Top 10 Incredible Videos of Bands Before They Were Famous

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for incredible videos of famous bands before they had hit it big!

#10: The Strokes

The Strokes were a true sensation when they burst onto the New York scene at the turn of the century. Julian Casablancas and co. epitomised the new-age coolness while paying tribute to great bands like The Velvet Underground, The Doors, and The Stooges. In this clip from 2000, shot before the release of their debut album “Is This It”, you can hear all of the key ingredients that make up their sound. The jangly guitars, Julian’s trademark croon, and some songs of theirs that would go on to become classics. This is The Strokes turned all the way up to eleven… and their energy is infectious.

#9: No Doubt

Long before they truly hit the big-time with singles like “Don’t Speak” and “Just A Girl”, Gwen Stefani and No Doubt were making waves with their edgy fusion of ska and pop. It’s immediately clear in this performance that the band has potential. Stefani, in particular, was always on-point, and the danceable grooves and catchy hooks were clearly right there from the beginning as well. Yet, the main thing that stands out about this 1990 performance is just how much fun the band are clearly having. Little did they know just how far they could eventually take their sound and vision.

#8: Rage Against The Machine

The raw fury of Rage Against The Machine came pre-packed as soon as they decided on their band-name. In this pre-debut-album performance, “Killing In The Name” doesn’t even have lyrics yet, but a few recognisable classics make an appearance on the set. Considering this is their first public performance, the band have already nailed 80% of their trademark sound. It’s no wonder that they went on to record their debut album less than a year later. The footage is rough, but the sound quality is decent - and you can already see just how much potential they had. This is very clearly a Rage show, that’s for sure.

#7: Muse

Long before Muse went on to pack arenas and earn millions, they were a band who were still trying to figure out who they wanted to be. Like so many others, they tried their hand at a local Battle Of The Bands contest, which they unsurprisingly won. Well, the band themselves were actually quite shocked that they took home gold. They ended their set by smashing their instruments, which was supposed to be their big statement and reason for competing. However, when they won, they realised that maybe they should begin taking themselves seriously as a band. And the rest, as they say, is history. Oh, and bonus points must be given for Matt Bellamy’s haircut. It was the 90s.

#6: Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys were one of the first bands to truly make it on the back of some dedicated online fan support. The group itself didn’t really have too much to do with it either. But when early recordings started to gain traction, it led to the band developing an online cult following. Judging by this 2003 performance, it’s no surprise they were so beloved. Some of these tracks would eventually surface on their debut album, but Alex Turner and the boys were clearly already in full command of their sound. As far as teenage performances go, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more polished one than this.

#5: R.E.M.

R.E.M. would eventually go on to become one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the 80s and 90s. But before they made it to the studio, they earned their stripes playing clubs and venues all around the west of the U.S. This video, in particular, showcases R.E.M. just as they were hitting their stride. Filmed in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1982, you can tell that this is a young band who were putting the finishing touches on their style and sound. “Murmur”, their debut album, would soon be released and the next 27 years of music they made would be among the most important in the entire genre.

#4: Guns N’ Roses

Imagine sitting down at your local bar, having a few beers and a conversation, and one of the most acclaimed rock bands of all-time is playing in the background. But here’s the catch, they haven’t made it yet. Well, for Guns N’ Roses, despite their obvious talent and potential, this video showcases them playing to a crowd who don’t seem that interested. The song in question, “Don’t Cry”, was supposedly the first GNR song that Axl Rose ever wrote. And though it wouldn’t be released for another six years, the tune is still right there! This particular video stands out because it proves that even a great band isn’t always going to be received as well as they deserve at first.

#3: Oasis

The fact that very old rehearsal footage of Oasis exists is a real treat. And the fact that the Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, seem to get through it without fighting each other is, too! This 1992 video showcases the band performing a song that wouldn’t be released until their third album “All Around The World”. In fact, the footage predates their debut album “Definitely Maybe” by two years - proving that Oasis were cooking up their hits long before they arrived in the studio. Liam’s voice has rarely sounded better, but it would take 5 more years for this song to be released. When it did come out, it hit number one in the UK charts.

#2: Nirvana

This iteration of Nirvana is quite different from the one that would eventually hit it big. For one thing, there were four members, with an additional guitar player. For another, Dave Grohl had yet to join the band. And so, the legendary power trio we all came to know was only represented by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. But even in this early lineup, boy could these guys rock. Cobain’s voice is already approaching the level of angst and power that he would master on later recordings. Plus, they played loud - ushering in the grunge era with a real bang. Sure, the drumming would eventually be perfected by Grohl’s inimitable stylings, but for an early effort, this is pretty damn good.

#1: The Beatles

If you’re wondering how The Beatles got so good at writing music, well, they spent a long period of time honing their craft. Nothing will get a band tight quite like performing covers for hours and hours every day. And for The Beatles, they put in their work during a residency in Hamburg over the course of around two years. Though footage of these gigs is rare, we do thankfully have some documentation of their spell in Germany. Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and their drummer at the time, Stuart Sutcliffe, were an instant hit abroad - which eventually led them to meet their eventual manager, Brian Epstein. Hamburg is also where they picked up those trademark haircuts they popularised!

But can you think of any other great examples of very early-career live performances from great bands? Let us know in the comments below!