1970s Rock Bands That Never Made It Big but Should Have

Tons of rock bands launched legendary careers in the 1970s, but a few genuinely talented groups failed to launch. These five bands might have made it big with one hit or in their native countries, but unfortunately, they didn’t enjoy the same mainstream, international acclaim as their better-known contemporaries at the time. Let’s take a look at some incredible 1970s rock bands that never made it big, but should have!

1. April Wine

These rockers became legends in their native Canadia, but they didn’t quite gain international acclaim the same way Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and others did. The band started under the leadership of the Henman brothers, followed by multi-instrumentalist Myles Goodwin. 

April Wine did have some American success with the 1972 release On Record and the 1978 album First Glance, and they did pretty well for themselves. The 1981 song “Just Between You And Me” is probably their most well-known song.

2. Dead Boys

The original lineup of The Dead Boys released two stellar albums: Young, Loud And Snotty in 1977 and We Have Come For Your Children in 1978. They were part of the very beginnings of the punk rock movement in America, but they didn’t get quite as much attention as The Stooges or The Ramones. 

It’s unfortunate, really. “Sonic Reducer” has since become an anthem of sorts for US punk fans and bands alike.

3. The Guess Who

When it comes to 1970s rock bands that never made it big, this one is particularly surprising. “American Woman” is an extremely memorable song from 1970, as was the album of the same name. 

Unfortunately, The Guess Who doesn’t get enough love in conversations about the greats from that era. They’ve released a lot of material that is sorely underrated, too. Why haven’t they been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame yet?!

[Get Tickets To See Burton Cummings Of The Guess Who Live]

4. Nazareth

Nazareth released over 20 records, and the classic rock legends are still going strong today. The Scottish hard rock outfit is best known for tracks like “Love Hurts” and “Hair Of The Dog” from 1975. They really don’t get celebrated enough, both for their underrated singles and rocks, plus their endurance. The band has been together for just shy of 60 years!

5. The Sweet

If you don’t remember their music, you might just remember their haircuts. The Sweet did quite well for themselves on the Billboard Hot 100. “The Ballroom Blitz” from 1973 and “Fox On The Run” from 1975 are just a few Top 10 hits from the British glam outfit. 

The Sweet eventually left the glam behind and evolved into a hard rock outfit, but their music’s quality was unchanged. Members of massive bands like Guns N’ Roses and Duran Duran have said that The Sweet influenced them significantly. So why did they slip through the cracks? They deserve a lot more praise.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives

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