. Oh yeah, almost forgot Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi... PJ was nowhere near this level even at their peak (only speaking sales wise)

DMB and Creed biggest in the world? Never, no-ones even heard of DMB outside the USA.

Don't take this the wrong way, I like PJ and always have, to me they are the biggest band there is. The rest of the world doesn't have to agree and based on hard facts it doesn't and never has.

DewieCox · July 2013

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2 ... ssing.html

23 Pearl Jam
Total Gross: $27,363,430 Number of Shows: 11
Total Attendance: 337,613 Number of Sell-Outs: 0

Its Evolution Baby · July 2013

I would break it down on the activity of the band
The biggest Semi Active bands in the WORLD are:
U2
Bruce
Metallica
RCHP
Radiohead

I define these bands as groups that release new music still, but infrequently and mainly as a reason to tour every 4 to 5 years. Except for Radiohead where I'd say they release music to be creative but tour because we ask them too.

Bands that does not release much new music but Tour every few years:
Rolling Stones
McCartney
Roger Waters
Aerosmith
The Eagles

Active bands (releasing albums and touring every couple of years)
Foo Fighters (Might be moving to the Semi Active list)
Muse
Arcade Fire
Black Keys

This list isn't accurate because its all my opinion but I think it helps divide the class of bands we have in the World.

To me the biggest band in the world shold be active so I'd lean towards the last group but if you go based on album sales, Stadium tours, and popularity around the world, the biggest band is U2 and has been since the late 80's.

Spiritual_Chaos · July 2013

In what world is Arcade Fire bigger than Kings of Leon?

satansbed · July 2013

Spiritual_Chaos wrote:

In what world is Arcade Fire bigger than Kings of Leon?

in the world of come around sundown

but again thats just my opinion

Its Evolution Baby · July 2013

Spiritual_Chaos wrote:

In what world is Arcade Fire bigger than Kings of Leon?

That's a tough one. If the bands were a stock I'd buying AF and selling KOL.

You can't actively hate your fans like KOL do and expect to last.

BF25394 · July 2013

Arcade Fire is an amazing band. They make great records, and put on a fantastic live show. But they are so far from being the "biggest band" in the world, it's not even funny. The vast majority of people have never even heard of them.

Alas, Pearl Jam is nowhere near that level anymore either, and hasn't been since 1995-- in part because that's how they want it. Pearl Jam can't even get its latest single played on rock radio in the country's second-largest market (L.A.-- neither KROQ nor the other rock radio station has "MYM" in rotation).

I think U2 "wins" this competition pretty easily. They still sell lots of records, in the U.S. and around the world. (Unlike, say, the Stones.) They sell out stadiums everywhere. (Unlike, say, Bruce, who occasionally plays stadiums, but mostly plays arenas.) They still make great music. (Unlike, for the most part, the Stones.)

ryph raph · July 2013

pearljamsam wrote:

This is a title that Pearl Jam at one time held, maybe still do. I would say that Arcade Fire, and U2 held the title in most recent memory. Who would you say is currently the biggest band on earth?

If you were at Wrigley, and PJ20 it felt like a pretty big deal, maybe Pearl Jam can still stake a claim to the title?

Ladies and gentlemen I give you the biggest band on earth still touring regularly The Rolling Stones !!!!

butte1 · July 2013

DewieCox wrote:

OK, my mistake. They do play stadiums in SA, but nowhere else are they playing or selling out stadiums on a regular basis. Alot of bands do very well in SA that I wouldn't say are the biggest in the world.

I don't think it's fair to toss Alpine Valley or Wrigley into the equation and say "PJ sells out stadiums". PJ20 was a festival type even with other artists and it was also booked as a PJ fan destination weekend. 35k is alot of people it's only 2/3 or half of a typical stadium tour, and there was quite a bit of room at the back of the lawn for a "sellout" on night 2.

Jason Aldean sold out Wrigley the night after and nobody is making an argument that he is even the biggest country act, b/c he's not selling out stadiums night in and night out.

For those saying I'm looking at the US only..... Even if that was the case, the biggest band in the world should at least be able to sell out the US arenas and amphitheaters that they book, especially with their limited schedule, and they just don't do that.

I'll say it again, PJ is immensely successful, there are just bands that pack bigger places for more shows and bands that are more recognizable. I'm not exactly splitting hairs to come to my conclusion.

Australia.... so again a small forgiveable mistake but there is another place besides SA.....

butte1 · July 2013

DewieCox wrote:

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/12/top_25_grossing.html

23 Pearl Jam
Total Gross: $27,363,430 Number of Shows: 11
Total Attendance: 337,613 Number of Sell-Outs: 0

I am confused a little bit honestly by the data on this site as according to the PJ fanclub site PJ played 17 dates total only 4 shows in the USA in 2012. Not saying PJ would be higher or lower on the list and not sure what consitutes some of their figures but some is amiss with the data, also how do you track some of the stats for festivals when I think like 6 of the shows for PJ in 2012 were festival dates, or maybe the festival dtaes do not count and that is why it says 11 dates but that seems odd because they would still be getting paid and have attendance for those shows.... just saying this info is helpful but incomplete

Backspacer_Backer · July 2013

DewieCox wrote:

Jason Aldean sold out Wrigley the night after and nobody is making an argument that he is even the biggest country act, b/c he's not selling out stadiums night in and night out.

.

Jason Aldean didn't sell out Wrigley, and he had Kelly Clarkson to help sell tickets, too. <at least, it wasn't a sellout going into the week of the show.> Certainly didn't sell out in 5 minutes or whatever.

PJ_Soul · July 2013

Sorry to say, but One Direction is probably the biggest band in the world right now.

The Rolling Stones and U2 and Springsteen (he's still with the Easy Street Band, right?) after that. After that there are many eligible bands who could be up there, and Pearl Jam is among them.

Backspacer_Backer · July 2013

It used to bother me that Pearl Jam lost a lot of their popularity. Had they not shunned publiciity, had they not warred with Ticketmaster and lost (thereby touring more when they were at their peak of success), they would absolutely be one of the top 5 bands in the world in terms of gross ticket and album sales, etc.

I would sit around and think about how all of these people are missing out on this great band, and it got to me a little. But as I've matured slightly, I've realized that the important thing is that I myself have not missed it. Everybody else? Fuck em.

PJ_Soul · July 2013

Backspacer_Backer wrote:

It used to bother me that Pearl Jam lost a lot of their popularity. Had they not shunned publiciity, had they not warred with Ticketmaster and lost (thereby touring more when they were at their peak of success), they would absolutely be one of the top 5 bands in the world in terms of gross ticket and album sales, etc.

I would sit around and think about how all of these people are missing out on this great band, and it got to me a little. But as I've matured slightly, I've realized that the important thing is that I myself have not missed it. Everybody else? Fuck em.

They worked pretty hard to lessen their popularity, so I'm happy for them.

They hated being at the peak of their success. That's why they did things the way they did. But still, they're a relatively massive band around the world. It's not like they're flying under the radar or anything. They have a huge fan base.

curmudgeoness · July 2013

BF25394 wrote:

I think U2 "wins" this competition pretty easily. They still sell lots of records, in the U.S. and around the world. (Unlike, say, the Stones.) They sell out stadiums everywhere. (Unlike, say, Bruce, who occasionally plays stadiums, but mostly plays arenas.) They still make great music. (Unlike, for the most part, the Stones.)

I think that, based on the links Hollis Brown posted earlier, it's pretty easy to argue that U2 wins this contest.

The Rolling Stones, I really don't get. Their 60s and 70s output was amazing, but since Some Girls, eh, I don't get it. I really don't.

PJ_Soul · July 2013

curmudgeoness wrote:

BF25394 wrote:

I think U2 "wins" this competition pretty easily. They still sell lots of records, in the U.S. and around the world. (Unlike, say, the Stones.) They sell out stadiums everywhere. (Unlike, say, Bruce, who occasionally plays stadiums, but mostly plays arenas.) They still make great music. (Unlike, for the most part, the Stones.)

I think that, based on the links Hollis Brown posted earlier, it's pretty easy to argue that U2 wins this contest.

The Rolling Stones, I really don't get. Their 60s and 70s output was amazing, but since Some Girls, eh, I don't get it. I really don't.

Can't stand The Rolling Stones music. There are maybe 3 songs that I kind of enjoy and that's it. I don't get the appeal, but hey, some people love them, so good for them.

jumbojet · July 2013

PJ_Soul wrote:

They worked pretty hard to lessen their popularity, so I'm happy for them. They hated being at the peak of their success. That's why they did things the way they did. But still, they're a relatively massive band around the world. It's not like they're flying under the radar or anything. They have a huge fan base.

Pretty much this. PJ has intentionally settled themselves to more of a niche market, as Digital Twilight put out. Touring less in the recent years is also kind of their own choice.

That said, the Backspacer album sounds more like a band looking for some attention from mainstream. I think the "They are all happy, grown-up people with kids now" explanation is too naive for the release of a pop-sounding album.

If this sounds continues in Lightning Bolt, I'd assume that they are still looking to enlarge their fanbase.

DURP · July 2013

The Fat Boys

PJ_Soul · July 2013

jumbojet wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

They worked pretty hard to lessen their popularity, so I'm happy for them. They hated being at the peak of their success. That's why they did things the way they did. But still, they're a relatively massive band around the world. It's not like they're flying under the radar or anything. They have a huge fan base.

Pretty much this. PJ has intentionally settled themselves to more of a niche market, as Digital Twilight put out. Touring less in the recent years is also kind of their own choice.

That said, the Backspacer album sounds more like a band looking for some attention from mainstream. I think the "They are all happy, grown-up people with kids now" explanation is too naive for the release of a pop-sounding album.

If this sounds continues in Lightning Bolt, I'd assume that they are still looking to enlarge their fanbase.

I don't think they're looking for what they had when they almost broke up again, but you're right, I think they were/are? looking to grow the fanbase a bit after they allowed themselves to fall off... And it seems to be working. PJ is a much hotter ticket now than it was even a few years ago. And just look at how they handled this tour announcement and Wrigley and the new album. These countdowns, and super interesting marketing schemes... They are definitely doing what they can to bring attention to themselves. However, I don't think they are intentionally compromising their art to do it.

mrk2 · July 2013

DURP wrote:

The Fat Boys

That reminds me that Pearl Jam wasn't even one of the biggest Grunge/Seattle bands, Tad and Screaming Trees were way bigger.

Biggest Band on Earth

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