Bands that jumped the shark

scoobysdad - 2008-06-26 9:38 AM In this thread, we're looking for bands that started out with a ton of promise and integrity, released a great album or three, then for whatever reason ("new" creative direction, old age, change of line-up) became a silly, irrelevant, overblown or just plain bad version of themselves. For bonus points, cite the exact moment when they jumped the shark. Perhaps it was the release of a certain single, album or maybe even a specific concert or appearance on a TV show. Here's a few to get started: Stevie Wonder - Went from brilliant talent to sell-out schmaltz artist overnight with the release of "I Just Called To Say I Love You". Men At Work - Yet another victim of the "Rolling Stone's 'Best New Bands' Curse" (also see "The Knack", "Hootie & The Blowfish", they released a fantastic debut, solid follow-up and then a little career-killing single called "Dr. Heckyll and Mr. Jive". Michael Jackson -- Remember when this guy was relevant? Elvis Costello - This guy was such a musical genius that the only thing he could do to surprise his fans was churn out several albums of unlistenable jazz cr*p. U2 -- I know this isn't going to be popular, but somewhere along the line Bono started believing he actually is Jesus Christ, and I haven't been able to stomach them since. David Bowie -- He's still one of my all-time favorite artists, but right around the "Glass Spider Tour", well, he just started mailing it in.

Or was it when he sang on that Christmas Special with Bing Crosby? 

chadtower - 2008-06-26 10:51 AM

crowny2 - 2008-06-26 10:45 AM Or was it when he sang on that Christmas Special with Bing Crosby?

 

...and decided he was too good for The Little Drummer Boy and demanded a custom verse to sing?

Hey, I kind of like that song Did you see the Christmas special? David Bowie looks very uncomfortable standing there in a suit, next to a piano and Bing Crosby.

Oooh, Ohh! I got one:

Rod Stewart

Started out as a rock pioneer, great interpretive rock and R&B singer with various British bands (Jeff Beck Group, Faces), then put out some superb solo albums in the early 70s. Decided in the mid-70s that he was a jet-setting pop god, and the rest of his career has been spent pouring out slick, vapid dreck for the masses (i.e., those who made Celine Dion a superstar).

"Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" indeed.

Van Halen...

With David Lee Roth - - awesome!

With Sammy Hagar - - totally different band. I still liked them but it was a different band.

With Gary Cherone - -huh?

With David Lee Roth, part II -- uh, no.

wurkit_gurl - 2008-06-26 10:02 AM

chadtower - 2008-06-26 10:51 AM

crowny2 - 2008-06-26 10:45 AM Or was it when he sang on that Christmas Special with Bing Crosby?

 

...and decided he was too good for The Little Drummer Boy and demanded a custom verse to sing?

Hey, I kind of like that song Did you see the Christmas special? David Bowie looks very uncomfortable standing there in a suit, next to a piano and Bing Crosby.

And the look on Bing's face was "who is this punk".  Classic.

X2

crowny2 - 2008-06-26 12:07 PM

wurkit_gurl - 2008-06-26 10:02 AM

chadtower - 2008-06-26 10:51 AM

crowny2 - 2008-06-26 10:45 AM Or was it when he sang on that Christmas Special with Bing Crosby?

 

...and decided he was too good for The Little Drummer Boy and demanded a custom verse to sing?

Hey, I kind of like that song Did you see the Christmas special? David Bowie looks very uncomfortable standing there in a suit, next to a piano and Bing Crosby.

And the look on Bing's face was "who is this punk".  Classic.

Yup - I saw it a few years back. Cracked me up. I am not quite old enough to have seen it when it first aired, but I am old enough to have had parents who liked David Bowie - back when he was Ziggy Stardust.

Moody Blues - they got a little too commercialized at the end of the 70's/early 80's

scoobysdad - 2008-06-26 7:38 AM In this thread, we're looking for bands that started out with a ton of promise and integrity, released a great album or three, then for whatever reason ("new" creative direction, old age, change of line-up) became a silly, irrelevant, overblown or just plain bad version of themselves. For bonus points, cite the exact moment when they jumped the shark. Perhaps it was the release of a certain single, album or maybe even a specific concert or appearance on a TV show. Here's a few to get started: Stevie Wonder - Went from brilliant talent to sell-out schmaltz artist overnight with the release of "I Just Called To Say I Love You". Men At Work - Yet another victim of the "Rolling Stone's 'Best New Bands' Curse" (also see "The Knack", "Hootie & The Blowfish", they released a fantastic debut, solid follow-up and then a little career-killing single called "Dr. Heckyll and Mr. Jive". Michael Jackson -- Remember when this guy was relevant? Elvis Costello - This guy was such a musical genius that the only thing he could do to surprise his fans was churn out several albums of unlistenable jazz cr*p. U2 -- I know this isn't going to be popular, but somewhere along the line Bono started believing he actually is Jesus Christ, and I haven't been able to stomach them since. David Bowie -- He's still one of my all-time favorite artists, but right around the "Glass Spider Tour", well, he just started mailing it in.

*sigh*

Putting Men at Work on the same list as U2, Stevie Wonder and David Bowie makes me want to vomit. 

Liz Phair.

She was an indie rock goddess, but then put out that corporate powerpop crap in her last album, produced by the freaking Matrix. I love her, but she needs to turn that ship around and head back to port.

I'm not along for the ride for U2.  They may have lost some of their edge (despite maintaining the Edge), but their music is still good for me.

The reviews of their new album are pretty decent. I was considering adding them to this list. "Everybody Hurts" is aptly named if you have to listen to that song, ears they are a bleedin'.

She made a comment once that she makes more money being middle of the road pop than she ever did being Queen of the Indie Rock

Naw, I agree.

I'll be among those giving you grief for having U2 on this list. ;-)

REM's new album is actually really, really good IMO.

My vote goes to Aerosmith with "Love in an elevator" as the moment they went from classic rock to a big pile of poo.  :-)