The history of rock music is full of up-and-down moments that altered the discourse of the genre and the path of music as we know it. For instance, there are the five bands that made the greatest comebacks in rock history, as well as 10 rock groups that lost their magic when an original member left the fold.

Rock music can also be long-term for acts on the circuit, with the top ten classic bands still touring in 2025. What does it take to obtain this type of survival in a fast-moving industry? Sometimes, all some groups needed was a song to keep them from splitting up, or a track that could elevate their status to iconic heights.

AC/DC, Back In Black (1980)

Hard rock group AC/DC was well on its way to the ranks of international levels of stardom as 1980 rolled around, as the band had released six studio albums at this point and was making plans for a seventh. But then, tragedy struck when AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott died suddenly of causes related to alcohol poisoning.

The surviving members considered disbanding for good. But family and friends persuaded them to continue, leading to the recruitment of former Geordie singer Brian Johnson. The result was 1980s Back in Black, an album that (with the help of its iconic title track) soared to multi-platinum critical and commercial success, pushing AC/DC to greater heights of fame.

Fleetwood Mac, The Chain (1977)

Sessions for Fleetwood Mac’s eleventh studio album Rumours were fraught with major tension and infighting between members of the band as they collectively went through the collapse of relationships as well as heavy drug usage. Dealing with such high stress seemed like a recipe for disaster, if certain songs hadn’t come together like pressure turning into diamonds.

Arguably the biggest of the lot was “The Chain,” the only track from Rumours credited to all five members of Fleetwood Mac. Despite the band’s significant difficulties in getting along at the time (and over the years), “The Chain” became part of the glue that kept Fleetwood Mac together then (along with the track’s subsequent success).

U2, One (1991)

Irish rockers U2 began the recording sessions for their seventh album Achtung Baby in late 1990, and circumstances soon found the group in conflict with each other over both the direction of their sound and the quality of material they had. U2 seemed to be in critical end stage career danger, until the initial guitar chords for “One” suddenly appeared.

The entire track quickly came together after this and re-inspired the band, with lyrics developed from various subjects such as these fractured feelings about each other that came pouring out. This changed the mood and the direction of the recording sessions, reaffirming that the band’s natural talent would keep them going.

R.E.M., Losing My Religion (1991)

Alt-rockers R.E.M. had begun to make a name for themselves as part of music’s alternative circuit, but had yet to break into wider success as they headed into the 1991 release of their seventh studio album, entitled Out of Time. The band’s fortunes would drastically (and unpredictably) change thanks to the LP’s first single, “Losing My Religion.”

Despite initial unwillingness from the group’s record label to use such an unconventional track (featuring a heavy dosage of mandolin) as a lead single, the move paid off, becoming R.E.M.’s biggest United States hit. It would also move the band into mainstream success and would even net them a Grammy Award.

Aerosmith, Walk This Way (1975, 1986)

The song “Walk This Way” became a key aspect of the multipart history of rockers Aerosmith, both defining their rise (and return) into the spotlight. The track first emerged on the band’s 1975 album Toys in the Attic, becoming part of a hot streak of ’70s singles that the group had that broke them into the mainstream consciousness.

“Walk This Way” would return again for Aerosmith in 1986, thanks to a collaborative cover performed by the band and hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. on Run’s LP Raising Hell. It not only brought Aerosmith back into relevance, but broke pioneering ground in the rap-rock category and what that pairing could accomplish.

Radiohead, Creep (1993)

The release of the song (and debut single) “Creep” by the band Radiohead came as a completely unlikely success for the band. Initially in the mix of songs for the album Pablo Honey as an afterthought (that Radiohead didn’t plan to release), one of the record’s producers encouraged the group to play “Creep” after other recording sessions didn’t yield results.

The result was so enthusiastic that the band’s label was encouraged to make “Creep” the lead single. While it initially didn’t land, a later reissue made “Creep” an international hit. Despite Radiohead’s varying feelings about the song over the years, it remains one of the most-known, successful parts of their legacy.

Pearl Jam, Alive (1991)

Guitarist Stone Gossard wrote the origins of “Alive” (originally called “Dollar Short”) in 1990 while still a member of Seattle rock band Mother Love Bone. Plans for where that may have gone died along with the tragic overdose of MLB’s lead singer Andrew Wood, leaving Gossard, bandmate (and bassist) Jeff Ament, and guitarist Mike McCready searching for a new group.

“Dollar Short” was compiled onto a tape called Stone Gossard Demos ’91 and passed around as the trio searched for a singer and drummer. The tape found its way to singer Eddie Vedder, who wrote emotionally gripping, semi-autobiographical lyrics to the instrumental (and other songs) while surfing in San Diego before sending his demo back to Seattle.

His effort earned Vedder an opportunity to join the band (briefly called Mookie Blaylock) that would eventually be referred to as Pearl Jam. “Alive,” meanwhile, would become an all-time highlight anthem of the group, that would help bring them together after Gossard and Ament’s shattering loss, defining their grunge-laced, groundbreaking debut 1991 LP, entitled Ten.

Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)

As grunge icons Nirvana began recording sessions for their 1991 album Nevermind, they had yet to reach that legendary level and were still a fringe-type of act after their 1989 debut record Bleach. Lead man Kurt Cobain came up with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in part by trying to write a pop-oriented rock song in the style of the Pixies.

Despite a tone with lighter intentions, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” emerged as a generational ’90s anthem of the grunge era that would become one of the best-selling songs of all time. While Nirvana would come and go quickly with Cobain’s death a few years later, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” would permanently cement their all-time legacy status.