Best Funk Metal Bands
Primus is an American funk metal band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander. Les Claypool is regarded as one of the best bassists of all time for his slap-bass ability in notable songs like "My Name Is Mud",... read more I agree this is one of the best funk metal bands, but I have to say I wouldn't be as extreme as some of the comments below, which are wrong on a few levels. Primus does deserve their reputation, though, thanks to their extraordinary bassist Les Claypool, their adaptive guitarist Larry LaLonde, and their underrated drummer Tim Alexander. Definitely a great band. Check them out, and be aware that the bass is at the same volume as the guitar, only differing in tone (fatter), register (lows to high mediums), slurriness (sometimes), and timbre.
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by heavy metal, punk rock, funk, jazz, hip hop and alternative rock. Vernon Reid is an awesome guitarist, and the songs Information Overload, Cult of Personality, Time's Up, Go Away, and Great Expectations have amazing guitar solos. Flying has a good outro solo. Bi, Love Rears Its Ugly Head, Middle Man, Song Without Sin, and Desperate People have great riffs. Awesome band!
Their first two albums, Vivid and Time's Up, are some of the best funk metal albums ever made. The soulful metal voice of Corey Glover, the insane funky basslines of Muzz Skillings, the eccentric jazzy guitar by Vernon Reid, and Will Calhoun's intense drum fusion of metal and funk - Black men could headbang with soul!
Rage Against the Machine is a rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk. I have looked at all the rap metal/funk metal lists on this website, and I have to say I've never laughed so much! RHCP, Linkin Park, etc., are good bands, but they in no way compare to RAGE! In terms of lyrics, beats, guitar riffs and solos, power, energy, live performances, causes, impacts on the world, etc., Rage is just the best band in the world!
The best funk metal band, with controversial lyrics, and simply put: awesome rage. If you're interested in funk metal, listen to their first album from 1992, "Rage Against the Machine." Every song is more epic and fresh than the last. Kudos to this band!
Some of these bands are nowhere near Funk (even if they groove a little bit sometimes). Others aren't really metal (even if they sound kinda heavy). But Infectious Grooves is both. In my opinion, they are probably the most underrated band in this genre. Maybe this is even more true for Stevie Salas' Colorcode. But Primus? Korn? Really?
Now this is a band that not only satisfies hardcore metal fans but also takes you on a musical adventure, breaking new ground!
I was hoping Robert Trujillo would bring some of these grooves to Metallica, but that's just wishful thinking.
Faith No More is an American alternative metal band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before settling on their current moniker in 1983, the band performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. Great funk metal band with awesome musicians all around, with Mike Patton being one of the biggest highlights of the band. Their music has weird elements as well, giving it an extra edge and another reason why they're so great.
Mike Patton's vocals are some of the best I've heard, and their style is pretty weird in general. I also like how they evolved throughout their albums.
My third favorite band. It makes me angry seeing how underrated they are.
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... read more
Between Kiedis's rapping vocals and alpha male presence, Flea's prowling bass boom, Smith's Zeppelin-inspired tasty drum simplicity, and Frusciante's raging funk-you-out guitar (which later replaced the proficient Hillel Slovak, R.I.P.), the Red Hot Chili Peppers leave little to be desired. They offer a musical journey that continues to deliver world-class performances, goosebumps, and excitement to this day. Their music takes you on a starship to the cosmos and then gently brings you back to Earth with moments of soft regret and larger-than-life wisdom spoken in aboriginal American mysticisms.
They are the brotherhood of Soul and the poets of Modern Rock. They are the third-generation godfathers of Funk with Metal six-packs. Sexy, macho, laid-back. Red hot and ice cold. The Chili Peppers are number one on this list for me, no matter what the final ranking might be. While I respect the position of Primus, they could never replace the LA Holly Hill Boys for me and millions of long-time fans around the world who still cheer on the show, whether it has aged well or not.
Thank you, guys, for all your blood, magic, and soul. For showing sisters that there are still sentimental gentlemen out there, while also showing manly men the way to embrace a brotherhood of peace and love. And last but not least, for proving once again that Rock is not straight, Rock is not gay, but Rock is bisexual, and everyone can truly be a part of this beautiful experience that saves derelict youth from arms of rage and repression in twisted ancient environments.
Mr. Bungle was an American experimental rock band from Northern California. Known for a highly eclectic style, the band often cycled through several musical genres within the course of a single song, including heavy metal, avant-garde jazz, ska, disco as well as funk. Not as popular as the other contenders, but as good as it gets in Funk-Metal. I'm not sure if "metal" is the right term here, but let's say "aggressive" funk. Beware, Mr. Bungle is fusion in the strict sense of the word, but ear candy for anyone who enjoys going on a musical adventure trip! If you don't know them... What are you waiting for? (I loved most of the contenders though... Great list.)
THE best funk metal band of all time! I have no idea why the Red Hot Chili Peppers are so highly rated when Mr. Bungle does what they do so much better. Mike Patton is the master of funk metal!
A bit underrated, but Extreme is on par with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Infectious Grooves in terms of funk "craftsmanship." Mourning Widows (Nuno Bettencourt's band after Extreme first disbanded) was also a quite nice funk metal band. Check it out.
Why isn't Extreme on the list? Nuno Bettencourt is one of the best and most skilled funk metal guitarists.
Hole Hearted has some of the greatest guitar work in any song ever!
I really don't know why this band is so close to the bottom. I am a massive fan of Rage Against the Machine and thought none of these bands could compare to them. But after hearing Snot, wow - they're close to Rage now. What a mad band.
Has anyone actually heard Snot on this website? Korn is not funk metal, and neither are the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The only thing stopping Snot from being at the top of this list is that they only made one studio album before their lead singer died. That album is far more energetic than anything else here.
If you really want funk that only brothers can produce mixed in with rock, then this is no doubt the one.
Fishbone, the pioneers. Even RHCP learned from them at the beginning.
Incubus is an American alternative rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ... read more Incubus' Dirk Lance shreds on the bass in their first few albums along with DJ Lyfe, before they evolved into a mostly rock band. Their funkiest album is definitely Fungus Amongus, followed by S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
This is also the best band ever.
Korn is an American nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, with the addition of Ray Luzier, who replaced the band's original member, David... read more Korn's first two albums are outstanding examples of funk metal. Follow the Leader is also great, and the rest of their discography contains some very good songs. Accept it: KORN RULES! Anyone who knows anything will tell you that. Only posers with thrash metal t-shirts say it's no good. I was a teenager in the '90s, so believe me, I know.
Korn is the ultimate Nu-metal band. Try and say Korn aren't the best.
Clutch is an American rock band from Frederick, Maryland, originating in Germantown, Maryland. Its four members met while in high school in Germantown and consider themselves a Frederick-based band where they write/rehearse for every album/tour. Come on! Why is Clutch all the way down here?!
Maximum the Hormone (Japanese: マキシマム ザ ホルモン, Hepburn: Makishimamu Za Horumon) is a Japanese heavy metal band from Hachiōji, Tokyo. Their lineup has consisted of vocalist Daisuke-han, drummer Nao, guitarist Maximum the Ryo-kun, and bassist Ue-chan since 1999. Each member alternates... read more Sadly, this is the only funk metal band I know that still releases new songs deserving of the genre tag. You can tell their bassist must've been heavily influenced by Flea's early work.
Ugly Kid Joe is THE most underrated band of the 1990s! They subverted yet also embraced everything great about rock and metal at the time!
The best funk metal band of the early '90s.
Hoobastank is an American rock band, formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California with lead singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts is a great album. Don't fool yourself into thinking that Hoobastank is only capable of making songs like The Reason.
In my opinion, this is the best, though I haven't listened to some of the other bands yet. :) Anyway, you all should give it a try! It's pure energy and so original, even though it was released in 1998.
Their first album is by far the best music they've ever released.
Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band founded in 1980 in Venice, California by vocalist Mike Muir, who is the only remaining original member of the band. The band is often credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash".
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1985. The band consists of vocalist Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Chris Chaney. I don't completely get why Jane is living in somebody's basement. Hey, whatever, nobody is perfect!
A pretty phat band drawing influence from none other than Fishbone and Bad Brains. They can be described as a mix between Primus and Mr. Bungle.