Top 10 Short Lived Bands

my love is still the brief yet explosive

my love is still the brief yet explosive supernovas of sound welcome to

supernovas of sound welcome to

supernovas of sound welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 bands who had a short life no pick for

bands who had a short life no pick for

bands who had a short life no pick for this list we’re focusing on rock bands

this list we’re focusing on rock bands

this list we’re focusing on rock bands that released no more than four studio

that released no more than four studio

that released no more than four studio albums with their original lineup and

albums with their original lineup and

albums with their original lineup and we’re excluding super groups like creme

we’re excluding super groups like creme

we’re excluding super groups like creme whose members came from existing bands

emerging from Washington DC in the early

emerging from Washington DC in the early 1980s this pong ban forever changed the

1980s this pong ban forever changed the

1980s this pong ban forever changed the hardcore sub-genre as Minor Threat

hardcore sub-genre as Minor Threat

hardcore sub-genre as Minor Threat advocated a straight-edged approach to

advocated a straight-edged approach to

advocated a straight-edged approach to life meaning no drugs booze and no

life meaning no drugs booze and no

life meaning no drugs booze and no promiscuous sex

yet they were still indie artists to

yet they were still indie artists to their core producing and releasing music

their core producing and releasing music

their core producing and releasing music under their own label

under their own label

under their own label unfortunately Minor Threat released just

unfortunately Minor Threat released just

unfortunately Minor Threat released just one full-length studio album from 1980

one full-length studio album from 1980

one full-length studio album from 1980 to 1983 and the band’s is off largely in

to 1983 and the band’s is off largely in

to 1983 and the band’s is off largely in part to the violence surrounding their

part to the violence surrounding their

part to the violence surrounding their genre

just a few short years later frontman

just a few short years later frontman Ian MacKaye went on to form another

Ian MacKaye went on to form another

Ian MacKaye went on to form another iconic band name Fugazi

some of you may remember this band from

some of you may remember this band from the acclaimed 2010 film starring Kristen

the acclaimed 2010 film starring Kristen

the acclaimed 2010 film starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning however the

Stewart and Dakota Fanning however the

Stewart and Dakota Fanning however the average music fan undoubtedly correlates

average music fan undoubtedly correlates

average music fan undoubtedly correlates The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita

The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita

The Runaways with Joan Jett and Lita Ford drew prominent solo artists of the

Ford drew prominent solo artists of the

Ford drew prominent solo artists of the 1980s rock scene

and it was the artists conflicting

and it was the artists conflicting visions that led to the inevitable

visions that led to the inevitable

visions that led to the inevitable dissolution of the runways not to

dissolution of the runways not to

dissolution of the runways not to mention a beef with late Kim Fowley

mention a beef with late Kim Fowley

mention a beef with late Kim Fowley producer and The Runaways connection to

producer and The Runaways connection to

producer and The Runaways connection to Mercury Records after four years of

Mercury Records after four years of

Mercury Records after four years of partying and four studio albums the band

partying and four studio albums the band

partying and four studio albums the band remained huge overseas but North America

remained huge overseas but North America

remained huge overseas but North America was ready for something new

number eight the civil wars go back in

number eight the civil wars go back in time when you only

five years four Grammy Awards and two

five years four Grammy Awards and two beautiful beautiful voices that’s all it

beautiful beautiful voices that’s all it

beautiful beautiful voices that’s all it took to secure this nashville folk duo a

took to secure this nashville folk duo a

took to secure this nashville folk duo a spot on our list got away releasing only

spot on our list got away releasing only

spot on our list got away releasing only two albums in their short half a decade

two albums in their short half a decade

two albums in their short half a decade as a group bandmates joy Williams and

as a group bandmates joy Williams and

as a group bandmates joy Williams and John Paul white became known for their

John Paul white became known for their

John Paul white became known for their seamless harmonies and moody lyricism

seamless harmonies and moody lyricism

seamless harmonies and moody lyricism which earned the Civil War’s endless

which earned the Civil War’s endless

which earned the Civil War’s endless critical acclaim on top of their rapidly

critical acclaim on top of their rapidly

critical acclaim on top of their rapidly growing fanbase Chuy would though the

growing fanbase Chuy would though the

growing fanbase Chuy would though the band unfortunately called it quits in

band unfortunately called it quits in

band unfortunately called it quits in August of 2014 there’s no denying that

August of 2014 there’s no denying that

August of 2014 there’s no denying that what the duo accomplished is impressive

what the duo accomplished is impressive

what the duo accomplished is impressive and hey they even have Taylor Swift as a

and hey they even have Taylor Swift as a

and hey they even have Taylor Swift as a fan

fan

fan Tybee for away

in a time when minor threat offered a

in a time when minor threat offered a new approach to Punk in the United

new approach to Punk in the United

new approach to Punk in the United States an introspective group of Brits

States an introspective group of Brits

States an introspective group of Brits were doing the same across the pond

formed by Steven Patrick Morsi who had

formed by Steven Patrick Morsi who had previously fronted a band with Billy

previously fronted a band with Billy

previously fronted a band with Billy Duffy of the cult

Duffy of the cult

Duffy of the cult The Smiths took aim at the pretensions

The Smiths took aim at the pretensions

The Smiths took aim at the pretensions of the blossoming punk and new wave

of the blossoming punk and new wave

of the blossoming punk and new wave scene

scene

scene to

and oddly enough they ultimately earned

and oddly enough they ultimately earned the same reputation thanks to their

the same reputation thanks to their

the same reputation thanks to their outspoken lead singer and morose lyrical

outspoken lead singer and morose lyrical

outspoken lead singer and morose lyrical content releasing just four albums over

content releasing just four albums over

content releasing just four albums over the course of their five year career the

the course of their five year career the

the course of their five year career the often tension-filled Smiths finally went

often tension-filled Smiths finally went

often tension-filled Smiths finally went their separate ways for good in 1987

be afraid the quickness you get made for

be afraid the quickness you get made for your family get paid it’s number six

your family get paid it’s number six

your family get paid it’s number six sublime heavily influenced by both the

sublime heavily influenced by both the

sublime heavily influenced by both the reggae and punk genres this band was

reggae and punk genres this band was

reggae and punk genres this band was quickly becoming a local favorite of the

quickly becoming a local favorite of the

quickly becoming a local favorite of the Southern California skocy but lead

Southern California skocy but lead

Southern California skocy but lead singer Bradley Nowell wouldn’t live to

singer Bradley Nowell wouldn’t live to

singer Bradley Nowell wouldn’t live to truly experience the Bands lasting

truly experience the Bands lasting

truly experience the Bands lasting impact after a couple of well-received

impact after a couple of well-received

impact after a couple of well-received albums sublime released their new iconic

albums sublime released their new iconic

albums sublime released their new iconic self-titled album in July of 1996 just

self-titled album in July of 1996 just

self-titled album in July of 1996 just months after Bradley died of a heroin

months after Bradley died of a heroin

months after Bradley died of a heroin overdose songs like what I got Santeria

overdose songs like what I got Santeria

overdose songs like what I got Santeria and wrong way have become modern scar

and wrong way have become modern scar

and wrong way have become modern scar classics and sublime certainly would

classics and sublime certainly would

classics and sublime certainly would have joined no doubt in representing

have joined no doubt in representing

have joined no doubt in representing early 21st century ska if not for their

early 21st century ska if not for their

early 21st century ska if not for their unexpected demise

yeah if Sublime’s music was more for a

yeah if Sublime’s music was more for a chilled-out crowd this band was for the

chilled-out crowd this band was for the

chilled-out crowd this band was for the ragers

today bassist Sid Vicious has become an

today bassist Sid Vicious has become an infamous cult figure yet the casual

infamous cult figure yet the casual

infamous cult figure yet the casual music fan often has trouble naming many

music fan often has trouble naming many

music fan often has trouble naming many songs from the band’s catalogue

before the infamous 1978 death of SIDS

before the infamous 1978 death of SIDS girlfriend Nancy and the subsequent

girlfriend Nancy and the subsequent

girlfriend Nancy and the subsequent overdose of Vicious himself the band

overdose of Vicious himself the band

overdose of Vicious himself the band released just one studio album and a

released just one studio album and a

released just one studio album and a highly controversial album at that yet –

highly controversial album at that yet –

highly controversial album at that yet – despite the ban short 3he run and

despite the ban short 3he run and

despite the ban short 3he run and limited discography the pistols not only

limited discography the pistols not only

limited discography the pistols not only shaped Punk forever but directly

shaped Punk forever but directly

shaped Punk forever but directly inspired the formation of much of the

inspired the formation of much of the

inspired the formation of much of the Manchester New Wave see

number four NWA as an alternative

number four NWA as an alternative musical genre to the more poppy and

musical genre to the more poppy and

musical genre to the more poppy and posturing musical styles of late 80s Los

posturing musical styles of late 80s Los

posturing musical styles of late 80s Los Angeles this hip hop ensemble formed

Angeles this hip hop ensemble formed

Angeles this hip hop ensemble formed organically thanks to their shared love

organically thanks to their shared love

organically thanks to their shared love for raging Against the Machine whether

for raging Against the Machine whether

for raging Against the Machine whether it was the local five-o or the

it was the local five-o or the

it was the local five-o or the mis-education of American society is the

mis-education of American society is the

mis-education of American society is the way to go they know to be original

way to go they know to be original

way to go they know to be original contrary to popular belief NWA released

contrary to popular belief NWA released

contrary to popular belief NWA released not one but two albums during their five

not one but two albums during their five

not one but two albums during their five years together but it was the West Coast

years together but it was the West Coast

years together but it was the West Coast classic straight out of Compton that

classic straight out of Compton that

classic straight out of Compton that transcended the genre and introduced a

transcended the genre and introduced a

transcended the genre and introduced a new style of storytelling to the world

new style of storytelling to the world

new style of storytelling to the world regardless of whether critics and

regardless of whether critics and

regardless of whether critics and consumers were ready for such a blunt

consumers were ready for such a blunt

consumers were ready for such a blunt approach

number three nirvana in the history of

number three nirvana in the history of rock music there’s obviously been a

rock music there’s obviously been a

rock music there’s obviously been a number of short-lived bands that were

number of short-lived bands that were

number of short-lived bands that were influential in their own right but only

influential in their own right but only

influential in their own right but only a select few had a frontman that could

a select few had a frontman that could

a select few had a frontman that could take the conceptual message to the next

take the conceptual message to the next

take the conceptual message to the next level

while Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain may not have

while Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain may not have been ready for fame his Seattle ban

been ready for fame his Seattle ban

been ready for fame his Seattle ban transformed into the face of alternative

transformed into the face of alternative

transformed into the face of alternative music even if they were operating on an

music even if they were operating on an

music even if they were operating on an entirely different wavelength than their

entirely different wavelength than their

entirely different wavelength than their musical contemporaries

with only three studio albums to their

with only three studio albums to their name nirvana it advertently put an end

name nirvana it advertently put an end

name nirvana it advertently put an end to hair metal and kicked off a musical

to hair metal and kicked off a musical

to hair metal and kicked off a musical revolution thanks to the vision of

revolution thanks to the vision of

revolution thanks to the vision of Cobain Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic

coming together following in 1976 Sex

coming together following in 1976 Sex Pistols show Joy Division would shape

Pistols show Joy Division would shape

Pistols show Joy Division would shape the post-punk sound by incorporating

the post-punk sound by incorporating

the post-punk sound by incorporating punk rock ideals with a new wave

punk rock ideals with a new wave

punk rock ideals with a new wave aesthetic

with the chaotic stage presence of Ian

with the chaotic stage presence of Ian Curtis Joy Division found a loyal fan

Curtis Joy Division found a loyal fan

Curtis Joy Division found a loyal fan base but few knew the lead singer

base but few knew the lead singer

base but few knew the lead singer battled epilepsy which strangely played

battled epilepsy which strangely played

battled epilepsy which strangely played a crucial role in his musical persona

a crucial role in his musical persona

a crucial role in his musical persona going

just twenty three Curtis hung himself

just twenty three Curtis hung himself while separated from his wife two months

while separated from his wife two months

while separated from his wife two months before the release of Joy Division

before the release of Joy Division

before the release of Joy Division second album closer and one day before

second album closer and one day before

second album closer and one day before their North American tour

the band would regroup as new order but

the band would regroup as new order but the world lost something truly special

the world lost something truly special

the world lost something truly special with Ian Curtis

before we unveil our top pick here are a

before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

a groundbreaking ly innovative guitarist

a groundbreaking ly innovative guitarist Jimi Hendrix would have found fame one

Jimi Hendrix would have found fame one

Jimi Hendrix would have found fame one way or another but as fate would have it

way or another but as fate would have it

way or another but as fate would have it he was destined to become a rock legend

he was destined to become a rock legend

he was destined to become a rock legend by the way of Britain

with the help of bandmates Noah Redding

with the help of bandmates Noah Redding and Mitch Mitchell the Jimi Hendrix

and Mitch Mitchell the Jimi Hendrix

and Mitch Mitchell the Jimi Hendrix Experience reinvented rock and reshape

Experience reinvented rock and reshape

Experience reinvented rock and reshape the notion of a guitar hero

through a trilogy of late 60s albums the

through a trilogy of late 60s albums the Jimi Hendrix Experience innovated a

Jimi Hendrix Experience innovated a

Jimi Hendrix Experience innovated a psychedelic sound that no one could

psychedelic sound that no one could

psychedelic sound that no one could quite explain as it was a spontaneous

quite explain as it was a spontaneous

quite explain as it was a spontaneous collective output from the minds of

collective output from the minds of

collective output from the minds of three brilliant musicians

so do you agree with our selections what

so do you agree with our selections what is your favorite band that had a short

is your favorite band that had a short

is your favorite band that had a short life

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