While some actors end up choosing Hollywood over a music career, others try to have both, and the results aren’t always worthwhile. A solo career is definitely more difficult that putting together a bad, so these celebrities decided to collaborate with other musicians.
Check out some of the best and worst celebrity bands, some that have achieved critical success and even sold a lot of records, and some that are remembered for all the wrong reasons.
The Best Celebrity Bands
While acting still comes first for these celebrities, their musical efforts either made a splash in the charts or gained quite a following.
Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds To Mars
Even though Jared Leto took a five year break from his acting to focus on his musical ambitions, he still managed to get back on top and win an Academy Award for “Dallas Buyers Club”.
The rock band started with his brother Shannon and guitarist Tomo Milicevic has released four albums since 2020, and is one of the best celebrity bands thanks to worldwide sales of over 15 million albums.
Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him
The indie duo consisting on Zooey Deschnael and singer-songwriter M. Ward hasn’t sond as many albums as 30 Seconds To Mars, but it’s one of the most respected celebrity bands around. Since 2020, the two have released 5 including a Christmas one and a record of classic covers, and also scored a Grammy nomination.
Jack Black’s Tenacious D
With three well-reviews albums and a movie “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny”, the comedy duo that consists of Jack Black and Kyle Glass is definitely one of the best celebrity bands. The Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl played drums on every record, so it’s not hard to see why their musical efforts were taken seriously.
Taylor Momsen’s The Pretty Wreckless
After gaining notoriety thanks to her role in “Gossip Girl”, Taylor Momsen focused on her rock band The Pretty Wreckless. With two studio albums and two EPs in their discography, the four member band has also gone on tour with Marilyn Manson, Evanescence and Nickelback.
Ryan Gosling’s Dead Man’s Bones
Even though they only put out a single album so far, Dead Man’s Bones definitely deserves a place among the best celebrity bands. While Ryan Gosling’s Mickey Mouse Club co-stars, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears focused on pop, Ryan ended up as half of rock duo with Zach Shields, and the two played all the instruments on their eponymous album.
See also: Cover You Ears! Celebs Who Can’t Sing
The Worst Celebrity Bands
Focusing on both acting and music doesn’t always work, and these bands definitely prove the point that not all celebrities should try to make music.
Jada Pinkett Smith’s Wicked Wisdow
Definitely one of the worst celebrity bands, the nu metal experiment from Jada Pinkett Smith managed to release two albums, but a third one never materialized. Opening for Britney Spears’ Onyx Hotel Tour and playing at Ozzfest in 2020 didn’t translate into chart or critical success.
Russell Crowe’s TOFOG
Using the same acronym for two bands, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts and The Ordinary Fear of God, Russell Crowe released four albums and an EP, but his rock bands never gained much traction either in Australia or abroad, while “Les Misérables” proved he definitely shouldn’t sing.
Juliette Lewis’ Juliette and the Licks
Even though she went solo for a single album after her band broke up, the actress managed to be a part of one of the worst celebrity bands. Juliette and the Licks released three albums, and opened for Christ Cornell, but never really achieved critical success or made an impact in the charts.
Steven Seagal’s Thunderbox and Blues Band
After releasing a solo album in 2020, Steven Seagal kept trying to make it happen with a second album “Mojo Priest”, released under the name Steven Seagal & Thunderbox. In 2020, he made headlines with the Steven Seagal Blues Band, that got kicked out of an Estonian music festival because of his support of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Keanu Reeves’ Dogstar
Definitely one of the worst celebrity bands, Dogstar broke up in 2020, when Keanu Reeves decided to focus on his acting career. Nobody really missed them.