Top 10 Bands People Call Rock Bands but Aren't

The Top Ten
1 Twenty One Pilots Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo that is originally from Columbus, Ohio, who are best known for their songs "Stressed Out", "Heathens" and "Ride". Currently there are two members, Tyler Joseph (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, ukulele, bass and guitar) and Josh Dun (drums and ...read more.

You realize alternative music is just a really commercial subgenre of rock music right?

Even one picture of them, can give me Cancer and Aids, that's how much I hate this band.

Can't believe people consider them as rock.

Alternative Rap

2 Panic! At The Disco Panic! at the Disco was an American pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2004 and featuring the current lineup of vocalist Brendon Urie, accompanied on tour by bassist Dallon Weekes, guitarist Kenneth Harris, and drummer Dan Pawlovich.

They are Rock, but one of the worst subgenres of rock, Emo. The only rock subgenre which is worse than emo, is Nu-Metal, god Nu-Metal is terrible!

3 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.
4 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.

I have no idea how anyone could possibly mistake this for rock and not be trolling. There is nothing rock about this group at all.

What are Arctic Monkeys doing on here? And above One Direction and Jonas Brothers, seriously?

Yeah, here I agree. They are mostly a pop band.

5 My Chemical Romance My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from Jersey City, New Jersey, active from 2001 to 2013, and again from 2019 to present day. For much of their career, the band consisted of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, bassist Mikey Way, and drummer Bob Bryar.

Just because you don't like them doesn't mean they're not rock. Listen to any song from any album that isn't Danger Days.

6 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 single "It's Time", followed by their award-winning debut studio album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stone named "Radioactive", which holds the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year".

Alternative pop, a massive use of pop elements. But they have rock style too. So, in my opinion they are little bit of rock too.

They don't have any rock in their sound. It's pop rock and indie pop. Period...

7 Blood on the Dance Floor Blood on the Dance Floor was an American electronic music group from Orlando, Florida, originally consisting of Dahvie Vanity and several other members over time. The group formed in 2006, with former members including Jayy Von Monroe (2009–2016) and Garrett Ecstasy (2009), all of whom provided vocals for the project... read more

They shouldn't even be considered a "Band"

It's not a band at all! It's a piece of crap

8 Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), and Rob Bourdon (drums). Linkin Park is associated with a mixture of alternative rock, hip hop, and techno. Some of their influences include Nine Inch Nails, Deftones,... read more

Actually most bands here are rock bands. What is rock music? It's a genre with distorted guitar riffs, Drumming (with a massive use of snare), both guitar and drums have been covered by bass guitar. Most importantly the uses of manual instruments - guitar, bass, drums, keyboards are primary being focused in it. In this case, pop punk, pop rock, alternative pop, folk-rock, blues rock are also rock.

They are rock. Listen to their earlier music.

9 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.

They WERE rock, but then they threw it all away and became pure pop.

They are also sell outs

10 The Jonas Brothers The Jonas Brothers are an American pop rock band. Formed in 2005, they gained popularity from their appearances on the Disney Channel television network.

Agreed here again, they are mostly a pop band.

The Contenders
11 Brokencyde Brokencyde is an American crunkcore musical group from Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded in 2006. The group's lineup consists of David "Se7en" Gallegos and Michael "Mikl" Shea, and musically are one of the founding groups in the crunkcore genre, which is crunk hip-hop with screamed vocals.
12 Three Days Grace Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1992 with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Their original name was Groundswell until they changed it to ...read more.

Three Days Grace is alternative rock so technically their rock.

13 Theory of a Deadman Theory of a Deadman is a Canadian post-grunge band. Formed in 2001, the band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as 604 Records. They were discovered by Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger. Theory of a Deadman has gone on to release eight studio albums. Their most well-known songs include "The Bitch Came Back," "I Hate My Life," "Santa Monica," and "Not Meant to Be," among others... read more

They're rock what

14 Arctic Monkeys The Arctic Monkeys, otherwise known as the Death Ramps, are a British indie rock band formed in 2002 in Sheffield, England. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocalist, songwriter, electric and rhythm guitarist), Jamie Cook (electric and rhythm guitarist, songwriter), Matt Helders (percussionist, ...read more.
15 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 themselves "Coldplay" in 1998. Before making their debut album, they recorded and released three EPs: Safety in 1998, Brothers & Sisters as a single in 1999, and The Blue Room in the same year. The Blue Room was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone. ...read more.

They were alternative rock and piano rock first. Now they're some kind of Indie pop band.

16 Bring Me the Horizon Bring Me the Horizon is a British rock band from Sheffield, Yorkshire. Formed in 2004, the group currently consists of vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia, bassist Matt Kean, drummer Matt Nicholls, and keyboardist Jordan Fish. They are signed to RCA Records globally and Columbia Records exclusively ...read more.
17 Train Train is an American roots rock band from San Francisco, formed in 1993. The band currently consists of Patrick Monahan, Jimmy Stafford, Jerry Becker, Luis Maldonaldo, Hector Maldonado, Drew Shoals, Nikita Houston and Sakai Smith.
18 The Script The Script is an Irish pop rock band formed in 2001. The band comprises keyboardist and lead vocalist Danny O'Donoghue, guitarist and vocalist Mark Sheehan and drummer Glen Power.
19 The 1975 The 1975 are an English pop-rock band originating from Manchester. The group consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew "Matty" Healy, lead guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel.
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American funk-rock and alternative rock band, that was founded in 1983. The band's members are Anthony Kiedis (Vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (Bass), Chad Smith (Drums) and numerous guitarists, most well-known being John Frusciante. The band is among the most well-known funk bands in music history with albums like "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" and "Californification" being some of their best known works. Throughout their career, the band has won numerous different awards and established an immense fanbase.

Look at the band description! They're alternative rock and funk-rock.

21 Run-D.M.C. Run-DMC was an American pioneering hip hop group consisting of Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay. They were formed in 1981 and disbanded in 2002 after Jam Master Jay was murdered.
22 Awolnation
23 Blink-182 Blink-182 is a pop-punk band formed in 1992. The original lineup consisted of Mark Hoppus on bass guitar and vocals, Tom DeLonge on guitar and vocals, and Scott Raynor on drums. Raynor was fired from the band in 1998 and replaced by drummer Travis Barker. They gained mainstream popularity after the release of the album "Enema of the State." The band has gone on to produce eight studio albums during... read more

Pop punk, alternative rock etc all these genres are sub-genres of rock. So, it's a rock band.

They are rock, so get them off the list.

Pop punk. It's a rock subgenre.

24 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.
25 Bastille Bastille are an English indie pop band formed in 2010. The group began as a solo project by singer Dan Smith, who later decided to form a band. Beside Smith, the four-piece consists of Chris Wood, Will Farquarson, and Kyle Simmons.

Indie pop. A little bit of rock style in it.

They are the style

Pure indie pop.

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