Before They Were Famous: Top Ten Artists Formerly Known As. . .

10. Sissy Spacek
Years before her breakout role in Badlands, Sissy Spacek recorded a single under the pseudonym Rainbo. From 1969, “John You Went too Far This Time” features full-on Beatley production and finds Sissy’s love for Lennon in question after she’s caught a glimpse of the Two Virgins cover.

9. Eric Carmen
He was all by himself in 1976, but Eric Carmen spent the most of the previous decade in two great one-single groups (Cyrus Erie, The Quick) and the ultimate power-pop band. Cyrus Erie shared guitarist Wally Bryson with Cleveland Nuggets notables The Choir; the two bands eventually merged and rearranged to form the fantastic Raspberries.

8. Nick Lowe
With Stiff Records, Rockpile, and big singles beyond the horizon, the young Basher joined Kippington Lodge on bass in 1968 and contributed his first original, “I Can See Her Face” as the B-Side to their final single. Lowe stuck it out when Kippington Lodge shifted gears to become pub-rockers Brinsley Schwarz (disbanded in 1975). It was during this period that he wrote Elvis Costello’s future hit “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding” and “Cruel To Be Kind” (which the Brinsleys rejected!).

7. Suzi Quatro
Long before Mickie Most and Leather Tuscadero, 14-year-old Suzi Quatro thumped bass for the Pleasure Seekers (and later, a heavier incarnation known as Cradle). Named after an Ann-Margret movie, their original lineup boasted tres Quatros, with sisters Arlene and Patti on keyboard and guitar, respectively.

6. Alice Cooper
Way back in 1966, future shock rocker Alice Cooper laid the groundwork for his over-the-top stage antics with The Spiders. Joined by his Cortez High cross-country team-mates, Vince had a local #1 hit with “Don’t Blow Your Mind.”

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