There are foreign bands with irresistibly captivating sounds you can hardly hear in Japan! From powerful, energetic vocals and satisfyingly heavy sound production to dynamic stage performances—there’s no way to sum it all up in a single phrase.
This time, based on reliable feedback from music fans submitted to our site, we researched popular Western bands.
Among them, we carefully selected especially well-regarded rock bands—both classic and contemporary—along with their staple songs.
If that’s your thing, be sure to check it out!
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Cool Western music bands: Recommended overseas bands that will boost your mood just by listening (1–10)
Smells like teen spiritNirvana
Since the Sex Pistols, they were a shock; the voice of America’s troubled youth; the most influential band—there are many labels.
Kurt Cobain’s untimely death is deeply regrettable, but I believe his spirit still lives on forever in the hearts of fans.
SupersonicOasis
The Gallagher brothers who came out of Manchester, England—who could have imagined they would captivate the entire world? In the ’90s, I think they were without a doubt the coolest band in the UK.
There must have been many men who imitated Liam.
Radio Ga-GaQueen
It reached No.
16 in the U.
S.
in 1984.
This is the song said to have inspired Lady Gaga’s name.
After the Flash Gordon theme, the initial worldwide frenzy seemed to settle down a bit, and it felt like the band was entering a new phase—this song came out in that context.
Among their many famous tracks, it’s an outstanding work.
In particular, Japan was ahead of the world in recognizing Queen as stars, so a No.
16 peak in the U.
S.
was a bit disappointing.
In Japan, Freddie was treated like an idol back when he had long hair.
American IdiotGreen Day
Peaked at No.
61 in the US in 2004 and No.
3 in the UK.
Included on their seventh album, American Idiot.
It’s rare for a punk band to get this big, but there’s something about them that you just can’t hate.
Their songs are surprisingly melodic, too.
As you can tell from the music video, they’re a truly classic punk band.
The slightly comedic behavior and the laid-back, aloof vibe really work for them.
In Japan, I feel like they became known even beyond rock fans after their wild antics when Fuji Rock was canceled.
Dream OnAerosmith
When it comes to the most popular band on the U.
S.
East Coast, it has to be Aerosmith.
Unlike straight-up hard rock, they incorporate a variety of musical styles, resulting in a wealth of highly original works.
They’re a recommended band for those who enjoy melodic rock.
Highway to HellAC/DC
When it comes to iconic Australian bands, AC/DC surely comes to mind.
Since the group is centered around the Young brothers, who are from Scotland, some of their songs are close to UK rock.
In any case, they’re a gritty, wild, and undeniably cool band.
Under The BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers
It reached No.
2 in the U.
S.
in 1992.
Released as a single from the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, it became a huge hit.
It’s hard to pin down the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ sound—should we call it hard rock? Or punk? In Japan, people often call it “mixture.” In any case, my impression of their early days was that they were a band that did all sorts of wild, chaotic stuff.
Now they feel like bona fide rock royalty, but each member has always had such a strong individuality that I’ve thought of them as a no-nonsense, straight-ahead band.