Top 10 Music Artists Hated for the Most Absurd Reasons

The Top Ten
Nickelback Nickelback is a Canadian post-grunge band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Canada. The band consists of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair... read more

I'm surprised this isn't number one. There is no reasonable reason to hate this band. The singer can be understood when he is singing. They don't sing about stuff like having sex with multiple women, partying every day, or how cool murdering people is. They don't use controversy to sell albums, and they can even make jokes about their haters, which is pretty cool.

About being generic: Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) has a ripped-off element in almost every song, but I never noticed an obvious rip-off in Nickelback songs. From my viewpoint, A7X is 100 times more generic than Nickelback. A7X is in the top 10 of many good metal lists, and A7X isn't even metal. What I said about A7X is true for the band Ghost as well.

AC/DC AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band founded in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Bon Scott was the lead singer until his death in 1980 from alcohol poisoning. He was succeeded by Brian Johnson... read more
Queen Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more

Queen is hated mainly by the fans of Led Zeppelin and The Beatles because Queen is the only band that can compete with them for the honor of being the best rock band. Plain and simple. So Queen gets hated for being too good, which is the most absurd reason on this list. But Queen haters use the argument of Queen being "overplayed" just to say something and justify their hate. As if Led Zeppelin and The Beatles aren't "overplayed" and "overpraised."

I honestly think there is some big confusion on this site about the words hate and dislike. They seem to be interchangeable on this site.

You can dislike a band or not listen to a band without having to hate a band.

Blaze Bayley Blaze Bayley is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and lyricist. He was the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994, and currently from 2010 following reunions in 2007 and 2009. Bayley was also the lead singer for Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999. Since then, he has embarked on a solo career.

While I agree Blaze's voice didn't fit their classics like Hallowed Be Thy Name, he did a good job singing Paul's songs, and his voice really fits the music on the two albums with him. I highly prefer the studio version of Sign of the Cross and The Clansman to the live versions with Bruce. I would be interested in how he would sing The Nomad.

Someone online wisely pointed out that it was a good decision not to hire a singer similar to Bruce. Otherwise, people might have believed the new singer was trying to be Bruce but couldn't. I am really getting tired of Virtual XI and The X Factor opening reverse-order rankings of Iron Maiden albums. I like both of them better than some of their 1980s albums. I feel the same about post-Waters Pink Floyd, Exodus with Steve Zetro Souza, and Judas Priest with Ripper Owens.

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album)... read more

Their post-1980s output is ridiculously overhated. It is OK to think it's not as good as the first four albums, and it really isn't thrash for the most part. However, they don't realize how many people these "sellout" songs like "Enter Sandman" helped to get into metal.

I actually find it harder to find a Metallica fan than a hater. Then there are those people who only like their first two (not four) albums because "they weren't popular then."

There is reasonable hate for Metallica. How the band treated Dave Mustaine was pretty horrible, but because of how they treated him, we now have two of the greatest thrash metal bands. However, hating them because of their change to a more rock sound before going back to their roots isn't a good reason.

Cannibal Corpse Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1988. They're known for their graphic album covers, violent lyrics, and controversial song titles, such as "I Cum Blood." They gained mainstream exposure with their appearance performing "Hammer Smashed Face" in the 1994... read more

People who hate Cannibal Corpse mostly hate metal in general or extreme metal (harsh vocals, death growls). I was never a fan of theirs, but the reasons haters use are laughable. For example, "vocals/growls are disgusting and scary." Look, they are meant to be scary and disgusting, and George's growls are great from this viewpoint. Most haters just don't like extreme metal, which is OK. But don't try to criticize things from a pop viewpoint, and don't criticize things you don't understand.

Slipknot Slipknot is an American metal band that formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1996. They're recognized as a key force in the New Wave of American Alternative Metal from the late 1990s through the 2000s. The band is also known for their black and red jumpsuits and horror-inspired masks... read more

I would say that they are very much a metal band. Most hate them because they are an innovative metal band that uses a lot of non-metal sounds in their music. But that is what makes the band respectable. They are doing what every other metal band is doing.

You can love or hate their music, but you have to respect them for their inventiveness and unique style.

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), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin... read more

I think it is because of other bands with more legendary pieces of music that are superior to a lot of songs by this band. They may not be as well known.

My reason would be because they do not make more songs to entertain me.

Ah yes, one of the most memorable rock bands of the 2000s is hated just for changing their sound a bit. Makes sense.

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American funk-rock and alternative rock band founded in 1983 in Los Angeles. The current core lineup includes Anthony Kiedis, Michael "Flea" Balzary, Chad Smith, and Joshua Klinghoffer, although John Frusciante remains the most acclaimed guitarist associated with the... read more

What are they hated for? Oh wait, because John Frusciante left and Faith No More fans seem to hate them.

Chad Kroeger Chad Robert Kroeger is a Canadian musician and producer best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock band Nickelback.

Yes, I agree the reason he gets hated is because he's the frontman of Nickelback. The BS logic of bandwagoning: if Nickelback is the worst band ever (which they aren't), then their singer is the worst singer too. Why is this wrong? His vocal skills are pretty good. He's never off-pitch, even live. His range is bigger than that of some praised singers. His voice is very powerful and aggressive, and overall great for singing metal and hard rock.

The Newcomers

? Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. She holds the Guinness World Record as the most awarded female artist of all time, with over 400 career awards as of 2006, and was named the most awarded female act in 2009... read more

Not many people hate her, but the ones who do don't seem to have a particularly good reason to do so - or any reason at all. Yes, she made lots of love songs, but that's not a valid reason to call her a bad singer or to hate her.

At the very least, she was technically a great singer, no matter what you may think of her.

? Skye Sweetnam

She doesn't deserve the hate at all. She's very talented and even has her own hard rock/metal band called Sumo Cyco. They're pretty damn good!

The Contenders
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in... read more

Hated by some for making an observation at the time that The Beatles were more popular in the mainstream than Jesus due to ridiculous fanatical celebrity worship.

Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records reportedly worth over $2 million... read more

She is only hated for being associated with Chad Kroeger.

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more

These guys are only semi-hated for having the most album sales ever. Aside from that, they are worshipped by many.

Tim Ripper Owens Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens is an American heavy metal vocalist. He gained fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s as lead singer of the Judas Priest tribute band British Steel before joining the actual band Judas Priest in 1996. He currently performs with Beyond Fear, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force,... read more

He is the Blaze Bayley of Judas Priest. The only difference is that Tim Ripper Owens is a much better singer than Blaze. Even though Tim isn't Rob Halford, Tim's vocal skills are pretty close to Rob's, which can't be said about Blaze and Bruce. Another reason is that most Judas Priest fans are actually fans of their hard rock songs, not their metal songs. Give a listen to the song Cathedral Spires. Tim is a great singer in his own right, and the song is one of my favorite metal songs by Judas Priest. Note that the song is longer than their usual songs. All this makes Tim even more absurdly hated than Blaze.

Motley Crue Mötley Crüe is an American metal band formed in Los Angeles, California on January 17, 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, along with lead vocalist Vince Neil and lead guitarist Mick Mars. They are known for their hedonistic lifestyle and iconic albums such as... read more
KISS Kiss, often stylized as KISS, was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. The original members were Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals). Known for their face paint and elaborate stage... read more

They may be, but KISS actually has a very passionate, loyal fanbase. It may not be our kind of band, but if there are many others out there who enjoy them, great!

Limp Bizkit Limp Bizkit is an American nu-metal/rap metal/rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 1994. The band's core lineup includes Fred Durst, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and Wes Borland. They are known for popular singles such as Break Stuff, My Way, My Generation, Nookie, Eat You Alive, Rollin', and Take... read more

Fred Durst has mellowed out over the years. I think he's pretty alright now.

Rebecca Black Rebecca Black is a singer and YouTube personality known for her 2011 single "Friday." It became the most disliked video on YouTube until Justin Bieber's "Baby" surpassed it in 2012. She has also released songs like "My Moment" and "Saturday," and continues to create music and content.

In the top ten of the worst music artists of all time for only one song. I have even heard she received death threats for it.

Really, this is ridiculous, and she has better songs anyway.

Most definitely, she is a pretty talented singer. However, she will forever be remembered for her terrible singing in that one song, or rather mostly auto-tuned song. She made a mistake that pretty much any teen could make, wanting to become popular.

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 Pattie Mallette, an author... read more

The only reason he was really hated was because he started young in the most generic genre. Since he was young, every time he did something stupid, people jumped on it as a reason to hate him. He is no different from any other average artist out there. I also think it was fun for people to make fun of his fans because of how stupid the fan name sounded.

I don't like him either, but some haters say he's terrible because he sounds like a girl. That's not a proper reason. Jamiroquai's singer also sounds a bit like a girl.

Carly Rae Jepsen Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Mission, British Columbia, and later based in Los Angeles. She's best known for her 2012 hit single "Call Me Maybe", which topped charts worldwide... read more

I'm not sure she is a one-hit wonder. She is a Canadian Idol contestant who placed third. She just had one really catchy song that blew up, but her other album didn't do badly. It just wasn't big in the U.S. If you listen to her other songs, you'll find she is an OK singer as well. If you don't think so, go on YouTube and listen to No Drug Like Me.

But then again, not many one-hit wonders are literal one-hit wonders. They usually have a huge following outside of the U.S., you know, like Hanson.

There are not only one-hit wonders, but there are also one-hit scapegoats (or whatever negative word you think of instead of wonder).

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica. They have released 16 studio albums to date and have undergone numerous lineup changes, with... read more

I love Megadeth. His vocals could be better, but still, you can't ignore the contribution to music.

Luis Fonsi Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero, known by his stage name Luis Fonsi, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor. He is best known for his 2017 worldwide hit song "Despacito", featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee. The song won four Latin Grammy Awards and became one of the most streamed... read more

I used to hate him because he beat out "See You Again" to 3,000,000,000 views, but I think I should stop hating him. He seems cool.

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 and controversial artists of the 21st century... read more

I personally don't have to agree with an artist politically or love them as a person to be able to appreciate and enjoy their music. Kanye is famously one of the most consistent hip-hop artists and deserves the praise he receives for that.

Hated more for his controversies than his music. If you don't like his music, then probably you weren't made for rap.

Anal C*** Anal C*** was an American grindcore band founded by vocalist Seth Putnam in 1988 in Newton, Massachusetts. The band is known for their highly offensive lyrics which included themes of misogyny, homophobia, racism, Nazism, antisemitism, and schadenfreude (ridicule of the unfortunate). Their music has... read more

They want to be hated, so you guys are just helping them accomplish their mission.

Ariana Grande Ariana Grande‑Butera (born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four‑octave vocal range has earned widespread critical praise, and her personal life continues to attract significant media attention. She has received numerous honors, including two Grammy Awards, a Brit... read more

I can understand why she gets so much hate. She's overplayed, and that 7 Rings song that I just heard for the first time today (3/31/2019) is absolutely terrible! But still, she's not really a bad singer. Her music, for the most part, is OK. I can't find any real reasons to hate her.

The one thing I love about pop artists is just how much people think they're terrible singers. When you're singing extremely generic songs, the artist's singing ability is not showcased. Remember, generic songs aren't about vocals, just a catchy tune and beat.

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