5 Killer 1960s Rock Bands That Never Made It Big but Should Have

Rock was quickly evolving through the 1960s, and it was an era sorely missed by those who got to experience it in person. We got to enjoy the bands that made it big in that era for decades (Grateful Dead, The Who, The Beach Boys, etc.), but a few stellar acts slipped through the cracks. Let’s dive into five incredible rock bands from the 1960s that never made it big, but definitely should have.

1. The Nice

There weren’t many progressive rock bands around when The Nice debuted in the late 1960s, and many consider them one of the very first outfits in that genre. Their sound was on another level, mainly thanks to their explorative young keyboardist Keith Emerson. 

The Nice was the blueprint for prog-rock before prog-rock had a name. Unfortunately, they split around 1970. Five Bridges is one live album worth listening to at least once.

2. Crow

Blues-rock outfit Crow kicked off their career at the tail-end of the 1960s, but no other rock bands were closing the book on that decade quite like them. “Evil Woman” was a Top 20 hit in 1969, though it’s surprising the catchy melody and overall excellent composition of the song didn’t land it higher on the charts. The lyrics are pretty crazy, but they were different. 

Their follow-up single “Cottage Cheese” was a bit of a failure, and the band called it quits in 1972. However, they have popped up here and there through the decades for reunion tours.

3. The Equals

The Equals hailed from across the pond and were widely considered to be one of the very first interracial rock outside to gain attention in England. Their biggest hit was “Baby Come Back”, which was pretty appealing at the time to even the most casual listeners of garage rock and beat music. Sadly, after that hit in 1968, they never really had their breakthrough into international fame.

4. The Flames

The Flames eventually found a bit of fame in the 1970s with the Carl Wilson-produced album The Flame, but they never quite had their breakthrough. The rock band formed in South Africa in the mid-1960s and often went by “The Flame” or “The Flames” interchangeably. Despite building the foundation for international superstardom in the 1960s, many of the singles they released in the 1970s after signing to The Beach Boys’ label flopped. They called it quits in 1970 after their album failed to take off.

5. The Illusion

“Did You See Her Eyes” was a major jam in 1969, and The Illusion was positioned to be the next big thing in rock. The band’s vocals, songwriting, and hard-rock attitude were the perfect recipe for success. Unfortunately, that song was only a regional hit, and the band broke up in 1971. One can only wonder what could have been.

Photo via John K. Langemann and the Carl Wilson Facebook fan page

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