Former 60's Acid Punk star Terry Knight put BLOODROCK together in the same manner in which he had reared GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. Knight had scoured the bars and clubs of Texas in order to create his latest Metal monster and Fort Worth's BLOODROCK outfit would first appear in 1969 with a self-titled effort. The band's line-up comprised Jim Rutledge sharing both vocals and drum duties, guitarists Lee Pickins and Nick Taylor, bassist Ed Grundy and keyboard player Stephen Hill. The song 'Gotta Find A Way' proved notable for containing one of the earliest instances of hidden messaging. During the intro of the song, the following message "Anyone who is stupid enough to play this record backwards deserves what he is about to hear" is heard, followed by an excerpt from the 'Jabberwocky' poem.

By the time 'Bloodrock 2' was released the group, now with drummer Rick Cobb, had managed to acquire a surprise hit with the single 'D.O.A.', reaching no. 36 on the national charts in January 1971. 'Bloodrock 3', released in 1971, included a cover version of the SOFT MACHINE's 'A Certain Kind'. The self-produced 'Bloodrock USA' album of 1972 opened with the track 'It's A Sad World', actually a re-work of a song from Bill and Warren Ham's act ISRAFEL.'Bloodrock Live' was delivered in 1972. While the album was marketed as being a live performance, three of the album's songs, 'Kool-Aid-Kids', 'You Gotta Roll' and 'Cheater', were actually studio recordings with dubbed concert applause.

The band maintained a stable line-up until Jim Rutledge and Lee Pickins opted out. Rutledge decamped in order to craft an adventurous work in partnership with JOHN NITZINGER and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Unfortunately these tracks would be rejected by Capital. Pickens went solo, forging THE LEE PICKENS GROUP for a 1973 album. BLOODROCK drafted Warren Ham to take lead vocals for the 'Passage' album, a work which witnessed a strong drift away from Blues based Hard Rock and into Progressive realms. Another ex-BLOODROCK man guitarist Jimmy Henderson would join BLACK OAK ARKANSAS.

BLOODROCK lost long standing drummer Rick Cobb during recording sessions for the January 1974 album 'Whirlwind Tongues', which featured a cover version of THE BEATLES 'Eleanor Rigby'. His position was taken by erstwhile STRAY DOG man Randy Reeder, also previously with JOHN NITZINGER.A single, 'Thank You Daniel Ellsberg', a different version to the album variant with an added brass section, was lifted from the album but sales were not forthcoming.

BLOODROCK started working on another album with a working title of 'Unspoken Words'. Nick Taylor quit, being superseded by Bill Ham, whilst Reeder was replaced by Matt Betton. However, Capital Records pulled the deal and left the band floundering.

After a final concert in Flint, Michigan on 14th April 1974, BLOODROCK split. Capital Records put out the compilation 'Bloodrock n' Roll' in 1975. Jim Rutledge recorded a solo album for Capitol Records two years later. Lee Pickens also issued a solo effort. Reeder joined ALEXIS. Warren Ham formed THE HAM BROTHERS, releasing an eponymous album in 1977, before joining Kerry Livgren's Christian Rock outfit A.D.

In 1990 Wichita, Kansas Heavy Metal band MANILLA ROAD included a cover version of BLOODROCK's 'D.O.A.' on their album 'The Courts Of Chaos'. That same year saw the 'Bloodrock 2' album certified with Gold sales status by the RIAA on 3rd January.

In 2001 'Passage' and 'Whirlwind Tongues' was released as a double CD package, adding most of the material from the unreleased 'Unspoken Words' sessions.

A BLOODROCK reunion concert was held to benefit keyboard player Steve Hill on 12th March 2005 at the Ridgelea Theatre in Fort Worth, this concert featuring Lee Pickens, Jim Rutledge, Nick Taylor and Ed Grundy.