Rock bands/artists who went pop

Ha. Gentle Giant. I forgive them. Was Missing Piece pop? I liked a lot of that one.

It seems like they tried but it was not a whole hearted sell out, with all the embarrassment. They were just dealing with the new wave.

 

Has anyone mentioned

REM?

You can seperate their great period from their sell out with a pair of dull scissors. Have to go back to 1984 or so.

 

The Cure, for sure. The Head on the Door is where they started to go in a poppier, more accessible direction, especially in comparison to Faith & Pornography.

 

Would others view GnR as "softening" after "Appetite"? Even though "Sweet Child..." was a pop hit and a ballad, it still had a decent "edge" to it - unlike sickly sweet glop like "November Rain"...

 

No

 

Has to be Journey. They were the greatest progressive rock band in the world in the 70's. Most of their later fans have no idea of the first three pre-Steve Perry albums. I saw them once in '75 and three times in '76. A great, great band.


I don't remember the story but I think Columbia was considering dropping them unless they moved more vinyl.... enter Steve.