If you had to make a list of the top five under-rated rock bands, The Kinks would definitely be on it. Maybe at the top. They churned out great music decade after decade and yet it’s rarely a band people will think of if asked to name their favorite rock bands. If you ask me, even though they were together 30-40 years more or less, I think they probably called it quits “on top”.
And fwiw, I discovered the cult in 1987 when they were opening for Billy Idol. Friend had free tickets so we went and saw them play their set, and then smashed their instruments like they were The Who or Sex Pistols or something. It was pretty awesome since I had never seen that done live. Showmanship yeah, but still awesome. Then Billy Idol came out and he was just awful. A big let down after watching The Cult literally and figuratively tear up the stage. We left Idol, went to the record store, bought The Cult Electric tape and drove around all night and me the next many weeks playing it constantly.
Lol. I went to see Steve Miller once and the show was opened by Commander Cody doing old rock n roll numbers like Buddy Hollys, etc. Then Miller came on. Within 15 minutes everyone was calling for Commander Cody to come back. Lol. what a boring performer was Miller.