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0 / 31 Fotos
The Doors
- The Doors, famous for hits including 'Light My Fire' and 'Riders on the Storm,' rocketed to stardom in the mid-'60s. Their career went from strength to strength until Jim Morrison's death in 1971.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
The Doors
- After Jim Morrison's death, remaining band members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore continued without him until 1973. Unfortunately, none of their solo projects or new line-ups gained traction. In 2002, Manzarek and Krieger attempted to revive the band with Ian Astbury of The Cult, but their efforts didn't earn them commercial success.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Geri Halliwell
- Geri Halliwell rose to superstardom as Ginger Spice in the pop girl group Spice Girls during the '90s. She left the group in 1998, citing exhaustion and creative differences.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Geri Halliwell
- After leaving the Spice Girls, Halliwell forged a solo career, achieving moderate success with her first two albums and hits like 'It's Raining Men.' However, when she released new music in 2004, she struggled to maintain momentum. Her 2013 comeback attempt also flopped, and she later admitted on her blog that it wasn’t a great return.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Stone Temple Pilots
- Stone Temple Pilots achieved great success in the '90s after the release of their debut album 'Core.' Their single 'Sour Girl' was particularly popular, as the music video featured Sarah Michelle Gellar of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' fame.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Stone Temple Pilots
- Unfortunately for the Stone Temple Pilots, their fifth album, 'Shangri-La Dee Da,' was a flop, and the band split a year after its release. Despite several comeback attempts over the years, they were never able to recapture the peak success of their earlier career.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Smashing Pumpkins
- Alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins made a lasting impact on modern music with albums 'Siamese Dream' and 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,' the latter achieving diamond status with over 10 million copies sold in the US alone.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Smashing Pumpkins
- In 2000, the band broke up. Seven years later, lead singer Billy Corgan reformed the group with only one other original member. The reformed band released 'Zeitgeist,' but it didn’t receive the reception they had hoped for, and the band never regained its previous level of success.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Led Zeppelin
- Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin is one of the most influential bands of all time, releasing music that established the beginnings of the heavy metal and hard rock genres.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham. The surviving members made a few reunion attempts before coming together to play 'Live Aid' in 1985. The performance was a disaster, with instrument and technical issues. A 1988 reunion also suffered from sound problems and a disagreement about the setlist.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
Kiss
- Kiss became one of America's most successful rock bands and a pop culture phenomenon during the second half of the 1970s. The band released their album 'Sonic Boom' in the fall of 2009, which was their first studio album in over a decade.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
Kiss
- Although 'Sonic Boom' achieved critical praise and initial success, the band sold less than 250,000 copies of the album by the end of the year.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
Vanilla Ice
- The American rapper shot to fame with his best-known hit 'Ice Ice Baby.' His success was short-lived; his follow-up album 'Mind Blowin'' received less than stellar reviews.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Vanilla Ice
- Vanilla Ice attempted to make a comeback with 'Hard to Swallow,' which combined elements of rap and metal, but the album received little commercial success.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Limp Bizkit
- Limp Bizkit's 'Significant Other' album earned them huge commercial success in 1999. However, the band struggled to maintain their high position, particularly after the release of their 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' album.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Limp Bizkit
- After several musical efforts failed to impress and an eight-year hiatus, Limp Bizkit released two more albums that still couldn't help the band replicate their '90s success.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Guns N’ Roses
- Hard rock band Guns N’ Roses was one of the most influential groups of the 1980s and '90s. Hit 'Sweet Child O' Mine' broke the band into the mainstream when it went to Number 1 on the Billboard chart.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Guns N’ Roses
- Guns N' Roses hinted at a new album in 1994; however, it took more than 14 years and multiple line-ups for, 'Chinese Democracy' to be released. Critics were divided in their opinions, and the album's sales were underwhelming for the group.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Katy Perry
- Katy Perry achieved global success with her second album, 'One of the Boys,' which was her first on a major label. Her 2010 LP, 'Teenage Dream,' cemented her status as a superstar.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
Katy Perry
- Unfortunately, Katy Perry's superstardom waned with her 2020 LP 'Smile' and the mediocre reception of her 2024 album '143.' Many fans and critics have described her comeback as a "complete flop."
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
Black Sabbath
- Credited with creating heavy metal, the English band Black Sabbath marked a significant shift in the world of rock. Following Ozzy Osbourne's departure in 1979, the band has undergone multiple line-up changes, with guitarist Tony Iommi remaining the only consistent member.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Black Sabbath
- Black Sabbath's 'Born Again,' released in 1983, was intended as a comeback album for the band, featuring former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. The album received mixed reviews and had a disappointing commercial performance, making it a contentious addition to their discography.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Run-DMC
- Run-DMC pioneered new-school hip-hop music and played a crucial role in bringing the genre into the mainstream. The group achieved commercial success with hits like 'Walk This Way' and 'It's Tricky.'
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Run-DMC
- After a lengthy hiatus and a decline in mainstream visibility in the '90s, Run-DMC's 'Crown Royal' marked the group's return to the music scene. While it received mixed reviews, it didn't achieve the same level of commercial success as their earlier work.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Aerosmith
- Formed in 1970, Aerosmith is an American rock band famous for their hits 'Dream On' and 'Walk This Way.' After a period of mixed success in the '90s, Aerosmith released 'Just Push Play' in 2001.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
Aerosmith
- The release of 'Just Push Play' was intended to regain the band's momentum and re-establish their presence in the rock scene. However, the album received a lukewarm reception and was criticized for its polished, pop-oriented sound, which disappointed longtime fans and failed to capture the raw energy of their earlier work.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Fleetwood Mac
- British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac propelled to fame after the release of their hit song 'Rhiannon' from their album 'Fleetwood Mac.' The band experienced multiple comebacks throughout their career, but their return with the album 'Time' wasn't as commercially successful.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Fleetwood Mac
- Released on October 10, 1995, 'Time' was meant to signal the band's return to the music scene after several years of relative inactivity. With Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks no longer in the group, new members like Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason were meant to bring fresh energy and creativity, but the album struggled to resonate with fans and critics.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Mötley Crüe
- Mötley Crüe, formed in 1981, is a band known for its wild lifestyle and influential role in the glam metal scene. Some of their most famous hits include 'Girls, Girls, Girls' and 'Too Fast For Love.'
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Mötley Crüe
- After being replaced by John Corabi for their 1994 self-titled album, Generation Swine marked the return of Vince Neil, the band’s original lead vocalist. Fans expected a return to the classic Mötley Crüe sound, but the album's alternative and industrial rock influences alienated a large portion of their fanbase. It quickly fell from the charts, making it a commercial flop. Sources: (Watchmojo) (Far Out Magazine) See also: The greatest live albums of all time
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
The Doors
- The Doors, famous for hits including 'Light My Fire' and 'Riders on the Storm,' rocketed to stardom in the mid-'60s. Their career went from strength to strength until Jim Morrison's death in 1971.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
The Doors
- After Jim Morrison's death, remaining band members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore continued without him until 1973. Unfortunately, none of their solo projects or new line-ups gained traction. In 2002, Manzarek and Krieger attempted to revive the band with Ian Astbury of The Cult, but their efforts didn't earn them commercial success.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Geri Halliwell
- Geri Halliwell rose to superstardom as Ginger Spice in the pop girl group Spice Girls during the '90s. She left the group in 1998, citing exhaustion and creative differences.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Geri Halliwell
- After leaving the Spice Girls, Halliwell forged a solo career, achieving moderate success with her first two albums and hits like 'It's Raining Men.' However, when she released new music in 2004, she struggled to maintain momentum. Her 2013 comeback attempt also flopped, and she later admitted on her blog that it wasn’t a great return.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Stone Temple Pilots
- Stone Temple Pilots achieved great success in the '90s after the release of their debut album 'Core.' Their single 'Sour Girl' was particularly popular, as the music video featured Sarah Michelle Gellar of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' fame.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Stone Temple Pilots
- Unfortunately for the Stone Temple Pilots, their fifth album, 'Shangri-La Dee Da,' was a flop, and the band split a year after its release. Despite several comeback attempts over the years, they were never able to recapture the peak success of their earlier career.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Smashing Pumpkins
- Alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins made a lasting impact on modern music with albums 'Siamese Dream' and 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,' the latter achieving diamond status with over 10 million copies sold in the US alone.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Smashing Pumpkins
- In 2000, the band broke up. Seven years later, lead singer Billy Corgan reformed the group with only one other original member. The reformed band released 'Zeitgeist,' but it didn’t receive the reception they had hoped for, and the band never regained its previous level of success.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Led Zeppelin
- Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin is one of the most influential bands of all time, releasing music that established the beginnings of the heavy metal and hard rock genres.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham. The surviving members made a few reunion attempts before coming together to play 'Live Aid' in 1985. The performance was a disaster, with instrument and technical issues. A 1988 reunion also suffered from sound problems and a disagreement about the setlist.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
Kiss
- Kiss became one of America's most successful rock bands and a pop culture phenomenon during the second half of the 1970s. The band released their album 'Sonic Boom' in the fall of 2009, which was their first studio album in over a decade.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
Kiss
- Although 'Sonic Boom' achieved critical praise and initial success, the band sold less than 250,000 copies of the album by the end of the year.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
Vanilla Ice
- The American rapper shot to fame with his best-known hit 'Ice Ice Baby.' His success was short-lived; his follow-up album 'Mind Blowin'' received less than stellar reviews.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Vanilla Ice
- Vanilla Ice attempted to make a comeback with 'Hard to Swallow,' which combined elements of rap and metal, but the album received little commercial success.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Limp Bizkit
- Limp Bizkit's 'Significant Other' album earned them huge commercial success in 1999. However, the band struggled to maintain their high position, particularly after the release of their 'Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water' album.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Limp Bizkit
- After several musical efforts failed to impress and an eight-year hiatus, Limp Bizkit released two more albums that still couldn't help the band replicate their '90s success.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Guns N’ Roses
- Hard rock band Guns N’ Roses was one of the most influential groups of the 1980s and '90s. Hit 'Sweet Child O' Mine' broke the band into the mainstream when it went to Number 1 on the Billboard chart.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Guns N’ Roses
- Guns N' Roses hinted at a new album in 1994; however, it took more than 14 years and multiple line-ups for, 'Chinese Democracy' to be released. Critics were divided in their opinions, and the album's sales were underwhelming for the group.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Katy Perry
- Katy Perry achieved global success with her second album, 'One of the Boys,' which was her first on a major label. Her 2010 LP, 'Teenage Dream,' cemented her status as a superstar.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
Katy Perry
- Unfortunately, Katy Perry's superstardom waned with her 2020 LP 'Smile' and the mediocre reception of her 2024 album '143.' Many fans and critics have described her comeback as a "complete flop."
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
Black Sabbath
- Credited with creating heavy metal, the English band Black Sabbath marked a significant shift in the world of rock. Following Ozzy Osbourne's departure in 1979, the band has undergone multiple line-up changes, with guitarist Tony Iommi remaining the only consistent member.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Black Sabbath
- Black Sabbath's 'Born Again,' released in 1983, was intended as a comeback album for the band, featuring former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. The album received mixed reviews and had a disappointing commercial performance, making it a contentious addition to their discography.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Run-DMC
- Run-DMC pioneered new-school hip-hop music and played a crucial role in bringing the genre into the mainstream. The group achieved commercial success with hits like 'Walk This Way' and 'It's Tricky.'
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Run-DMC
- After a lengthy hiatus and a decline in mainstream visibility in the '90s, Run-DMC's 'Crown Royal' marked the group's return to the music scene. While it received mixed reviews, it didn't achieve the same level of commercial success as their earlier work.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Aerosmith
- Formed in 1970, Aerosmith is an American rock band famous for their hits 'Dream On' and 'Walk This Way.' After a period of mixed success in the '90s, Aerosmith released 'Just Push Play' in 2001.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
Aerosmith
- The release of 'Just Push Play' was intended to regain the band's momentum and re-establish their presence in the rock scene. However, the album received a lukewarm reception and was criticized for its polished, pop-oriented sound, which disappointed longtime fans and failed to capture the raw energy of their earlier work.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Fleetwood Mac
- British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac propelled to fame after the release of their hit song 'Rhiannon' from their album 'Fleetwood Mac.' The band experienced multiple comebacks throughout their career, but their return with the album 'Time' wasn't as commercially successful.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Fleetwood Mac
- Released on October 10, 1995, 'Time' was meant to signal the band's return to the music scene after several years of relative inactivity. With Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks no longer in the group, new members like Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason were meant to bring fresh energy and creativity, but the album struggled to resonate with fans and critics.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Mötley Crüe
- Mötley Crüe, formed in 1981, is a band known for its wild lifestyle and influential role in the glam metal scene. Some of their most famous hits include 'Girls, Girls, Girls' and 'Too Fast For Love.'
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Mötley Crüe
- After being replaced by John Corabi for their 1994 self-titled album, Generation Swine marked the return of Vince Neil, the band’s original lead vocalist. Fans expected a return to the classic Mötley Crüe sound, but the album's alternative and industrial rock influences alienated a large portion of their fanbase. It quickly fell from the charts, making it a commercial flop. Sources: (Watchmojo) (Far Out Magazine) See also: The greatest live albums of all time
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
The worst musical comebacks of all time
Not all comebacks go to plan
© <p>Getty Images</p>
For some artists and bands, a comeback can be an exciting opportunity to reignite their careers or take their sound in a new direction. But for others, it has the opposite effect. From disappointing albums to mediocre singles, some musicians' attempts to reclaim their former glory have resulted in more cringe than applause.
If you're curious to discover the biggest musical comeback flops of all time, click through this gallery now.
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