Second chances: Notable bands and musicians who experienced a career resurgence

Aerosmith has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, and over 85 million in the United States. Thanks to the blues-fueled rock of the early-to-mid 1970s ("Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion"), Aerosmith influenced the likes of Motley Crue, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. However, the band experienced a serious lull during the late '70s and into the 1980s, before resurfacing thanks to its collaboration with Run-DMC on its own classic "Walk This Way" in 1986. From there, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers struck gold with MTV-laden hits like "Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” "Angel," "Janie’s Got a Gun," "Livin’ on the Edge" and “Cryin'" that introduced the band to another generation of fans. 

Carey fans can argue that the pop songbird never really went away, considering she's enjoyed serious longevity as the "Queen of Christmas." However, after dominating the 1990s with mega-hits such as "Vision of Love," "Emotions," "Dreamlover," "Hero" and "Always Be My Baby." However, by the end of the 1990s and amid the early 2000s, Carey struggled to deliver hits, ended her marriage to Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola and dealt with mental-health issues. Then came The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), a gritty, personal comeback record that won Carey three Grammy Awards and jump started her career —outside of the Christmas realm.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Cher, the entertainer, is her ability to adapt with the times. In the mid-1960s, she and then-husband Sonny Bono enjoyed success as a folk-pop duo. Following their divorce in 1975, Cher enjoyed modest success as a solo artist, notably in the disco genre. However, her visible prominence waned until she returned to the scene in the mid-to-late 1980s with MTV favorites like  "I Found Someone" and "If I Could Turn Back Time." She then became a dance-pop icon with the release of 1998's Believe.

Frankly, Chic never really disappeared. In fact, Rodgers has never stopped working and remains one of the most versatile and celebrated musicians, producers and songwriters to ever grace the industry. And, while the band is known for such disco/funk classics such as "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (1977), "Everybody Dance" (1977), "Le Freak" (1978), it reached a new sort of audience in 2013, when Rodgers co-wrote and appeared on a trio songs (notably the massively successful "Get Lucky") included on Daft Punk's 2013 Grammy Award-winning album Random Access Memories.

For roughly a decade spanning the late 1960s and '70s, Chicago made a living as a highly talented rock band that fused jazz, blues, and R&B. It was most notably known for its innovative brass section. However, after leader and guitarist Terry Kath died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1978, and the 1980s rolled around, Chicago was at a crossroads in terms of sound and direction. Then, it became a soft-rock band with the addition of keyboardist/vocalist Bill Champlin and producer David Foster's growing influence on the mainstream pop sound made Chicago tons of money — mainly for sappy tunes that can still be heard in dentist offices throughout America.

Call them posers or a Pearl Jam ripoff, but Creed released three multi-platinum albums — My Own Prison (1997), Human Clay (1999) and Weathered (2001) — within the post-grunge movement. The tune "With Arms Wide Open" won a Grammy and "My Sacrifice" earned said nomination. However, the band broke up in 2004, when singer Scott Stapp endured some personal issues and opted for a solo career. The remaining members formed Alter Bridge with renowned rock-metal vocalist Myles Kennedy. Though Creed reunited in 2009 with the album Full Circle, it was done in 2012. But, the aura of Creed never seemed to die as the Texas Rangers used the band's hit "Higher" as a rallying cry en route to the franchise's first World Series title. Meanwhile, the 2023 Minnesota Vikings have also become fans of the band, which plans to tour in 2024.

In the early 1990s, Cyrus struck it big with ear-catching, line dance-worthy "Achy Breaky Heart." And while Cyrus continued to churn out solid pop-country rock numbers, he never experienced near the same success as he did with "Achy Breaky Heart." Then in the late 2000s into the 2010s, Cyrus regained some prominence while co-starring with daughter Miley in the popular Disney tween comedy series Hannah Montana. It wasn't 2019, though, that Cyrus earned his first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, when he was featured on the remix of Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road." Cyrus also won his first two Grammy Awards for the performance.

From its beginning in the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, Fleetwood Mac was a guitar-driven blues-rock band that also had some progressive tendencies. When Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined prior to its 1975 eponymous album, Fleetwood Mac became a commercial pop-rock band. Buckingham's songwriting was a big reason for the group's consistent mainstream success that followed but so was the personal tension within the band during the late 1970s and into the '80s. From there, Buckingham and Nicks enjoyed various levels of success as solo artists. However, it wasn't until the release of live gem The Dance (1997), and associated concert video, that featured a reunited Fleetwood Mac and introduced them to a newer generation of fans, with more success to come. 

Long considered the most prominent all-female rock group of all time, The Go-Go's success during the 1980s with its first three records — Beauty and the Beat (1981), Vacation (1982) and Talk Show (1984) — was astronomical. However, as fast as the band rose, it came crashing down. Creative differences, jealousy, substance abuse and singer Belinda Carlisle's desire for a solo career were just a few things that led to the band's demise by the middle of the '80s. But, at the turn of a new century, The Go-Go's made up, reformed and put out the rather underappreciated God Bless the Go-Go's (2001), which included the hit "Unforgiven" — co-written by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. What followed was more touring and eventual induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

These East Bay pop-punks broke big with their third studio album Dookie (1994), then kind of treaded water through the rest of the 1990s, before struggling to stay afloat in the early 2000s. Just when it seemed like Green Day was never going to find consistent success, it delivered one of the great concept albums of all time in 2004's stellar comeback American Idiot. That record propelled the band to even greater mainstream heights and opened the door for it to become multi-media superstar entertainers — and a band that still packs a house.

G N' R has never been simple, from controversy to revolving membership to the volatility and uncertainty surrounding frontman Axl Rose. However, from 1987-1991, Guns N' Roses was among the biggest bands on the planet, thanks to hard rock gems Appetite for Destruction,  G N' R Lies, and Use Your Illusion I & II. However, the band broke up and it took more than 15 years for the next piece of original material from G N' R — the highly awaited Chinese Democracy (2008) — to be released. Though not on par with the band's previous work, it eventually spawned a semi-reformation of Axl, Slash and Duff McKagan, who with other veteran musicians in tow, have been touring rather consistently in since 2016 — and certainly in a post-COVID-19 pandemic world.

During the second half of the 1970s and for a majority of the '80s, Journey was a force on the arena rock scene. Hits like "Lights," Wheel in the Sky," "Open Arms" and "Faithfully" made the boys studs of FM radio and MTV. However, when legendary frontman Steve Perry left the band, Journey carried on with singer Steve Augeri, followed by Jeff Scott Soto and currently Arnel Pineda. However, it was never able to produce the same type of magic with Perry on board. That said, the emotion of the music never really died. Journey classic "Don't Stop Believin'" found new life when the 2005 Chicago White Sox adopted it as their rally song during a World Series run and the track also reached a new generation of fans with its inclusion on the popular FOX series Glee.

We just might be amid the NSYNC resurgence. The five-piece boy band, which officially launched Justin Timberlake into superstardom and featured Joey Fatone before he became a Big Fat Greek Wedding staple, has sold more than $70 million records. However, the boys haven't released a studio album since 2001's Celebrity. But, in 2023, all five members appeared together at the MTV Video Music Awards and they came together to record the new tune "Better Place," as part of the recently released film Trolls Band Together.

The pioneers of gangsta rap are responsible for perhaps the greatest album of the genre with the groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton (1988). However, the group weren't together long, and the wake provided monster solo success for the likes of first Eazy-E, and then Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. As time passed, N.W.A. was more of a legend. The group's music and iconic status gained prominence again through the release of the highly acclaimed 2015 Straight Outta Compton biopic. One year later, surviving members Ice Cube, Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella took the stage together at Coachella 2016. 

There was the suave, swoon-worthy Elvis from the 1950s and '60s, pounding out rockabilly tunes like "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock." All that made him the biggest star — and entertainer — in the world. Then after a seven-year hiatus from performing live, he returned with his legendary 1968 Elvis comeback special. From there, Elvis-mania was revived and he became a staple on the Las Vegas performing circuit. "The King" was bigger than ever, though his final reign would not last long as prescription drug abuse and weight gain ultimately led to his sudden 1977 death at age 42. 

During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, Santana was a rock staple thanks to hits like "Evil Ways", "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va." Looking to revive his career after spending time without a record label, Carlos Santana hooked up with Clive Davis and Arista Records and thus began the band's successful second wind with 1999's Supernatural. It also helped to bring aboard a budding contemporary star in Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas to cater to the present-day pop-rock crowd. The result was the nauseatingly catchy "Smooth," which spent 12 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

With her blonde bouffant/beehive hairdo and heavy dose of makeup, this English beauty and her mesmerizing voice produced such memorable hits during the 1960s like "I Only Want to Be with You," "Stay Awhile" and "I'll Try Anything." In 1968, Springfield released the classic "Son of a Preacher Man." It was her last Top 40 hit until she resurfaced to collaborate with the Pet Shop Boys on the massively successful "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" in 1987. Meanwhile, the inclusion of "Son of a Preacher Man" on the Pulp Fiction (1994) soundtrack introduced a new generation of fans to Springfield's greatness.

Another staple of 1970s and '80s arena rock, Styx continues to tour and be present, performing classics such as  "Come Sail Away," "Lady" and "Babe." However, after the band went on hiatus following the release of 1983's Kilroy Was Here, it essentially fell off the planet. That is until it resurfaced, though without guitarist/co-vocalist Tommy Shaw at the time, to release 1990's Edge of the Century. It featured the hit "Show Me the Way," an uplifting track that was used to lift spirits during the Gulf War (1990-91). From there, Styx's music was further revived through shows like Freaks and Geeks, South Park, and the Adam Sandler comedy Big Daddy.

During the late 1970s and into the mid-1980s, Toto offered a sound that touched on pop, rock, soft rock, progressive rock and jazz — for starters. Hits like "Hold the Line" and "Rosanna" made the band staples amid the glory days of FM radio. However, following the success of Toto IV (1982), vocalist Bobby Kimball and bassist David Hungate left the band, legendary drummer Jeff Porcaro died in 1992 and the multi-Grammy winning group never recaptured the same commercial success from its past despite continuing to put out original music. Then alt-rockers Weezer successfully covered the No. 1 hit "Africa" in 2018, and Toto was introduced to a new generation of music fans.

The number of members who have come and gone during Whitesnake's history is bigger than the populations of some small towns. The one consistent has been frontman David Coverdale. The Deep Purple off-shoot offered a bluesy, hard-rock sound in its early years. However, it never received prominent mainstream success, even though 1984's Slide It In, might be the band's best all-time effort. Then Coverdale and Co. released the breakout self-titled 1987 release, which featured an overall sound more associated with the glam metal movement of the day. Also, working with famed A&R exec John Kalodner (Aerosmith, Sammy Hagar, Cher) to make the group a more mainstream commodity can't be understated. The 1989 follow-up Slip of the Tongue delivered the same formula, and earned platinum-status success, but not to the heights of its predecessor.