Obtaining aNo. 1 hit on theBillboardHot 100has long been seen as a symbol of ultimate success in the music industry,but how did some of our greatest legends never need that crown?While others chased radio play and fame, the following bands forged something rather rare. Their songs became part of us, their albums became sacred texts in our archives, and their legacies outlived the fleeting trends of respective eras.
By no stretch does chart success always align with true musical greatness, and it’s certainly not where such greatness is usually born.The icons that follow were conversely built on relentless performing, groundbreaking artistic vision, andsongs that simply refuse to die, even without No. 1 status.
10ZZ Top
This Texas trio, formed in 1969, became rock icons behind their iconic look and unique blend of blues, boogie, and Southern rock. With Billy Gibbons on guitar and vocals, Dusty Hill on bass, and Frank Beard on drums, the band was once known for dominating MTV and rock radio after their albumEliminatorcatapulted them to international superstardom, through tracks like “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin.’” Despite an undeniable popularity, unmistakable aesthetic, and distinctive rock sound,ZZ Top was never able to crack the top spot on theBillboardHot 100. The band’s highest-charting song was actually “Legs" which peaked at No. 8 in 1984. While they’ve had multiple hits on the mainstream rock charts, a No. 1 single wasn’t the kind of lovin' Billboard could give.
9Metallica
Founded in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich,Metallica built a massive following with albums likeRide the Lightning,Master of Puppets, and the eponymousBlack Album. “Enter Sandman” introduced their sound to a broader audience in 1991, as the band brought thrash metal to the mainstream, marking an unforgettable turning point in the history of heavy music. While the group certainly dominated rock and album charts, Metallica also never had a No. 1 single on theBillboardHot 100. Actually, their highest-charting track was “Until It Sleeps,” which peaked at No. 10 in 1996. Even “Enter Sandman,” easily one of their best-known hits, only reached No. 16 on the chart. Instead, the band’s strength lived within their unique albums, live performances, and an incredibly loyal fanbase.
8Green Day
Green Day exploded into the mainstream with their debut albumDookie, fronted by Billie Joe Armstrong, and brought punk rock to a new generation. The group was able to fuse politically-charged emotion with somewhat adolescent angst and pop-friendly melodies in a way we hadn’t seen before, while songs like “Basket Case,” “When I Come Around,” and “American Idiot” became all-time records. Even despite their massive influence and widely respected longevity, Green Day has never managed to produce aBillboardHot 100 No. 1 hit. It was 2005 that brought their closest push with the single “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” which peaked at No. 2 on the chart, and though this track reigned over the rock charts and earned a Grammy in the process, it was blocked from becoming the Hot 100’s leader.
7Journey
You can’t have a conversation about arena rock without invoking the names Steve Perry and Journey. This band created some of the most enduring anthems of the late 1970s and 1980s — and all of rock history for that matter — as tracks like “Any Way You Want It," “Separate Ways," and especially “Don’t Stop Believin’“remain mainstays in both pop culture and sports stadiums. But would it surprise you to learn Journey also somehow never reached No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100?
“Open Arms” was their best swing, peaking at No. 2 in 1982. Yes, even “Don’t Stop Believin’" only reached No. 9 during its original release. The music has still undeniably transcended any chase for No. 1, though,considering Journey’s signature hit holds the record as the best-selling digital track of the 20th century.
Their music has still undeniably transcended a chase for No. 1, considering Journey’s signature hit holds the record as the best-selling digital track of the 20th century.
6Nirvana
With the release ofNevermindin 1991, Nirvanagave us “Smells Like Teen Spirit” — one of the most influential songs of all time. However, Nirvana still never secured aBillboardHot 100 No. 1 hit, either. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” peaked at No. 6 in 1992, and while other singles like “Come As You Are” and “Heart-Shaped Box” are beloved to this day, they too fell short of top status.Nirvana’s brief yet unparalleled career shaped a portion of music history, not only defining grunge but redefining the entire landscape of rock in the same stroke. It would be vastly counterintuitive to measure this band solely by chart position anyway, as Cobain’s legacy, both as a songwriter and a cultural phenomenon, still resonates with the masses more than 30 years later.
5Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd was the epitome of Southern rock, rising to fame in the 1970s. Known for an infectious triple-guitar attack and rebellious attitude, the band produced legendary anthems like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird" that generated epic and timeless live performances. Despite that inarguable cultural significance, Lynyrd Skynyrd is still yet another surprise to have never hit No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100. “Sweet Home Alabama” peaked at No. 8 in 1974, just a few years before the tragic 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of several members, including frontman Ronnie Van Zant. Nonetheless, the group remains a staple of classic rock radio.
4Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mixing funk, punk, hip-hop, and alternative rock in a manner previously unknown, theRed Hot Chili Peppers started paving a new lane in the 1980s. The band hit their commercial peak withBlood Sugar Sex Magikin 1991 behind Anthony Kiedis’s unparalleled vocals, bassist Flea’s hyperactive tendencies, and John Frusciante’s introspective guitar work. “Under the Bridge,” by far their most successful single, peaked at No. 2 on theBillboardHot 100 in 1992, and while they’ve enjoyed massive success on rock charts with tracks such as “Scar Tissue" and “Californication," among many others, none ever reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Even without a chart-topping hit, theRed Hot Chili Peppers also managed to win multiple Grammysand solidify a well-deserved spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their influence on alternative and funk rock can’t be overstated, and their relevance across decades says much more than any chart position could.
3AC/DC
AC/DC brought raw and electrifying rock to a different level with a no-nonsense approach and catalog of thunderous riffs that overtook the masses. Formed in Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, the band became aglobal force with albums likeHigh Voltage,Highway to Hell, and, of course,Back in Black— one of the best-selling albums of all time. Even so, none of AC/DC’s singles reached No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100. “Money Talks" peaked at No. 23 in 1990, while monstrous hits like “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Back in Black” couldn’t crack the top 20, let alone the top spot. Regardless of such modest singles performance, AC/DC’s global influence is immense, weighing much more amplifiers than coveted chart toppers.
Regardless of such modest singles performance, AC/DC’s global influence is immense, weighing much more amplifiers than coveted chart toppers.
2Creedence Clearwater Revival
Between “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary,” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” churning out hit after hit in the late 1960s and early 1970s,Creedence Clearwater Revival should be considered one of the more perplexing omissions to the No. 1 club. Chart dominance did not elude them, though — only the mountaintop did. CCR somehow had five singles plateau at No. 2, including “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Travelin' Band” and “Green River," making them the band with the most No. 2s without a No. 1. That’s not necessarily an ideal accolade, but their prolific output still made them one of the most important rock bands of that time. Even without a No. 1, CCR will always have a place in the national soundtrack that tells the tale of music history.
1Led Zeppelin
It’s difficult to argue that anyone definitivelylooms as large as Led Zeppelin in rock. This British juggernaught showcased a generational creative genius through some of the most iconic and influential music ever recorded, changing the landscape of rock in the 1970s far ahead of the time. It doesn’t make sense with the popularity of tracks like “Stairway to Heaven," “Kashmir," and “Whole Lotta Love," but Led Zeppelin too never had a No. 1 single in the United States.
Led Zeppelin’s highest-charting hit was “Whole Lotta Love,”which reached No. 4 in 1970, though it’s worth remembering that the focus was always on a complete project during this album-oriented rock era, as opposed to spotlighted singles.Led Zeppelin mastered that game, reshaped that game, and proved, just like the other groups on this list, that a No. 1 single isn’t necessary to achieve musical immortality.
