Every Iconic Rock Band Origin Story Explained

Before they were selling out stadiums, some of rock’s biggest bands were school friends, failed projects, musicians answering newspaper ads, or completely different groups with completely different names. A few classic lineups came together almost by accident—and sometimes the member who changed everything arrived at the very last minute. In this video, we break down the origin stories behind iconic rock bands including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, The Who, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Oasis, and Radiohead. From Jimmy Page rebuilding the Yardbirds and Metallica finding Cliff Burton to Nirvana discovering Dave Grohl and Noel Gallagher joining his brother’s band, these are the unlikely beginnings behind bands that went on to shape rock history.