20 Rock Bands From The '70s The World Forgot About

The 1970s exploded with incredible rock music, spawning legends that still fill stadiums today.

However, countless talented bands got lost in the shuffle, overshadowed by bigger names despite creating amazing sounds.

What if I told you some of the decade’s most innovative groups have nearly vanished from memory?

Buckle up as we rediscover these forgotten heroes who deserve another spin on your turntable!

Disclaimer:

The musical details, historical notes, and artist descriptions in this article are based on widely documented public information and commonly accepted music history sources.

Opinions about influence, legacy, and recognition reflect general critical consensus and are intended for entertainment and informational purposes only.

City Boy: England’s Art-Rock Charmers

How do you blend catchy pop hooks with sophisticated art-rock arrangements?

City Boy figured it out, creating radio-friendly tunes that still packed intellectual punch.

Their track “5.7.0.5” became a minor hit, showcasing their knack for memorable melodies wrapped in clever production.

Despite signing with major labels and touring extensively, mainstream success remained frustratingly out of reach.

Hence, they became one of those “your favorite band’s favorite band” stories.

Their polished sound deserved way more airplay than it received!

Budgie: The Welsh Heavy Rock Pioneers

If you’re craving heavy riffs that could shake mountains, Budgie delivered exactly that from Wales.

Burke Shelley’s bass thundered like a dragon’s roar while his bandmates crafted proto-metal magic years before it became trendy.

Their influence stretched far beyond their hometown, inspiring future metal giants like Metallica and Iron Maiden.

Though criminally overlooked today, their raw power and musical innovation helped shape an entire genre.

Ever wondered where modern metal got its muscle?

Look no further than these Welsh warriors!

Be-Bop Deluxe: Bill Nelson’s Glam-Prog Laboratory

Where glam sparkle meets progressive complexity, Bill Nelson worked his guitar wizardry.

Be-Bop Deluxe twisted expectations with every album, refusing to settle into one comfortable sound.

Nelson’s futuristic lyrics and dazzling fretwork created something truly unique during rock’s most experimental decade.

Though critics adored them and albums like “Sunburst Finish” impressed everyone, commercial stardom stayed just beyond their fingertips.

However, their adventurous spirit influenced countless musicians who followed.

Babe Ruth: Hard Rock’s Underrated Powerhouse

Fans of raw, unpolished hard rock energy found Babe Ruth delivering it by the truckload.

Jenny Haan’s powerful vocals sliced through thick guitar riffs like a chainsaw through butter, proving women could command heavy bands with ease.

The track “The Mexican” turned into a cult favorite, later sampled extensively by hip-hop producers decades after its release.

Critical respect followed them consistently, yet commercial success stayed stubbornly out of reach.

As a result, they slid into the category of “musicians’ musicians,” admired more by peers than the mainstream.

And here’s a fun fact: hip-hop legends have sampled their work heavily.

Atomic Rooster: The Heavy Prog Alchemists

What do you get when organ-driven prog collides with bone-crushing heaviness?

Atomic Rooster delivered the answer with thunderous confidence throughout the early seventies.

Vincent Crane’s Hammond organ became the group’s unmistakable hallmark, swirling around pounding rhythms and shadowy lyrical themes.

The hit “Tomorrow Night” briefly climbed the charts before the band slipped back into obscurity.

Lineup changes hit them nonstop, yet the ambition behind their sound never faltered.

And here’s a fun fact: the band emerged straight from the ashes of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

Nektar: Cosmic Travelers Without Borders

British musicians carving out their sound in Germany created spacey progressive landscapes that felt like open invitations to slip beyond Earth for a while.

Nektar poured themselves into epic concept albums filled with synthesizer swirls, extended instrumental stretches, and storytelling that wrapped listeners in cosmic color.

The album “Remember the Future” eventually earned cult-classic status among prog fans drawn to big musical adventures loaded with imagination.

Mainstream recognition somehow stayed out of reach, even as American audiences embraced their ambitious style with real enthusiasm.

Kraan: Germany’s Jazz-Rock Fusion Masters

If jazz improvisation married krautrock experimentation, Kraan would officiate the ceremony!

These German innovators blended complex rhythms with funky grooves, creating instrumental adventures that defied easy categorization.

Their live performances became legendary for stretching songs into spontaneous jam sessions lasting twenty minutes or more.

However, singing in German and avoiding traditional rock structures kept them off international radio playlists.

Hence, only true music nerds discovered their brilliance.

Their grooves could make even your grandma tap her feet uncontrollably!

Barclay James Harvest: Symphonic Rock’s Gentle Giants

Imagine Pink Floyd’s atmosphere combined with full orchestral arrangements and you’re approaching Barclay James Harvest’s sound.

These English rockers preferred mellotrons and string sections over screaming guitar solos, crafting lush sonic landscapes.

While they achieved massive popularity in Germany and other European countries, British and American audiences mostly ignored them.

However, their melodic approach to progressive rock offered something beautifully different from their harder-edged contemporaries.

Hence, they became prog’s best-kept secret.

Their concerts felt like attending a rock symphony!

Camel: Progressive Rock’s Patient Storytellers

If patience were a musical virtue, Camel would be saints of the progressive rock world.

Their instrumental passages unfolded gradually, building tension and releasing it in emotionally powerful ways.

Albums like “Mirage” and “The Snow Goose” showcased their gift for creating cinematic journeys without uttering many words.

Though prog fans worshipped them, mainstream radio found their complexity too challenging for casual listeners.

However, their influence on instrumental rock remains undeniable decades later.

Ever wondered what musical patience sounds like?

Curved Air: Classical Violins Meet Electric Rebellion

How often do you hear electric violins shredding alongside distorted guitars in rock music?

Curved Air turned that unlikely pairing into a signature move, with Darryl Way’s virtuosic violin work stealing show after show.

The band’s debut album arrived as the world’s first-ever picture disc, signaling their love of innovation in both sound and presentation.

Critical acclaim and a Top 5 UK hit with “Back Street Luv” pushed them forward, but internal conflicts quickly stalled their rise.

What followed became yet another cautionary tale about talent clashing with shaky band chemistry.

That fusion of classical training and rock attitude remains genuinely revolutionary.

Focus: Holland’s Yodeling Prog Phenomenon

Picture a progressive rock band whose biggest hit featured yodeling over a flute solo – that’s Focus in a nutshell!

Their track “Hocus Pocus” became an unlikely radio success, confusing and delighting listeners simultaneously.

Thijs van Leer’s keyboard wizardry and Jan Akkerman’s guitar pyrotechnics created instrumental complexity wrapped in accessible melodies.

Though they scored hits across Europe, American audiences never fully embraced their quirky Dutch charm.

However, their technical prowess influenced generations of musicians who appreciated virtuosity.

Ever heard yodeling that actually rocks?

Renaissance: Annie Haslam’s Vocal Wonderland

Where folk-inspired storytelling meets classical orchestration, Renaissance built a musical world all their own.

Annie Haslam’s five-octave vocal range floated above intricate arrangements that drew inspiration from Bach and Beethoven.

The album “Scheherazade and Other Stories” proved progressive rock could feel both sophisticated and emotionally approachable.

A loyal fan base grew steadily, especially among women who appreciated stronger representation in the rock landscape, yet mainstream success stayed out of reach.

Wishbone Ash: Twin-Guitar Harmony Pioneers

Ever wondered who pioneered the twin-guitar attack later perfected by Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy?

Wishbone Ash wrote that playbook, weaving two lead guitars into harmonious conversations rather than competing solos.

Their album “Argus” remains a masterclass in melodic hard rock construction, balancing power with finesse.

Despite consistent touring and recording for over five decades, mainstream recognition somehow passed them by.

However, guitarists worldwide still study their innovative approach to dual-lead arrangements.

Their harmonized guitars sounded like musical best friends finishing each other’s sentences!

Il Castello Di Atlante: Italy’s Progressive Survivors

What if I told you Italy’s longest-running progressive rock band started in 1974 and nobody outside Europe noticed?

Il Castello di Atlante crafted intricate compositions blending Italian romanticism with complex time signatures and symphonic arrangements.

Their dedication to progressive ideals never wavered, even when the genre fell out of fashion worldwide.

However, singing primarily in Italian limited their international appeal despite their obvious musical sophistication.

Hence, they remained Italy’s best-kept prog secret for nearly five decades.

Panna Fredda: Italy’s Brief Progressive Flame

Though they barely lasted three years, Panna Fredda left an indelible mark on Italian progressive rock history.

Active from 1969 to 1971, they pioneered the Italian prog movement before most bands even picked up instruments.

Their experimental approach mixed jazz influences with psychedelic rock, creating something uniquely Mediterranean in flavor.

Despite releasing limited material, their influence rippled through Italy’s burgeoning progressive scene throughout the decade.

Premiata Forneria Marconi: Italy’s Prog Export Success

Among Italian prog bands aiming for international stardom, PFM stood closest to breaking through.

A collaboration with King Crimson’s Pete Sinfield helped translate poetic Italian lyrics into English for global audiences.

Albums like “Photos of Ghosts” revealed how deftly they blended Mediterranean melodies with British-style progressive complexity.

Extensive American tours and strong critical praise followed, yet mainstream U.S. radio stayed stubbornly resistant.

Agitation Free: Berlin’s Krautrock Explorers

Where Pink Floyd’s space rock meets German experimental audacity, Agitation Free carved their psychedelic path.

These Berlin musicians embraced improvisation and electronic experimentation, creating soundscapes that transported listeners to alternate dimensions.

Their travels through Egypt and Greece influenced their music, incorporating Middle Eastern scales into their cosmic jams.

Despite being krautrock pioneers alongside Can and Neu!, international recognition somehow eluded them.

Cheval Fou: France’s Experimental Oddities

How do you even label music that intentionally dodges every label you try to put on it?

Cheval Fou – meaning “Crazy Horse” in French – welcomed weirdness wholeheartedly, crafting experimental psych-rock that tossed aside conventional song structures.

An avant-garde spirit mixed theatrical elements with unpredictable musical twists, keeping audiences permanently off-balance.

France’s progressive scene produced plenty of notable acts, yet Cheval Fou still landed outside the comfort zone of even the most adventurous listeners.

As a result, they slipped into footnote status in French rock history despite showing fearless creativity.

Sometimes being too far ahead simply means nobody’s close enough to follow.