4 Rock Bands From the 1960s That Disappeared Without a Trace

We all know the big names of the 1960s. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jefferson Airplane are just a few. That being said, there were quite a few rock bands from the 1960s that made it big but then more or less disappeared from the public eye. Let’s take a look at a few examples and what actually happened to them.

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1. Paul Revere & The Raiders

Remember this delightful television-based rock band? Paul Revere & The Raiders performed daily on ABC back in 1965, pulling in millions of viewers that year. They enjoyed three different no. 1 hits through the late 1960s. They performed a whopping 250 shows in 1967 alone.

Naturally, that kind of work ethic isn’t exactly sustainable. The “Kicks” hitmakers disbanded in 1976 after their newer albums failed to succeed, and they were dropped by their label.

2. The Turtles

This has to be the messiest example of rock bands from the 1960s that virtually disappeared after their big break. The Turtles made it big in the 60s with their no. 8 song “It Ain’t Me Babe” and no. 1 hit “Happy Together”. Few bands are as beloved from that era as The Turtles. 

Sadly, by 1970, the band had been so embroiled in legal battles that they could not use their band name anymore. They were forced to change it to Flo & Eddie, but by then, their days on the Billboard Hot 100 chart were over.

3. The Association

The Association took their gigs very seriously. In fact, this sunshine pop band required a minimum of 100 studio hours per record to ensure their six-part harmonies were perfect. “Cherish” was a huge hit, as were “Never My Love” and “Windy”. 

The Association called it quits in 1978, several years after the death of bassist Brian Cole caused a rift among the core members of the group. They reunited off and on for various specials and shows and even released music here and there. Sadly, they never charted nearly as high as they used to after 1978. 

4. The Lovin’ Spoonful

Out of all the rock bands from the 1960s that disappeared on this list, chances are you’ve heard The Lovin’ Spoonful’s music before. This outfit is best known for their decade-defining song “Do You Believe In Magic”.

So, what happened to these chart-topping hitmakers? Core member Zal Yanovsky left the group in 1967, and they were left with a hole where their creative chemistry once was. The Greenwich Village icons disbanded the following year.

Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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