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December 1, 2006

The 50 Worst Artists In Music History

You can always count on Blender for some weekend fun! This time, we've got a blast from the past Shit List: the Sept. 2003 issue's countdown of the shittiest artists in history. We've got a few issues with it (Japan? Blind Melon? THE DOORS?), but things gel around the Top 4 or so. Head there for the justifications, read on for the list. Any acts who've emerged in the last three years (*cough* K-Fed) you would add? Maybe at #38?

50. Iron Butterfly
49. Toad The Wet Sprocket
48. Master P
47. Goo Goo Dolls
46. The Spin Doctors
45. Gipsy Kings
44. Manowar
43. Mike & The Mechanics
42. Rick Wakeman
41. Whitesnake
40. Blind Melon
39. Bob Geldof
38. [No #38 Listed!]
37. The Doors
36. 98 Degrees
35. Paul Oakenfold
34. Live
33. Japan
32. The Hooters
31. Arrested Development
30. Richard Marx
29. Skinny Puppy
28. Crash Test Dummies
27. Color Me Badd
26. Céline Dion
25. Jamiroquai
24. Bad English
23. Creed
22. Primus
21. The Alan Parsons Project
20. Howard Jones
19. Dan Fogelberg
18. Pat Boone
17. Benzino
16. Oingo Boingo
15. Yanni
14. Yngwie Malmsteen
13. Mick Jagger
12. Tin Machine
11. Latyoa Jackson

10. Air Supply
09. Lee Greenwood
08. Vanilla Ice
07. Asia
06. Kansas
05. Starship
04. Kenny G
03. Michael Bolton
02. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
01. Insane Clown Posse
Air Supply may be a tough pill, but that's what makes Hair Supply all the more awesome. Also, someone should probably explain that whole "Primus sucks!" thing to them.

Posted at 9:24 PM in




198 Comments

#37 the doors. nice.

Posted by: Alec at 12/01/06 9:35 PM | Reply
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Primus shittier than Creed??!

Posted by: Andrew at 12/01/06 9:38 PM | Reply
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No MC Hammer?

Posted by: The zimzi at 12/01/06 9:38 PM | Reply
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Japan? No way, how about Duran Duran who ripped Japan off big time?

Posted by: H3C70R at 12/01/06 9:48 PM | Reply
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Wait... are you really recommending the new Gwen Stefani album? Wow. :-p

Posted by: Jason Robots at 12/01/06 9:53 PM | Reply
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What no Cranberries? Pablo Cruise? Wesley Willis (though he's okay for about three songs--rock over london, rock over chicago-and not that I would've ever told him in person, RIP). And no Right Said Fred? Jackyl? Rednex?!

And ughh, just wait till they hear Jesus Jones..

Posted by: Curtice at 12/01/06 9:58 PM | Reply
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i think they were just trying to be funny....

seriously. oingo boingo is a badass band and brought about the musical genius of danny elfman. hello, people!

rick wakeman? the keys player for yes? the guy who made a synth rock opera based on the life of henry VIII? yeah, that one - with the huge ass pipe organ mixed with bass synth stabs? freakin insane genius.

and speaking of insane genius, alan parsons is on this list, why?

Posted by: jon at 12/01/06 10:00 PM | Reply
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A world in where this list does not have creed as #1 is not a world in which i wish to live.

Posted by: mattshu at 12/01/06 10:02 PM | Reply
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no kidding mattshu. back home a dj once banned creed from playing during his time on the radio. it was great.

Posted by: himay at 12/01/06 10:07 PM | Reply
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I'm not seeing any Hootie and the Blowfish. I'm not sure I can go with that.

Maybe they wee #38, but that seems a little low.

Posted by: ebear at 12/01/06 10:11 PM | Reply
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Well, the 3 minute version of In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida is actually pretty good, but it's probably the 15+ minute version of it that puts Iron Butterfly on the list.
Some of the others on the list are so obvious, it's almost pointless.

Posted by: Blu at 12/01/06 10:13 PM | Reply
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Decent list. But a few issues: Celine Dion is only 26? She should be top (or bottom, depending on which way you look at it) 10. And where's Barbara Streisand? And The Doors? Do they mean 3 Doors Down? The biggest problem is Limp Bizkit's absence from the lst. They should be top 15 at worst, probably top 8.

Posted by: raoul duke at 12/01/06 10:17 PM | Reply
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Limp Bizkit for sure. Not that he needs any kind of publicity (positive or negative), but K-Fed now has the lowest ranked album ever on Metacritic. Any of that Staind/Nickelback/post-post-grunge garbage.

Posted by: bleedthecolours at 12/01/06 10:23 PM | Reply
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Awww come on. Jim Morrison is somewhat on the pretentious side, but the Doors are not that bad!

Posted by: Pablo at 12/01/06 10:27 PM | Reply
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Toad the Wet Sprocket? Okay, so they didn't reinvent the wheel, but goddamn, how many worse bands are there than them? Matchbox 20 for instance? Third Eye Blind? Limp Bizkit as listed above?
And they need their asses handed to them for putting Primus and Oingo Boingo on the list.

Posted by: Stephen at 12/01/06 10:29 PM | Reply
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BARENAKED LADIES!

Worst fucking music ever.

Posted by: tblade at 12/01/06 10:39 PM | Reply
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The Doors? WTF?? I have always been a firm believer in Limp Bizkit being the all time worst band in the whole fucking world!!

Posted by: Jake at 12/01/06 10:40 PM | Reply
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FYI, look what you get when you google worst band in the world...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=worst+band+in+the+world&btnG=Google+Search

Posted by: scott at 12/01/06 10:40 PM | Reply
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I pha-reeking love how Amazon.co.uk automatically links "The Worst Band In The World Today" with a list of the Black-Eyed Peas discography.

Made me so glad after this list slammed some of my proggy friends.
DwD

Posted by: Dw. Dunphy at 12/01/06 10:49 PM | Reply
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Oh wow. I didn't know about that "worst band in the world" google search. That made my day.

Posted by: dustin at 12/01/06 11:17 PM | Reply
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Creed should be #1, and Scott Stapp should be #2. And then Puddle Of Mudd should be #3.

(I have a shameful past. I come to this site for purification.)

Posted by: Lamppost at 12/01/06 11:23 PM | Reply
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no crazytown?

Posted by: Alec at 12/01/06 11:29 PM | Reply
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.... i wonder if these guys realize that putting THE DOORS on the list, is putting them as 'worse' than Los Del Rio....? yeah. the macarena. .. .. ..

Posted by: rygun at 12/01/06 11:30 PM | Reply
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#40 the white stripes
Meg is like, the hottest drummer evehar! but so what. two people are not a band i guess?

#39 black eyed peas. go see them live, i freaking dare you!

#38 pixies. the singer was a fat pasty sweaty white dude. just like the fat pasty dudes who liked that shit. craaaaappp!

#7 culture club. the sonic equivalent of finding your dad in drag. yee-uuuk.

#3 kiss.

#2 guns n roses. the soundtrack for the guy who pumps my gas.

#1 helmet. never got it. never will.

the rest of the list is spot on.

MC hammer was good until he started dancing for chicken and doing that whole "Addams family" thing

Posted by: moi at 12/01/06 11:34 PM | Reply
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but what about Snow???

Posted by: andy at 12/01/06 11:35 PM | Reply
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My God... putting Blind Melon on that list completely blows my mind. R.I.P. Shannon Hoon... you're missed.

Posted by: JayFlyer at 12/01/06 11:40 PM | Reply
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I will concede that Paul Oakenfold's solo albums are weak to say the least. But give the man some credit for his DJ sets.

Posted by: yossarian at 12/02/06 12:08 AM | Reply
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i think i could make the same list and name 49 [not ICP] acts worse than those....

....


.. nickelback..

hinder.

..eddie murphy..


panic! at the disco....

chris gaines..

............lose del rio..

yoko ono... Fall Out Boy...

...my chemical romance...

John Tesch... (good god)

H.I.M. .... LIMP BIZKIT

linkin park..

.......the killers...

david hasselhoff.... milli vanilli..

rod stewart... kenny chesney..

THE DARKNESS...


.....

Posted by: rygun at 12/02/06 12:13 AM | Reply
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Maybe 38 was saved for someone SPECIAL.

OK, sorry. That was bad.

And for the record, I fully approve of ICP as #1.

Posted by: Josh at 12/02/06 12:14 AM | Reply
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wtf? let me address moi first. your list is almost ok, but you really blew it with the pixies. the pixies are awesome. i think most people who aren't retarded would agree with me on that one. say what you will about the white stripes, but jack white is a phenomenal guitar player. guns 'n' roses had one good lp, so their inclusion is ridiculous when there are so many other bands more deserving.

who? nickleback, puddle of mudd, staind, blink 182 (and all of their side projects), switchfoot, the killers, the bravery, oasis, pete doherty, john mayer, jack johnson, dave matthews, bob schneider, the all-american rejects, damien rice, panic! at the disco, the arctic monkeys, hootie & the blowfish, barenaked ladies, blues traveler, spin doctors, phish, james blunt, third day, matchbox 20, creed, limp biscuit, slipknot, maroon 5, lifehouse, train . . . yes, i had to look some of these up . . . bon jovi, poison, warrant, winger, slaughter, gin blossoms, edie brickell & new bohemians, kid rock, good charlotte, saves the day, alien ant farm, bowling for soup, deep blue something, third eye blind, sugar ray . . . my head hurts.

the worst thing about all these bands is that they are clogging the collective consciousness and preventing 100's of good bands from ever being heard. bands that you will never hear because you are either too stupid or lazy to dig deep and seek them out. idiots.

Posted by: dave at 12/02/06 12:24 AM | Reply
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Any "worst of list" that includes the doors sucks.

Posted by: Andy at 12/02/06 12:31 AM | Reply
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People should be able to like whatever music they want without some self-important dunderhead bawling about it.

Posted by: jamie c. at 12/02/06 12:35 AM | Reply
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ICP used to store their tour bus in the parking lot of the Denny's by my house growing up. Used to get drunk and pee on it, then eat a couple $1.99 grand slams. I want to be remembered for this.

Posted by: dan at 12/02/06 12:40 AM | Reply
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blind melon, pffft i like blender, but blind melon was one the greatest rock bands ever.

Posted by: danni_bauer at 12/02/06 12:42 AM | Reply
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I like how there's debate on so many of these bands, but none whatsoever on ICP. Goddamn they suck.

Posted by: Lamppost at 12/02/06 12:51 AM | Reply
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emerson lake and palmer!

come on!

Posted by: alysa at 12/02/06 12:56 AM | Reply
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer?! C'mon! Seriously?
Apparently whoever compiled this list doesn't understand "intelligent" rock.

Posted by: DJE at 12/02/06 12:57 AM | Reply
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i can agree with most of these...but Oingo Boingo wasnt really that bad

Posted by: Brian J at 12/02/06 1:01 AM | Reply
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tin machine was not a bad band. I can't imagine disliking them more than any rap metal band.

Posted by: mathamatic at 12/02/06 1:14 AM | Reply
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Dave Matthews Band should definitely be on that list. And Stereogum suggesting their greatest hits cd last week? WTF?

Posted by: Joey at 12/02/06 1:18 AM | Reply
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Puddle of Mudd needs to be No. 1: I mean, when you liston to the lyrics, you can hear the very moment in 8th grade when they all dropped out.

Posted by: John at 12/02/06 1:30 AM | Reply
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Counting Crows and Our Lady Peace. Both just shameful.

Posted by: Velokeeper at 12/02/06 1:32 AM | Reply
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bands that have no business being on that list:
1. Blind Melon - one of the greatest rock bands in the last 25 years.
2. Primus (amazing musicians, Sailing album was silly good, and they wrote the theme song to South Park!)
3. The Doors (classic - even though i'm not a big fan)
4. Arrested Development (c'mon! - classic hip hop)
5. Jamiroquai (first 2 records are great, even 2Pac sampled them)

#1 should be Creed, #2 Yanni, #3 Kenny G
puleeeez!

Posted by: g-know at 12/02/06 1:33 AM | Reply
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bands that have no business being on that list:
1. Blind Melon - one of the greatest rock bands in the last 25 years.
2. Primus (amazing musicians, Sailing album was silly good, and they wrote the theme song to South Park!)
3. The Doors (classic - even though i'm not a big fan)
4. Arrested Development (c'mon! - classic hip hop)
5. Jamiroquai (first 2 records are great, even 2Pac sampled them)

#1 should be Creed, #2 Yanni, #3 Kenny G
puleeeez!

Posted by: g-know at 12/02/06 1:34 AM | Reply
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Blender needs a full helping of "Soup"

Posted by: Is this the airport, clark? at 12/02/06 1:35 AM | Reply
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"listen" to the lyrics, I mean. Myself, I waited until the 10th.

Posted by: John at 12/02/06 1:41 AM | Reply
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and a full glass of "Pork Soda".

Posted by: Velokeeper at 12/02/06 1:48 AM | Reply
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First of all, Kansas rules. Second of all, how is Nelson not on this list?

Posted by: youknowIknowwhatyouknow at 12/02/06 2:33 AM | Reply
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First of all, Kansas rules. Second of all, how is Nelson not on the list?

Posted by: youknowIknowwhatyouknow at 12/02/06 2:34 AM | Reply
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jesus, dave. just because you "dig deep" to find the weirdest shit out there doesn't mean you're better than anyone. clogging the collective consciousness? dude, that's the way pop music works. give me a fucking break.

Posted by: wow at 12/02/06 3:16 AM | Reply
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OINGO BOINGO?!?!?!?!?!?!

WTF, THEY -RULE-

Posted by: Ty at 12/02/06 3:17 AM | Reply
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Pat Boone - either needs to be #1, or off the list.

Posted by: evilbatman at 12/02/06 3:33 AM | Reply
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How come Kenny G is only listed ONCE ???!!!

Posted by: Brian at 12/02/06 4:28 AM | Reply
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How come Kenny G is only listed ONCE ???!!!

Posted by: Brian at 12/02/06 4:29 AM | Reply
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In 1996 a Dream Theater album gave me colorectal cancer.

Posted by: Mohaski at 12/02/06 4:51 AM | Reply
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In 1996 I gleefully destroyed a Dream Theater cassette after having to listen to some of it.

Nickleback seriously needs to be on that list.

I'm surprised Puffy isn't in there, either, or that one DJ who releases his "remix" of songs which is just the same song with him shouting over it in random intervals, "Yo, it's 2004! DJ Jerkoff's remix!"

Also, I nominate Mr. Big, even if they were big in Japan.

Posted by: tk. at 12/02/06 5:52 AM | Reply
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38. (tie)
ryan adams
phish
coldplay
sugar ray
kings of leon

Posted by: Philco Brothers at 12/02/06 7:59 AM | Reply
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argh why is the doors on that list!?! they should be nowhere near that list!

Posted by: lynia at 12/02/06 8:36 AM | Reply
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B Rock & the Bizz

Everyone needs to go out and (re)listen to "(Who that is?) My Baby Daddy" to understand why they belong there.

Posted by: Justin R at 12/02/06 9:00 AM | Reply
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Why isn't Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on this list?

Posted by: bryce at 12/02/06 9:13 AM | Reply
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Dave, you're calling everyone else idiots. I think someone's projecting. While I generally agree with your list, I do have some objections: John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, and Damien Rice. Have you even listened to any of these artists beyond what's on the radio? On Mayer, I would have agreed with you until his last album. Maybe not that he was one of the worst artists ever, but that he wasn't living up to his potential. However, with his live album, "Try!" and his latest album he's finally taken the step to live up to his potential. And for the rest, you come off like a complete moron when you list every band/artist that's been on top 40 radio at any point in the last five years. Have you ever even listened to Dave Matthews Band? I'm guessing you haven't. They put on a great live show, probably better than most of the music you listen to. I will admit that two out of their last three albums sucked. But, Dave's solo album is actually pure gold.

For the record, I listen to those artists and still manage to dig deep for more obscure stuff to listen to.

Posted by: Shawn at 12/02/06 9:53 AM | Reply
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This list is crap. And I love how everyone comments on how other good bands should make the list just because they're more commercially sucessful. What....not emo enough? Not underground enough? In fact, no band that actually plays music (Primus, ELP, the Doors) should be listed when there's at least 50 other shitty boy bands, pop one-hit wonders, rap & hip-hop gangsta wanna-bees and mind-numbing country crap. The one exception might be Creed....they deserve to be on the list. Come on.

Posted by: ScurvyWarthands at 12/02/06 10:31 AM | Reply
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Primus rules, so does Jamiroquai... Pretty much agree with everything else.

Posted by: MikeyK at 12/02/06 10:41 AM | Reply
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evanescence.

Posted by: spo. at 12/02/06 11:28 AM | Reply
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02. Emerson, Lake & Palmer


WHATWHATWHATTTT ?????

Posted by: Kdarby at 12/02/06 11:41 AM | Reply
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The Doors suck. It's true.

Plus I kinda like Live. Or at least "Throwing Copper"...

Posted by: Ross at 12/02/06 12:10 PM | Reply
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C'mon... they Gypsy Kings are amazing!

Posted by: Mark B. at 12/02/06 12:28 PM | Reply
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Bob Seger gets my number one....that old time rock n roll song is the worst piece of shit i've ever heard.

Posted by: adam at 12/02/06 12:40 PM | Reply
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Bob Seger gets my number one....that old time rock n roll song is the worst piece of shit i've ever heard.

Posted by: adam at 12/02/06 12:44 PM | Reply
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Bob Seger gets my number one....that old time rock n roll song is the worst piece of shit i've ever heard.

Posted by: adam at 12/02/06 12:44 PM | Reply
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i gotta say tpo tsome idiot above that the white stripes are amazing and actually its mercy that they are and band and not jack whites solo career...

Posted by: will at 12/02/06 12:56 PM | Reply
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wondering where nickelback and bon jovi are...

also linkin park and john mellencamp? where!?

i also object to kansas...

Posted by: andrew at 12/02/06 12:59 PM | Reply
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Will no one come to Skinny Puppy's defense?

Posted by: bastro at 12/02/06 1:03 PM | Reply
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the bands that the guys from blender are rawking out in should take 1-50, no contest.

Posted by: alizee at 12/02/06 1:05 PM | Reply
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Hellooo....

HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH #38

Posted by: D. at 12/02/06 1:11 PM | Reply
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I would say The The or Sigur Ros ironically, but would fear the wrath of bloggers wishing to strangle me with their $350 scarves.

Posted by: Dan MacRae at 12/02/06 1:32 PM | Reply
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...The Doors. Blender, you're going to hell.

Posted by: Gavin at 12/02/06 1:33 PM | Reply
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...The Doors. Blender, you're going to hell.

Posted by: Gavin at 12/02/06 1:34 PM | Reply
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Honestly, the only band that I'm upset to see included on this list is The Hooters.

Posted by: tom at 12/02/06 1:43 PM | Reply
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I almost wish Alien Sex Fiend had made this list, as much as I love them.

Posted by: landrew at 12/02/06 1:46 PM | Reply
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Great list. Maybe when I show my wife, she won't make me listen to any Kenny G (No. 4) Christmas music this year. Not bloody likely!

AC

Posted by: Andrew at 12/02/06 1:47 PM | Reply
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Yngwie Malmsteen? Fuck you.

Posted by: Matthew at 12/02/06 1:54 PM | Reply
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The Doors thing...meh. The Doors might be #1 on the most overrated bands of all time, but they're definitely not one of the worst, that's just silliness.
Shawn -- I've listened to Dave Matthews Band a lot in the past...I agree they shouldn't be on the list, but they aren't quite as good as you are saying. Their live shows can be pretty good, but they can also be an excuse to stock up on No-Doz, not to mention the audiences are among the worst ever. And I think three of their last three albums have sucked, but you're right, his solo album wasn't completely terrible.
And Bob Seger, Adam? Uh, no. He didn't even write "Old Time Rock N Roll."

Posted by: Stephen at 12/02/06 2:01 PM | Reply
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No Nickelback, Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan, Barenaked Ladies, Snow, or BRYAN FUCKING ADAMS?

Really now...they went way too easy on us Canadians.

Posted by: Jeff at 12/02/06 2:22 PM | Reply
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There are a few on there that I disagree with but I can understand why they might be on there. But fucking Primus? Are they out of their minds? "Primus Sucks" was not meant to be taken literally.

Posted by: matt at 12/02/06 2:23 PM | Reply
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homos. what a asinine list. i think i have music from 80% of these artists. and they jam. people take themselves way too seriously. asia: heat of the moment = party starter.

Posted by: johnny cocktail at 12/02/06 2:46 PM | Reply
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oh come on K-Fed should def be number one on this list! He's the shittiest arist of all time!!!

Posted by: Jeff at 12/02/06 2:47 PM | Reply
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oh come on K-Fed should def be number one on this list! He's the shittiest artist of all time!!!

Posted by: Jeff at 12/02/06 2:48 PM | Reply
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ICP isn't the worst band ever! Great Milenko is one of the best albums of the 90's. Fuck this stupid list! Hanson should be #1 with James Blunt #2 and KElly oSbourne #3!

Posted by: Blaze Ya Dead Homie at 12/02/06 2:52 PM | Reply
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Ringo.

Posted by: Joey at 12/02/06 2:55 PM | Reply
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stephen, my apologies. Turn the Page is the worst piece of shit i've ever heard

Posted by: adam at 12/02/06 2:57 PM | Reply
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