Brinsley Schwarz

Brinsley Schwarz could have been one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, but it was not destined to be. Instead they became the guiding light of the English back-to-basics Pub Rock movement and were a big pub, club and college draw all over Britain -- even if their records didn't exactly storm the charts. Handling everything from Psychedelic-tinged Folk Pop and R&B-infused country to R&B and straight-up rock 'n' roll, they dropped the self-important pretensions of bands such as the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd in favor of songs about typical English pleasures. Their best recordings were crammed onto the excellent compilation Surrender to the Rhythm (1991), and vocalist Nick Lowe wrote songs such as "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" during this time. Although they were named for their lead guitarist, Lowe was the real force behind the band.