FX’s Pistol was released on streaming services in May of this year and told the turbulent story of the iconic English punk band, the Sex Pistols. The show’s compelling and creative retelling of the rise and fall of the Sex Pistols makes for a thoroughly enjoyable 6-part series for Pistols fans and non-fans alike.
With the show’s success, it wouldn’t be surprising to see further biographical series based on popular bands start appearing on streaming services, especially ones with multiple seasons worth of history. These bands from across the decades could and should get the Pistol treatment.
Blur
Arguably the first word in Britpop, Blur has produced some absolute anthems popular not just in the UK but all over the world with songs like “Parklife” and “Song 2.”
The story of an outsider from Essex going on to form one of the most influential and popular bands of the 1990s would certainly be a riveting one, complete with the band’s history of chaotic parties and troubled relationships. The show could even touch on the famous “Britpop wars” with rival band Oasis.
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is a band like no other, being the collaborative effort of Blur frontman Damon Albarn, artist Jamie Hewlett and an endless stream of music artists from around the world. All of this is fronted by a cartoon band drawn by Hewlett and voiced by Albarn and his various collaborators.
An animated Gorillaz show is long overdue, utilizing the extensive lore of the fictional band members and the unique artistic style of Jamie Hewlett. However, an unexpected series detailing the real-life story of Albarn and Hewlett’s passion project turned global phenomenon could be equally entertaining.
Radiohead
Radiohead is one of the most influential and innovative bands of the past few decades. Members also have their own impressive solo careers with Johnny Greenwood acting as the composer for several Paul Thomas Anderson movies.
As such, there’s definitely a market for a series telling the origins of the beloved band, especially if it made good use of their music. On top of this, the band’s origins as a collection of eccentric, music-loving individuals would provide the series with a multitude of great stories surrounding the deeply interesting characters of Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood.
Oasis
Over the band’s 18-year career, Oasis, lead by the Gallagher brothers, has released some of the world’s most beloved songs with hits like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” However, the band has certainly had one of the more tumultuous histories in the music industry.
Not only were the Gallagher brothers at war with rival band Blur, but they were also at war with each other. The story of how a small Manchester band became one of the biggest in the world only to have the leading brothers despise each other a decade or so later would make for some truly great television.
Pulp
Sheffield band Pulp made the pages of music magazines and tabloids alike over its tenure, with one incident involving frontman Jarvis Cocker invading the stage during a Micheal Jackson performance.
The band’s eclectic mix of members and charismatic frontman would provide the perfect characters for a limited series that follows the northern band’s rise to fame and eventual breakup. Furthermore, Cocker has enough misadventures and achievements to warrant a TV series of his own, such as often working with the great Wes Anderson.
Death Grips
Perhaps one of the most popular and innovative experimental groups of this generation, Death Grips’ three members produce some of the most aggressive and indescribable tunes in popular music today.
The question of how such a band came to be, with their distinctly unique sound that combines punk with noise, is one music fans would love to have answered in a limited series exploring Death Grips’ origins. The journey of the trio from a mysterious group with a cult following to a worldwide boundary-pushing success is certainly one worth telling.
Nirvana
Nirvana has seen a new wave of popularity recently after one of their songs was featured in The Batman. With the band’s newfound fans, perhaps now is the best time for a TV show surrounding the famous band members.
The band’s somewhat short-lived existence would be perfect for a limited series, telling both the heart-warming story of the band’s success and the heart-breaking tale of Kurt Cobain’s eventual death. The show could even delve further into the past and explore Cobain’s time as a young homeless dropout or Dave Grohl’s time with the punk band Scream.
Fleetwood Mac
The British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac has produced some of the most beloved songs of the past century, having one of the best-selling albums of all time. Their mix of British and American influences makes their story a transatlantic epic for a television series.
With the band’s impressive and lengthy career, somewhat troubled lives, and various inter-band relationships, there’s no shortage of stories to be told surrounding this band and Fleetwood Mac fans would surely love to see these visualized within a series. What’s more, as she’s considered an icon today, fans would love to see Stevie Nicks bought to life on the small screen.
The Cranberries
Irish band The Cranberries has had a long, eventful career with a long list of popular, often politically-motivated tracks. They are one of the most successful alternative bands of the 90s with their song “Zombie” being a particular favorite. The song can be heard (rather controversially out-of-place) in the recent zombie movie Army of the Dead.
Today, The Cranberries get less attention than they should with their twenty-year history seeing controversy, riots, and, tragically, the death of lead singer Dolores O’Riordan. As such, their story is definitely one worth telling in a series complete with both highs and lows.
Arctic Monkeys
With more awards than one can count on two hands, Arctic Monkeys were giants of the 2000s and 2010s, boasting numerous great tracks that are still popular today. Their growth from a group of boys playing gigs for fun to releasing several number one albums would make for an excellent success story.
The band’s somewhat unconventional rise to fame through Myspace make their story a unique one, to begin with. Couple this with some charismatic members and a Sheffield setting and there can be a show that not only explores the band’s journey but a country at the start of a digital revolution.
