Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that will get you pumped just by listening.

White RoomCream

Cream – White Room (Royal Albert Hall 2005) (17 of 22)

It reached No.

6 on the U.

S.

charts in 1968.

This was a supergroup made up of three superstars: bassist Jack Bruce, formerly of Manfred Mann; guitarist Eric Clapton, formerly of the Yardbirds; and drummer Ginger Baker.

Although they were active for only two and a half years, their bluesy, hard-edged rock not only had a major influence on later blues musicians, but is also often cited as a forerunner of hard rock and heavy metal.

Speed Of SoundColdplay

Coldplay – Speed Of Sound (Official Video)

They reached No.

8 in the U.

S.

in 2005.

On the Super Bowl halftime show stage in 2016, they performed alongside Bruno Mars and Beyoncé, bringing huge excitement.

In 2017, they visited Japan for the first time in three years and drew 45,000 people for their first Tokyo Dome concert.

Part of their appeal is how they evolve with the times—sometimes sounding like the Beatles, other times reminiscent of U2.

Producer Brian Eno may have been the one to bring out their strengths.

Enter SandmanMetallica

Metallica: Enter Sandman (Official Music Video)

Metallica is a quintessential American heavy metal band, often cited as pioneers of the thrash metal genre and regarded as one of the most globally successful metal bands.

They had a profound influence on later nu metal and loud rock bands.

They are among the bands that sold the most albums in the 1990s.

An absolutely phenomenal heavy metal band.

Here in Japan, they have enjoyed strong support since back in the day and remain a legendary band beloved by a wide audience to this day.

My GenerationThe Who

The Who – My Generation

A band that had a tremendous impact on mod culture.

Alongside the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, they are one of the three great British rock bands and remain a globally beloved group.

As the center of the rock scene, the UK has sparked many movements over the years.

One of these was the Mod movement, and its representative band is The Who.

Balancing a rock ’n’ roll sound with a slightly quirky pop sensibility that foreshadowed the influence on later scenes like Oasis, they truly stand as a central band in the British rock landscape.

Park LifeBlur

Blur – Parklife (Official 4K Music Video)

Blur was, in any case, a great-looking, cool band.

Of course, they were more than just that.

This song is a classic that revived Mod culture in the ’90s by featuring Phil Daniels from The Who’s Mod musical film Quadrophenia in a collaboration.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Beatles

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

The most famous band in the world that everyone knows.

There’s no way they aren’t cool.

I think the Beatles were at their coolest during this ultra-psychedelic period, when they completely shed their idol image and took a big step up.

This album art is overwhelming too—there’s nothing to say but that it’s cool.

How Deep Is Your LoveBee Gees

Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love (Official Video)

Reached No.

1 in the U.

S.

in 1977.

A hit from the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever.

Even longtime Bee Gees fans who say they just can’t warm up to the “disco-era Bee Gees” often make an exception for this song.

It’s truly a gem of a ballad.

In the end, after Saturday Night Fever, even when they returned to their original style, their momentum kept dwindling (though they still had some moderate hits), which was unfortunate.

Now only the eldest brother, Barry, remains, and we can no longer hear the harmonies of the Gibb brothers (four if you include Andy), but their many masterpieces will live on forever.