[Perndog]

There aren't many well-known bands named in this thread because being well-known means they have tons of fans and are therefore already pretty highly-rated.

But if we want to get into popular groups who should get more props, I'm all for Guns N' Roses. Yes, Axl Rose is a phenomenal asshole, which is at least part of the reason the band broke up and most of the reason his new project is still not off the ground. But Guns N' Roses were the rock and roll band of their time. Guns N' Roses were rocking and breaking shit while the glam rockers were putting on makeup, and they were still rocking and enjoying themselves when grunge began, musicians became sullen and moody, and musicianship got left behind. They recorded Appetite for Destruction, one of the best rock albums of all time. Axl Rose wrote November Rain - and November Rain, in my opinion, is as good as or better than Stairway to Heaven, only it doesn't have the benefit of being part of Led Zeppelin's catalog or being old (which apparently makes rock music good and worth talking about).

Now the underrated part. GNR isn't old enough for the classic rock fans and isn't new enough for younger folks, so they don't get enough respect from enough people. But they were the last great rock band - name a rock album post 1980 that can stand up to Appetite for Destruction (not metal, mind you).