Bands, musicians with cult followings

[Jillianne]

I dont think this has been done before, but yeah lets discuss all the bands/musicans with cult followings

Madonna definetly has a cult following

Nirvana, still ace though

Wacko Jacko....

[XXX]

But you mentioned really really popular acts. I thought by "cult", you meant something like fringe music fans or something that grew big outside of the media. For example, The Grateful Dead I'd consider to have a HUGE cult following despite the fact they didn't land any top 10 hits in their whole career (I think they had one, actually). I dunno if naming obscure bands will do, though, because very few casual music fans will know, so lemme give it another shot:

- Morrissey has a cult following here in SoCal with the Hispanic population.

- Depeche Mode is very popular among Gothic kiddies. It seems only natural

[Jillianne]

I am just trying to find out what acts have huge fan basis in America, we obviously dont hear the same bands americans do, for instance, I find it extremly difficult to find a Tenacious D album over here.

[XXX]

I am just trying to find out what acts have huge fan basis in America, we obviously dont hear the same bands americans do, for instance, I find it extremly difficult to find a Tenacious D album over here.

I would still say Tenacious D has a cult following because Jack Black is the most unlikely - yet one of the coolest - Rock stars to grace the airwaves (kinda like the Ron Jeremy of Rock music :: ). You not being able to get one of his albums is like me not being able to get an Aqualung album (I had to get it as an import at twice the regular price). But BritPop... I don't know if it has any following here other than Radiohead (you'll seldom hear Travis, Suede, Placebo, etc. on radio). Anyway, I'm gonna go see The Pixies at the Uni I attend in Sept. I think The Pixies would qualify as having a cult following with the whole Alternative Rock thing since the late 80s

[Elvish]

The Grateful Dead I'd consider to have a HUGE cult following despite the fact they didn't land any top 10 hits in their whole career (I think they had one, actually).

The Dead was the first one that popped into my head. And you're right about the single top 10 hit - it was "Touch of Grey" which went to #9.

Also, Phish is another jam band with a cult following.

[sutho]

The Stone Roses still have a strong cult following,

wishing they would re form and start touring

i wonder if they have any fans across the atlantic

[Wanderlei]

I'm not sure a lot of the bands mentioned (The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Nirvana) should be classed as having cult followings because they're all so damn huge!

The first names that popped into my mind were Nick Drake, Morrissey & Warren Zevon.

[Farin]

boy,... *cough* *cough* is it dusty in here, or what?

^ I agree with the "mainstream success" vs "cult following" distinction

first band that came to my mind are The Grateful Dead, second thing is an article I read recently how "Pearl Jam are the new Dead" (mainly about how the fans of the two bands are so similar)

another one has to be Frank Zappa

PS, welcome to SF, Wanderlei

[MindCrime]

boy,... *cough* *cough* is it dusty in here, or what?

I agree if this is a thread started by Jillianne (I still have her on my AIM messenger)

Welcome to Songfacts Wanderlei

[RockyRaccoon]

moe. has a large cult following. Good jam band.

[Levis]

The Church - hardly anyone in Australia knows them. They're from SYDNEY! They're older than ME! I knew them BEFORE I even got here! - this makes me a favourite with any Church fan I come across, their jaw drops to the floor it's much fun

[chutzpah]

The first band that popped in my head was the "Grateful Dead"..."Allman Brothers"..."Zappa" (when he was alive)"Willie Nelson"...and "Jimmy Buffet" (sp?) Parrotheads? or something...

[Farin]

"Zappa" (when he was alive)

don't sell them short - there's a big festival not too far from here every year... the so called "Zappanale"

[Lucky]

I think of a cult following as being those bands with their own special fans that follow the band and not a huge amount of fans outside those ... less than mainstream in other words.

Captain Beefheart has a huge cult following, Jimmy Buffet, The Grateful Dead, and Little Feat all come to mind. I'd think in the punk/new wave/whatever other namegenre areas there would be many. Mr Fitter?

[RockyRaccoon]

I would think Frank Zappa has a large cult following being that he only had one hit with "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow."

The Velvet Underground also have a huge cult following.

[RockyRaccoon]

Oh whoops, someone already mentioned Zappa.

That's what I get for being lazy and not reading.

[Farin]

I would think Frank Zappa has a large cult following being that he only had one hit with "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow."

"Bobby Brown Goes Down" was a Top Ten hit in some European countries (including Germany)

[RockyRaccoon]

"Bobby Brown Goes Down" was a Top Ten hit in some European countries (including Germany)

Yea I was more referring to the U.S.

[Ombre Vivante]

Morrissey will be in concert at the Fox Theatre in Pomona

[skybluesky]

Phish are pretty much the second coming of The Grateful Dead cult.

[chutzpah]

"Lou Reed"

"Steppenwolf"- I just got a thing in the mail for a "Steppenwolf" show... it's in Nashville...I'm going