Bands or Solo Artists People Should Stop Saying Are Rock

The Top Ten
1 Maroon 5 Maroon 5 is an American pop/pop rock band that originated in Los Angeles, California. Before the current group was established, the original four members, Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael Mickey Madden and Ryan Dusick, formed a band known as Kara's Flowers in 1994, while they were still in high school.

Maroon 5 is pure pop. In their modern songs, there is no sound of rock

2 One Direction One Direction (commonly abbreviated as 1D) were a British-Irish pop boy band based in London, composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously, Zayn Malik until his departure from the band on 25 March 2015. The group signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records after forming and finishing third in the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor in 2010. Propelled to international success by social media, One Direction's four albums, Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home, Midnight Memories and Four topped charts in most major markets, and generated hit singles including "What Makes You Beautiful", "Live While We're Young", and ...read more.

This is considered rock? THIS SHALL NOT STAND! 1D is overly generic pop NOT rock!

It is a disgrace to call them a rock band.

3 Coldplay Coldplay are a British pop rock band formed in 1996. The band consists of Chris Martin (lead vocalist and pianist), Jonny Buckland (lead guitarist), Guy Berryman (bassist) and Will Champion (drummer and backing vocalist). Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed ...read more.
4 5 Seconds of Summer 5 Seconds of Summer are an Australian pop-rock band from Sydney, Australia, that formed in 2011. The group were originally YouTube celebrities, posting videos of themselves covering songs from various artists during 2011 and early 2012. They rose to international fame while touring with One Direction on the Take Me Home Tour.

Just because they are influenced by pop punk bands like Green Day and Blink-182, it doesn't mean they are rock. 5 Seconds of Summer are the biggest posers of rock today. They try too hard to be "punk". Who cares if they play their instruments. They are still not rock. They do not even write all of their songs and have too many producers for one album.

5 Seconds of Summer is just another commercial product for tween girls who like One Direction. If they want punk, listen to Ramones or Misfits.

5 R5 R5 is an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2009. The band consists of lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Ross Lynch, Riker Lynch, Rocky Lynch, Rydel Lynch, and Ellington Ratliff.
6 Paramore Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro.

It is emo rock music. Get over it.

7 Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian–French singer-songwriter and actress. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more than $2 million.
8 Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American pop punk band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley.

True, their music might be poppy, but they are indeed rock.

9 Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She influenced a lot of singers such as: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears. She is known as Queen of Pop and at modern pop culture specifically ...read more.
10 Imagine Dragons Imagine Dragons is an American pop rock band from Provo, Utah, and are now based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Imagine Dragons' lineup consists of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their ...read more.

They are indie rock and alternative they don't deserve to be on here.

The Contenders
11 Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American singer, songwriter and children's book author. She rose to fame in 2002 after winning the inaugural season of the television series American Idol, which earned her a record deal with RCA Records. Clarkson's debut single, "A Moment Like This", topped the US Billboard ...read more.
12 Kanye West Ye (born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential, as well as controversial, artists of the 21st century. ...read more.

He called himself a "rockstar". That is the most embarrassing thing I ever heard. He is not rock. He is just a rapper who is doing it for the money.

Corey Taylor even said in a video Kanye isn't a rockstar.

13 Thirty Seconds to Mars Thirty Seconds to Mars (commonly stylized as 30 Seconds to Mars) is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band currently consists of brothers Jared and Shannon Leto.
14 Ashlee Simpson Ashley Nicolle Næss, known by the stage name Ashlee Simpson, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and media personality.
15 CHVRCHES CHVRCHES is a Scottish synthpop band from Glasgow, formed in 2011. The band consists of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. The band, before formation, practiced playing with demo songs written mostly by Doherty.
16 Lorde Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), better known by her stage name Lorde, is a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. She released her first EP "The Love Club" in 2012 and gained worldwide popularity with her song "Royals" at the age of 16.
With "Pure Heroine" (2013), "Melodrama" (2017) and "Solar Power" (2021), Lorde has released three studio albums so far. She is is known for... read more

Yeah why the hell does she play on alternative/rock stations her music is synthpop at best.

17 Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, professionally known by her stage name Katy Perry, was born on October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, California. She is a singer, songwriter, actress and an ambassador on one of the most popular companies of now, UNICEF.

She is also is one of the best-selling artists of all time. She won 4 Guinness World Records, 5 MTV Awards, 5 American Music Awards, 16'ASCAP Pop Music Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, 14 People's Choice, 1 Juno Award, 2 Myx Music Awards, 3 NRJ Awards, 6 Teen Choice and a Brit Award. ...read more.
18 Fun. Fun is an American indie pop band based in New York City. It was formed by Nate Ruess, former lead singer of The Format, with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train.
19 Pink Alecia Beth Moore known professionally as P!NK, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress.
20 Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada and is Christian. He is the son of author Pattie Mallette. ...read more.

It's really annoying seeing Justin Bieber on every list. No one says that Justin Bieber is rock, so why is he on this list?

Laugh out loud he shouldn't even be on this list.

Who even calls him rock? Never heard of it.

21 TwentyOnePilots

They are too pop/rap to be considered rock. All their music sounds like Eminem trying to be rock.

One word: Posers.

One word: posers.

22 OneRepublic OneRepublic is an American pop rock band. Formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2002 by lead singer Ryan Tedder and guitarist Zach Filkins, the band achieved commercial success on Myspace as an unsigned act.
23 Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian-American pop singer. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, she first entered the music industry by recording demo tapes under the direction of record producer Evan Rogers in 2003. She ultimately signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president, hip-hop producer and rapper Jay Z.

Seriously? How is she not on here?

24 Lana Del Rey Lana Del Rey is a California based singer, songwriter, and model who currently resides in Malibu, California. She was born under the name Elizabeth Woolridge Grant to entrepreneur Robert England Jr. and Patricia Ann Hill in rural Lake Placid, New York on June 21, 1985. She has two siblings, Chuck and ...read more.
25 Daughtry Daughtry is an American rock band formed and fronted by namesake Chris Daughtry, who was a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Their self-titled debut album was released in November 2006.
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