8 Biggest Forgotten Rock Bands

Over the years, various musical genres and styles converged in the mainstream, leading to special musical moments that either flew under the radar, were overshadowed, or weren’t appreciated. In this article, we look at eight forgotten rock bands that have left indelible marks on the industry.

April Wine

April Wine is a Canadian rock band initially steered by the Henman brothers and later by the multitalented guitarist-keyboardist-vocalist Myles Goodwin. The band earned its first proper North American success with 1972’s On Record and achieved mainstream form with First Glance (1978) and Harder … Faster (1979). Although 1981’s The Nature of the Beast (1981) is best known for the top-20 ballad “Just Between You and Me,” the foundation for that moment was laid during the ’70s. April Wine should be near the top of the list of Canadian rock royalty.

Hawkwind

Hawkwind creatively combined hard rock, acid rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and proto-punk, releasing its self-titled debut in 1970 and eight more albums during the ’70s. Although it had notable ’70s hits like “Silver Machine” and “Urban Guerrilla” and employed legendary musicians such as Lemmy, Ginger Baker, and Nik Turner for a spell, Hawkwind’s success was pretty much limited to Europe. Nonetheless, it influenced U.S. bands such as Ministry and Black Flag.

The Ides of March

The Ides of March, led by Jim Peterik in his pre-Survivor days, is an innovative suburban Chicago band that is very easy to dismiss as a one-hit-wonder. However, “Superman” or “L.A. Goodbye” would earn them more recognition as a talented band. With searing guitars and rousing horns, The Ides of March released four records from 1970-73, becoming a local Midwest favorite.

Little Feat

Little Feat, formed in 1969 by celebrated singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lowell George alongside keyboardist Bill Payne, had a tough-to-describe overall sound that encompassed rock, country, blues, and even elements of jazz. Although the group was never a mainstream force, it released eight albums from 1971-79. Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page has long been a fan of the group, which inspired The Chicks to take their name from Little Feat’s 1973 jam-favorite “Dixie Chicken.”

Poco Rose

Poco rose from the ashes of Buffalo Springfield, with members Richie Furay and Jim Messina forming Poco in the late 1960s. The blend of folk and soft rock and dabbling in country made them unique. Following its 1969 debut Pickin’ Up the Pieces, Poco released ten studio albums during the 1970s. Though the band enjoyed a top-20 Billboard Hot 100 hit with 1978’s “Crazy Love,” Poco trudged along without consistent mainstream success. But it did pave the way for other Southern California rock groups to succeed such as the Eagles, which eventually employed former Poco members, Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmitt.

The Sweet

The Sweet, British glam rockers that eventually transformed into a pure hard rock outfit, had top-10 Billboard Hot 100 hits “Little Willy” (1972), “The Ballroom Blitz” (1973), “Fox on the Run” (1975), and “Love Is Like Oxygen” (1978). The Sweet never got its deserved credit when it came to rightfully being placed near the top of the list of essential bands in this movement, despite influential factors on bands such as Duran Duran, Mötley Crüe, and Guns N’ Roses.

UFO

UFO never earned chart-topping success but had notable tracks like “Lights Out” and “Doctor Doctor,” which make up the band’s legacy. The critically praised Strangers in the Night (1979) is considered one of the great live albums of all time. The roll call of great musicians who have come and gone in UFO throughout the years is quite impressive, including Vinnie Moore, Pete Way, Bernie Marsden, Michael Schenker, Paul Raymond, and Aynsley Dunbar. The band’s legacy bridged the gap between the early days of hard rock/heavy metal and a new wave of British heavy metal.

Wishbone Ash

Finally, we have Wishbone Ash, which began in 1970 and was active until 2020, releasing more than 20 albums, including nine through 1978. Guided by the twin guitar attack of Andy Powell and Ted Turner, it had more influence on hard rock than most mainstream rock fans realize. The intricacies of Powell and Turner’s guitar work—steeped in blues, progressive and folk rock, and plenty of jazz—notably left a lasting impression on the likes of Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.