Ghosts of Princes in Towers

Mere weeks after The Sex Pistols booted out Glen Matlock, the bassist pieced together the short-lived Rich Kids: a baby supergroup that featured drummer Rusty Egan (later of Visage), future Ultravox guitarist/singer Midge Ure, and 17-year-old guitarist Steve New (who later played with Iggy Pop). Produced by guitar hero and Bowie alum Mick Ronson and including guests like Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, the sole Rich Kids album kicks out the burly glam jams and shout-out ’60s pop. It's best heard on the masterful title song and “Rich Kids,” the group's only U.K. hit. As much as the album foreshadowed debut chart-toppers by The Cars and The Knack, the anti-war pop drone of “Marching Men” and the simmering opener "Strange One" showed dramatic musical flourishes, clever couplets, and a songwriting base that hinted of bigger things to come. It was never to be. The misunderstood album flopped upon its 1978 release, and the band soon dissolved. Tellingly, the album has since earned a cult following around the world.