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

5. Rick Springfield
“Jessie’s Girl” and General Hospital may come to mind, but Rick Springfield’s first stabs at fame occurred much earlier in his Australian homeland. He joined reluctant Adelaide teen idols Zoot in 1969, contributing combustible lead licks to Just Zoot before their split in 1971. A year later, Rick’s solo debut, “Speak To The Sky,” became a #1 Aussie hit, resulting in a move to LA and an animated starring role in the 1973 Brady Kids spin-off, Mission: Magic!

4. Debbie Harry
While not the most auspicious start for punk rock’s primary pinup, psych-folk outfit Wind In the Willows nevertheless featured a pre-Blondie (and very brunette) Debbie Harry. The band’s sole self-titled LP did little more than break 1968’s Top 200; this lack of success broke up the band. Destiny awaited Debbie when she joined The Stilettos, a girl group who counted her future partner Chris Stein among their backup players, a few years later.

3. Peter Frampton
Named the “Face of ’68” by Rave magazine, Peter Frampton first gained attention with The Herd. The band enjoyed a small handful of hits, including “I Don’t Want Our Loving to Die,” before Frampton left to form Humble Pie and eventually reach solo megastar status with Frampton Comes Alive.

2. Bryan Adams
When Nick Gilder left Canadian glam rock band Sweeney Todd for a solo career, the band found themselves in a conundrum: who could replicate those decidedly effeminate vocals? Enter 16-year-old BRYAN FLIPPING ADAMS. Yes, that one.

1. Chevy Chase
Did you know that Clark Griswold has perfect pitch? Judge for yourself! Chevy Chase was the drummer and keyboard player for psychedelic rock band Chameleon Church, and took the microphone for 1969’s “Here’s a Song.”

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