10 Obscure Blues Rock Bands of the 1970s

The 1970s were a critical period in the developmental transformation of blues rock, as the genre evolved from its late-1960s roots into heavier, more experimental territory while retaining its raw emotional core. While bands like Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers dominated the airwaves and arenas, lesser-known bands were creating new sounds and delivering electrifying takes on the style without getting the credit they deserved. These bands blended gritty riffs and soulful grooves with boogie rhythms and, on occasion, proto-metal riffs. Here are ten examples of underappreciated acts from both sides of the Atlantic that capture the decade’s spirit of innovation and high-energy performances.

Back Street Crawler   

Back Street Crawler came into existence in 1973, when former Free guitarist Paul Kossoff formed the band. The group was comprised of Terry Wilson-Slesser on vocals, Mike Montgomery on keyboards, Terry Wilson on bass guitar, Tony Braunagel on drums, and Kossoff on lead guitar. Their sound delivered raw, heartfelt blues rock, featuring burning guitar solos and gritty riffs performed with a soulful edge that pushed beyond the limits of Kossoff’s days with Free. They released their debut album, The Band Plays On, in 1975, followed by their second album, 2nd Street, in 1976. The band captured the unpolished intensity of 1970s blues rock, but Kossoff’s death in 1976 brought the group to an end.

Bloodrock

Bloodrock was a Texas hard blues rock band formed in 1969/70 after emerging from the Fort Worth local club scene. The band was comprised of drummer/vocalist Jim Rutledge, drummer/percussionist Rick Cobb, lead guitarist Lee Pickens, rhythm guitarist Nick Taylor, bass guitarist Ed Grundy, and keyboardist Stevie Hill. Terry Knight, Grand Funk Railroad’s manager and record producer, signed them to Capitol Records, and they released their eponymous debut album, Bloodrock, in 1970. The band often used dark lyrical themes, most famously on their follow-up album, Bloodrock 2, which brought them their biggest success with the controversial hit single “D.O.A.” They delivered a raw, heavy blend of blues-infused hard rock and gritty riffs with psychedelic edges that complemented their dark lyrical imagery. After touring with Grand Funk Railroad, they achieved a notable level of success, but following the departure of Rutledge and Pickens in 1972, the band’s sound became more progressive with the addition of horns. After releasing a few more albums, they ultimately disbanded in 1975.

Cactus

Cactus was formed on Long Island, New York, in 1969/70 as a hard-hitting American response to the emerging British heavy blues scene. They were a raw, high-energy blues rock band comprised of the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of Carmine Appice on drums and Tim Bogert on bass guitar. Former Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels and Buddy Miles Express guitarist Jim McCarty, along with Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes vocalist and harmonica player Rusty Day, rounded out the lineup. Some referred to them as “The American Led Zeppelin” because of the way they fused blistering blues riffs and boogie grooves with psychedelic flair. In 1970, they released their eponymous debut album, Cactus, and went on to release four albums by 1972, culminating with ’Ot ’N’ Sweaty. Shortly afterward, the band dissolved to form Beck, Bogert and Appice.

Captain Beyond

Captain Beyond was formed in 1971 in Los Angeles, California, as an American supergroup. The band was made up of founding Deep Purple vocalist Rod Evans, Iron Butterfly alumni lead guitarist Larry Reinhardt and bass guitarist Lee Dorman, along with former Johnny Winter drummer Bobby Caldwell. They released three albums between 1972 and 1977 before breaking up in 1978. Their sound featured a cosmic, riff-heavy mix that ranged from gritty hard blues rock to jazz fusion and psychedelic stoner rock.

Hoo Doo Rhythm Devils

The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils formed in 1970 and were part of the Bay Area post-hippie scene. They were a gritty, high-energy funky blues rock band from San Francisco that blended swampy blues boogie and country rock with soulful grooves, performed as straight-up rock and roll. Between 1971 and 1978, they released five studio albums, beginning on Capitol Records and ending on Fantasy Records. The band was comprised of guitarist John Rewind, vocalist and bass guitarist Joe Crane, who backed Johnny and Edgar Winter, drummer Glenn Walters, and Richard Greene on bass guitar. Their final album, All Kidding Aside, was released in 1978, but following Crane’s death from leukemia in 1980, the band disbanded.

Jo Jo Gunne  

Jo Jo Gunne was an under-the-radar act whose high-energy style helped with the transition from 1960s psychedelic rock to more straight-ahead, boogie-infused arena rock. The band was formed by former Spirit co-lead singer Jay Ferguson, who also played piano, along with bass guitarist Mark Andes, guitarist Matt Andes, and drummer Curly Smith. They were inspired by Chuck Berry’s song “Jo Jo Gunn” and named themselves after it, much like the Rolling Stones used Muddy Waters’ 1950 recording for their band’s name. Between 1972 and 1974, they released four albums, with their self-titled debut producing a Top 40 hit in the United States and a UK Top 10 hit with “Run, Run, Run.” After personnel changes and waning commercial momentum, they disbanded in 1975.

Juicy Lucy

Juicy Lucy was formed in London, England, in 1969 and developed a gritty, slide guitar-heavy sound laced with boogie, soul, and swampy grooves. The band was made up of American steel guitarist Glenn Ross Campbell, former John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers saxophonist and keyboardist Chris Mercer, vocalist Ray Owen, guitarist Neil Hubbard, bassist Keith Ellis, and drummer Pete Dobson. Their eponymous debut album, Juicy Lucy, was released in October 1969 on Vertigo Records and produced a Top 20 UK hit with their cover of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” The band released four albums, concluding with Pieces in 1972, before disbanding following the departure of Campbell and Mercer.

May Blitz

May Blitz was a Canadian-British blues rock power trio formed in 1969 that blended heavy psychedelic rock, proto-metal riffs, bluesy grooves, and progressive elements. Influenced by 1960s bands like Black Sabbath, Cream, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, they were signed to Vertigo Records as one of the label’s first four acts, alongside Black Sabbath, Juicy Lucy, and Uriah Heep. Canadian guitarist and vocalist James Black and bassist Reid Hudson joined British drummer Tony Newman, who had previously played in Jeff Beck’s group, to form the band. During their short career, they released two albums that featured extended jams and aggressive guitar work, earning them cult status despite modest sales. Commercial struggles and creative fatigue led to the group’s dissolution following the release of The 2nd of May in 1971.

Montrose

Montrose was founded in 1973 by guitar virtuoso Ronnie Montrose, who had previously worked with Van Morrison and Edgar Winter. The band was a powerhouse led by Montrose’s blazing six-string playing and delivered a gritty, high-voltage take on blues rock. They bridged the raw, riff-heavy British invasion of the late 1960s with the leaner, more aggressive American hard rock of the 1970s. Powerhouse vocalist Sammy Hagar, drummer Denny Carmassi, and bassist Bill Church rounded out the lineup. They released their eponymous debut album, Montrose, in 1973, showcasing an explosive, string-bending energy comparable to players like Jeff Beck and early Led Zeppelin. The band played with a stripped-down, turbocharged intensity marked by relentless groove and attitude.

Stone the Crows

Stone the Crows were a gritty Scottish blues rock band that emerged from the Glasgow pub scene in 1969. They were managed by Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin’s manager, who coined their name, a phrase indicating surprise in the local vernacular. The band was made up of Maggie Bell, whose soulful, powerhouse vocals were often compared to Janis Joplin, along with fiery guitarist Leslie Harvey, drummer Colin Allen, bassist James Dewar, who later joined Robin Trower, and keyboardist John McGinnis. They released four albums between 1970 and 1972 that blended deep blues roots with driving rock and are considered among Britain’s great lost bands of that era. The group broke up in 1973 after guitarist Leslie Harvey was fatally electrocuted on stage due to faulty equipment.

The ten underappreciated bands from the 1970s highlighted here exemplify the decade’s spirit of bold experimentation and electrifying live energy. From Paul Kossoff’s soul-burning, stratospheric guitar solos and Maggie Bell’s powerhouse vocals to Ronnie Montrose’s turbocharged riffs accompanied by Sammy Hagar’s stellar singing, the era was transformative. These hidden gems often existed in the shadows of giants like Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers Band, yet they took the genre’s raw emotional depth and fused it with heavier riffs, boogie grooves, psychedelic edges, and proto-metal intensity.