The most bananas stories and insane 100% true tales about the lives and behind-the-music antics of your favorite rock stars and legendary bands.

Freakin' Rock Stars

Breakups

Every beginning comes from another experience's ending, but that doesn't make breakups any easier or less messy. And although all splits are tough, there's something about a band breakup that leaves its fans as heartbroken, angry, and nostalgic as the members who experienced the abrupt departure firsthand.&nbsp;This list features the messiest band breakups in history, proving that highly public, complicated splits cross all decades and genres. Some rock 'n' roll bands took their intentional <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bands-who-hate-each-other/jacob-shelton">hateful personalities</a> a little too far. In other cases, the hard-partying lifestyle and inter-band romances were to blame. And despite some band members' outwardly harmonious “best buds” reputation, the truth later came out.As some called it quits for good, others desperately tried to save what was left of their careers by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/band-member-changes/lauren-glen">replacing band members</a>, with mixed results.&nbsp;

The Messiest Band Breakups In History

Band/Musician

The Most Dramatic Band Splits In Music History

Lauren Glen

Music History

There is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://brightstarmusical.com/the-number-of-musical-groups-in-the-united-states-is-on-the-rise/">no definitive answer</a> to how many bands there are currently in the US, but it's estimated there are more than 2,000, with tens of thousands officially and unofficially formed globally. There are also hundreds of thousands of musicians worldwide. Given those numbers, you may not be well acquainted with most of them, but chances are you've heard the names of the bands on this list.&nbsp;As to how those bands got their famous names? That's not always apparent. Some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/musician-urban-legends/pierce-nahigyan">musicians have &nbsp;become legendary</a> for how <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/gruesome-band-histories/daniel-kohn">strange their stories are</a>, whereas some band names are chosen randomly, assigned to them by their label, or even derived from disparaging comments.Read on to learn how these bands became attached to their names.

How Famous Musicians Chose Their Band Names

Jason F. Collins

Lists that rank some of cinema's most delightful productions: musicals.

Music on the Big Screen

Entertainment

Several famous rock stars have led lives so intriguing and/or troubling that they've inspired enviable acting roles.&nbsp;From Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison to Elvis, Elvis, and more Elvis, actors have brought the stories behind the music to life in iconic films. Several actors who have played rock stars have even been nominated for Academy Awards.Which actors have played <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/musicians-turned-actors/ranker-music?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">rock stars in movies</a>? In 2018, Rami Malek <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bohemian-rhapsody-actors-vs-real-life/samantha-dillinger" target="_blank">helped</a> Bohemian Rhapsody dominate at the box office thanks to his portrayal of Queen vocalist&nbsp;Freddie Mercury. The following year, Rocketman actor Taron Egerton donned his giant sunglasses to portray Elton John in the 2019 film.Val Kilmer not only portrayed&nbsp;the Doors singer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/jim-morrison-personal-life-stories/katia-kleyman" target="_blank">Jim Morrison</a> in Oliver Stone's 1991 film The Doors, but he&nbsp;later played Elvis Presley (AKA &quot;The Mentor&quot;) in True Romance. But he is not the only one who played Elvis. That role has also been portrayed by Kurt Russell and Jack White. Other actors who played rock stars include Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett, Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious, and Andr&eacute;&nbsp;3000 as Jimi Hendrix.Which actor do you think made the best rock star? Give your favorite actors who played musicians&nbsp;a vote up to show you're ready for an encore.

Will Rami Malek's Portrayal Of Freddie Mercury Go Down In History?

The Best Actors Who Played Rock Stars On Film

Actor

Actors Who Played Real Rock Stars In Movies, Ranked

Celebrity Lists

Vote on these lists of outstanding female vocalists, musicians, songwriters, and performers in every genre.

Who Run the World?

Female Singers

When it comes to the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-singer-of-the-year?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best female musicians</a> of all time, there&#39;s a long list of female powerhouses that could be considered the greatest of all time. Whether it be a female-led band like Blondie or a group of female singers like the Supremes, music has seen some incredible&nbsp;females throughout its history. Of course, you also have to consider all the single ladies out there. You know, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-voice-ever" target="_blank">top female vocalists</a> like Etta James, Mariah Carey, Adele&nbsp;and&nbsp;P!nk, who made careers of their very own (among a great deal of others).

So, while you may have a favorite female singer of all-women band, it&#39;s time to rank the top female musicians of all time. That means any genre, any type of group, and any type of woman. From the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/girl-group-bands-and-artists/reference" target="_blank">girl groups</a> of the 60s and 70s to the top&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-singer-of-the-year" target="_blank">female singers out right now</a>, you certainly have your work cut out for you. Some of the greatest musical acts of all time have been led by females and some have been exclusively female. In fact, some even led bands&nbsp;and&nbsp;had successful solo careers&mdash;and both can be found on this list. That means if you like Gwen Stefani&#39;s music more than No Doubt, vote accordingly!&nbsp;

Check out the extensive list of female musicians below and vote up your favorites, or those who you think are the absolute best. In short, who made the best music?&nbsp;

The Best Female Musicians of All Time

The 100+ Greatest Female Musicians of All Time, Ranked by Music Fans

Ranker Music

For music nerds, it can be tough to find good TV shows about music. Most recommendations are for <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-singing-competition-shows/ranker-tv" target="_blank">singing competitions</a> or biographies about one specific band or artist. As fun as those kinds of shows can be, they can also wear thin when what you&rsquo;re looking for is a peek into the process of how music is made &ndash; or how a genre took the world by storm. This list of the best shows about music focuses on documentaries about genres and the songwriting process, with episodes and arcs that follow different artists.

Ranked from best to worst by your votes, and the votes of other music nerds, most of these TV shows about music are documentaries, like Jazz, K-Pop Evolution, and Hip Hop Uncovered. There are also some exceptions &ndash; Song Exploder is technically a documentary but, just like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-based-on-podcasts/ranker-tv" target="_blank">the podcast it&rsquo;s based on</a>, it feels more like an interview show as an artist walks us through how a song was made. The single competitive show, Songland, was created by Dave Stewart, formerly of the Eurythmics, specifically to show the process of songwriting. It&rsquo;s just a bonus that viewers can enjoy a little light competition as well.

Vote up your favorite TV shows about music and see where the music shows you love rank. Then, check out some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/underrated-music-documentaries-2010s/mike-mcgranaghan" target="_blank">most underrated music documentaries of the 2010s</a>.

The Best Music TV Shows That Aren't Just Another Singing Competition

TV Program

The Best TV Shows About Music, Ranked By Music Nerds

Ranker TV

Lists about Taylor Swift: cat-lover, Grammy-winner, dirty-laundry-airess, and very tall, occasionally controversial pop superstar. 

Swifties, Assemble!

Fun facts, fascinating trivia, and wild stories about some of your favorite ladies behind the microphone.

Let's Hear It for the Girls

It would be difficult to find a celebrity whose personal life has been in the tabloids more than Taylor Swift's. Her smash hit album 1989 cemented her transition from country singer to unstoppable pop goddess, which means everyone's eyes are on the young celeb who's got a talent for dissing ex-boyfriends. We all know about her star-studded romantic past, but these Taylor Swift stories and facts say way more about who Taylor really is. Consider this list your own personal Swift wiki. She has been involved in too many unforgettable pop culture moments to count (&quot;I'ma let you finish&quot; is burned into all of our brains forever) and her fiery love songs are ammunition against breakups from hell. Still, who is Taylor Swift? These facts about her childhood, personal life, and rise to fame will only make you want to be her best friend even more. Check out this biography and vote up Taylor Swift facts and trivia that you never knew!

Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Taylor Swift

General

Taylor Swift Bio: Stories & Fun Facts About Taylor Swift

Katie Mach

Are you the Rap Expert on your Zoom Trivia Team? Here's everything you need to know about the big names in hip-hop, young & new school rappers, and where are they now? acts you almost forgot about.

Get to Know Those Rap Guys

Since 2013 Macklemore has been everywhere. You know you had &quot;Thrift Shop&quot; stuck in your head for weeks at a time. Then &quot;Same Love&quot; dropped and people really began to take notice. This was a guy who, with his producer/partner in crime Ryan Lewis, was #1 on the billboard charts as well as all over YouTube and Facebook. And rumor had it they did it all independently? How was that even possible? These guys were everywhere and they were changing hip hop and pop culture.But who is Macklemore? What's his history? What's his life like when he's not on stage? Are the stories about his causes and battle for LGBT rights true? How long has he been rapping? Where does the name Macklemore even come from?We've poured through all sorts of quotes, anecdotes, trivia, and more on the rapper to bring you 22 facts you may not know about Macklemore's biography! Vote up your favorites below!

22 Interesting Facts You May Not Know About Macklemore

22 Things You Didn't Know About Macklemore

Coy Jandreau

Lists of the craziest, most memorable things that ever happened on stage during music concerts and performances.

Live Music or Bust

Riots, rants, and technical failures - live music comes with plenty of risks. Performances can make or break a musician&#39;s career. For every legendary performance that launched a musician&#39;s career, there are truly disastrous performances that doomed a musician forever.

We&#39;re not talking one-offs - this is about those genuinely bad performances that tanked someone&#39;s career. Whether it&#39;s because of bad lip-syncing, a wardrobe malfunction, or personal meltdown, some terrible performances&nbsp;have majorly disserviced&nbsp;an&nbsp;artist&#39;s&nbsp;career.&nbsp;

Let&#39;s take a look at&nbsp;the most unbelievably bad performances that just about ended it all for the people on stage.&nbsp;

The Most Career-Ruining Performances Of All Time

The 12 Most Career-Ruining Musician Performances Of All Time

Sean Kelly

Whoa Facts

Tool seemingly exploded out of nowhere in the early &#39;90s with their debut album, Undertow. Unlike other bands, the members of Tool were relatively unknown and seemingly mysterious.

But Tool&#39;s&nbsp;four original members (vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Paul D&#39;Amour) were relatively&nbsp;known to other musicians in LA&#39;s growing alternative music scene. Carey and D&#39;Amour played with LA band Green Jell&ouml;, and Keenan was longtime friends with&nbsp;Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello.

With their EP Opiate and debut album Undertow, Tool&nbsp;suddenly gained popularity alongside bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, and Soundgarden. Despite their best-selling albums, they&#39;ve managed to remain highly enigmatic with few&nbsp;media appearances and long gaps between albums. In fact, since Tool&#39;s formation in the &#39;90s, they&#39;ve only released <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-tool-albums-list/reference" target="_blank">a handful of albums</a>: four studio albums, one live album, and one EP.

With <a href="https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/06/maynard-james-keenan-promises-tool-will-release-new-music-next-year/" target="_blank">rumors swirling</a> about a new album - their first since&nbsp;10,000 Days in 2006 - now is a good time to learn some of the weirdest facts about Tool.

Here's Everything You Never Knew About Alt-Metal Band Tool

Inigo Gonzalez

After the metal and synth-pop dominance of the 1980s, the world&nbsp;was overdue for a new generation of artists that would change the trajectory of music forever. Leather jackets, hair spray, and tight pants were becoming passe in exchange for flannel, baggy jeans, and Converse. A strong argument can be made that 1991 was one of the most important years in music - with bands such as <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-true-nirvana-stories/erin-mccann" target="_blank">Nirvana</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs/voteable" target="_blank">Red Hot Chili Peppers</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pearl-jam-jeremy-music-video-controversy/idoia-gorosabel-gkikas" target="_blank">Pearl Jam</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-soundgarden-albums-list/ranker-music" target="_blank">Soundgarden</a>, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-smashing-pumpkins-songs/voteable" target="_blank">Smashing Pumpkins</a>, and My Bloody Valentine (just to name a few) putting out game-changing records.

The most notable scene that formed in the early &#39;90s was the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-90s-grunge-stars/julian-hoffman" target="_blank">Seattle grunge scene</a>, which saw many bands break through with their gloomy, apathetic music. Grunge had become synonymous with &quot;1990s music,&quot; but it wasn&#39;t just Seattle that was changing music forever. Even bands like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ranking-of-best-metallica-songs/music-lover" target="_blank">Metallica</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-u2-songs-of-all-time/voteable" target="_blank">U2</a> were changing direction, adapting to a new decade that offered less neon, more black. Everything was starting to form under the blanket of &quot;alternative rock,&quot; which would stay popularized until the 2010s.&nbsp;

Here are some&nbsp;albums of extreme significance that made music history back in 1991. Vote up the ones that still matter to you.

1991 Might Have Been The Most Game-Changing Year In Rock 'N' Roll

Musical Album

1991 Might Have Been The Most Game-Changing Year In Rock And Roll

Julian Hoffman

Maybe you know alt-pop singer Lorde from her smash hit &quot;Royals.&quot; Or maybe you're such a hardcore fan that you have lyrics from &quot;The Louvre&quot; tattooed on your body, and you consider Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor&nbsp;your BFF. Either way, you know there are tons of interesting&nbsp;facts about Lorde that make her more than just another <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-female-singer-of-the-year" target="_blank">female singer</a>.Lorde's the definition of an unconventional star. No Lorde biography is complete without a mention of her kooky, super-smart family and her upbringing in New Zealand. She ascended to pop stardom as a teen, and she doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Lorde keeps focused thanks to the support of famous friends, like Taylor Swift - Lorde memorably got <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/1989-taylor-swift-tour-guests/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">onstage during the 1989 tour</a>. But even though Lorde&nbsp;is part of Swift's &quot;girl squad,&quot; she isn't crazy about the label. Other cool&nbsp;stories about Lorde range from how she got her stage name to her obsession with a particular fried food.Snap on those headphones, turn up the volume,&nbsp;and settle in. The things you didn't know about Lorde&nbsp;will make you love her even more.

Here's Why Lorde Is Even Cooler Than You Already Thought She Is

13 Fascinating Facts About Hyper-Cool Pop Star Lorde

Carly Silver

If you've watched any K-pop videos, you probably thought the bright and shiny Korean pop star lifestyle portrayed a perfect world of bubblegum, rainbows, beauty, and whimsy. Unfortunately, the candy-colored sheen coats a sinister underbelly with ugly truths about K-pop. From a young age, these bright and peppy performers essentially enter an uncaring, exploitative entertainment harem in the K-pop industry.Any faction of the&nbsp;entertainment world is bound to have its secrets; sometimes these are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-infamous-open-secrets-in-hollywood/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">dark&nbsp;yet open secrets</a> overlooked because&nbsp;of convenience or greed.&nbsp;However, what's going on in the K-pop industry isn't hidden: Children who grew up in the industry as manufactured pop products have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/former-child-actors-talking-about-child-abuse-in-hollywood/rydavis" target="_blank">exposed the mental and physical abuse</a> they suffered through their careers.From what K-pop trainees endure at the start of their &quot;boot camps&quot; to the suicide attempts, racism, and&nbsp;sexual and physical assaults, the truth about K-pop stars and their industry is anything but glamorous.

The Dark Side Of The K-Pop Industry And Idol Groups

CrystalBrackett

So you think you know everything about music? Study up to make sure you pull through for your team on Trivia Night.

Music Trivia You Should Know

Modern pop music can feel more like a science lab with teams of musicians and producers fine-tuning and rerecording new tracks to create the perfect final product. That process can produce hits, but there&#39;s also a history of songs recorded in one take that includes some widely known (and widely panned) hits. Some songs just seemed destined for greatness, and no amount of rerecording or hair-splitting could get in the way of it. These songs got fired from the creative chamber ready to hit number one.

15 Classic Songs That Were Recorded In One Take

Jude Newsome

Out of all the &quot;Lils&quot; (Bow Wow, Boosie, Bub, Mama, Kim, Jon, Romeo, etc.), Lil Wayne is arguably the best. Lil Wayne is an enigma. He's a rapper unlike any other. He's a mixtape master, and drops albums that defy standard analysis. He's done more guest spots than most rappers would ever dream of, and is worth more money than you'd ever imagine. He was the flagship artist of Cash Money Records, and is the CEO of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/young-money-entertainment-complete-artist-roster/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Young Money Entertainment</a>.&nbsp;But who is Lil Wayne? What's his day to day life like? Who are his influences? What causes does he believe in? What was his (insane) childhood like? When did he start rapping and how? What were those gun charges a few years ago? What's with all of those death/health rumors? Is Sizzurp really that good?We've put together a list of the coolest facts about Lil Wayne, including trivia, fun facts, and your hottest burning questions. Check out these awesome Lil Wayne facts below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.&nbsp;

20 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Lil Wayne

Who Is Lil Wayne? Fun Facts & Stories About Lil Wayne

Lauren Slocum

The rock and roll music genre has a vibrant history, with deep roots in the American experience. But what is the origin of rock music?

The genre is still going strong in the 21st century, yet many interesting rock and roll facts have been forgotten. As the music industry has developed, the definition of rock music has evolved, with many different rock categories arising. What rock is perceived as now is different from how rock used to be perceived in the 1950s.

Check out these little-known&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/woah-rock-history-facts/mviladegutt" target="_blank">facts about rock and roll history</a>, and vote up the ones you never knew before.

Facts About The History Of Rock And Roll That Most People Don't Know

Facts About Rock And Roll History Most People Don't Know

Are you the "music guy" on your virtual trivia team? Read up for some fun facts and little-known info that will score you maj points.

Name That Song

If these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-most-horrifying-_classic_-christmas-songs-of-all-time/nicolebreanne">horrifyingly creepy songs</a> about young girls were written today, they might not get radio play. Sociological standards have changed a lot since the days of Neil Diamond and The Doors, though. Elvis Presley&nbsp;fell in love with Priscilla&nbsp;Beaulieu when she was just 14-years-old, for example. Sure, it was definitely controversial back in the day&nbsp;but courting a minor didn't&nbsp;ruin&nbsp;his career.Some of these&nbsp;rock songs are more stomach-churning than others, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/fun-songs-with-secret-dark-meanings/jessica-defino">some are just plain surprising</a>. The Beatles were in their early 20s when they wrote “I Saw Her Standing There.” That song is&nbsp;about being in love with a 17-year-old girl. And Gene Simmons was almost 30 when he sang &quot;Christine Sixteen.&quot; Despite the controversy surrounding a much older man obsessing about a much younger school girl (16-years-old), the song hit number&nbsp;25 on the Billboard Hot 100, even though many radio stations refused to play the track.Keep reading to see which voyeuristic songs were somehow socially acceptable. Vote below for the most disturbing songs about little girls that you've been singing along to (without realizing their creepy lyrics and context).&nbsp;

Creepy Rock Songs About Young Girls You've Been Singing Along To Without Realizing

Song

Old Creepy Songs About Young Girls, Ranked

Ann Casano

Music History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories