Rock’s Best Kept Secrets: The Icons You Might’ve Missed

Rock and Roll is filled to the brim with artists that reinvented what it means to listen to music, that helped to define an era of resistance and accountability, as well as simply giving generations a library filled with dazzling lyrics, beats, riffs, and musical innovation. 

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Listen while you read:

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Such is the harsh reality of the world, not everyone receives their fair dues. This list is going to go through 5 examples of these underrated and underappreciated virtuosos, with a nod to the present.

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LARKIN POE

Rolling into modern times first, a band led by a duo sister act that serves as a classic reminder that rock still has a beating pulse.

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Sisters born two years apart yet still possessing that twin connection. Gritty and gutsy with a southern kick that packs a punch but is still pleasant on the palate. With their origins in Atlanta, Georgia and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Rebecca and Megan Lovell have done an exceptional job at expressing their southern soul.

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The pair consistently prove themselves as exemplary vocalists and instrumentalists. Rebecca’s voice is powerful and fierce, with Megan’s softer vocalisation allowing for some remarkable harmonisation. Megan’s use of a lap steel guitar adds to their country and bluesy vibe, whilst Rebecca’s more traditional electric guitar provides that rock and roll spirit.

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Deep Stays Down perfectly encapsulates everything I like about Larkin Poe. It starts off slow and meaningful before roaring into its gripping crescendo. The beautiful and smooth harmonisation throughout, compliments the deeper rock tones to add an extra layer to the song. Perhaps two old souls born in the wrong generation, I have no doubt Megan and Rebecca would produce even better numbers had they been around decades ago at rock and roll's peak.

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It is very easy to get swept up in the mystique of bands of old. But my advice would be to also give modern bands a fair shot. Because rock isn’t dead. You just have to mine deeper to find the gold.

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GOLDEN EARRING

If this Dutch band is on your radar, then it is probably through their fantastic hit song Radar Love. I am here to tell you that this band is so much more than one hit song. The heartfelt and emotional Johnny Make Believe, the moving and grooving The Devil Made Me Do It, the mythical and ethereal Silver Ships, and the harmonic and almost Beatles-esque That Day. A band with an entire catalogue of hits. Calling them a one hit wonder is an insult.

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All things considered, they are one for the history books. But, I am not the author of that particular book. What I really appreciate about this band is their longevity. The band was one of the longest existing bands in the world, with the established core group playing together for over 50 years.

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Not only are bands highly volatile, but Golden Earring were born during an especially volatile era of music, which makes their achievement truly remarkable. Think about how many bands imploded spectacularly and the musical vendettas that have occupied the media for decades. Golden Earring were not this. They stayed committed to themselves, to their music and to their fans. Half a century of making music, touring, performing and putting on a rock 'n' roll show. An admirable feat which we may never see repeated.

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Despite experiencing success, they never truly broke into the American market which may unfortunately hinder how they are perceived. Any reason I give for why this is, is purely speculation. But, perhaps, they did not possess the prestige and glamour of British and American bands which were seen as the pinnacle of rock and roll. Talent is important, but you do also need the backing of the marketing and PR machine.

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JJ CALE

When talking about underappreciation, it is impossible for me not to mention JJ Cale.

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An extraordinary talent that seamlessly and effortlessly combines so many elements of music. I’m talking rock, blues, jazz, and folk all rolled into one remarkable auditory experience that makes your other senses tingle with jealousy. His guitar playing isn’t necessarily traditional rock and roll. It’s light, airy and fresh. His voice, smooth like butter. A fusion that results in this distinctive and relaxed JJ Cale sound.

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If yet to embark on this discovering journey I recommend commencing it by listening to Cajun Moon, Friday, and The Woman That Got Away. Then don’t just fall into the rabbit hole, throw yourself into it. If my words are not enough to convince you, I'll let his influence do the singing.

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The musical universe admired his music so much that icons such as Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Cash, and The Allman Brothers Band all covered his songs, most famous of which is Eric Clapton’s cover of Cocaine - it may be that Eric Clapton is a bigger fan than I am. Not only did he enjoy covering his songs, but he consistently pronounced Cale as his inspiration and even proclaimed him as one of the key figures in rock history and the epitome of musical talent.

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Reading this, you might be wondering what the catch is. Such a talented individual yet has largely remained hidden and unknown outside of the bubble of his own devoted fans. This is by Cale’s design. He avoided the game of chasing fortune and fame, instead he preferred his feet planted on the ground, his mastery working overtime in the background so that he could make art with his sound. 

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Music was his muse, which should serve as inspiration to us all.

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UFO 

A band that possesses that celestial touch, arriving on planet earth to rock.

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Thunderous guitar solos, thumping drums, and thrilling vocals. Prepare to get beamed up to the musical mothership. Songs such as Rock Bottom and Lights out flick the hard rock switch and keep it on throughout their entirety. They are then able to slow you down with more melodic ballad tracks such as Space Child and Belladonna, displaying their depth and variety. To their core they are hard rock and heavy metal, but the greats bands are able to teleport you to all kinds of emotional states. UFO demonstrated this ability.

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What’s more, their live version album of Strangers In The Night is one of my all time favourite albums. It is hard rock in its purest form.

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UFO also flies far in the hard rock and heavy metal galaxy, with many bands inspired by their sound. Notable examples include Metallica, Iron Maiden and Motörhead. The simple reality is, they are one of the founding figures of this particular genre.

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Unfortunately, their biggest hindrance may have been instability to the band's line up. Key members such as Michael Schenker, Peter Way, Paul Raymond and Andy Parker repeatedly left and re-joined the band over the years, with vocalist Phil Mogg being the only true constant. As a result, the band cycled through numerous musicians and never consistently settled on a line up. Unless you develop into a band that almost solely focuses on studio sessions such as Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, then a degree of continuity is necessary. Even the original members of Black Sabbath stayed together for almost a decade before Ozzy Osbourne’s departure triggered a more turbulent time in terms of their line up. Had UFO experienced a period of steadiness, then I believe they would have achieved more worldwide acclaim.

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RORY GALLAGHER

Captivating, raw and emotive. Wanted by The Rolling Stones. Admired by musical juggernauts such as Jimi Hendrix, Brian May and Slash. This is Rory Gallagher.

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Sometimes dubbed as the greatest guitarist you’ve never heard of. A statement which is accurate to an extent. I take a slightly different standpoint. One of the greatest guitarists, full stop.

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He first savoured success with his band, Taste. A starter before the main as the band only lasted four years, tragically collapsing in 1970. But, it was enough time for Gallagher to showcase his talent. His intoxicating guitar playing usually takes centre stage but his vocal capabilities is certainly something to admire. In song Sugar Mama, he displays an especially deep and soulful blues voice that gives you a rush and leaves you craving more. You are then reminded of the magic in his fingertips with songs such as What’s Going on and Railway and Gun.

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After the bands break up, he did not linger or stagnate. He moved forward and launched an exceptional solo career with some truly exhilarating songs. Like a prophecy, the first time that I listened to I Fall Apart, my soul was torn apart and stitched back together with the strings of Gallagher's iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster.

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When it came to his live performances, he was able to connect with the crowd in such a way that would leave them mesmerised and spellbound. Unfortunately, all that is left are old clips and streaming services to experience this, but you can still feel the energy and enthralment seep through the screen.

Despite all of this, he never obtained the commercial success that some of his musical peers did and it was not for lack of talent. Gallagher’s uncompromising commitment to his blues rock sound and the avoidance of mainstream trends simply contradicts what record labels and radio stations wanted, which also meant he was not always able to appeal to the masses. That’s simply Rory Gallagher. He was not perfect, but he was humble, genuine and unwavering.

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The End… That is it for this particular list.

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Yours may, and probably will, look different. But in the end, the true spirit of music is in those hidden tracks and overlooked names that never stopped playing from the heart. Those amazing finds where you can feel your soul connect to theirs. A discovery which opens up a whole new world for you to explore.

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So, next time you cue up your playlist, don’t be afraid to dig a little deeper. You might just find something exciting.

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