Notable American music artists/bands who found greater success abroad

Academy Award-winning actor Jared Leto moonlights as a rock star within 30 Seconds to Mars (which includes brother Shannon Leto on drums). And, yes, the band continues to churn out records and sell out shows worldwide, but it still seems American audiences can't make up their mind about 30 Seconds to Mars. Either the band is too mainstream, too alternative, too safe, even anti-American (especially after 2018's America). And, while the band won a Billboard Music Award for Modern Rock Artist of the Year in 2007, it continues to do well abroad. The group has won several awards based in Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Argentina, Peru and Canada.

When alternative power-pop rockers Creed disbanded in 2003, guitarist Mark Tremonti and drummer Scott Phillips teamed with the band's former bassist Brian Marshall and uber-talented frontman/guitarist Myles Kennedy to form Alter Bridge. And yes, while `the band has been lauded in the United States, it continues to have a solid following in Europe. Its fifth studio release The Last Hero (2016) was Alter Bridge's first album to reach the top five on the UK Albums Chart. In 2017, the band headlined Europe's Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Download Festival and Hellfest. Alter Bridge has also played in Ireland and Argentina.

During the mid-to-late 1990s, this alt-pop/rap-rock outfit, known for its crude behavior and crass lyrics filled with sexual innuendos, earned moderate U.S. success with the tune "Fire Water Burn," and the albums One Fierce Beer Coaster (1996) and Hooray for Boobies (1999). However, the band, also known for its often controversial and envelope-pushing live sets, never sustained consistent success in the States. However, there has long been an audience for the Bloodhound Gang in Europe. The band's catalog has been honored in Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Ireland.

During the 1980s, The Hooteŗs enjoyed some established success with hits like "All You Zombies," "Day by Day" and "And We Danced" in America. Though the band played Live Aid in its native Philadelphia, that portion of its success was short-lived. However, the single "Satellite," from 1987's One Way Home, proved to be a major hit in Europe, eventually leading the band to begin years of touring the continent. The Hooteŗs also played The Wall Concert in Berlin in 1990. Then, three years later, it enjoyed more European success with the release of Out of Body.

For as influential as Faith No More has been on the alternative metal scene — and beyond, with Guns N' Roses, Slipknot and Ghost listed among those inspired by the band — it never truly enjoyed consistent mainstream American success beyond the hit "Epic," from 1989. That said, Faith No More continues to remain quite popular outside the U.S., in places like the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Germany. A reunited version of Faith No More was slated to tour the UK and other European countries in 2022, but then postponed due to singer Mike Patton citing mental health reasons. 

Though Friedman spent significant time playing guitar for Megadeth (1990-2000), he's been more of an under-the-radar performer in the United States — and an excellent musician, to boot. However, when traveling all the way to Japan, Friedman is a guitar hero. Since 2003, Friedman has called Tokyo home. He's a consistent presence on Japanese television and written music columns for Japanese magazines and newspapers. As of 2021, Friedman has released 13 solo albums, six of which while appearing on the Japanese label Avex Trax.

It's never wise to hassle "The Hoff," especially in Germany, where the Baywatch star is a beloved musical entertainer. Hasselhoff endured a lull in his acting career following the massive success of TV's Knight Rider (1982-'86), but made a killing in his second career as a singer in Europe — notably Germany, where his 1989 cover of the single "Looking for Freedom," was a No. 1 hit. The tune, along with much of Hasselhoff's musical catalog, also fared well in Switzerland. He's released 15 studio albums, most recently 2021's Party Your Hasselhoff.

We're not saying Kings of Leon is not respected in the United States, because there are 13 Grammy Award nominations and four wins to back that up. However, it can be argued that the band's mainstream popularity in America is not to the level it was during the 2000s, and especially following the release of 2008's Only by the Night. But, before, during and after that record, the Kings have been a big deal in the UK, where interest remains strong. Not to mention, the band is still quite popular in places like Sweden and Australia.

In America, Mr. Big is likely still known in the U.S. for the No. 1 acoustic ballad "To Be with You," from 1992. It helped ignite and further the unplugged music craze that consumed the first half of the 1990s. However, since the band was formed in late 1980s, and has featured rock veterans in singer Eric Martin, unheralded guitarist Paul Gilbert and all-encompassing bassist Billy Sheehan, it has been massively successful in Japan. In fact, when Mr. Big reunited to tour in the late 2000s, its tour began in Japan. 

Now, Jimmy was never going to earn the worldwide acclaim that older siblings Donnie and Marie generated over the decades. However, he's built a nice solo career for himself, with a majority of his success coming abroad. In fact, at age 5, Jimmy Osmond earned a gold record for his recording of "My Little Darling" in Japanese, which began a run of fame in Japan that still continues. He then enjoyed a No. 1 hit in both the UK and Australia as a pre-teen for 1971's "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool."  Over the years, Osmond successfully toured in Mexico and South America, as well. 

As we know, Beyoncé isn't the only member of Destiny's Child to have a successful solo career. Rowland has most certainly had her moments of musical success in America, but her debut album Simply Deep (2002) topped the UK Albums Chart. The Grammy winner, who has also been honored throughout Europe (notably England and Sweden), seems to have maintained a more consistent international presence on the pop, R&B and dance scene overseas.

Formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, The Runaways are pioneers and huge influences for many a female rocker that has followed. And while the the band's legacy remains celebrated in the U.S., largely thanks to the hit "Cherry Bomb," The Runaways' biggest fan base can be found in Japan, where, to this day, the band is still regarded as rock royalty — and not just among female fans. The group released Live in Japan in 1977, and that record was not actually ever slated to be released in America or the UK. 

Scherzinger made a name for herself as lead singer of The Pȗssycat Dolls during the early 2000s. And, while her talent shifted to acting after that group dissolved in 2010, Scherzinger did release a pair of solo albums. Though neither made any notable waves in the United States, her 2011 debut Killer Love cracked the top 10 on both the UK Albums and Scottish Albums Chart. The single "Don't Hold Your Breath" knocked beloved Adele out of the No.1 spot on the UK charts. Scherzinger's 2014 follow-up Big Fat Lie was not as successful, but peaked inside the top 20 in each of those aforementioned charts, as well as the Australian Urban Albums Chart.

This Los Angeles-based rock (soft, pop, fusion) band earned serious international success during the early 1980s with hits like "Rosanna" and "Africa." It's also won multiple Grammy Awards. However, in America, the group was never able to sustain the commercial success it enjoyed during the late 1970s and into the '80s, even while still putting out records (with singer/guitarist Steve Lukather as the most consistent member). But, it has remained successful in places throughout Europe like Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, where its albums have regularly cracked the top 10.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1964, The Walker Brothers found that the key to its musical success was moving across the Atlantic Ocean to the UK. From 1965-68, the pop trio struck it big there — while British Invasion bands were sweeping the United States — with UK No. 1 hits like "Make It Easy on Yourself" and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)." Though The Walker Brothers' fame was relatively short-lived, the group remains one of music's most intriguing acts of the time period.

Williams is a one of the great American songwriters ("The Love Boat" theme, "We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays," just to name a few of his many exceptional tunes) and a Grammy Award winner. When it came to his own performing career, Williams wasn't nearly successful in that area as he was as writer and composer. However, for those who happened to catch the 2011 documentary Paul Williams: Still Alive, where we find out just how big of a performer Williams was in — of all places — the Philippines. 

This low-key metal outfit enjoyed some decent mainstream success with 1985's "Summertime Girls," and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich cited the band as one of the reasons he picked up drum sticks. While the group was never able to sustain that success during the '80s like other hair-metal bands of the time, Y&T is a collective survivor. Through various lineup changes, and with singer/guitarist Dave Meniketti still the driving force, it's released 12 studio albums, which have charted in places like Sweden, especially, and even Denmark.