10 Rock Bands Who Sold Out (But We Love Them Anyway)
7. The Black Keys
In 2003, US blues rock duo The Black Keys received a very interesting offer.
A mayonnaise manufacturer in England wanted to license one of their songs for use in an advert. For their troubles, the low-fi rockers would be paid the whopping sum of £200,000.
However, not wanting their cool, underground style to be tainted by the eggy spread, they said no.
Whilst this was a noble move at the time, the band needn't have bothered as they were destined to become mainstream stars anyway.
The group exploded in popularity with the release of Brothers in 2010. Singles like Tighten Up and Howlin' for You were some of the most polished Black Keys tracks to date - a far cry from the album they once recorded in an old tyre factory.
Albums like El Camino and Let's Rock came after, establishing the boys as one of the most prominent names in modern rock.
Whilst they've definitely embraced the more commercial side of the music business, the band still feel authentic to their Southern rock roots and are still churning out the bangers with impressive regularity.
Bet they wish they'd taken that mayonnaise money now, though.