4 Rock Bands Who Scored Hits in Three or More Consecutive Decades

It proves the longevity of a band or artist to be able to earn hits in multiple decades. Reinvention and adapting with the times can lead to massively successful hits, introducing a new generation to your work. That’s certainly the case with rock bands from the 1980s and 1990s, finding a new direction to survive changes heading into the 2000s. It’s a make-or-break moment for a band to survive these changes. Here are four artists who penned massive hits in three or more consecutive decades.

Bon Jovi

In the 1980s, Bon Jovi was one of the most successful rock bands. The group’s first breakout hit, “Runaway,” was released in 1984. It was their first to enter the Top 40, peaking at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. This set Bon Jovi up for massive success in the late 1980s. The group went on to achieve four No. 1 hits: “You Give Love A Bad Name” in 1986, followed by “Livin’ On A Prayer” in 1987, “Bad Medicine” in 1988, and once more with “I’ll Be There For You” in 1989. In 1994, Bon Jovi penned their fifth No. 1 hit with “Always” from their 1994 Cross Road: Best of Bon Jovi compilation.

Bon Jovi successfully transitioned into the 2000s, with hits such as “It’s My Life” in 2000, “Everyday” in 2002, “Have A Nice Day” in 2005, and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” in 2006. Bon Jovi is one of the best examples of a group reinventing itself and adapting to changing music trends.

Foo Fighters

Following their debut release in 1995, Foo Fighters generated a string of alternative hits in the 1990s. Starting with “This Is A Call,” “I’ll Stick Around,” and “Big Me,” released on their self-titled debut. Dave Grohl recorded all the instruments on these tracks and put himself in the driver’s seat following Nirvana’s untimely disbandment in 1994. For the second half of the 90s, Foo Fighters penned massive alternative hits such as “Monkey Wrench,” “Everlong,” “My Hero,” and “Learn To Fly.”

They continued that success into the new millennium, with hits such as “All My Life” and “Times Like These” in 2002, “Best Of You” in 2005, and “The Pretender” and “Long Road To Ruin” in 2007. In the 2010s, Foo Fighters topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart with “Rope” from their 2011 album Wasting Light. This was followed by another string of hits. Into a fourth decade, Foo Fighters have achieved hits such as “Making A Fire” in 2021 and “Rescued” in 2023. Foo Fighters are one of the only bands to have hits spanning four consecutive decades.

Aerosmith

In the 1970s, Aerosmith dominated the American rock scene. Their first hit, “Dream On,” set the group up for further success. Hits such as “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk This Way” established Aerosmith as a top rock act. Following drug abuse, along with the departure and eventual return of guitar players Joey Perry and Brad Whitford, Aerosmith reinvented itself in the 1980s. They found success with a collaboration with Run-DMC in 1986, and it gave the band the push toward sobriety that they needed. The band was better than ever, generating hit after hit such as “Rag Doll” and “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” in 1987. “Angel” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988, falling just short of a No. 1. In 1998, Aerosmith earned their first No. 1 hit with “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” They continued this success with “Jaded” in 2001, with hits spanning over four decades.

Green Day

In 1994, Green Day made a statement with their breakout hit record Dookie. The album generated the hits “Basketcase,” “When I Come Around,” and “Longview.” Green Day won a Grammy for Best Alternative Album in 1995 for Dookie. They continued their success in the late 90s with hits such as “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” in 1997. With emo music taking over in the early 2000s, Green Day successfully reinvented their sound and style with American Idiot in 2004. The album was a political statement in the midst of the US’s invasion of Iraq, starting the Iraq War. The album generated the hits “American Idiot,” “Holiday,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” In the 2010s, Green Day penned the hits “21 Guns” and “Know Your Enemy” in 2010 and the comeback hit “Bang Bang” in 2016.

They released their fourteenth studio album, Saviors, in 2024, with five singles released. The album’s third single, “Dilemma,” reached No. 1 on the US Rock & Alternative Airplay chart. Green Day is among the only rock groups with hits spanning four consecutive decades.