8 Worst Cover Classic Rock Songs Ever Recorded

Cover songs can be tricky. Some artists do a great job honoring the original while putting their own spin on it, but most cover songs end up falling short. Artists usually cover songs they have a connection to or that influenced them in their own careers.

U2 – “Fortunate Son”

One example is U2 covering Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.” While the idea of socially conscious U2 covering this anti-war anthem makes sense, the execution fell flat. Bono changed the vocals, making it sound more boring than the original. The guitar tone also didn’t quite fit the song.

Motley Crue – “Anarchy in the U.K.”

Motley Crue’s cover of “Anarchy in the U.K.” is another example. Despite being big fans of the Sex Pistols, Motley Crue’s punk-style cover didn’t work well. The band’s attempts to change the lyrics to suit a US audience didn’t help either.

Celine Dion and Anastacia – “You Shook Me All Night Long”

Celine Dion and Anastacia’s cover of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” didn’t fit the setting of a concert series. Dion’s soprano voice didn’t match AC/DC’s hard-rock sound.

Disturbed – “The Sound of Silence”

Disturbed’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” surprised many. The two acts have very different styles, but Disturbed’s frontman admired Simon & Garfunkel. While the cover became popular, some fans thought it was a sell-out move. The overdramatic arrangement didn’t work for everyone, and the original version is still considered a classic.

The Cure – “Purple Haze”

In 1993, a bunch of famous artists honored Jimi Hendrix with a tribute album. The Cure, a great band, covered Hendrix’s song “Purple Haze” in a very different way. They added a lot of electronic sounds and noise, making the song hard to recognize. Hendrix was an idol of Cure’s singer Robert Smith, but their version of “Purple Haze” didn’t do justice to his legacy.

Nickelback featuring Kid Rock – “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”

Elton John’s lively song “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” got a new version by Nickelback and Kid Rock for a movie soundtrack. The new version lacked the piano and felt generic. Kid Rock changed some lyrics to make it more about himself drinking, which didn’t really add to the song. The only highlight was a cool guitar solo by Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell.

Judas Priest – “Johnny B. Goode”

In 1988, Judas Priest covered Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” for a movie. The movie didn’t do well, and the band’s version of the song didn’t stand out either.

Ugly Kid Joe – “Cat’s in the Cradle”

Ugly Kid Joe, a band from the ’90s with a mix of grunge and metal influences, covered Harry Chapin’s song “Cat’s in the Cradle.” They turned the emotional folk-rock song into a more angsty and alternative tune. Even though they changed the vibe of the song, their version became a hit and their most successful single.