Source: Graphic by Jarrett Huff/Radio One
No one is perfect – this includes many of our favorite rock legends. While their legacies were built on the backs of exceptional records and singles that cemented their legendary status, some albums turned out to be stinkers.
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Here’s 20 of the worst albums made by rock legends:
1. Mardi Gras (1972) – Creedence Clearwater Revival
This was the final record released by the legendary CCR, without guitarist Tom Fogerty. John Fogerty ceded some of his control over the production of the record to other members of the band, resulting in the worst record of the band’s discography.
2. Full Circle (1972) – The Doors
After the release of Other Voices in 1971 following the death of singer Jim Morrison, the remaining Doors members decided to double down on a second record post-Morrison. This resulted in an experimental album that led to the band disbanding not long after.
3. This Time We Mean It (1975) – REO Speedwagon
This Time We Mean It is a very forgettable REO Speedwagon record, featuring frontman Mike Murphy. It doesn’t do much well, and it became clear it was time to bring singer Kevin Cronin back into the band.
4. Presence (1976) – Led Zeppelin
This isn’t necessarily a bad album – it’s just not a great album by Led Zeppelin’s standards. Robert Plant recorded most of his vocals from a wheel chair following a car accident and Jimmy Page was suffering from drug addiction, making it a tough time in the rock legends’ history. However, there is still a lot to like with Presence.
5. Rock In a Hard Place (1982) – Aerosmith
A rather divisive record amongst Aerosmith fans, Rock In a Hard Place is the only Aerosmith record to not feature Joe Perry or Brad Whitford. I’m among the group of Aerosmith fans that mostly dislikes the record, regarding it as the band’s worst. Many claim Night in the Ruts the worst, but I find more redeeming bits from their 1978 effort, thanks in part to some leftover Perry parts and Whitford’s inclusion.
6. Hot Space (1982) – Queen
The disco-pop sound Queen gave audiences wasn’t what fans were looking for in 1982. Despite Under Pressure with David Bowie being a hit, there’s not a lot to write home about off Hot Space.
7. It’s Hard (1982) – The Who
This record gave us the masterpiece that is Eminence Front, and not much else.
8. The Final Cut (1983) – Pink Floyd
Many fans consider this more of a Roger Waters-solo record than a Pink Floyd album. It’s a disappointing follow-up to 1979’s The Wall.
9. Dirty Work (1986) – The Rolling Stones
Many critics and fans felt this record was evidence that after over two decades, The Rolling Stones were staring to run out of steam and energy. Others cite Mick Jagger’s solo career as an issue, in terms of hogging his best material for himself, but it wasn’t great either.
10. Hot in the Shade (1989) – KISS
Forever at No. 8 gave KISS its highest-charting U.S. single since Beth, but the album failed to achieve platinum status.
11. Union (1991) – Yes
Yes was a house divided by the end of the 1980s, with two distinct eras of the band recording and touring under band’s name. Eventually, the two halves were convinced to untie to make the appropriately-titled Union. However, the record sounds anything but united.
12. Human Touch (1992) – Bruce Springsteen
Briscoe Springsteen ditched his famed E Street Band for session musicians to name Human Touch, which is very apparent upon listening.
13. Forbidden (1995) – Black Sabbath
Tony Iommi, then the only original remaining member, was pushed to seek out rapper Ice-T to produce a new Black Sabbath record. What he got instead was a muddied Ernie C-produced record that nobody liked. Iommi released his own remix of the record in 2024 to much more praise.
14. Time (1995) – Fleetwood Mac
With the departure of Lindsey Buckingham in 1987 and Stevie Nicks in 1990, Mick Fleetwood decided to press on with replacements for the famed former members, leading to the release of Time in 1995. However, the band’s time appeared to be up by then, as they disbanded until reforming with Buckingham and Nicks in 1997.
15. Generation Swine (1997) – Mötley Crüe
You’d think reuniting with frontman Vince Neil would’ve been the kickstart Mötley Crüe needed to win back the hearts of fans after little to write home about in the 1990s. Instead, Generation Swine turned out to be too experimental, and likely better-served with John Corabi’s vocals.
16. Van Halen III (1998) – Van Halen
In 1996, the Van Halen brothers had opportunities to have either current frontman Sammy Hagar continue on with the band after a decade of success together, or properly reunite with former frontman David Lee Roth after recording two new songs for their compilation record. Instead, Hagar left the band angry and their brief reunion with Roth quickly deteriorated. Fast forward to 1998, they release Van Halen III with former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone, which was a disaster. Eddie Van Halen took over majority of the production and even played bass on all but three songs, cutting Michael Anthony out almost entirely.
17. Corporate America (2002) – Boston
Tom Scholz’s follow-up to 1994’s Walk On, Corporate America feels hollow without reel drums and an under-utilized Brad Delp. The record is a departure from the band’s typical sound, making it a very forgettable early-2000s rock record.
18. X (2002) – Def Leppard
After returning to their commercially-successful sound of the 1980s with 1999’s Euphoria, Def Leppard record X, moving further toward more of a pop sound, disappointing fans and critics alike. There’s a decent song or two on the record, but not much stands out.
19. St. Anger (2003) – Metallica
Musically, this was Metallica’s all-time low. Cheesy and unsophisticated lyrics, along with some odd musical decisions made this record hated by most Metallica fans and critics.
20. Chinese Democracy (2008) – Guns N’ Roses
GNR fans waited 15 years for Chinese Democracy to be released, but after the long wait, they probably wished it never happened. A collection of material from over a decade and a half of musicians coming and going to contribute to its recording, the record sounds disjointed and all over the board. The only thing that makes it feel like a GNR record is Axl Rose’s vocals, which makes the project better-served as a solo record if anything.
