Bands That Start With B: 40 Groups Across Rock, Pop, Metal, and More
Looking for bands that start with B? You have plenty to choose from. The letter B includes some of the biggest names in rock and pop history, including the Beatles, Bee Gees, Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Bon Jovi, Blink-182, Blur, Bush, Boston, and the Byrds.
It also covers metal, punk, indie rock, R&B, electronic music, and alternative bands from several generations.
Whether you need an answer for a music game or want new bands to explore, these 40 groups all begin with B.
1. The Beatles
Genre: Rock, pop
Start with: “Come Together”
The Beatles are the most obvious place to begin.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr became one of the most influential and commercially successful bands in music history.
From the early pop of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to the experimentation of Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Abbey Road, their music changed enormously within less than a decade.
If articles or games ignore “The” when alphabetizing band names, the Beatles belong under B.
2. Bee Gees
Genre: Pop, disco
Start with: “Stayin’ Alive”
The Bee Gees consisted primarily of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.
They had already achieved pop success before becoming closely associated with the disco era through songs featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
“Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” and “How Deep Is Your Love” remain among their best-known recordings.
3. The Beach Boys
Genre: Pop, rock
Start with: “Good Vibrations”
The Beach Boys initially became famous for songs about surfing, cars, California, and teenage life.
Brian Wilson’s increasingly ambitious songwriting and studio work eventually pushed the band much further.
Pet Sounds became one of the most acclaimed albums in pop history, while “Good Vibrations” demonstrated how elaborate a radio-friendly song could become.
4. Black Sabbath
Genre: Heavy metal
Start with: “Paranoid”
Black Sabbath is one of the foundational bands of heavy metal.
The classic lineup featured Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.
Songs such as “Black Sabbath,” “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid” helped establish the dark riffs and heavy atmosphere that generations of metal bands would develop further.
5. Bon Jovi
Genre: Hard rock, pop rock
Start with: “Livin’ on a Prayer”
Bon Jovi became one of the defining arena-rock bands of the 1980s.
Led by Jon Bon Jovi, the group created enormous singalong hits including “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Their melodic approach helped bridge hard rock and mainstream pop.
6. Blink-182
Genre: Pop-punk
Start with: “All the Small Things”
Blink-182 helped bring pop-punk into mainstream culture during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker became the band’s best-known lineup.
Songs such as “What’s My Age Again?,” “All the Small Things,” and “I Miss You” range from immature humor to surprisingly emotional songwriting.
7. Blur
Genre: Britpop, alternative rock
Start with: “Song 2”
Blur became one of the central bands of the 1990s Britpop movement.
Led by Damon Albarn, the band produced distinctly British pop-rock before increasingly experimenting with alternative and art-rock sounds.
“Song 2” became their most recognizable track in the United States, although albums such as Parklife better represent their broader identity.
8. Bush
Genre: Alternative rock, post-grunge
Start with: “Glycerine”
Bush became one of the most commercially successful British alternative-rock bands of the 1990s, particularly in the United States.
Fronted by Gavin Rossdale, the group found success with “Glycerine,” “Machinehead,” and “Comedown.”
Their heavy guitars and melodic choruses placed them comfortably within the post-grunge era.
9. Boston
Genre: Classic rock
Start with: “More Than a Feeling”
Boston’s 1976 debut album became one of rock’s great commercial success stories.
The band’s carefully layered guitar sound was largely shaped by guitarist and studio perfectionist Tom Scholz.
“More Than a Feeling” remains an enduring classic-rock-radio staple.
10. The Byrds
Genre: Folk rock, country rock
Start with: “Mr. Tambourine Man”
The Byrds combined folk songwriting with electric rock instrumentation and distinctive vocal harmonies.
Their version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” became a landmark folk-rock recording.
Later albums also helped develop country rock, particularly through Gram Parsons’ involvement with Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
11. Bad Company
Genre: Hard rock, blues rock
Start with: “Feel Like Makin’ Love”
Bad Company formed in England in the 1970s and featured singer Paul Rodgers.
Their direct, blues-influenced hard-rock style produced songs including “Can’t Get Enough,” “Bad Company,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”
Rodgers’ powerful voice is a major part of the band’s appeal.
12. Bad Religion
Genre: Punk rock
Start with: “21st Century (Digital Boy)”
Bad Religion became one of the longest-running and most influential American punk bands.
Their music combines fast guitar-driven punk with melodic vocal harmonies and lyrics frequently addressing politics, religion, society, and human behavior.
The band also played an important role in the Southern California punk scene.
13. Bauhaus
Genre: Gothic rock, post-punk
Start with: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
Bauhaus is one of the bands most strongly associated with the emergence of gothic rock.
Their dark atmosphere, angular guitars, theatrical vocals, and post-punk experimentation influenced generations of goth and alternative artists.
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” remains their defining recording.
14. Bananarama
Genre: Pop, new wave
Start with: “Cruel Summer”
Bananarama became one of Britain’s most successful female pop groups.
The trio found international success with tracks such as “Cruel Summer,” “Venus,” and “I Heard a Rumour.”
Their songs remain closely associated with 1980s pop culture.
15. Barenaked Ladies
Genre: Alternative rock, pop rock
Start with: “One Week”
Barenaked Ladies formed in Canada and developed a style balancing humor, clever lyrics, acoustic instrumentation, and pop-rock hooks.
“One Week” became their biggest international hit, while songs such as “If I Had $1000000” remain longtime fan favorites.
16. Bastille
Genre: Indie pop, alternative rock
Start with: “Pompeii”
Bastille became internationally successful with “Pompeii,” a song instantly recognizable for its large vocal chant.
Led by Dan Smith, the British group blends electronic production with indie rock and melodic pop.
17. Beastie Boys
Genre: Hip-hop, rap rock
Start with: “Sabotage”
Although normally described as a hip-hop group rather than a conventional band, the Beastie Boys deserve a place on a broad list of musical groups beginning with B.
Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock moved from punk into hip-hop and became one of the genre’s most influential groups.
“Sabotage” also demonstrates their continuing connection to live rock instrumentation.
18. The B-52’s
Genre: New wave, dance rock
Start with: “Love Shack”
The B-52’s combined quirky vocals, surf-rock guitar, dance rhythms, and deliberately strange imagery.
“Rock Lobster” established their eccentric style, while “Love Shack” became a huge mainstream hit.
Few bands sound immediately recognizable in quite the same way.
19. Big Country
Genre: Rock, new wave
Start with: “In a Big Country”
Scottish band Big Country developed a guitar sound sometimes compared to bagpipes even though it was produced with electric guitars and effects.
“In a Big Country” remains their signature song and one of the more distinctive rock singles of the early 1980s.
20. Billy Talent
Genre: Punk rock, alternative rock
Start with: “Red Flag”
Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band known for energetic guitars and the distinctive voice of singer Benjamin Kowalewicz.
Songs such as “Red Flag,” “Fallen Leaves,” and “Try Honesty” helped build a large international following.
21. Black Flag
Genre: Hardcore punk
Start with: “Rise Above”
Black Flag became one of the foundational American hardcore-punk bands.
The group went through several singers, with Henry Rollins eventually becoming its most famous frontman.
Their aggressive sound, independent touring philosophy, and association with SST Records influenced underground music far beyond punk.
22. Black Stone Cherry
Genre: Southern rock, hard rock
Start with: “Blind Man”
Black Stone Cherry combines modern hard rock with Southern-rock influences.
The Kentucky band is known for heavy guitar riffs, blues elements, and powerful vocals.
They are a good choice for listeners who like contemporary rock that still draws heavily from older Southern traditions.
23. Black Veil Brides
Genre: Hard rock, glam metal
Start with: “In the End”
Black Veil Brides built a devoted following through a combination of theatrical appearance, large guitar-driven songs, and lyrics about individuality and resilience.
Frontman Andy Biersack became particularly recognizable within the 2010s alternative scene.
“In the End” remains one of their most popular tracks.
24. Blue Öyster Cult
Genre: Hard rock
Start with: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
Blue Öyster Cult combines hard rock with unusual lyrics, science-fiction imagery, and occasional psychedelic influences.
“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” became their defining song, although “Burnin’ for You” is another classic-rock staple.
25. Blue October
Genre: Alternative rock
Start with: “Hate Me”
Blue October is an American alternative-rock band led by singer Justin Furstenfeld.
The group became especially successful in the 2000s with emotional songs including “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean.”
Their music often places vulnerable lyrics inside polished rock arrangements.
26. Bombay Bicycle Club
Genre: Indie rock
Start with: “Shuffle”
Bombay Bicycle Club emerged from Britain’s late-2000s indie-rock scene.
Their sound has changed considerably across albums, moving through guitar rock, acoustic folk influences, electronic production, and colorful indie pop.
“Shuffle” is an accessible starting point.
27. Bowling for Soup
Genre: Pop-punk
Start with: “1985”
Bowling for Soup built its identity around melodic pop-punk and humorous storytelling.
“1985” became their signature mainstream hit, while “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” introduced many listeners to the Texas band earlier.
Their music rarely takes itself too seriously.
28. Brand New
Genre: Alternative rock, emo
Start with: “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows”
Brand New emerged from the early-2000s emo and alternative scene but became increasingly experimental over time.
Albums such as Deja Entendu and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me developed devoted followings.
Their later music moved considerably beyond straightforward pop-punk.
29. Breaking Benjamin
Genre: Alternative metal, post-grunge
Start with: “The Diary of Jane”
Breaking Benjamin became a major force in 2000s American rock radio.
The band’s sound combines heavy guitar riffs, melodic choruses, and the distinctive vocals of Benjamin Burnley.
“The Diary of Jane,” “So Cold,” and “Breath” remain among their biggest songs.
30. Bring Me the Horizon
Genre: Metalcore, alternative rock
Start with: “Can You Feel My Heart”
Bring Me the Horizon began as a much heavier deathcore-influenced group before continually reinventing its sound.
Over time, the British band incorporated electronic music, pop, alternative rock, and experimental production.
That evolution has allowed them to reach listeners far outside their original metal audience.
31. Bullet for My Valentine
Genre: Metalcore, heavy metal
Start with: “Tears Don’t Fall”
Welsh band Bullet for My Valentine became one of the defining melodic metalcore groups of the 2000s.
Their songs often combine heavy riffs and screamed vocals with cleaner, highly melodic choruses.
“Tears Don’t Fall” remains their most recognizable track.
32. The Breeders
Genre: Alternative rock
Start with: “Cannonball”
The Breeders were formed by Kim Deal, also known for her work with Pixies.
Their 1993 album Last Splash produced “Cannonball,” one of alternative rock’s most distinctive songs of the decade.
The band’s loose, melodic sound continues to influence indie rock.
33. Bright Eyes
Genre: Indie rock, indie folk
Start with: “First Day of My Life”
Bright Eyes is centered around singer-songwriter Conor Oberst.
The project became an important part of 2000s indie music through emotionally direct lyrics, folk influences, and increasingly elaborate arrangements.
“First Day of My Life” remains one of its most accessible songs.
34. Broken Social Scene
Genre: Indie rock
Start with: “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl”
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie-rock collective featuring a rotating group of musicians.
Its large membership allows the music to move between delicate atmospheres and noisy, densely layered arrangements.
Several musicians connected to the group also developed successful careers elsewhere.
35. The Bravery
Genre: Indie rock, post-punk revival
Start with: “An Honest Mistake”
The Bravery became part of the mid-2000s post-punk revival.
Synthesizers, sharp guitars, and danceable rhythms gave songs such as “An Honest Mistake” a distinctly 1980s-influenced sound.
36. Buckcherry
Genre: Hard rock
Start with: “Lit Up”
Buckcherry emerged in the late 1990s with an unapologetically sleazy hard-rock sound.
“Lit Up” became their early breakthrough, while “Crazy Bitch” later brought another wave of mainstream attention.
37. Buffalo Springfield
Genre: Folk rock
Start with: “For What It’s Worth”
Buffalo Springfield existed for only a short period but contained an extraordinary collection of musicians, including Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Richie Furay.
“For What It’s Worth” became one of the most enduring songs associated with 1960s social tension.
Members later played major roles in several other important bands.
38. Butthole Surfers
Genre: Alternative rock, experimental rock
Start with: “Pepper”
The deliberately provocatively named Butthole Surfers developed out of the American underground scene.
Their early music was noisy, psychedelic, confrontational, and experimental.
“Pepper” unexpectedly gave the band a substantial alternative-rock hit during the 1990s.
39. Boyz II Men
Genre: R&B
Start with: “End of the Road”
Boyz II Men is technically a vocal group rather than an instrumental band, but it belongs on a broader list of musical groups beginning with B.
Their polished harmonies helped define 1990s R&B.
“End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” and “One Sweet Day” became enormous hits.
40. BTS
Genre: K-pop, pop
Start with: “Dynamite”
BTS is another vocal group rather than a conventional guitar-and-drums band, but anyone searching broadly for music groups starting with B is likely to expect the name.
The South Korean group became one of the most globally successful pop acts of the 2010s and 2020s.
Their catalog moves through hip-hop, pop, electronic music, R&B, and other styles.
What Are the Most Famous Bands That Start With B?
If you need only the biggest or easiest names to remember, start with:
- The Beatles
- Bee Gees
- The Beach Boys
- Black Sabbath
- Bon Jovi
- Blink-182
- Blur
- Bush
- Boston
- The Byrds
The Beatles are the easiest answer for most music games.
For metal, Black Sabbath is the obvious choice.
For 1980s rock, Bon Jovi works.
For pop-punk, Blink-182 is one of the most recognizable options.
Rock Bands That Start With B
There is no shortage of B bands for rock listeners.
Strong examples include:
The Beatles, Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Bon Jovi, Blink-182, Blur, Bush, Boston, Bad Company, Bauhaus, Barenaked Ladies, Big Country, Billy Talent, Black Flag, Blue Öyster Cult, Blue October, Breaking Benjamin, Bring Me the Horizon, and Buckcherry.
That gives the letter B one of the broadest ranges of any alphabet category.
You can move from 1960s pop rock to heavy metal, punk, Britpop, alternative rock, emo, and modern metal without changing the first letter.
Metal Bands That Start With B
If you specifically need metal bands beginning with B, try:
- Black Sabbath
- Black Veil Brides
- Black Stone Cherry
- Breaking Benjamin
- Bring Me the Horizon
- Bullet for My Valentine
Black Sabbath is historically the most important name in that group.
Bring Me the Horizon is particularly useful if you want a modern band whose music has evolved across several heavy and alternative styles.
Punk Bands That Start With B
Good punk and pop-punk choices include:
- Blink-182
- Bad Religion
- Black Flag
- Billy Talent
- Bowling for Soup
These bands also show how broad the word “punk” has become.
Black Flag represents hardcore.
Bad Religion brings melody and political lyrics.
Blink-182 and Bowling for Soup move much closer to pop.
Billy Talent sits between punk and alternative rock.
British Bands That Start With B
The letter B has produced an unusually strong collection of British groups.
Examples include:
- The Beatles
- Black Sabbath
- Blur
- Bush
- Bauhaus
- Bastille
- Bring Me the Horizon
- Bullet for My Valentine
- Bombay Bicycle Club
- The Bravery is American, so keep that one off a British-only list
If you are building a British music quiz, the Beatles and Black Sabbath provide two extremely easy B answers from very different styles.
Bands That Start With B for Music Games
For Scattergories, alphabet games, quizzes, or trivia, these are some of the easiest answers to remember:
Beatles — rock
Bee Gees — pop/disco
Beach Boys — pop/rock
Black Sabbath — metal
Bon Jovi — rock
Blink-182 — pop-punk
Blur — Britpop
Bush — alternative rock
Boston — classic rock
Bastille — indie pop
If rules say articles such as “The” do not count when alphabetizing, both the Beatles and the Beach Boys belong under B.
The Bottom Line
There are dozens of great bands that start with B, and the letter contains some of the most important groups in popular music history.
The biggest names include the Beatles, Bee Gees, Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Bon Jovi, Blink-182, Blur, Bush, Boston, and the Byrds.
But B becomes more interesting when you move beyond the obvious choices.
Bad Religion and Black Flag lead into punk. Bauhaus opens the door to gothic rock. Breaking Benjamin and Bring Me the Horizon cover different eras of heavy alternative music. Bombay Bicycle Club and Broken Social Scene offer indie rock, while Boyz II Men and BTS broaden the list beyond conventional guitar bands.
If you only need one answer, the Beatles are almost impossible to beat.
If you want a letter that can take you through six decades of rock, pop, metal, punk, indie, and R&B, however, B is one of the richest letters in music.
