I'm not referring to the current slew of skinny jeaned indie pop boy bands, but to instances where alternative and highly different bands and concepts have had mainstream success. I know there was a discussion partially touching on this a few weeks back, but this one has been brewing a while in my head.

Are most acts who 'break' the mainstream confined to brief one hit style success (i.e. Devo and whip it) or are they more longterm? Can you think of a band who got major album and single success yet maintained an alternative and independent stance, and kept their hardcore fans happy? Does success mean you lose all credibility?