Most Popular Western Music Bands Ranking [2025]

Basket CaseGreen Day8rank/position

Green Day – Basket Case [Official Music Video] (4K Upgrade)

Despite the 30 years that have passed since its release, this is a true classic that’s surely still being played at live houses somewhere across Japan! “Basket Case,” the song that helped catapult the hugely popular band Green Day to stardom in Japan as well, is a timeless masterpiece.

Its arrangement is stripped-down with no waste, yet it captures the essence of pop-punk, and the contrast between its bright tone and serious lyrics makes it a landmark in music history.

Technically, it’s well within reach for beginners, though maintaining a fast 8-beat—especially for drummers—can be challenging at first.

Try practicing by, for example, switching to quarter-note hi-hat strokes and gradually getting used to the tempo.

HappierMarshmello ft. Bastille9rank/position

Marshmello ft. Bastille – Happier (Official Music Video)

This is a bittersweet yet heartwarming song depicting a parting born from wishing happiness for a loved one.

Set to a refreshing sound that fuses elements of EDM and indie pop, it carefully sings of feelings for the other person.

Released in August 2018, the track swept charts around the world and captured the hearts of many.

It’s recommended listening before stepping into a new environment or after experiencing a farewell with someone important.

A perfect song for March, it gives you the courage to face forward.

NumbLinkin Park10rank/position

Numb (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE] – Linkin Park

When it comes to signature tracks by Linkin Park, the band that dominated the 2000s alternative rock scene, this song stands out.

Featured on the album Meteora, it’s marked by its fierce guitar riffs and Chester Bennington’s powerful vocals.

The lyrics, which depict struggles with self-identity and resistance to others’ expectations, resonated with many.

Since its 2003 release, it reached No.

11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube in 2018, maintaining its enduring popularity.

At karaoke with friends who love intense music like rock and metal, belt it out with emotion and you’ll be the star of the night!

JumpVan Halen11rank/position

Van Halen – Jump (Official Music Video) [HD]

The moment that full-on ’80s synthesizer phrase from the intro hits your ears, you feel like jumping up just as the title suggests! Released in 1984, it was a massive hit that topped the U.

S.

Billboard chart.

It’s an ambitious work that showcased Van Halen’s new direction; the bold blend of catchy keyboards with their hard guitar sound makes it a definitive anthem of the ’80s.

Combined with David Lee Roth’s exuberant vocals, it’s a track that gives you a burst of energy just by listening.

In 2019, it was featured in a Suntory All-Free commercial, and it continues to be loved by many to this day.

It’s also used as the walk-up song for Tokyo Yakult Swallows pitcher Koshiro Yoshimura, instantly firing up the stadium atmosphere.

Smoke on the WaterDeep Purple12rank/position

Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water (LIVE 1974)

Deep Purple’s signature song, released in 1972, took the world by storm with a guitar riff made of just four notes.

This classic of rock history was inspired by a fire that broke out at a Frank Zappa concert.

On December 4, 1971, a flare gun fired by an audience member ignited the ceiling at a casino in Switzerland.

Witnessing the scene firsthand, the band members masterfully transformed it into music.

Though simple, the riff has a profound allure, and the song is known as a rite of passage for many guitarists.

Beloved by people of all ages, it conveys the timeless power of rock.

Master Of PuppetsMetallica13rank/position

Master of Puppets (Remastered)

Beginning with an odd-time riff, moving into a lyrical midsection, and then cascading into a ferocious guitar solo, the structure is truly masterful.

Despite running over eight and a half minutes, it never becomes dull—an all-time classic among classics.

It’s the title track from the album Master of Puppets, released in March 1986, and is known as one of Metallica’s signature works.

The lyrics, depicting the horror of drug addiction, are also striking.

It’s a song every guitar-loving metal kid dreams of playing, and it has had a profound influence on countless bands.

A staple in their live shows, it’s guaranteed to send the crowd into a frenzy.

Under The BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers14rank/position

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge [Official Music Video]

When it comes to the most well-known overseas rock bands in Japan, the Red Hot Chili Peppers—aka “Red Chili” in Japan—would likely be at the top of the list.

While they gained popularity with their eclectic mix of funk, rock, and hip-hop and their wild performances, they gradually revealed a more melodious American rock side as well, achieving global success.

In Japan, they’re big enough to headline the Tokyo Dome, so many people at least know their name.

In fact, the stand used by Akira Otoishi, the guitarist-aspiring rocker who appears in Part 4 of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Diamond Is Unbreakable, is named “Red Hot Chili Pepper!”