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I wouldn't say so in the UK. Id say your average listener would not know much by any of them but Joels and Springsteens more popular tracks are probably more mainstream than most Metallica tracks.
Brooks we can forget about in the UK, a vast majority have probably never even heard of him, let alone able to recognise any of his songs.
And most well-known artists in the World and most successful are two different things. If you take this route surely you would conclude that Ariana Grande is bigger than Led Zeppelin. Nearly all Billy Joel / Garth Brooks albums have been blockbusters, Metallica got one monster, a group of early albums which did wonders as catalog and then 'average' sellers once we compare them to the World's biggest. About the same for Springsteen, it's not like his albums used to sell 15 million copies, only one did.
I don't think today (unlike in the past) Bon Jovi and Dire Straits are more famous than Metallica, Bon Jovi then fell into oblivion because he is practically no longer able to sing, he is completely aphonic.
It sucks their first radio friendly (and first just plain shitty) album was such a monster success. Just imaging what would have happen without Bob Rock.
Metallica were big before The Black Album. I remember Justice for all being double platinum in the Rolling Stone magazine chart back in 1989. Sure they then became much bigger but they were already Selling out arenas. I personally think they would have been much better if they didn’t become so big. Record label pressure etc.
Yeah Guns were definitely bigger back in the day, but Metallica has aged to become bigger. Guns also has a greatest hits album which boosts their sales a lot while Metallica doesn’t. I have a question tho, and it’s a very random one, and redundant lol. Do you think peak Guns and Metallica are bigger than peak Eminem and Drake? Also, do you think Drake has an advantage to put up better numbers being in the Spotify/social media age compared to artist 20+ years ago? Obviously drake has a disadvantage with pure sales because people don’t buy music, but do you think it helps him with billboard charts, certified units, etc. Would you say all four artists above are in the top 20 biggest artists of all time?
Metallica is easily bigger than Nirvana, and arguably bigger than the Eagles.
I’d say 1) Eagles 2) Metallica 3) Guns (if they never broke up they definitely have a great chance at number 1, but I think 3 is a good spot for them 4) Nirvana.
Metallica
Brazil: 2.099.500
UK: 5.180.000
France: 3.060.000
Italy: 2.045.000
Iron Maiden
Brazil: 4.135.000
UK: 8.085.000
France: 4.245.000
Italy: 4.180.000
This is a better table. Net sales only studio albums !
Metallica - 11 studio albums - net sales:
Brazil: 1.820.000
UK: 4.635.000
France: 2.780.000
Italy: 1.900.000
Iron Maiden - 17 studio albums - net sales :
Brazil: 3.048.000
UK: 5.817.500
France: 3.275.000
Italy: 3.257.000
