Who Were the Romantics

The Romantics were an American Punk/Pop Crossover band from Detroit, Michigan who had a number one hit with 1980's "What I Like about You."

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Known for their uptempo songs and dynamic stage show, the Romantics released a total of five albums but never again achieved the success of "What I Like About You."  Their follow up song, "Talking in Your Sleep" topped at #3 on the US pop charts but did top the dance chart.

Who Are the New South

The New South are an American Blue Grass band founded in 1973 and still active today.

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while the New South has had several lineup changes over the years, they continue to write and record blue grass music under the leadership of their founder J.D. Crowe.

To date, The New South has recorded a total of 11 albums.

Who is Danny Ben-Israel?

Danny Ben-Israel is one of the unsung heros of the psychedelic rock movement.  His 1970 album "Bullshit 3 1/4" is generally considered to be the first psychedelic album to come from a Jewish musician and is considered by many to be a masterpiece of the genera.

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Because of its groundbreaking style and strongly themed songs, "Bullshit 3 1/4" was not a commercial success, and Ben-Israel's next album "The Kathmandu Sessions" was not released for many years due to financial difficulty.  Danny Ben-Israel lives in Israel today and is still active in the music industry.

Who Were the Sir Douglas Quintet?

The Sir Douglas Quintet were a blues/rock band from Austin Texas.  They were active from 1965 to 1973.

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Although the name "Sir Douglas Quintet" sounds quite British and un-folkrockish, the band made their mark with hard driving songs taken from the musical heritage of Southern Texas.  They are considered far more Southern Rock than anything else.   Although they broke up in 1973, The Sir Douglas Quintet continued to play together occasionally until their lead singer and name sake, Doug Sahm died in 1999.

Was Was Sir Lord Baltimore?

Sir Lord Baltimore, an American rock band active from 1968 to 1976 are the band for whom the phrase "heavy metal" was invented.   it was in a review of their 1971 album "Kingdom Come" that the words "heavy metal" were first used.

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While Sir Lord Baltimore only released two albums during their time together, their claim to fame as the origin of the phrase "heavy metal" has given them a form of immortality.

They are also unique in that their drummer John Garner was also their lead vocalist.   Sir Lord Baltimore were from Brooklyn New York.

Who was the American Band Warhorse

Warhorse was an American Doom Metal Band active from 1996 - 2005.  They self- released several albums as well as one studio album "As Heaven Turns to Ash" released through Southern Lord Records.

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Noted for the dark, morbid nature of their music, Warhorse broke up shortly after recording the ironically titled "I am Dying."  They were from Massachusetts.

There was also a British band active in the early 1970s named Warhorse.

Who Was the British Band Warhorse

Warhorse was a mostly unsuccessful British hard rock band founded by former Deep Purple member, Nick Semper.

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During their time together they recorded two albums "Warhorse" and "Red Sea."   When neither album produced a hit, they were dropped by their record label and soon disbanded.   The song "St. Louis" was released as a single.

Warhorse was active from 1970 - 1974.   There is also an American band of the same name.

Who Was Musician Tim Buckley

Tim Buckley was an American musician who died of a heroin overdose in 1975.   His career lasted from 1966 until his death.  He released a total of nine albums during that time.

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Buckley was a pioneer writing and preforming folk, jazz, and funk songs and albums.   While he was popular during his lifetime (the show the night before his death was sold out) his constant drug and alcohol abuse haunted him.  Tim Buckley was 28 at the time of his death.

Who Was Nick Drake?

Nick Drake was a British folk singer active from 1967 to 1974.  While very popular with critics, Drake refused to perform live and so never developed a public following.  He released three albums before retiring from public life.

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Nick Drake died in 1974 of a drug overdose but has continued to influence music.  The 1985 hit "Life in a Northern Town" by Dream Academy is based on Drake's life.  There was also a 1998 documentary about him called "A Stranger Among Us."    Curiously, and possibly due to his intense shyness, there is no know video footage of Nick Drake performing, nor any video of him as an adult.

Who Was the Gentle Giant Band?

Gentle Giant was a progressive rock band from England active from 1970 to 1980.   While never a commercial success, Gentle Giant was well known for the sophistication of their songs and the high level of talent in its band members.

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Gentle Giant released a total of 11 studio albums the most successful of which was "Free Hand" which peaked at #75 in the US.   Their songs were noted for musical innovation and unusual chord structures.   

Gentle Giant is often considered to be similar to early Genesis or King Crimson.

Who is Paul Siebel?

Paul Siebel is an American musician folk who released two albums "Wood Smoke and Oranges" 1970 and "Jack-Knife Gyspy" 1971.

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While Siebel became disillusioned with the music industry and has not recorded since the early 1970's, his songs have remained popular with other musicians.  Siebel's songs have been covered by Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and many others.  

Who Were Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band?

Captain Beefheart was on of the most influential "underground" musicians in America in the late 1960s and 1970s.   A contemporary friends and some time rival of Frank Zappa Beefheart's music was avante-garde, and difficult to place into a single category.

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His band "The Magic Band" changed members frequently.  Captain Beefheart was the act and the Magic Band were always the backup.

While never a commercial hit, Captain Beefheart had a large cult following and his exploration into multiple genera from blues to spoken word, paved the way for future musicians.   

Captain Beefheart was born Don Van Vliet and was a multi-instrument musician and composer who penned hundreds of songs.  He passed away in 2010. 

Who Was Blue Cheer?

Blue Cheer was an American band active from 1967 - 1972 and intermittently until 2009.  While very influential, Blue Cheers is difficult to define in terms of genera.  Influenced by blues rock, they also provided inspiration to the punk rock and heavy metal genera.

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Their most popular single was also their first.  "Summer Time Blues" reached #14 in the US in 1968.  In later years Blue Cheer became embattled in a dispute about who owned rights to the band name.

Who Were the James Gang

Active from 1966 to 1977, the James Gang was the band that launched the career of Joe Walsh and also Glen Schwartz who went on to found Pacific Gas and Electric.

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While The James Gang remained active from 1966-1977, they only released four singles that reached the US charts between 1969 and 1971.  

In 2005 and 2006 Walsh rejoined some of the original band members for a series of concerts.   They are not currently active.

Who are The Pretty Things?

The Pretty Things are a long lived blues/rock crossover band formed in England in 1963.  While initially commercially successful in England, The Pretty Things have not had a hit since 1966's Kinks Cover "A Place in The Country."

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The Pretty Things have had a notable impact on music.  During the late 1960s they recorded music for films and were also covered by David Bowie.  He used two of their songs in 1973's  "Pin Ups."  

The Pretty Things, with several lineup changes are still together and recording today.

Who is Steeleye Span?

Steeleye Span are the most successful of the British Folk revival bands from the late 1960s.  They are sometimes considered the British equivalent of The chieftans of Ireland.

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While Steeleye Span continues to record traditional English folk songs, they have recorded an increasing number of original music.  Although they broke up at one time and have had several lineup changes over the years, they continue to tour and play today.  Steeleye Span has released 21 albums since their formation in 1968.

Who Were The Soft Machine Band?

The long lived (1966 - 1984) Soft Machine were a progressive rock band from Canterbury, England.

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Although never a commercially successful band, Soft Machine's Songs and style were instrumental in the development of progressive rock.  The Soft Machine was somewhat self limiting due to frequent changes in membership.  By 1972 only one original member was still with the group and they had an entirely new line up by 1976.

Soft Machine is considered to be a part of the Canterbury Progressive rock movement. 

Who is Poco

Poco is a country rock band formed in 1968 by members of the recently broken up Buffalo Springfield.  They have been playing together since.

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Although not a chart topping band in an of themselves, Poco are considered one of the driving forces behind the development of country rock.  They are based in Southern California and tour annually.  

Poco has released a total of 54 albums with 1974's Legend being the most successful.