10 Bands That Suddenly Disappeared After One Hit

What makes a band burst onto the scene with a chart-topping anthem, only to fade into obscurity soon after? It’s a phenomenon that has played out countless times throughout music history. These are the stories of the one-hit wonders—bands that released a song so unforgettable, so iconic, that it remains etched in music history. But despite the initial success, they quickly vanished from the public eye, leaving us to wonder: What went wrong? Was it bad timing, a failure to follow up, or just pure chance? Join us in this video, as we discuss 10 Bands That Disappeared After One Hit.

@BackstageClassics #BackstageClassics #onehitwonders

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[philgbrittain]

Nothing wrong with being a one hit wonder. The vast majority of bands never had any hits.

[timothymarkin]

The Knack had a follow-up single called Good Girls Don’t, which was a very worthy successor.
Looking Glass had another top 40 single, Jimmy Loves Mary Ann.

[rentslave]

Zager and Evans should have called it 2025.

[paulcaron]

I'd love to be known for just one hit!!!

[TheRealDrJoey]

Backstage Classics: I think you should know that, because you use an AI narrator who doesn't know how to pronounce names, I will be blocking your channel. Get a real voiceover guy, of GET LOST.

[MS-rodm]

Andy Kim who wrote Sugar Sugar also had a big hit with Rock Me Gently. Sugar Sugar was also on the Stars on 45 Beatles mashup.

[drewcrews]

I think "Ride Captain Ride" by Blues Image could have made this list too.

[michaelosgood]

Good on 'em all for having One hit. One I can think of that wasn't featured was Black Betty by Ram Jam

[impalaman]

I consider myself a specialist in investigating so-called "one hit wonder" bands to see if the rest of the material is better than their one hit, and you know what? Most of these bands have songs that are WAY better than their one hit! There have been maybe only a few bands that have disappointed me, but by and large, I've come to conclusion that most of these "solo hits" were just songs A&R wanted you to hear. So NEVER judge a band by one hit. If anything---the one hit should make you curious about the rest of their stuff. You may be pleasantly surprised!

[chuckz]

Town-Shind. Pete Town-Shind. Are you kidding me 🤡

[Fantod]

The Knack was more than just "My Sharona"...that whole first album is pretty fantastic. "Good Girls Don't", "Your Number or Your Name", "That's What the Little Girls Do", 'Maybe Tonight"...great stuff!

[imkluu]

The Knack also had "Good Girls Don't" in 1979 and was a No. 1 hit in Canada. It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 in Record World, and #11 in Cash Box, as well as No. 66 on the United Kingdom chart, and No. 20 in New Zealand.

[loki]

I managed to work as a gigging musician for almost 30 years, playing guitar and bass in weddings and whatnot, and I only had one rule- I will not play Play That Funky Music. The final wedding I played, I told them ahead of time that I would not be participating in that song, despite it being on the setlist. We had not rehearsed it, but they made me play it, anyway. So I did. As the solo approached, I mused on what I could possibly play, properly to emphasize my distaste. They got the most authentic Billy Gibbons slide guitar solo I've ever played- I'll never replicate it, but it was truly glorious. Few bars in, I got the bassist and drummer drinkin my koolaid.... We weaved in and out of several ZZ top songs, in our 12 minute rendition, and the wedding party was totally into it. Singer fired us after that gig, but it was totally worth it.

[idanwillenchik]

Telstar was the second US Billboard Hot 100 chart # 1 hit by a UK act. The first was Stranger on the Shore by Acker Bilk in May 1962.

[robertmacdonald]

Wow. Dude in looking glass looks like young Alice Cooper.

[cleanersvenus]

I’m pretty sure this whole thing was put together with AI. That final image proved it.

[ajh]

The Year 2025 was like science fiction in a song.

[michaelannan]

A couple more, Magic by Pilot used in many ads, and The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace, off the top of mind

[stephencraig]

I don't miss any of them.
I was born August 20th, 1961...
So I'm still listening to them!
I have a huge 45rpm collection!
Cheers!

[durandaldevil]

I love the pronunciation of Townshend.