i am currently developing a software system to satisfy exactly what you are talking about. its complicated but it uses other peoples taste to suggest new music to you. anyhow until that is available, my suggestion to you is this.
allmusic is the best compiled database for music i have found. they have links on just about everything on there. so you can type in an artist and get when they were active, music style, discography, biography, band members, similar artist, influencing artist, followers, etc etc. everything is linked and if even has some of the smallest bands you know. check it out