Who was the most average successful rock band in history?

This is all a matter of opinion, but by average I mean:

1. Competent musicians, not flashy and no virtuosos.

2. Not great, i.e., you probably have only one of their albums, if that, and love none of their songs, but:

3. Not awful, i.e., if a song of theirs comes on the radio you may not be quick to change the station if you are doing something at the time, like washing dishes or folding laundry, or just too lazy to get up and change the station.

To use a baseball analogy, this band would be a .500 team. Its cleanup hitter (circa 2014) would hit .272 with 20 home runs and 75 RBI's.

My choice for this would be ... Huey Lewis and the News.

 

Grand Funk Railroad?

 

I believe the winner is:

Average White Band! Booyah!

 

first thought in my head was grand funk railroad.

but, i do have all their albums and would never turn them off the radio.

i think they meet most of the OP's criteria though

 

U2.

 

U2

 

Hootie and the Blowfish!

 

Hootie most definitely! Worlds most successful frat party band.

 

Coldplay

 

Beatles

 

Bon Jovi.

 

The greatest so so band would be U2. Not bad, not good.

 

Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers. Some great songs, but pretty MOR heartland rock in the main. Generally sounds good on the car radio or on a jukebox, but if you have Damn the Torpedoes and a hits collection, you're pretty much covered for home listening IMHO.

 

Eagles.

 

Rush
Kiss
U2
Coldplay
Mumford and Sons
Bush
Graham Parker

 

Springsteen

 

Wha

what?

 

My first thought was Huey Lewis. My second was Hootie.

Both already mentioned.

 

Steve Miller Band. Close thread now!

 

Spin Doctors

 

Mötley Crüe - I only have Too Fast For Love. Songs are nothing special each, but fire off one after another arrestingly. Always smile when I hear them played in a bar, but none of their songs really means anything to me. Just a fun band with great drive.

 

Golden Earring.

Very good musicians, actually, but they really only had two "hits".

 

I think you've described the bulk of 'known' rock bands and I think many choices in this thread have missed the mark.

 

Black Keys

 

That's the first one that came to mind too!
I'm on the U2 and Springsteen boat too.