Back in Time Today
The 1960s were a vibrant era for rock music, overflowing with creativity and innovation. Yet, not all who made their mark remained in the public eye. Here, we explore thirteen rock legends who, for various reasons, stepped away from the limelight.
Their stories range from literal disappearances to choosing a life of obscurity, leaving behind a legacy that still captivates fans today.
1. Jim Sullivan
Jim Sullivan was a gifted singer-songwriter, best known for his 1969 album *U.F.O.* In 1975, while driving from Los Angeles to Nashville, Sullivan’s car was found abandoned near Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
His disappearance remains a mystery, with theories ranging from foul play to alien abduction—a rumor fueled by his album’s title.
Despite extensive searches, no definitive explanation has emerged. Sullivan’s haunting music and enigmatic vanishing have kept fans intrigued, turning him into a legend of the unknown.
2. Connie Converse
Connie Converse was an introspective songwriter whose folk-influenced songs predated the singer-songwriter movement.
In 1974, feeling her music had gone unnoticed, Converse packed her belongings into her Volkswagen Beetle and drove away, leaving goodbye letters to her loved ones. She was never seen or heard from again.
While not a typical ’60s rock star, her mysterious disappearance and poignant music have made her a subject of fascination. Her legacy is often discussed in the context of lost musical geniuses.
3. Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry became famous with her 1967 hit “Ode to Billie Joe,” which topped charts and made her a star. Her music, blending country-pop and rock, captivated audiences.
In the early 1980s, Gentry retreated entirely from public view, declining interviews and offers. Her complete withdrawal has made her almost mythical, with fans joking about her disappearance.
Despite efforts by journalists to locate her, Gentry remains out of reach, adding to her enigmatic allure and leaving fans wondering about her life away from the spotlight.
4. Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd’s founding member, was a creative force whose mental health struggles led him to leave the band in 1968. His solo work was intriguing yet erratic, reflecting his inner turmoil.
Barrett spent most of his life in seclusion in Cambridge, England, away from public life. While not missing in a legal sense, his disappearance from the music scene was complete, leaving only rumors of his whereabouts.
Barrett’s life and music continue to inspire, embodying the fragility and brilliance of a troubled genius.
5. Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson was the frontman of the 13th Floor Elevators, known for their 1966 album *The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators*.
After a high-profile arrest and institutionalization, Erickson vanished from the music scene. He reemerged occasionally, but spent much of the 1970s and ’80s battling mental health issues, living on the fringes.
His story is one of resilience amidst chaos, with his music continuing to resonate with fans who cherish his contributions to psychedelic rock.
6. Alexander “Skip” Spence
Alexander “Skip” Spence, drummer for Jefferson Airplane and later a founder of Moby Grape, faced severe mental health issues. His life spiraled after a notorious incident with a bandmate, leading to hospitalization and withdrawal from music.
Though not a disappearance in the missing-person sense, Spence’s chaotic life and the obscurity that followed left him off the cultural radar. His legacy, however, remains alive through the music he helped create, embodying the tumultuous spirit of the ’60s.
7. Peter Green
Peter Green, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, was a revered blues-rock guitarist. By the early ’70s, his mental health and LSD use led him to quit the band.
Green lived reclusively for years, sometimes homeless or in psychiatric care, before a tentative return to music in the late ’70s. His “lost” period left fans with little knowledge of his whereabouts.
Despite the obscurity, Green’s influence on rock and blues remains profound, his story a testament to the complex interplay between genius and personal struggle.
8. Sean Bonniwell
Sean Bonniwell was the visionary behind The Music Machine, known for the 1966 hit “Talk Talk.” After the band dissolved, Bonniwell drifted through short-lived projects, changing musical directions.
His retreat into obscurity, though not headline-grabbing, made him a cult hero who vanished from mainstream music. He reemerged decades later for small shows, yet largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Bonniwell’s enigmatic life and sporadic appearances keep his legacy alive, a symbol of the fleeting nature of fame.
9. Linda Perhacs
Linda Perhacs released *Parallelograms* in 1970, a psych-folk classic revered by collectors. After its commercial failure, she returned to her job as a dental hygienist, vanishing completely.
For decades, fans believed she might never have existed. The rediscovery of her album in the ’90s led to a surprising comeback in the 2010s.
Perhacs’ story is one of rediscovery and resilience, capturing the enigmatic allure of artists who leave and return to the creative world, forever influencing those who find them.
10. Sky Saxon
Sky Saxon, lead singer of The Seeds, gained fame with the 1966 hit “Pushin’ Too Hard.” As commercial success waned, Saxon explored fringe spiritual movements and sporadic music projects.
Though he didn’t literally vanish, many fans lost track of him, and rumors of his whereabouts and beliefs circulated.
Saxon resurfaced in the ’80s during the Los Angeles psychedelic revival, his enigmatic persona continuing to intrigue, embodying the quintessential ’60s rock spirit of rebellion and exploration.
11. Tommy Hall
Tommy Hall, electric jug player and lyricist for the 13th Floor Elevators, shaped the band’s psychedelic philosophy. After the band’s demise, Hall receded from public life, remaining in Austin and pursuing mysticism.
His absence from the music scene led to jokes about his evaporation into the spirit realm. Despite his retreat, Hall’s influence on psychedelic rock remains significant, with fans cherishing the innovative sound he helped create.
His quiet life adds to the mystique surrounding the band’s legacy.
12. Danny Kirwan
Danny Kirwan joined Fleetwood Mac after their first album and contributed to their sound transition. Struggles with alcoholism and mental health forced him out of the band in 1972.
He spent years homeless in London, with many uncertain of his status. Though not missing, his obscurity left fans wondering about his fate.
Kirwan’s story is a somber reminder of the challenges faced by artists, his contributions to Fleetwood Mac living on as a testament to his talent and influence.
13. Moulty (Victor Moulton)
Victor Moulton, known as Moulty, was the drummer for The Barbarians, famous for the song “Moulty.” The band’s mid-’60s success faded, and Moulton disappeared from the spotlight.
Though still interviewed occasionally, his low profile after the band’s abrupt fade left fans curious. Moulton’s story remains a “Where’d he go?” footnote in rock history, despite his memorable personality and contributions.
His journey highlights the transient nature of fame, with his legacy enduring through the music that captured the spirit of the ’60s.