[sub] … did we already do this? I searched, but I didn’t find anything … anyway …[/sub]
So I guess I should make the disclaimer that any band that anybody mentions will be supported by a freaking legion of dedicated fans even though the original poster thinks he is the only one to ever even hear of them – but here I go …
Back in the late 70’s, on an impulse, I bought this album – Violation by a band called Starz. I freaking loved that album. It was one of those that I considered a classic, and I played it at least monthly right up until it was ruined in “The Great Basement Flood of '91.” {excuse me while I wipe a tear}.
They were a New York City band ala Kiss - The Dolls - The Ramones - kind of punkish, kind of heavy rock, with catchy melodies and crunchy guitars - all the stuff that contributes to true rock-n-roll.
Now I’m into the whole new wave of peer-to-peer file sharing and I’m downloading every song I can find from them, and I am just a-trippin’ down memory lane.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why they never hit it bigger than they did.
Who’s your fave who should have been the biggest band in the universe if anybody ever heard of them?
I think most of you will never have heard of the Dutch symphonic rock group Kayak. Their style was a bit in the line of Yes and the early Genesis - they were brilliant, especially their album Merlin. The A-side of that album contained five songs ranging from rock to ballads around the theme of Merlin and King Arthur, and is amongst the most beautiful rock compositions I know.
Kak – one amazing album in the late 60s that no one has ever heard of. Unique sound (the lead guitar never stopped soloing, even when the singer was singing).
Emitt Rhodes – called “The American Paul McCartney.” Put out an album where he played every instrument; it was a great collection of pop tunes, any one of which should have been a hit single.
Spirit – Four terrific albums. Sometimes you can hear “I Got a Line on You” on the radio, but their album “The 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” is one of the best rock albums ever.
I really love a group called Savatage. I know they have a following, but I don’t think it’s a very big one. I refer to them as “classical music for metalheads”.
A bunch of the guys in this group are also in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which I listen to year-round, despite the fact that all but one of their albums is Christmas music.
Clandestine. They play original and traditional Celtic/Scottish music, and they’re freakin’ brilliant.
You can find some of their stuff on MP3.com, but unfortunately the MP3’s didn’t turn out very well. They tour all over the US playing small venues like pubs and Scottish festivals (if you can consider something the size of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games a “small” venue) and they’ve played a few European gigs (they opened for the Chieftains at a major Celtic culture festival in northern France last year).
Trying to play fair by staying with groups that did rock/pop, rather than other genres, and staying away from individual performers, a few first thoughts:
Seatrain - even had a top 40’s hit, “13 Questions”, which was the weakest song on the album, of course. Featured Peter Rowan, Andy Kulberg, Richard Greene.
Long Ryders - 80’s LA band with a “neo-Byrd’s” sound. I love this band, and I don’t hear much mention of them. Front man was Sid Griffin, whose later projects haven’t clicked, somehow.
Mahavishnu Orchestra - perhaps should be considered “jazz” and not included, but they were one of the first jazz/rock fusion bands, and one of the best. John McLaughlin, back when he was playing the double-necked Gibson.
Probably not that obscure - firing off non-rock stuff and solo performers like, say, Son Seals or Guy Clark, would be cheating.
Not an exactly unheard-of band, but I’ve always wondered why the Michael Stanley Band didn’t become more than just regionally popular back in the day.
I’ve got a vote for a Celtic group, too, Dramtreeo. Their albums mix traditional Celtic and folk tunes with original stuff, and they’re terrific. But they’ve all got day jobs, so they don’t get around much. I think if they wanted to they could certainly make a living on their music alone.
Q.R.N. is an industrial metal/sleazy disco trio. Their live shows are simply amazing, they really get the audience going. Their first album was eponymous (BTW QRN stands for Quite Ridiculous Nonsense) and had a couple of underground hits on it. Excellent underground club music.
Also: The Wacky Pack of Lobstermen from Mars. They have only one album that I know of, but they do the best '50s rock redone trash/speed metal. Weird and funny as hell live, too!
pezpunk - not sure where they’re from, and yes, a guitarist did die (I think his name was Jon Oliva), but to the best of my knowledge, the group is still together. Then again, I could be wrong; it’s happened before.
The guitarist who died was Criss Oliva. His brother Jon is the vocalist. I’m not sure where they are from (although Florida does ring a bell) but they have never broken up. They released an album this year called Poets & Madmen.
My favorite obscure band was Cold Blood. Lydia Pense had an amazing, funky soulful voice, and the band was terrific. Imagine Janis Joplin, with Full Tilt Boogie after years of rehab and music lessons. Best Album: First Taste of Sin.
Robbin Thompson Band.
Local boys out of Richmond VA. Released an album on Richmond Records years ago.
Don’t know if they’re still together, but they do a song called “Sweet Virginia Breeze”.
They’ve been mentioned as a contemporary influence by so many bands so many times, and yet I guess they’re too off-center to have a big hit. KLOS in Los Angeles used to play “Black Flag” a bit about 8 years ago, and that’s about it.
They’ve been described as Black Sabbath on Beatles drugs. I think they’re really unique and worth the trouble of finding at Half.com.
After two albums, they unfortunately split up. One of the main songwriters formed a new band called Imperial Drag, and produced a sucky album with a new lead singer. They had a small hit with “Are you a Boy or a Girl?” Still catchy, but can’t match Jellyfish songs like “The Ghost at Number One,” “Russian Hill,” or their ode to masturbation “He’s My Best Friend” (“My hand’s a five-leaf clover/It’s Palm Sunday over and over…”).
Hardygirl: MTX? Yee-haw.
Let me put in my vote for Butter 08, New York underground super group. But only because I feel I have to vote for someone since I opened my big mouth and got involved. My musical tastes aren’t as obscure as I would like to think they are…