10 Hard Rock Bands That Went Pop

It might seem strange to put a band like Fleetwood Mac on a list of hard rock bands considering everything they've done to distance themselves from their beginnings. On the other hand, any classic rock devotee will know that there was something much heavier going on before this band became radio rock staples.

First emerging out of the British blues scene, Fleetwood Mac originally had a core frontman with Peter Green, whose guitar work and songwriting gave the band a soulful edge. Though they never managed any colossal hits, their songs have become standards in the rock community with "Albatross" inspiring the Beatles' "Sun King" and having a handful of their songs being covered by everyone from Santana to Judas Priest.

As the years went on though, Green eventually left the group to focus on his own musical ventures, leading to a revolving door of musicians before settling on the musical pair of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Once this classic lineup was intact, albums like Rumours and Tusk gave the band huge success, whose songs that toed the line between pop and folk rock. It may have been a step away from the band's bluesy beginnings, but it ended up being the shot in the arm that the band needed.