3 Rock Bands From the 1970s That Tried to Make a Comeback in the 1980s

Bands plan comebacks all the time. And more often than not, those reunion tours or comeback albums are successful. For some, though, success is nowhere to be found, and it’s not necessarily the fault of the band. Look at the 1970s, for example. That era had a very distinct sound, as did the 1980s. However, music in the 1970s sounded very different from music in the 1980s. Thus, bands from the former era had a lot of trouble making it big again in the following decade. These three rock bands from the 1970s—more or less—failed comeback attempts in the 1980s are just a few examples of this (crappy and unfair) phenomenon.

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Blood, Sweat & Tears

Blood, Sweat & Tears, launched in 1967, famously blended together jazz, rock, and R&B with ease. They were incredible to see live, and their 1970 album Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 is still a well-loved piece of 1970s music history. 

However, the band had a hard time keeping it together in the 1980s. They’re fortunately still together today and survived the turning tides of time, but back in the 1980s, they had a rough go of it. Between lineup changes and a difficulty in finding visibility in a new world of rock, their initial comeback wasn’t that great. Thankfully, they’ve since found their footing in the modern age and are still rockin’ today.

The Byrds

The Byrds were legendary. They pioneered folk rock in the 1960s and 1970s. The Byrds spawned additional powerhouse bands, such as David Crosby’s iconic stint with Crosby, Stills & Nash. They were an incredible band. 

Sadly, the 1980s were just too different from the 1970s, especially the late 1980s. After breaking up in 1973, The Byrds tried to get back together in 1989 with their classic lineup. Sadly, their work was just too dated for 1980s audiences. Their reunion album wasn’t as creatively groundbreaking as their previous works.

Foghat

Remember Foghat? This example of rock bands who failed to launch a successful comeback deserved better, in my opinion. Foghat was known for 1970s bluesy hits like “Slow Ride”. They tried to get back in the saddle in the mid-1980s. Sadly, the world of rock had radically changed. 

Keeping up was a struggle, and Foghat struggled to balance their authenticity with a sound that then-modern audiences wanted. Sometimes, being tied to one era is good enough. Sometimes, you just have to let your legacy in music history stay in the past.

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