Hidden Gems of Rock — Lesser Known, Yet Noteworthy Bands

In a world saturated with mainstream music and chart-topping hits, there exists a realm of hidden gems, undiscovered treasures, and noteworthy bands that defy the norms of popularity. These unsung heroes of the music industry possess an undeniable talent, captivating soundscapes, and lyrics that resonate with a select few who dare to venture beyond the mainstream.

Many rock and roll bands throughout the ages have enjoyed enough popularity to produce their own music, but Gerard Zappa Wooster says that few receive the appreciation their sound warrants. Some of these underrated rock and roll bands include Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Gaskit, and The Faces.

While they may not instantly come to mind when asked about one’s favorite rock bands, the captivating talent showcased by them will leave an indelible mark on the world. Below, an eye-opening exploration that will redefine anyone’s perception of what it means to be truly remarkable in the world of rock music.

Best Bands of the Century

Though nowadays it is easier to record and produce one’s own music with minimal funding, the truly great classics could not always afford to make their albums immortal through production. Even unpopular rock artists like the ones listed below had enough of a following to produce their music.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is a band whose name should invite curiosity right off the bat; however, few other than the garage-band lovers actually know of this band. Their relatively smaller fanbase knows them as BRMC.

The band included both Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been on vocals and guitars, with Nick Jago on the drums until his replacement in 2008 by Leah Shapiro.

It’s worth noting, though he initially wanted to distance himself from his father’s legacy, that Robert Levon Been is the son of Michael Been, lead singer of Californian rock band “The Call.”

BRMC features a psychedelic sound akin to that of Sonic Youth without losing that Led Zeppelin-vibe of hard rock.

BRMC barely got their start in the year 1998 before the audio-sharing bombshell known as Napster came along and took everyone’s attention in a new direction when it came to recorded music. One of their most popular songs is “Weapon of Choice,” and comes highly recommended.

Gaskit

The band Gaskit was formed in the year 2000. Childhood friends John Herbert and Jon Hoyt happened to find themselves living near one another in Chicago after many years apart and decided to form a band with then-Guitar avenger employee Ben Riley and singer Freddie Feldman.

Gaskit was founded to make a statement that would be heard in the ears of fans around the world through their music.

Their career may have been short together, but before their split in 2005, Gaskit was benefiting the rock world through a combination of de-tuned guitar riffs and hard-hitting vocals. Each of their four albums is well worth listening to.

The Faces

Before Humble Pie became a band, Steve Marriot had a side project he was devoting much of his passion to. This side project was the band The Faces. One single in particular, “Ooh La La,” was a hit, and so were the members. One who went on to receive notoriety was Rod Stewart, and another was guitarist Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones.

That being said, the band itself never reached superstar or rock-legend status in its recording years.

In Conclusion

Rock and roll has its own set of underappreciated Hidden Gems. Whether missing out on The Rolling Stones precursor, The Faces, or hearing about the hypnotic pull of BRMC for the first time, these bands are worth checking out.