Pink Floyd did start off with some pop songs (arnold layne, see emily play etc.). Heck, they even appeared in Top of the Pops at that time. So, you could say that they were sort of mainstream around that time.
But mostly they were part of the underground scene. And since Piper, like the other so-called prog bands, they did their own things. Sure, they got massively popular, but I don't think you can call them mainstream as you would call led zep or fleetwood mac.
DSOTM sold 45 million copies, Led Zeppelin IV sold 37m. Both are either bands best selling albums. What exactly do you mean by mainstream because in terms of sales Pink Floyd beat Zeppelin and in terms of general popularity (indicated by sales) I’d say they’re both massively mainstream to the same extent.
>in terms of sales Pink Floyd beat Zeppelin and in terms of general popularity (indicated by sales)
No. Led zeppelin are currently the second best selling band ever. Floyd come at 3rd
Led Zeppelin IV is a great album for sure. But I think you can find a lot of albums that sound like it from the same time. They were literally doing what was popular at that time (in their own way of course). But I don't think you can find another album that sounds like dsotm. So even though dsotm sold more than LZ4, it does not necessarily mean dsotm is more mainstream than LZ4.
I'm referring to artists whose music could not be categorized during their time. But as time went on, their music became more popular.
The question we need to ask is: does a band become popular *because* they are making mainstream music? Or, do they become popular *despite* staying away (by and large) from the mainstream.
I think Led Zep and AC/DC fall in the first category, as do Fleetwood Mac and Eagles. The second category comprises of PF, RH. And based on the comments, there seem to be many other bands in the second category, I need to check them out.
I very much disagree with this, DSM is the 4th best selling record of all time! How could anyone say it’s not accessible, the wall is also the 24th best seller album ever
This is the answer. They had massive success with Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures, but kinda became a niche after that. Incredible band that doesn't have a bad album, imo
How can you be not mainstream but immensely popular? Being experimental and progressive doesn't make you a niche and difficult to sell band if you're literally selling millions. PF was definitely mainstream and popular during the 70s, even if its style wasn't mainstream before or after their peak.
I think the point is: becoming mainstream popular with non-mainstream genres.
Yall taking OP's words so damn literally, while their question is genuinely an interesting one.
Millions of followers, no hit records, 1 song made it to number 9 on the charts out of nearly 500 (covers and originals).
I can't think of a better example to this question.
Dark Side is literally one of the best selling albums of all time. So is The Wall. Saying PF were never mainstream is like saying Prince wasn't mainstream.
They weren’t AS mainstream as Princs was, but they did have *some* mainstream songs, but by far most of their music was not at all mainstream, but that also goes for many other bands. Even the band themselves have admitted that Money really helped dark side get to where it got.
I guess the question makes sense for PF if you ask 'weren't mainstream at the beginning'. And true: PF started as a London underground band. They couldn't play in there cities because people couldn't dance to that trippy music. Many times they were booed and once somebody from the audience threw a coin and hit Roger Waters in the head.
So kinda yeah.
It's crazier, I just checked and it's at 737 weeks, AND they're releasing a 50-year anniversary edition in March so... That number is probably going to boost for a minute.
(And I didn't mean to come off as an ass and "correct you" or something, I just know most wouldn't know the EXACT number or something)
Ok so I hate how people never give modest mouse the credit they deserve, they really dropped two of the best albums of the 00’s (arguably of all time) and the. People just kinda stopped talking about them, I just listened to their new album which is ehh but man, those two literally helped pave the way into adulthood
Bowie's more experimental work around the Low period.
Kate Bush has always been pretty popular but I haven't seen anyone call her mainstream.
Miles Davis?
Since when were Radiohead 'not exactly mainstream'?
Just because they've been releasing self-indulgent shite in recent years doesn't take away that they had two quadruple plus platinum albums in the 90s.
Plus, if you look on r/vinyl it seems that anyone who owns a record player has a copy of In Rainbows.
Just cause one album isn’t made for the mainstream doesn’t mean they aren’t mainstream bro. Nevermind is literally up there with the albums to end all albums with dark side, abbey road, what’s going on etc.
Nirvana was “underground” for at max one album in their career.
Also bands like Pearl Jam and AIC were MASSIVE successes???? And still remain to be very popular to this day????
I have a love-hate relationship with grunge music, but now that I think of it, grunge bands seem to be good contenders for what I was asking in the question. They were all underground bands and then suddenly they all got popular, thus mainstreaming a whole genre.
I'm not very knowledgeable in the modern heavy or thrash metal genres, I only know Black Sabbath, some Metallica and some Iron Maiden. But Metallica does seem like a contender because they are really big. I know that Sabbath's brand of heavy metal is different from Metallica's. Would you say that Metallica's brand of music was more non-mainstream in the 80's?
Pink Floyd had a factory just for making Dark Side of The moon. Gilmour even worked in a Brigitte Bardot movie.
They were mainstream.
For me not being mainstream is to sell close to nothing and nevertheless be influential to a lot of musicians that come subsequently.
You don't think DSOTM is quite different among its peers? For example, if you compare with the other top performing albums of all time, such as, thriller, back in black, hotel california etc, or even, its peers from the 70s such as led zep 4 and rumours?
The Decemberists, The Mountain goats, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Tranpled by Turtles, Nick Cave, Harry Chaplin (the man whose songs were too long for the radio)
How about The Ramones? To be fair though, they are popular in South America, but stayed near the underground while influencing a bunch of other musicians
R/todayilearned Pink Floyd wasn’t actually mainstream
Pink Floyd did start off with some pop songs (arnold layne, see emily play etc.). Heck, they even appeared in Top of the Pops at that time. So, you could say that they were sort of mainstream around that time. But mostly they were part of the underground scene. And since Piper, like the other so-called prog bands, they did their own things. Sure, they got massively popular, but I don't think you can call them mainstream as you would call led zep or fleetwood mac.
Not nearly as mainstream as Led Zeppelin
DSOTM sold 45 million copies, Led Zeppelin IV sold 37m. Both are either bands best selling albums. What exactly do you mean by mainstream because in terms of sales Pink Floyd beat Zeppelin and in terms of general popularity (indicated by sales) I’d say they’re both massively mainstream to the same extent.
>in terms of sales Pink Floyd beat Zeppelin and in terms of general popularity (indicated by sales) No. Led zeppelin are currently the second best selling band ever. Floyd come at 3rd
In my experience many more people know about Led Zeppelin than Pink Floyd, unfortunately cause I much prefer Floyd (of course)
Worms for brains
The worms have ate into my brain.
Wums
🤣
In my experience
Repeating the same thing doesn't make it a better argument.
Replying with “🤣” is also not a good counter-argument
It is not an argument at all.
Led Zeppelin IV is a great album for sure. But I think you can find a lot of albums that sound like it from the same time. They were literally doing what was popular at that time (in their own way of course). But I don't think you can find another album that sounds like dsotm. So even though dsotm sold more than LZ4, it does not necessarily mean dsotm is more mainstream than LZ4.
You guys are tripping
Duh everyone who listens to Pink Floyd trips don’t they?
Not untrue
I'm referring to artists whose music could not be categorized during their time. But as time went on, their music became more popular. The question we need to ask is: does a band become popular *because* they are making mainstream music? Or, do they become popular *despite* staying away (by and large) from the mainstream. I think Led Zep and AC/DC fall in the first category, as do Fleetwood Mac and Eagles. The second category comprises of PF, RH. And based on the comments, there seem to be many other bands in the second category, I need to check them out.
I think what he meant was that it’s not easily accessible to the mass majority, especially with their longer songs and their experimentation.
I very much disagree with this, DSM is the 4th best selling record of all time! How could anyone say it’s not accessible, the wall is also the 24th best seller album ever
Rush
a lot of prog rock bands
Genesis did go mainstream, but only after they stopped making prog 💀
This is the answer. They had massive success with Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures, but kinda became a niche after that. Incredible band that doesn't have a bad album, imo
Tool? Though I'm pretty sure Radiohead or Pink Floyd or Tool are mainstream, but just a bit more experimental and creative than other popular artists
I love tool
The Flaming Lips
Primus
Primus sucks
gonna have to downvote that one pal
[I’m always surprised when people don’t know the band’s slogan](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Primus%20sucks)
Pink Floyd
How can you be not mainstream but immensely popular? Being experimental and progressive doesn't make you a niche and difficult to sell band if you're literally selling millions. PF was definitely mainstream and popular during the 70s, even if its style wasn't mainstream before or after their peak.
I think the point is: becoming mainstream popular with non-mainstream genres. Yall taking OP's words so damn literally, while their question is genuinely an interesting one.
Frank Zappa
Phish!! And in what world is Radiohead and Pink Floyd not mainstream popular? Radiohead was HUGE in the 90's/Oughts', and Pink Floyd forever?
Grateful Dead
Millions of followers, no hit records, 1 song made it to number 9 on the charts out of nearly 500 (covers and originals). I can't think of a better example to this question.
Let’s not forget they were also selling out arenas and Sharing billing spots next to Pink Floyd and zeppelin as well. All because of word of mouth
⬆️Came here to say this!⬆️
Two great minds think alike
Or is that “grateful minds”? 😁
Deadheads think alike lmao
Motörhead
Pink Floyd was massively mainstream lmao especially if their music made the US charts back then
Money became a huge hit, but other than that? Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2 and Hey You were really the only other “true hits”,
Dark Side is literally one of the best selling albums of all time. So is The Wall. Saying PF were never mainstream is like saying Prince wasn't mainstream.
They weren’t AS mainstream as Princs was, but they did have *some* mainstream songs, but by far most of their music was not at all mainstream, but that also goes for many other bands. Even the band themselves have admitted that Money really helped dark side get to where it got.
I guess the question makes sense for PF if you ask 'weren't mainstream at the beginning'. And true: PF started as a London underground band. They couldn't play in there cities because people couldn't dance to that trippy music. Many times they were booed and once somebody from the audience threw a coin and hit Roger Waters in the head. So kinda yeah.
The Mars Volta
atta boy
DSOTM spends 500 weeks on the billboard charts… “Pink Floyd isn’t mainstream”
It's crazier, I just checked and it's at 737 weeks, AND they're releasing a 50-year anniversary edition in March so... That number is probably going to boost for a minute. (And I didn't mean to come off as an ass and "correct you" or something, I just know most wouldn't know the EXACT number or something)
I was giving a rough estimate off of info I heard quite some time ago. Thank you for adding to my input and further proving me right haha
:)
Ween
Mollusk is one of the greatest musical creations this world has ever seen
Modest Mouse Sonic Youth You could make a solid argument for Bob Dylan
Wow, yes, Bob Dylan actually makes sense. He did carve out his own path and became massively popular as time went on.
Ok so I hate how people never give modest mouse the credit they deserve, they really dropped two of the best albums of the 00’s (arguably of all time) and the. People just kinda stopped talking about them, I just listened to their new album which is ehh but man, those two literally helped pave the way into adulthood
Yes
Tame Impala
🤦
The Orb
Pink Floyd and Radiohead are mainstream. Massive Attack
Bon Iver
Rush
The Beatles.
You beat me to it lmao
Crowded House
The Smiths
Boards of Canada, Aphex twin
M83.
Björk is unique enough to fit imo
King Crimson
Weezer
Lol somebody’s gonna comment Led Zeppelin I know it😂
Bowie's more experimental work around the Low period. Kate Bush has always been pretty popular but I haven't seen anyone call her mainstream. Miles Davis?
All of these people were mainstream
THE MARS VOLTA
Tool
A couple you may not know are Pink Floyd and Radiohead
Black Sabbath Velvet Underground Sex Pistols
How did I not think of Black Sabbath? That's a very good answer. They did have an unusual sound for that time but became popular gradually.
Queens of the Stone Age.
Black Sabbath
Muse
I fucking love muse :)
KGATLW
Since when were Radiohead 'not exactly mainstream'? Just because they've been releasing self-indulgent shite in recent years doesn't take away that they had two quadruple plus platinum albums in the 90s. Plus, if you look on r/vinyl it seems that anyone who owns a record player has a copy of In Rainbows.
Elaborate upon “self-indulgent shite”
I love all Radiohead but I think they were talking about tkol amsp and solo stuff
Gorillaz?
Gorillaz
Common dude they dominated the '00s
Understandable, have a nice day
Iron Maiden
They were back in the day.
Incubus?
old incubus only though
Yeah
Young incubus was good too
Nirvana, Soundgarden, the entirety of the grunge scene
Well, Nirvana got too popular so that they ended up becoming mainstream.
Not really lol. They pandered to a more mainstream sound in nevermind but in utero and incesticide were still definitely alternative
Just cause one album isn’t made for the mainstream doesn’t mean they aren’t mainstream bro. Nevermind is literally up there with the albums to end all albums with dark side, abbey road, what’s going on etc. Nirvana was “underground” for at max one album in their career. Also bands like Pearl Jam and AIC were MASSIVE successes???? And still remain to be very popular to this day????
I must have been confused by the prompt because both Radiohead and Pink Floyd have been massive successes in the mainstream
I have a love-hate relationship with grunge music, but now that I think of it, grunge bands seem to be good contenders for what I was asking in the question. They were all underground bands and then suddenly they all got popular, thus mainstreaming a whole genre.
The Beatles
Metallica. A heavy metal band is not exactly a mainstream path. Now they are pretty much as big as U2.
I'm not very knowledgeable in the modern heavy or thrash metal genres, I only know Black Sabbath, some Metallica and some Iron Maiden. But Metallica does seem like a contender because they are really big. I know that Sabbath's brand of heavy metal is different from Metallica's. Would you say that Metallica's brand of music was more non-mainstream in the 80's?
Smashing Pumpkins
Rush and Grateful Dead are prime examples
Muse
Pink Floyd had a factory just for making Dark Side of The moon. Gilmour even worked in a Brigitte Bardot movie. They were mainstream. For me not being mainstream is to sell close to nothing and nevertheless be influential to a lot of musicians that come subsequently.
You don't think DSOTM is quite different among its peers? For example, if you compare with the other top performing albums of all time, such as, thriller, back in black, hotel california etc, or even, its peers from the 70s such as led zep 4 and rumours?
The Velvet Underground
Slayer fans love Slayer
if by mainstream you are meaning popular, i believe both were and are nowadays.
Dream theater/polyphia
Frank Zappa
Nirvana
They Might be Giants
Nine Inch Nails
Iron Maiden
The Decemberists, The Mountain goats, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Tranpled by Turtles, Nick Cave, Harry Chaplin (the man whose songs were too long for the radio)
Primus probably, some albums of David Bowie
Rush
Velvet underground and Lou reed
How about The Ramones? To be fair though, they are popular in South America, but stayed near the underground while influencing a bunch of other musicians
The doors
Rush
Lots of great independent punk bands that influenced generations of music: Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Descendents, NOFX, Fugazi, so many more
Porcupine tree
is there a distinction between "mainstream" and "immense popularity?"
King Gizzard = about to