Marilyn Manson, born Brian Hugh Warner, is an Ohio-born singer/songwriter, producer, actor, and visual artist. Famous for his controversial look and personality, Manson is the frontman for his self-titled band, which he formed with Daisy Berkowitz in 1989.
His 1990’s albums, ‘Portrait of an American Family,’ ‘Antichrist Superstar,’ and ‘Mechanical Animals,’ earned him a worldwide reputation as an icon of industrial and hard rock and alternative metal. Three of his albums have been certified platinum, and another three gold, and the band has been nominated for four Grammys. Fun fact: Marilyn Manson’s stage name came from a combination of two of America’s most famous cultural icons: Charles Manson and Marilyn Monroe.
Recommended Listening: Manson’s cover of “Tainted Love” is pretty amazing. “Disposable Teens,” “Rock is Dead,” and “Tourniquet” are some of our favorites.
Fall Out Boy
Formed in 2001 in Chicago's hardcore punk scene, Fall Out Boy is an alternative rock and pop punk band consisting of Patrick Stump, Pete Wents, Joe Trohman, and Andy Hurley. Their debut album, 'Take This to Your Grave,' earned the band a devoted fanbase and nationwide critical acclaim.
Their second album, 'From Under the Cork Tree,' was certified double platinum, making Fall Out Boy an international phenomenon. The band has been nominated for two Grammys and has co-headlined with bands like Weezer and Green Day.
Recommended Listening: Try "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" and "Thnks fr th Mmrs" if you're in the mood for a song or two. If you're feeling more adventurous, go ahead and listen to the entire 'Mania' album.
OneRepublic
American pop-rock band OneRepublic was formed in 2002, in Colorado, by Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brent Kutzle, Brian Willett, and Eddie Fisher. After playing live throughout Los Angeles, the band signed a record deal and debuted their first album, 'Dreaming Out Loud,' which was certified platinum. Its single, "Apologize," was a huge worldwide success.
Their following albums, 'Waking Up' and 'Native,' topped international charts. And their fourth studio album, 'Oh My My,' features legendary music collaborators, such as Peter Gabriel, Santigold, and Cassius.
Recommended Listening: "Counting Stars," "Secrets," "Good Life," and "If I Lose Myself" should definitely be on your playlist. And the band's album, 'Oh My My,' is a must-have.
The Killers
American rock band, The Killers have seen worldwide fame since their formation in 2001. The band was founded by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning in Las Vegas, and the line-up got bigger as bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined a year later.
The Killers have released five studio albums that topped charts in several countries, including 'Hot Fuss,' 'Sam's Town,' 'Day & Age,' 'Battle Born,' and 'Wonderful Wonderful.' They are considered one of the best rock bands of modern times, performing in more than 50 different countries and having live shows in historic venues like Wembley Stadium and Madison Square Garden. Fun fact: the name for the band came from a logo on a bass drum of a fake band that appears in New Order's "Crystal" song video.
Recommended Listening: "Mr. Brightside" and, "Somebody Told Me" are two of their most famous songs, and for good reason. If you want to keep listening, try their 'Hot Fuss' album. You won't be disappointed.
Paramore
American rock band Paramore was founded in 2004 in Tennessee. As of today, the band is made up of vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. Their first album, 'All We Know is Falling', topped charts both in the US and UK.
Their second album, 'Riot!', was a huge success and was certified platinum in the U.S., and their 2009 album 'Brand New Eyes' was an even bigger success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200. Then, in 2013, they released their self-titled album and went up to number one on the US and UK charts and in several other countries. Paramore won a Grammy for their song "Ain't It Fun" in 2013.
Recommended Listening: "Crushcrushcrush," "That's What You Get," "Misery Business," and "The Only Exception." Their album 'Paramore' should be listened to from front to back.