Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Foreign Rock Bands, Popular Bands
You still hear people say things like, “I listen to Japanese rock bands, but I’m not so good with Western music,” even today, when it’s easier than ever to listen online to music from any era and anywhere in the world from the comfort of your home.
There are many reasons for this, but it seems some people feel a hurdle simply because the lyrics aren’t in Japanese.
So this time, we’ll introduce recommended Western rock bands for those who are thinking of getting into Western rock.
From legendary big names to bands lighting up the 2020s, we’ve picked a diverse lineup to enjoy!
Recommendation of Western Rock: Recommended Western Bands, Popular Bands (1–10)
Can’t StopRed Hot Chili Peppers
Formed in 1983, the Red Hot Chili Peppers from California have become a globally renowned band with steady popularity, despite facing numerous issues and going through repeated member departures and returns.
Affectionately known as “Retchili” in Japan, they now exude the vibe of mature rock tinged with melancholy, but in their early days they were a band that drew attention for their eccentric personas and live performances, all while possessing outstanding musicianship.
Rather than straightforward, pounding rock, they pioneered a style that fused funk—emphasizing a sideways groove—with genres like hard rock and punk, and their musicality has shifted considerably over the years.
If you want to experience their gritty funk and more extreme style, you should listen to classic albums like 1989’s Mother’s Milk and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
For beginners to Western rock, we also recommend melody-forward works like 1999’s Californication and 2002’s By the Way.
If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)The 1975
Arguably one of the most important and influential rock bands to debut in the 2010s.
The 1975, a four-piece based in Manchester, UK, have grown into a band at the top of the scene: since sending their acclaimed self-titled debut album to No.
1 on the UK charts in 2012, all four albums they released through 2020 have reached No.
1 in the UK, and they’ve also achieved commercial success in the U.
S.
Their musicality defies simple categorization—rooted in alternative rock, yet brilliantly elevating elements of synth-pop, electronica, city pop, and even AOR into a refined, singular sound through their own interpretation.
I also love their distinctly British, twisted irony: songs that sound bright on the surface often reveal, upon reading the lyrics, deeply pent-up emotions expressed in a poetic and intellectual way.
Above all, the songs themselves are great—that’s their biggest appeal—so I recommend listening to all of their studio albums!
Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
It might not be an exaggeration to call them the most beloved foreign rock band in Japan.
Formed in the early 1970s, Queen—hailing from the UK and loving their Japanese fans more than anyone—tragically lost their iconic frontman Freddie Mercury to AIDS in 1991.
However, with American singer Adam Lambert, whose vocal prowess is astonishing, they continue to perform into the 2020s as Queen + Adam Lambert.
The 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody became a massive hit, and it’s still fresh in our minds how it brought many new fans to the band who hadn’t known them before.
While rooted in hard rock, their music transcends genre boundaries, and their rich choral arrangements have produced many famous songs that almost everyone has heard at least once.
With catchy, accessible melodies, their music is easy to enjoy even for those just starting to explore Western pop and rock.
Start by checking out Greatest Hits I (1981) and II (1991), both huge hits, and then dive into their original albums!
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
Nirvana announced the dawn of the so-called grunge boom in the early 1990s, and in their short career that ended in 1994 when frontman Kurt Cobain chose to take his own life, they became a legend.
Even though they released only three albums, counting their indie days, there are still many bands and artists well past the 2020s who openly say they were influenced by Nirvana—clear proof of how great their impact was.
That said, there are surely music lovers who, influenced by the legend and historical context, have somehow put off actually listening.
The many classics born from their dynamic of moving between quiet passages and explosive, noisy guitar parts—together with lyrics that reflect Kurt Cobain’s psyche—don’t just grip disaffected young people of both then and now.
Their music endures because it has melodies that stick, riffs that stand out, and a simple yet supremely cool ensemble unique to a trio.
Start by giving their 1991 major-label debut, Nevermind, a listen.
Lost in YesterdayTame Impala
Tame Impala was formed in 2007 in Perth, Australia, centered around vocalist Kevin Parker.
Kevin’s clear, weightless vocals and melodies that evoke both languor and comfort at the same time create a psychedelic worldview unlike anything you’ve experienced.
They’ve performed at Japanese festivals such as Summer Sonic and Fuji Rock in the past, so we can look forward to their next visit to Japan.
Highly recommended for those who want to trip into an extraordinary space through music.
High HopesPanic! At The Disco
A band I’d recommend to anyone thinking of getting into Western pop/rock is Panic! At The Disco from the United States.
Their striking visuals and catchy melodies that stick after just one listen make a strong impression even on first-timers.
Their emotional songs became popular especially among younger generations at the time.
If you dig deeper, you can also enjoy the musical differences between their early period, rooted in pop-punk, and their more recent, poppier, more danceable sound.
ZITTI E BUONIMåneskin
Are you familiar with Måneskin, the Rome-born Italian band that’s gaining worldwide attention? After winning Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival 2021, they also took the crown at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, organized annually by member broadcasters of the European Broadcasting Union—a young band with serious talent! Their sound defies easy categorization; rather than simply genreless, it shifts from song to song.
Some tracks exude a glam-rock vibe, others lean heavily into punk, and some carry a dark, weighty atmosphere.
They incorporate a wide range of influences and release music that’s diverse yet distinctly their own.
If you’re curious, be sure to check them out!