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‘Music From The Elder’ & 4 Other Classic Rock Flops

KISS’ Music From The Elder was released on November 10, 1981. It was so poorly received the band didn’t even tour in support of the album. Of course, this is…

UMG

KISS’ Music From The Elder was released on November 10, 1981. It was so poorly received the band didn’t even tour in support of the album.

Of course, this is just one of a number of flops the classic rock world has seen. Here are some of the most notorious classic rock flops.

KISS - 'Music From The Elder'

Kiss_MusicFr_CoverAr_3000DPI300RGB1000149152-1.jpgUMG

'Music From The Elder' was a massive flop for KISS, but decades later, the band would release a comic book series inspired by the concept album and a 536-page book about the album. No one asked for either.


Keith Moon - 'Two Sides Of The Moon'

keith-moon_MCA_Polydor.jpgMCA/Polydor

Many people are torn on whether Moon was being serious or having a bit of a laugh when he released his first (and only) solo album, which was a covers album. But the fact that he sang on all ten tracks yet only played drums on three is just wrong.


Bob Dylan - 'Self Portrait'

bob-dylan_Columbia.jpgColumbia

Unlike Moon, Dylan really was joking on this 1970 double-album. In a 1984 'Rolling Stone' interview, Dylan said he was tired of being the voice of a generation stating, “I wish these people would just forget about me. I wanna do something they can’t possibly like, they can’t relate to.” Mission accomplished!


Lou Reed and Metallica - 'Lulu'

metallica-lou-reed_Warner-Bros_Vertigo.jpgWarner Bros./Vertigo

In theory, an album collaboration between Reed and Metallica sounded like an awesome idea. But considering a majority of the album is done in spoken word, you can understand why it was so poorly received by critics and fans alike.


Van Halen - 'Van Halen III'

van-halen-III_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros.

While certainly not the fault of then new singer Gary Cherone, 'Van Halen III' wasn't well-received my fans or critics.

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights