Every great band or artist has to start somewhere. Some bands are very successful right from the jump, while others break through later in their career with a smash hit.
Either way that first song can set the tone for a legacy.
Here is a list of five debut singles that helped launch some of the bands and artists we know and love into the stars they are today.
These debut singles launched the careers of these iconic bands
No. 5- "Creep"- Radiohead
Radiohead was founded in 1985, but it wasn’t until 1992 that the band released their debut single "Creep," and it almost didn't happen. The song was recorded at the request of the band’s producers Sean Slade and Paul Q Kolderie and released later that year as a single by EMI. The song became a hit on Israeli radio stations and eventually made its way to America, where it was a popular alternative rock hit.
While the track was resisted by the band for several years due to pressure to match the song's style on following releases, it ultimately became the band’s signature song and a staple in their set list over the last 30 years
No. 4- "Feels Like the First Time"- Foreigner
There’s certainly a first time for everything, and this is especially true for Foreigner, who burst on the scene in 1977 with their critically acclaimed self-titled studio album. To promote the album, the band released three singles, and the first of the three was an instant classic in the form of “Feels Like the First Time”. The song went to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1977.
Since then, Foreigner has not looked back, releasing nine albums that have sold over 80 million copies, including 38 million in the United States. It appears the band's storied career will come to a close soon as they are currently in the middle of their farewell tour, which, if it holds, will be a sad day for the music industry.
No. 3- "Anarchy In The UK"- Sex Pistols
Even though they only released one album as a group, the Sex Pistols had a monumental impact on the music industry as one of the pioneers of the punk rock genre. To support their first and only album Never Mind the Bollocks, the Sex Pistols unleashed their debut single “Anarchy in the U.K.” in November 1977 which was considered a call to arms to the kids who believe rock and roll was taken from them.
The band was no stranger to controversy as their debut record has become the most censored album in British music history due to the rebellious lyrics of the monarchy and regime, which Johnny Rotten and company labeled as fascist.
"Anarchy in the U.K." became a hit among fans and music critics alike, with Rolling Stone placing the song at number 56 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The band would eventually be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but refused to attend the ceremony, staying true to the anti-establishment stance that made them so popular in the first place.
No. 2- "Good Times Bad Times"- Led Zeppelin
With the release of their debut self-titled album in 1969, Led Zeppelin helped pave the way for the hard rock and heavy metal genres that we know and love today. Their debut single "Good Times Bad Times" showcases the band firing on all cylinders, with the bombastic drums from John Bonham, powerful guitar riffs from Jimmy Page, thunderous bassline from John Paul Jones, and the high-octane vocals from Robert Plant.
Over 11 years from 1969 until 1980, Led Zeppelin released eight studio albums and sold over 300 million copies worldwide. They redefined the music industry by focusing on complete albums rather than singles, which helped contribute to the large volume of album sales. Even though the band broke up in 1980 with the death of John Bonham, they are still just as important and relevant today as one of the biggest and most influential rock and roll bands of all time.
No. 1- "Love Me Do"- Beatles
One of the most successful and iconic bands of all time, the Beatles quite literally took the entire world by storm in the 1960s with the rise of Beatlemania. Active from 1962 until 1970, The Beatles released twelve studio albums and sold over 600 million copies worldwide, which is the most sales ever recorded by a single band in music history.
The world was first introduced to the Beatles in 1962 when they released their debut single “Love Me Do,” which would go on to be certified platinum in the United States and gold in their home country of the United Kingdom. Most recently, the Beatles re-released the single as the B-side to their final song “Now and Then”, bringing their legendary recording career to a fitting end.