Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that will get you pumped just by listening.
There are foreign bands with irresistibly captivating sounds you can hardly hear in Japan! From powerful, energetic vocals and satisfyingly heavy sound production to dynamic stage performances—there’s no way to sum it all up in a single phrase.
This time, based on reliable feedback from music fans submitted to our site, we researched popular Western bands.
Among them, we carefully selected especially well-regarded rock bands—both classic and contemporary—along with their staple songs.
If that’s your thing, be sure to check it out!
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Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that will boost your mood just by listening (121–130)
War GameTyburn Tall
A hard rock band that debuted in 1972 with a self-produced record.
Centered on the organ, they deliver an aggressive sound while arranging classical masterpieces.
It’s now available on CD, but the original pressing was a legendary ultra-rare item that reportedly fetched nearly one million yen.
(Oh) Pretty WomanVan Halen
It reached No.
12 on the U.S.
charts in 1982.
The band was formed around the Van Halen brothers—Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums.
Adding the distinctive and popular vocalist David Lee Roth solidified their status as a leading heavy metal band.
Currently, Eddie’s son Wolfgang has taken over on bass, replacing Michael Anthony.
The vocals have alternated between Sammy Hagar and Dave, and each brings a different kind of appeal.
As you know, this song is a cover of Roy Orbison’s standard, and it’s an outstanding arrangement that makes you think, “So it can be done like this!”
Different WorldsVandenberg
An unforgettable band from the 1980s that emerged from the Netherlands.
Thanks to Adrian Vandenberg’s expressively virtuosic guitar playing and songs with outstanding pop sensibility, they became popular in Japan as well.
Adrian later retired from the music world and became a painter.
venus in fursVelvet Underground
Quietly, deeply moved, you can’t help but murmur, “Ah, what a cool band…”—that’s The Velvet Underground.
I’m sure many will read this, nod, and relate.
The underground scene in New York in the ’70s—seen from distant Japan—was a world we longed for.
It was the ultimate, the most stylish of all.
Heads Will RollYeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs is an American rock band that began making waves in the 2000s; the pronunciation is “Yah Yah Yahs.” Their sound is undeniably cool, featuring bold use of synthesizer tones that defines their rock style.
The vocalist is a woman, and her uniquely sexy, atmospheric delivery adds even more depth to the band’s identity.
The members’ looks and fashion are also highlights, and their track “Heads Will Roll” is especially notable for its highly watchable music video.
