5 Rock Legends Without a No. 1 Single

In popular music history, sometimes there’s a disconnect between success, stardom, and general popularity. Rock and roll is full of artists who win Grammys, sell millions of albums, pack stadiums around the world, and reach the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame all without ever landing a No. 1 single.

Then imagine the artists with No. 1 hits that history forgets. Or you might know the song but not the artist. Still, you may be surprised to learn the legends below never topped the singles chart.

But if you’re releasing music alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Prince, or Madonna, it’s understandable how a classic song might be blocked from the top spot.

Though they persist as legends, the artists below have never topped Billboard’s singles chart.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath is responsible for shaping heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne is the Prince of Darkness, and Tony Iommi is undoubtedly the Riff Lord, but Birmingham, England’s doom legends have never reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Iron Man” only reached No. 52 in 1972 and “Paranoid” peaked at No. 61 two years earlier. However, no one told generations of kids asking their parents for a guitar. Though Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath, his extraordinary solo career has produced two Top-10 hits, “Close My Eyes Forever” with Lita Ford and “Take What You Want” with Post Malone and Travis Scott.

AC/DC

Pop charts don’t always tell the story, especially for rock bands. AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums, and they’ve sold out stadium tours for decades, yet, topping the singles chart has eluded them.

According to Billboard, AC/DC’s highest charting single is “Moneytalks,” which peaked at No. 23 on February 9, 1991. The single appeared on the group’s 1990 album The Razors Edge. Moreover, “You Shook Me All Night Long” reached No. 35, “Back in Black” No. 37, and “Highway to Hell” No. 47. Back in Black didn’t top the album chart either. But it remains the third best-selling album in U.S. history.

For those about to rock…

Jimi Hendrix

Sometimes you don’t need a hit to change music. Jimi Hendrix changed how people played the electric guitar without ever reaching No. 1 on the singles chart. His 1968 cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” reached No. 20, his highest position on the Hot 100.

“Purple Haze” is Hendrix’s second-highest charting single, peaking at No. 65. Essayist Chuck Klosterman once pointed out how history narrows the number of notable musicians. Just as Beethoven has remained a dominating figure in classical music, Hendrix endures as an artist more profound than a chart measured by popular airplay (or streaming).

Bruce Springsteen

This one’s shocking. Bruce Springsteen’s highest charting single is “Dancing in the Dark,” peaking at No. 2 in 1984. “Dancing in the Dark” remained at No. 2 for four weeks behind “The Reflex” by Duran Duran and “When Doves Cry” by Prince.

Several others have cracked the Top 10, including “Streets of Philadelphia,” “I’m on Fire,” “Hungry Heart,” “Glory Days,” and “Born in the U.S.A.” Still, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band covered Springsteen’s “Blinded by the Light” and their version reached No. 1 in 1977.

Bob Dylan

Rock and roll’s poet laureate came close. Twice, but it’s all right. “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” topped out at No. 2 in 1965 and 1966, respectively. While “Lay Lady Lay” and “Positively 4th Street” entered the Top 10, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” peaked at No. 12 in 1973.

Some songs become cultural touchstones for a generation. But Dylan’s songbook is full of American standards. He’ll have to lick his wounds and remain contented as the greatest songwriter the world’s ever known.

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