10 Most Legendary Bands Without a Platinum Album in the U.S.

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It's hard to believe none of these 10 acts have released a million-selling album in the U.S.
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[@chrisperri2842]

Anthrax, Slayer, Motörhead, and the Ramones? Damn, that's shocking.

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

Sepultura and Bad Religion, too.

[@HeavyRaiden]

Yeah

[@iron2308]

+Harry BuddhaPalm sepultura is from brazil

[@Cam_1776]

+Harry BuddhaPalm who cares about them

[@Broccoli_Girl]

and Misfits

[@koolin3613]

Lemmy was made of platium, they did not need an album to prove it, same goes for most bands on this list

[@MrPijus123]

brb going to the record store to get Slayer that platinum.

[@Thepoltergiest101]

Slayer's best selling album is Seasons in the Abyss which has sold ~700,000 copies. You'll have to buy ~$2.4 million dollars worth of CD's given that the average price is about $7.99.

[@Scoffslaphead72]

+Zach Ritchie worth it

[@malevolentsband6737]

They'll never get it. Slayer came close with seasons, though. They got nothing on Megadeth's sales, and absolutely nothing on Metallica's. Maybe if they didn't let Kerry king write any songs and just let Hanneman pen them all, maybe seasons would've hit platinum... Just a thought.

[@metallicafan416]

+Malevolents Band I woulda thought seasons had done it it had a popular video on mtv actually top 4 was really surprising how many sales is platinum?

[@malevolentsband6737]

Aaron Mcclure MTV really helped Slayer with their financial success in the early 90s. That's the reason Seasons was their best selling album. It's sold just over 750'000 copies to date in the USA alone. Gold Certification is 500'000 copies and Platinum is 1 million. Slayer has never hit that amount of volume with any album in their career, neither has Anthrax. Every album Metallica's released has gone at least multi platinum, if not diamond (the Black Album went diamond at 10 million+ albums sold, in total it went 16x platinum in the USA, or Diamond + 6x platinum), and Megadeth has released 1 multi platinum record and 4 other records in the USA that all went single platinum. Cryptic Writings is also certified platinum in most other countries in the world, but it's only gold in the USA at 953'000 copies sold.

[@calebheney302]

they all go platinum in selling shirts though

[@metalthrashinmadman9634]

I actually thought that at least Reign In Blood went platinum

[@DaveMoth]

It has it just hasn't been properly certified.

[@DaveMoth]

Probably sold about 1.3 million in the US.

[@malevolentsband6737]

+Langly06 where are you getting your sources? Reign in blood is recorded to date of only selling just over 600'000 in the USA. If it was platinum, they would've certified it platinum. Slayer never sold well in terms of album sales. They're not Megadeth or Metallica. Mainstream metal sells records. Slayer is not as mainstream as the former 2.

[@ozj1638]

FUCKING SLAYERRR!!! My metal brothers \m/

[@ozj1638]

Slayer brothers *

[@yeeshimtired]

The Ramones? That's shocking

[@spankygrant]

yeah...that was always the irony with them , especially with how much touring they did. They kept trying different producers , changing their mixes to make it more radio friendly , and nothing ever worked. freaking crazy...

[@jfkskdksskndskkxjsislapdkc6200]

So true

[@JasonX626]

Yeah they never sold a lot. Mostly played quite small venues.

[@363Magi]

I guess because of how many Albums they had in a short stretch of time and they don't have a single defining Album like other bands and huge singles. Slayer is more surprising IMHO.

[@volairelarp3773]

Because Metal doesn't even get a fraction of the recognition it deserves. People would rather listen to vapid, recycled lyrics, over shit "music".

[@vynyster9488]

The sad truth

[@LarsUelf]

Come on ... stop acting like Metal is still underground. It's fucking huge, look at Wacken for example. And this list also has a lot of non-metal bands.

[@vynyster9488]

It's not still underground, but the majority of people listen to garbage pop music.

[@volairelarp3773]

+Lars Uelf Never said it was underground. I said it doesn't get proper recognition. Also, this list is about platinum albums in America. Wacken is not in America. I didn't mention Punk as I am not a fan of Punk.

[@LarsUelf]

Volaire Larp Fair point. But every time you like something you automatically think it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Whether it's a band (in my case: quota., Slowgun, Ghost ...), a type of food (vegan cookies, bell peppers ...) or a book (Die Känguru-Chroniken, Here, There Be Dragons ...) Some of those things already are really popular, but you always think there's room for more and not enough people like your stuff.

[@maskychain816]

You guys should do 10 Greatest Bands That Have Never Had A Lineup Change.

[@peytondavis7947]

@CHEYENNE WEBER U2 is the only band that hasnt I believe

[@wilhelmfink7633]

Thrice...

[@dylanadams1455]

ZZ Top holds the record and probably will forever. 51 years! RIP Dusty

[@chrisbenson9232]

Wait, half the Big Four never had a platinum album? Something about that seems off

[@regolithia]

I fucking know right. And Mötorhead too!

[@integrity101]

They had GOLD albums. Anthrax and Slayer each have 4 Gold records. Pantera & Megadeth each have 5 Platinum records, 1 of which is double platinum.

[@brandocalrissian3294]

The 2 better bands of the big 4 at that.

[@gab.lab.martins]

"Punk band goes platinum" is an oxymoron.

[@primeracalledelasoledad8439]

true

[@benjipc5637]

Tell that to Green Day or Blink (I'm pretty sure The Offspring counts as well since Smash is the best-selling non-Big Four released album of all time), but you're just going to dismiss them because they're not real punk.

[@gab.lab.martins]

***** You're right, they're not real punk.

[@humncd-]

Gabriel Martins yeah punk isn’t really mainstream

[@LaughWhileItsStillLegal]

Nevermind the Bollocks went platinum.

[@BIOHAZARDRUSGaming]

Sepultura I can understand being on here because their work besides the Roots album (specifically, the Roots, Bloody Roots song) is criminally underrated. Dead Kennedys I can understand being on here because they don't have a lot of releases and all of them were in the 80's despite them being kinda active now. Misfits I can definitely understand being on here because most of their merch gets sold to posers, same with the Ramones, buuuuut they were both very prominent and popular at the time when records ACTUALLY sold more than a couple copies. All the other bands, especially Motörhead, I'm very surprised to see on this list. 22 albums and not one platinum... :/

[@LaughWhileItsStillLegal]

Would also add Manowar,Venom,Savatage,Saxon,Metal Church,Annihilator,Mercyful Fate/King Diamond,Accept,Celtic Frost,Kreator and Sodom

[@isakgamling3355]

MrAntichrist12 that is more Than 10.

[@LaughWhileItsStillLegal]

I know

[@davidnissim589]

Lemmy's legacy is worth more than platinum though.

[@jamesgoodhew221]

Dream theater are some of most talented musicians ever🤘🏼

[@joelgomez3449]

Do you know what song they're playing?

[@MisterSchweetz]

Joel Gomez Stream of Consciousness, right?

[@vedicmetalhead1029]

James Goodhew they spent their lives showing they are great instrumentalists

[@thewildbruce5612]

Not really. There are a LOT of bands, who are a LOT MORE talented than Dream Theater!

[@zackzallie8735]

@@thewildbruce5612 Fuck comparisons, dude.

[@ieb994]

Metal is and should be underground music, people who do it don't get into it to get ungodly amounts of wealth and I am fine with that. All of the bands listed have had great careers.

[@neighslayer768]

But those involved deserve better than underground pay.

[@renatox32ify]

metal isn't "underground"

[@bassmetalheadbang]

Metal goes underground from time to time in certain parts of the world. But as Jack Black has said. The Metal Never Dies!

[@huitzilopochtli6414]

+Renato Sanchez I know right fuck off metal isn't popular in the area I live in but I know it's pretty known in other parts of the country and world. Metal isn't as popular as it used to be a while ago where I live but things comeback after a while.

[@renatox32ify]

+BILLY DONUTS exactly

[@RonaldPoe]

Hold on you're telling me "Reign in Blood" isn't a platinum album in the USA. That's crazy! Also surprised to find Anthrax, The Ramones (most mainstream band in actual Punk and proof of that fairly quick 8th note roots can be a bassline) The Misfits (one of the few bands loved by Metalheads and Punks alike) and Motorhead (Same with the Misfits) on this list. I hate to say this to metalheads but when Lemmy (R.I.P. Lemmy) died, so did Motorhead (it was a great band).

[@maccaspope2275]

Death?

[@leetorry]

Maccas Pope not suprising honestly

[@ScoopedMids]

With all due respect to my American brothers and sisters. The record buying public there are a bunch of numbskulls.

[@Andrew-xr7nc]

AllOutWar5000and1 Very true. It annoys me (I'm a white cis Murica)

[@brunovallesmunoz4757]

Platinum albums....That doesnt mean a shit... Animal boy, Reign in blood, Spreading the disease, Walk among us, Beneath the remanins, Images and words, Motorhead's classic albums....All those are Masterpieces No fucking platinum album required!!!

[@starscream__]

Now where the hell is Metallica? Everyone knows that the black album is unknown in the USA!

[@shadowplayer3940]

JayIsImmortal 😂😂😂

[@Nova-xg5xj]

JayIsImmortal there new album went platinum

[@rawkrentals]

I'm sure Bad Brains never had a platinum record but they're legends for sure!

[@yaboyreege7158]

I’m not surprised that the dead Kennedy’s didn’t have a platinum album, but man what a legendary band they were. They turned me onto punk rock when I was young and that ultimately was what lead me into getting into heavier music. Thanks DK

[@dirtypirate79]

LEMMY!

[@-TheLambSauce]

Where's Death?

[@BillPhurnell]

Why the hell is Dream Theater only #10?

[@sindead28]

No specific serial

[@actuallyasriel]

Dream Theater kinda makes sense, they were ahead of their time on purpose. Love those guys.

[@OneFlewCuckoo]

Real shame the ramones never went platinum in the US with how much touring and albums they did in there years they were together, it was virtually non stop

[@sk8terkek429]

Anthrax deserve a platinum after For All Kings

[@brandocalrissian3294]

They deserved a platinum for Among the Living. It's one the best metal albums ever.

[@DaveMoth]

Among the living went gold in 1990 it must be platinum by now just not certified.

[@DaveMoth]

Same with a few of Slayer's albums surely.

[@malevolentsband6737]

+Santizo anthrax's song "I'm the man" went platinum, but it was just a single. As for full albums, both anthrax and slayer have 4 gold records each and none platinum. Slayer has the better overall sales between the two, though. Anthrax has somewhere around 15 million records sold globally, and slayer is closer to 25 million. Pretty nuts how both band combined don't even equal Megadeth's album sales...

[@malevolentsband6737]

Santizo From the shows I've been to, Megadeth always played after Slayer. I think it had something to do with the promoters of the Big 4 festival thinking it would be a smaller conflict of interest having Slayer between Megadeth and Metallica's name. In any case, Megadeth was the more expensive band to bill on that festival, and they got a larger slice of the money pie than Slayer did because they are known for being able to bring more butts to the seats. When I saw Megadeth headline in Vancouver, Canada 7 years ago, Slayer, Machine Head, and Suicide Silence opened for them. You'd look out into the crowd of over 10'000 people, and there was a sea of Megadeth t-shirts, and very few Slayer shirts. Megadeth is clearly the bigger band, but at the end of the day, if the promoters say "this band should be billed above this band", and both bands contractually agree on it, then that's that. I think Mustaine was salty about Slayer going on after them during the Big 4, but I also believe he would've been even more upset going on DIRECTLY before Metallica.... it would just be a direct shot to the ego, in that case.

[@SargerasN7]

The top 3 really surprised me. Dead Kennedys as well, they're all great.

[@zoompiesonor]

what's that dream theater song in the beginning?

[@werddrew5493]

It's called Stream of Consciousness.

[@LaughWhileItsStillLegal]

Dream Theater doesn't write songs

[@petunialuckens]

What in shitfuck did KZbin do to mobile comments

[@MetalCheeseDeathAttack]

I've been suspecting they've done something weird with comments on pc too. Glad I'm not alone.

[@robbieferratto]

What have they done?

[@crustypioneer8104]

What do you mean

[@MetalCheeseDeathAttack]

They seem to be all out of order. Instead of seeing the oldest comments in the thread first, they seem to be last. And some replies seem to be randomly thrown in the middle. It's just confusing.

[@robbieferratto]

+MetalCheese DeathAttack I see

[@kabisikletamba142]

Legends doesn't need platinums! They need your soul!

[@ozricness]

Platinum is for the most mainstream of bands/singers. Is there even one platinum _proper_ punk band?

[@damiankarras]

ozricness the Clash

[@LaughWhileItsStillLegal]

Nevermind The Bollocks: Here's The Sex Pistols.

[@tammy2760]

nirvana

[@mjnation7876]

Anthrax is amazing

[@crustypioneer8104]

Yes they are

[@HeartCalcos]

Ah stating facts my favorite thing to do.

[@malevolentsband6737]

Waaaaaaay better than Slayer, that's for damn sure.

[@mjnation7876]

Malevolents Band agreed

[@SyscoVids]

Watching this after watching surprising bands with platinum albums is crazy

[@JoseCom11]

Soda Stereo is a legendary band in Latin America, but they are almost unknown in English-speaking countries.

[@kolosrece4198]

Anthrax does have a platinum ep(i am the man), but i guess that doesn't count

[@llongone2]

some of my favorite bands are on this list.

[@Jokero619]

Damn,thats surprising at some point...But still feels good that they are great today and their music greatness doesn't depend on amount of copies that was sold.

[@karstenvonfjellheim5321]

Several of these bands have sold tens of thousands of albums at their own concerts; those sale figures rarely count in total sales. And there's a lot of mail-order...... Sold = bought in-store, not bought by store. Some of these bands have shipped a million albums, but if the stores return the unsold albums(something I am not sure they can do in 2016?), that number is deducted. 1958: 1 million sold singles= Gold. For a full length, $1Million in sales and at least 500,000 units. 1975: 1million sold albums= Gold. 1984: Platinum was introduced. 1989: 500,000 singles now = Gold, 1,000,000 = Platinum. 1992: each disc in a box set now counts as 1 unit. 1999: Diamond is rewarded for 10,000,000 units sold. Multi-Platinum is 2,000,000 or more. Between 2004-2006: 100,000 downloads is Gold, 200,000 downloads is Platinum; now Platinum is not given to downloaded albums. ---->2016: I do not know if it's 500,000 units sold for Platinum today? It has been lowered. Concert videos: 50,000 is Gold, 100,000 is Platinum, 200,000 is Multi-Platinum. I don't think there's any more 'album rewards'? Or do they hand out Silver and Bronze as well?

[@jakeanderson4456]

love the free Randy banner in the backround of testament

[@LeeWollenschlaeger1281]

Im quite shocked at the whole list. Great upload

[@metalblade8787]

i like how it goes from bad religion to dead kennedys so you can see a side by side comparison of bad punk and great punk

[@ronaldjames6067]

How does it even work ? Is there a time limit ? If you Americans all buy Reign in Blood or Overkill today, will it still count or is the time past now ?

[@malevolentsband6737]

There is no time limit, limit is at least 1 million records of a single album sold nation wide in ONLY the USA. To this Day, slayer's best selling USA record is 750'000 with seasons in the abyss and Anthrax at 690'000 with among the living. Still a LONG way to go, and those albums are exactly hot sellers anymore...

[@ronaldjames6067]

Wow, thanks !

[@easternsasquatch]

Metal doesnt need platinum albums. The genre says it all.

[@lilbitofeverythin6894]

last time I was this early Lacey Sturm was still in flyleaf

[@integrity101]

Pantera: Cowboys From Hell - Platinum Vulgar Display Of Power 2X Platinum Far Beyond Driven - Platinum The Great Southern Trendkill - Platinum Official Live 101 Proof - Gold Reinventing The Steel - Gold Best Of Pantera - Platinum

[@k.d.kelley2830]

I was surprised by slayer. I would of thought SOH would be platinum by now. And certainly Seasons in the abyss.

[@dylanadams1455]

Yeah they were the most surprising to me too

[@werddrew5493]

Why did they have to cut the Dream Theater clip right before the incredible guitar solo?

[@matthewryan1185]

Motörhead and slayer are big surprises to me.

[@catjudo1]

What's even stranger to me is bands that made it overseas and never broke through in the States. Budgie comes to mind, as they were damn good and should have come over in the 70s with other British bands, but outside of one radio station in Texas they never could break into the market here. Like many in America, I only got into them through Metallica.

[@retroidvania]

What's the name of the song Dead Kennedys performed here?

[@Ballpython77]

TOP 3 bands not having a platinum is a fucking crime!

[@rocksteady5082]

You forgot Overkill! Great band!

[@gianumanzor1412]

what song is Misfits playing?????

[@Cam_1776]

Bullet

[@VIDEOS-jv1jv]

Adorei ramones em primeiro , sensacional !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@xyzd70]

I'm offended that these bands haven't had a platinum album but i'm not entirely shocked. Number 1 completely shocked me

[@nikkine_6214]

Misfits, Motörhead, Slayer, and Romones don't have Platinums?! That's surprising, especially now, considering that all four of those bands have a huge song to their name, like Scream, Ace of Spades, Raining Blood, and Blitzkrieg Bop.

[@tymanning2832]

Reign in Blood, South of Heaven, and Seasons in the Abyss are over 750,000 copies sold in the u.s apparently.

[@malevolentsband6737]

Too bad Platinum in the USA requires at least a million in sales. Among the living is over 600k, same with spreading the disease, persistence, and euphoria. Slayer out sold anthrax in both their primes, it looks like.... But just barely. And then you've got the other big 4 members, Metallica and Megadeth... Lol.... Megadeth: Peace sells: 1.3 million So far so good: 1.1 million Rust in peace: 1.4 million Countdown: 2.8 million Youthanasia: 1.3 million Cryptic: 953'000 Risk: 850'000 Even RISK out sold Slayer's best selling album ever!!!!!!!! Metallica: Kill em all: 3.5 million Ride the lighting: 5 million Puppets: 6 million Justice: 8 million Black album: 16 million Load 8 million Reload: 7 million Garage inc: 8 million St anger: 2.5 million Death magnetic: 1.5 million Jesus fucking Christ Metallica....

[@MrDrainBramaged]

People have a hard on for metallica bro..I love metallica but Slayer > Metallica and Anthrax > Metallica..All day long

[@malevolentsband6737]

MrDrainBramaged Slayer > Metallica in what sense? Musically? Metallica is far more talented than Slayer is in terms of writing ability and tightness as a band on stage. Slayer > Metallica in popularity? Obviously that's not true at all... Slayer > Metallica in influence as a band? No, definitely not, Metallica has influenced countless genres, nevermind single bands. You can't argue that Metallica is far more world renowned than Slayer. So how exactly, factually, is Slayer > Metallica? Unless you're going strictly by opinion, in which case, fair enough, that's simply your idea of what's better. If we're only speaking purely on opinion, to me it's Megadeth > Metallica > Anthrax >>>>> Slayer. However, given the facts, the majority of the world would rank them like Metallica > Megadeth > Slayer > Anthrax.

[@HeartCalcos]

St. Anger is double platinum... I can't believe it. My list would go like this Anthrax = Slayer = Megadeth = Metallica.

[@tymanning2832]

1. Metallica 2. Slayer 3. Anthrax 4. Megadeth Love all four of those bands.

[@viggosbil]

The amount of platinum Slayer albums? 000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[@schrodingersyoutubechannel4426]

THE MISFITS DONT HAVE A PLATINUM?!?! HOW?!?!

[@LEMMYKISGOD]

What about a Top 10 $ell-Outs List. That would be a good list to do in the future.

[@monstergod888]

Punk bands was not suppose to sell many records,they are the antiheroes of music industry,but Ramones and Motorhead are gods literally!

[@tinkz2009]

All should win a platinum.

[@DVCMiller]

They should do Top 10 Singers With Not-So-High Voices

[@bodomwireofficial2283]

Happy to see CoB got one platinum album, but disappointed to see here ten of my fav bands

[@robertbishop5357]

not surprised with the exception of motorhead and the ramones.

[@sarahmassaker9588]

Never knew this, the last 6 were the most surprising especially with the Ramones

[@DrCHUD666]

I would have thought that Iron Maiden would have been in the list somewhere. I know they've gotten Gold before......just don't remember them getting Platinum.

[@omikronweapon]

Wikipedia claims they have about a dozen releases platinum in the US, albums and DVDs, starting with Number of the Beast

[@DrCHUD666]

Thanks. I had to go back and look those up. The more I thought about I began to think that if anything Number of the Beast would have been their first Platinum album......and well deserving at that.

[@sivertSt02]

Lemmy is fucking god he is too good for these amature prices

[@ryanrobinsonmusic4211]

Motorhead and the Ramones just shocked.

[@duffsnikk]

Welcome to Hydraulic Press Channel!!!!

[@ragioniercartone3980]

Anthrax, Ramones and Slayer without a Platinum album?!?

[@primeracalledelasoledad8439]

but with a lot of respect and fans all over the universe... that is better....

[@romancasillas2123]

Anyone know the ramones song?

[@demonearl88]

The KKK Took My Baby Away, I believe.

[@Anthony_Corbellini]

Sorry, but what’s the song from Testament in the video?

[@grxssly_incandescent2316]

I was definitely shocked to see Anthrax, Motorhead and Slayer

[@primeracalledelasoledad8439]

live and learn

[@A7xeno]

I don't give a fuck, they're fucking legends to me.

[@gunscotthdgaming69420]

Title should be: *10 Bands that were too good for a platinum album in the USA*

[@mattknowler4769]

I'm a simple man. I see Sepultura, I hit 'like.'

[@thewildbruce5612]

I'm really shocked that Motörhead never had any platinum in America. That being said, I'm not surprised about the others.

[@jackholmes1429]

After this watch the video "10 Albums You Won't Belive Went Platinum" You'll be 100% BAFFLED!!!!!

[@LaughWhileItsStillLegal]

Faith in humanity lost

[@bubbadagger]

misfits records and even DK albums were hard to get when they were out

[@RS-vk7op]

Thin Lizzy should be on the list I'd say Megadeth, Metallica, Motorhead and Guns & Roses all site them at the top tiers of Rock. Phil Lynott has been memorized with a statue for goodness sake.

[@munteanumihai8143]

top 10 greatest riffwriters of all time

[@aphexmaxim]

Damn some of them have gotta be platinum in other countries multiple hopefully

[@obsessedwithguitars3157]

Anthrax's I Am The Man went Platinum. Does it not count because it's an EP?

[@SoHochWieNie]

Meddl Loide.

[@HeavyMetalNerd]

Metal!!!

[@destrim2837]

Servus und Herzlich Willkommen

[@thomasmoses8263]

Saxon? I expected to see them on this list.

[@thatguy4343]

All these great bands didn't get a platinum album but Crazy Town did, WTF!?

[@medranothelion]

If we're talking studio albums, then Dream Theater makes this list. But if we're albums in general, such as Live, Compilation, etc., Then they don't. Dream Theater has 3 Live Albums that went Platinum in the US.

[@2emo2function]

the only one that really suprized me was Motorhead

[@michaelgajree3064]

Dam what's that sepultura song called?

[@coldguto]

A list full of punk, thrash metal and Dream Theater.

[@TheMrmeatcake]

John Petrucci kinda looks like Rob Chapman with short hair

[@Mandilore89]

Dream Theater does have a platinum album. It's the Awake album. However, it was certified platinum by the RIAJ, not the RIAA. So yes, they technically do have one.

[@malevolentsband6737]

This is USA only. RIAJ is not USA. Doesn't count for this particular list

[@Nickball97]

I&W went gold in the 90's, it must be plat now without a doubt

[@malevolentsband6737]

Nope. If it was platinum, the RIAA would've certified it by now as there is no time limit. It's still gold.

[@Hola-tq4pg]

Everyone always talks about the pop artists getting more sales but no one thinks about the regretting god awful bands popular around mid 80s and early 00s who sold more records than the ones from this list

[@djk6516]

Just had finished listening to dream theatre whenver i clicked on this videi

[@arhabines8355]

what's the sepultura song played at 0;50 ??

[@harlandraka963]

It's called "Attitude" :)

[@arhabines8355]

Harlan Draka thank you :)