Five brilliant rock artists most Millennials and Zoomers have not heard

Sly & The Family Stone 

A bit funkier with this band. In fact, make that a lot funkier! Some of their sounds must surely have inspired Stevie Wonder and others. Led by Sylvester Stewart or Sly Stone as his band name, the group had some big hits. “Dance To The Music” and “Family Affair” are the best known. 

Now those lead to a bit of a caveat on this list. To clarify, it’s back to that title again. I reckon a lot of Millennials will have heard the songs, they have probably hit the dance floor to some of them. “Dance To The Music” is the most likely one. It’s hard to avoid feeling the beat on that one. But I reckon most won’t know who the song is by, there’d only be a few conjuring up the Sly and the Family Stone name. Aside from greatest hits compilations, their top album was There’s A Riot Goin’ On from 1971. Well worth hearing for a funk rock sound. 

Rory Gallagher 

From funk to blues rock and guitar genius Rory Gallagher. He’s another artist where the lack of hit singles reduces his reach into a wider fanbase. But those who know his music respect and love it. 

The man was a master with a live audience. You can get a feel for that from his live album Irish Tour ‘74 It was recorded in January of that year in Cork, Dublin, and Belfast. The latter venue was perhaps the most amazing given the troubles in the city at the time were deterring other artists from appearing. Gallagher rocked on regardless and brought some form of peace and goodwill to the Ulster Hall crowd with his performance. 

Sadly an early death from alcohol abuse at the age of just 47 curtailed his impact on music. Gallagher stood out amongst blues guitarists in his time, for his skill and his very distinguishable style and sound. He deserved even greater recognition, but it wasn't to be. 

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