Formed back in 1996 in California as rap-rock band XERO, Linkin Park went through massive changes to become the band we know today. Original singer Mark Wakefield left the band in 1999 when record labels began noticing the group - but felt he wasn’t a strong enough vocalist to truly push the band forward.  Mark was soon replaced with Chester Bennington, a singer from Arizona who had just left his band Grey Daze.The Chemistry between Xero and Chester was much better; the Hybrid of sounds...

For such a fun and chaotic band, No Doubt was always a safe space for Gwen Stefani. The flexibility in the band’s style and sound paired with Stefani’s undeniable star power as front woman of the group meant that you could be forgiven for thinking that Gwen Stefani the artist, and No Doubt the band were interchangeable.  In an alternate timeline - No Doubt could have carried on through the 2000s and beyond with hit after hit - but artists rarely play it safe; it’s part of the reason we love...

By the time the new millennium arrived, Green Day were thriving as one of the world’s biggest rock bands. The ‘90s had been good to the band. After years of building a following as an independent act, in 1994 the trio of Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt signed to a major label and released their third album, Dookie.  To just about everyone’s surprise, Dookie became a cultural phenomenon, bringing punk rock back to life in the mainstream, winning the band’s first Grammy Award,...

By the time 2008 arrived, Coldplay were arguably the biggest rock band in the world. With their uplifting, emotionally charged soft rock, Coldplay quickly established themselves as heirs to U2. From the release of their debut album, Parachutes, in 2000, the band caught lightning in a bottle. The album’s wistful second single, “Yellow,” was an international hit. Their second album, 2002’s A Rush of Blood to the Head, elevated them to the next level, selling more than 17 million copies and...

In 2003, It is fair to say that rap duo Outkast were at a bit of a creative crossroads. Their 2000 album Stankonia had people rethinking what hip hop music could be - with songs such as B.O.B., Ms. Jackson, and So Fresh, So Clean winning them Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album. “Ms. Jackson”; their Billboard hot 100 hit from Stankonia was a sultry, tongue in cheek affair that gave the duo of Andre 3000 and Big Boi a rare trifecta of accolades in pop culture: Hip Hop...

Originally signed by major label Columbia Records in 1999 with a planned release of an album called “Power of the Dollar”. A young 50 Cent intended on tapping into underground hype with a lead single called ‘How to Rob’ in August 1999. Within a year of How To Rob’s release, 50 Cent was dropped from the label, and the album was canceled after he was shot nine times in Queens, New York in May 2000. After this blacklisting, 50 Cent had to look for alternative locations to record new music, as...

In 2003, the world couldn’t have been more ready for a Beyoncé Knowles breakout.Beyoncé’s group Destiny’s Child was one of the most successful groups of the late 90s and early 2000s, and she’d made her film debut the year prior, in the Austin Powers Sequel “Goldmember”, as well as contributing to its soundtrack. By late 2002, it was clear that Beyoncé’s solo star was ready to shine with a feature on her at-the-time-rumored boyfriend Jay-Z’s hit “‘03 Bonnie & Clyde”. - it added some edge...

By 2005, Nickelback could already lay claim to being one of the most ubiquitous bands in the world.  Having already achieved unbelievable success with Hits like “How You Remind Me” “Too Bad” and “Someday”, Nickelback had long crossed over from being a little band from Hanna, Alberta into bonafide global Rock Stars.  Armed with earnest lyrics, catchy melodies, and of course the aforementioned heartstring-tugging video - it’s no surprise that Photograph was a smash success.  Photograph...

Despite what you may think -2003’s Elephunk is *not* The Black Eyed Peas’ debut record. Will i am, taboo and apl de ap recorded and released two full major label albums before making it big; 1998’s “Behind the Front” and 2000’s “Bridging the Gap”. Both records, while critically well-reviewed, and loved by hipster hip-hop heads, had little to no success on the charts, and looked nothing like the Black Eyed Peas of today.  Original lead singer Kim Hill left the group soon after the release of...

In 2012, Taylor Swift was one of the biggest country music stars in the world. She was also one of the biggest pop stars in the world too. Like her hero Shania Twain before her, Taylor was able to walk a tightrope between the two genres - something that many artists had failed to do. Taylor always seemed to have her eyes set on becoming a pop star despite being one of country music’s most recognizable names.  Usually Taylor worked either alone or in a closed circle of collaborators, so she...

Do you remember where you were the first time you heard Outkast tell you to 'Shake it like a Polaroid Picture'? How about when Nickelback told you to 'Look at this Photograph'? Or when Taylor Swift provided the soundtrack to your Love story? Join Myles Galloway as he takes you through the biggest songs in the world - with new interviews and newly unearthed archive footage from the artists themselves. Subscribe on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts!