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Bob Marley -

Together with his band the Wailers, Bob Marley introduced Jamaican reggae to a wider, mainstream audience. Marley himself became a figurehead for peace and love, and was applauded for using his success to make the richest nations take note of the plight of the third world.

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Sex Pistols -

Love 'em or hate 'em, in the late 1970s nobody could ignore the Sex Pistols. Arguably the most influential punk band ever, not least because of front man Johnny Rotten's acerbic wit and clever put-downs, the Sex Pistols also helped revolutionize the fashion and youth culture of the day.

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Roxy Music -

Pioneers of British glam rock, Roxy Music were formed in 1970. Members included Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, and Brian Eno. Roxy Music significantly shaped the look and sound of early English punk rock and late 1970's new wave acts.

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Cat Stevens -

Today known as Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam in 1977, Cat Stevens produced some of the most haunting ballads of the early 1970s, compositions like 'Wild World,' 'Moonshadow,' and a beautiful version of 'Morning Has Broken.' His song 'First Cut is the Deepest' has been a hit for four different artists, including Rod Stewart.

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Led Zeppelin -

Led Zeppelin are regularly cited as the best band of the 1970s. A hard-rocking version of a blues band, Led Zeppelin began redefining rock music with their 1969 debut album 'Led Zeppelin' and throughout the 1970s released some of the most popular and influential works in rock history.

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Fleetwood Mac -

Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album 'Rumours' sold 10 million copies worldwide within a month of its release and to date has shifted over 40 million units.

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Deep Purple -

Jon Lord, Richie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Roger Glover, and Ian Gillan are considered the classic Deep Purple lineup, an English rock band whose 1972 song 'Smoke on the Water' still finds its way onto greatest songs of all time and greatest guitar riff ever listings.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd -

Lynyrd Skynyrd released their first album in 1973 and at the height of their fame were singular in popularizing the Southern rock genre with songs such as 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Free Bird.' Tragically, band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were tragically killed in a plane crash in October 1977, an accident that left other band members seriously injured.

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Pink Floyd -

Pink Floyd's legendary status was cemented in 1973 with the release of the epic 'Dark Side of the Moon'—among the most critically acclaimed records in history. In 1975, they shone again with 'Wish You Were Here.'

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The Allman Brothers Band -

In 1971, the Allman Brothers Band released 'At Filmore East,' considered by many music critics as one of the best live albums of all time, capturing the band at their all-too-brief peak. Later that same year, founding member Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident. Almost one year later, bassist Berry Oakley also perished in a bike crash.

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Black Sabbath -

Fronted by larger-than-life singer Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath is the original heavy metal band. Every metal head since has owed Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler a wild, head-banging nod. Ozzy, the "Prince of Darkness," of course later became a reality TV star and won over a whole new audience.

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ABBA -

Fans of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad have been calling for the Swedish supergroup to reform for years. A musical, 'Mamma Mia!,' which was later made into a film of the same name, proved hugely successful.

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Blondie -

Blondie, fronted by Debbie Harry, were pioneers of the American new wave scene of the mid-1970s in New York. They mellowed their sound somewhat in 1978 to produce the album 'Parallel Lines' to huge commercial success. Harry is credited as one of the first music artists to rap, on Blondie's 'Rapture' (1980).

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Eagles -

The Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s in North America, enjoying a string of hits that included 'One of These Nights,' 'Lyin' Eyes,' and the evergreen 'Hotel California.' In fact, 'Hotel California' has endured to become part of international popular culture.

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David Bowie -

David Bowie is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, but he's most daring and innovative work was produced in the 1970s, especially during the glam-rock era when his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust took to the stage. Numerous artists have cited Bowie as a musical influence, including Joy Division, the Smiths, Suede, and U2's Bono.

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The Jackson 5 -

A Motown family like no other, the Jackson brothers became one of the first Black acts to achieve mainstream success with white audiences. Their early '70s hits were huge, songs that included 'ABC' and 'I'll Be There,' with young Michael honing his stagecraft for greater things to come. Boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and the Jonas Brothers owe the 5 a debt

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Joni Mitchell -

Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchel left the 1960s effortlessly behind her to embrace the new decade by incorporating influences from pop and jazz and by doing so influencing a new generation of female musicians, and a fair few environmentalists too. Just listen to Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi' and ponder the line: "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

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Queen -

Queen's near-six-minute-long operatic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' released in 1975 caught everybody out, including bemused radio DJs who wondered how on earth the track would ever enjoy airtime. Along with its groundbreaking promotional video,  'Bohemian Rhapsody' managed to redefine the meaning of progressive rock by including in it a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part, and Freddie Mercury's four-octave voice.

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Neil Young -

Neil Young was active in the 1960s as a member of Buffalo Springfield and playing with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. But it was with 'Heart of Gold,' released in 1972, that the Canadian singer-songwriter came to greater prominence.

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Talking Heads -

Formed in 1975 in New York, Talking Heads were leaders in pioneering new wave music and were at their most creative and original in the latter half of that decade, releasing a trio of critically acclaimed albums: 'More Songs About Buildings and Food' (1978), 'Fear of Music' (1979), and 'Remain in Light' (1980). Jonathan Demme's 1984 concert film featuring the band, 'Stop Making Sense,' has been hailed as one the greatest rock movies ever made.

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The Ramones -

Also out of New York came the Ramones, formed in 1974 and sometimes referenced as the first true punk rock group. The band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone," inspired apparently by Paul McCartney's habit of checking into hotels under the name "Paul Ramone."

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Stevie Wonder -

Already a musical star in the 1960s, Stevie Wonder made the 1970s practically his own as far as soul was concerned. Standout hits from the era include the funky 'Superstition' (1972) and the timeless 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life' (1974).

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The Clash -

The Clash burst onto the British punk rock scene in 1976 and later led the charge into the post-punk and new wave movements. The band wasn't afraid to experiment and incorporated reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly into a string of compositions.

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Kiss -

Outlandish and outrageous, Kiss are famous for their elaborate stage performances and eccentric makeup. They've been around since 1973 and released seven studio albums between 1974 and 1979. The band's much copied famous makeup is named for each individual, and includes "The Starchild" (Paul Stanley) and "The Demon" (Gene Simmons).  

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Bruce Springsteen -

Bruce Springsteen was at the top of his game in the 1970s. His E Street Band provided the solid backing he needed to produce albums like 'Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.' (1973) and 1975's classic 'Born to Run.' The "Boss" was never a great commercial success in the 1970s, but that wasn't the point. His was music made from the very soul. 

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Parliament Funkadelic -

This American funk music collective of rotating musicians headed by George Clinton didn't care much for the mainstream. Instead, the outfit drew on psychedelic culture, outlandish fashion, science-fiction, and surreal humor to get their message across. Today, bands like Daft Punk come to mind when discussing Parliament Funkadelic's influence on music 50 years on.

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Donna Summer -

No other female singer defined the disco era quite like Donna Summer, who gained prominence in the genre towards the end of the 1970s and was even called the "Queen of Disco." Her erotically powered 1975 hit 'Love to Love You Baby' was written by frequent collaborator Giorgio Moroder.  

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Kraftwerk -

Without innovative German electronic group Kraftwerk, there'd be no Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, and a host of other synth pop bands. David Bowie was a fan, and even Giorgio Moroder acknowledged the German four-piece.

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Labi Siffre -

British singer and songwriter Labi Siffre is one of the most sampled artists in recent music history. Kanye West and Jay-Z have both "borrowed" his work. Eminen famously used the riff from the second half of Siffre's seminal 1975 track 'I Got The...' for his own 'My Name Is.' 

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Giorgio Moroder -

And speaking of Giorgio Moroder, how would New York's Studio 54 have sounded without him? And what about the soundtracks to 'Midnight Express' (1978), 'American Gigolo' (1980) and 'Scarface' (1983), among others. Moroder is dubbed the "Father of Disco" and his electronic wizardry is still being appreciated today. 

Sources: (Biography) (50Thirdand3rd) (Pollstar) (Alternative Press)    

See also: Bandmates who were romantically involved

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