50 Best L.A. Bands
PHOTO CREDITS
Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, Doors, Seeds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Bangles, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, Love, Surfaris: courtesy Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Byrds: courtesy Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Getty Images; Los Lobos: courtesy Paul Roa; Monkees: courtesy Henry Diltz/Rhino; War, Poco, Sparks: courtesy Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns; Germs: courtesy Melanie Nissen; Metal-lica: courtesy Fin Costello/Redferns; X: courtesy George Rose/Getty Images; Van Halen: courtesy Richard E. Aaron/Redferns; Go-Go’s: courtesy Janette Beckman/Redferns; Eagles: courtesy Platt Collection; Red Hot Chili Peppers: courtesy Julian Schnabel/Warner Bros.; Chambers Brothers: courtesy Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images; Tool: courtesy Tim Cadiente; Slayer, Mötley Crüe: courtesy Ebet Roberts/Redferns; Rage Against the Machine: courtesy Sony Music Archive/Getty Images/Mark Baker; Jane’s Addiction: courtesy ©Neal Preston/Corbis; Toto: courtesy Jim Shea/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Mothers of Invention: courtesy Gunter Zint/K&K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns; Berlin: courtesy Tom Sheehan; Linkin Park: courtesy James Minchin; Turtles, Associa-tion: courtesy ©Henry Diltz/Corbis; Oingo Boingo: courtesy Lisa Haun/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Blasters: courtesy Janette Beckman/Getty Images; Flying Burrito Bros.: courtesy Jim McCrary/Redferns; Ozomatli: courtesy Christian Lantry; Canned Heat: courtesy Bob Baker/Redferns/Getty Images; Weezer: courtesy Marina Chavez/Interscope; Megadeth: courtesy Chapman Baehler/Capitol; Sublime: courtesy John Dunne.
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hello? Richie Valens anyone?
Posted by: ckimzey | 06/03/2011 at 07:50 AM
Uh, ever heard of Bad Religion?
Posted by: Mike | 06/03/2011 at 09:17 AM
How about DJ Quik?
Posted by: Mike | 06/03/2011 at 09:19 AM
A few off the top of my head.
Grateful Dead
Creedance Clearwater
Minutemen
Mazzy Star
Campervan Beethoven
Posted by: randall | 06/03/2011 at 11:07 AM
Great list! The Doors take the crown, but why isn't Incubus in the list? Incubus is not only an amazing band that is still inflaming the senses but an outstanding representation of what CA can produce. Peace!!
Posted by: Gonzo | 06/03/2011 at 01:51 PM
Little feet
Posted by: Tony marino | 06/03/2011 at 05:20 PM
No Eels? Electro-Shock Blues, Beautiful Freak and Blinking Lights and Other Revelations were brilliant albums! He's from Los Feliz
Also, The Monkees but no Jackson Browne? How do you not put Jackson Browne on a list of homegrown music acts.
Posted by: Ethan Horan | 06/03/2011 at 07:39 PM
Joni Mitchell?
Posted by: Susan LeVeque | 06/03/2011 at 07:55 PM
No Minutemen? Absurd.
Posted by: harkin | 06/04/2011 at 06:16 AM
The Ventures should be on this list.
They had a profound influence on rock and roll as they inspired many to take up the guitar, including many on your list, thru out the 1960's and beyond.
Posted by: truth2power | 06/04/2011 at 09:01 AM
How about Incubus, Pennywise, NOFX, Bad Religion and the Descendents?
TOTO.... really?
Posted by: Teaser38 | 06/04/2011 at 12:47 PM
Wait, what about Spirit? Not to mention the Rising Sons.
Posted by: DarkTrail | 06/04/2011 at 05:46 PM
The Monkees! You are a monkey.
Posted by: Sacatonrod | 06/05/2011 at 12:54 AM
Thee Midniters?
Posted by: Wayne Kennan | 06/05/2011 at 06:13 AM
You guys forgot AUDIOSLAVE and INCUBUS....you must be kidding!!!
Posted by: Alessandra Ranaldi | 06/05/2011 at 07:16 AM
Blind Melon. Few really know how good that band was.
Posted by: Vernie | 06/05/2011 at 07:16 AM
Easily one of the Fifty Best L.A. Bands Ever is LITTLE FEAT. Founding member Lowell George went to Hollywood High School. He formed Little Feat in Los Angeles during 1969 when Frank Zappa suggested he leave The Mothers Of Invention to start his own band. He passed away in 1979. With new singers, Little Feat has been performing since 1988 across the USA and overseas.
Posted by: Ted Alvy | 06/05/2011 at 08:05 AM
Negro Problem (Stew)
Posted by: n marek | 06/05/2011 at 08:47 AM
Sorry, CCR was from up north. The Doors, quintessential L.A. rock. RIP Jimmy. Ray, Robbie and John - you're all amazing!
Posted by: Mark Namhie | 06/05/2011 at 08:49 AM
wildman fischer? johnny otis? big mama thornton?
Posted by: bill oodien | 06/05/2011 at 08:51 AM
the byrds were and remain america's best band.
Posted by: norm | 06/05/2011 at 09:38 AM
Little Feat must be included
Posted by: Ross | 06/05/2011 at 10:02 AM
Hello . . . the quintessential LA band was dropped from the list . . . Can we Get The Knack!!
Posted by: Ann humphreville | 06/05/2011 at 10:08 AM
The Beach Boys belong at no. 1. The Mothers of Invention belong in the top 10. The Bangles and The Runaways should be higher, and The Eagles should be top 10 also.
Posted by: C.R. Flick | 06/05/2011 at 10:51 AM
Hey Bad Religion AND still
going strong after 30 years !
Posted by: Lori MArtinez | 06/05/2011 at 10:54 AM
What about The Dickies!!!!! Still touring the Valley!!!!!
Posted by: Jrussell | 06/05/2011 at 10:57 AM
Where the hell are The Mamas and The Papas on this list???? The whole list is a sham if they are not included as one of the Best Bands of L.A.
Posted by: Rog in LA | 06/05/2011 at 11:07 AM
In my opinion the Blasters are listed WAY too low. For me, it's a tossup for #1 between the Doors and the Blasters. In addition to the great musicians in both bands, they each featured some of the GREAT Rock lyrics of all time. Jim Morrison and Dave Alvin are both among the very best rock lyricists - ever, anywhere. Jagger/Richards can give them a run for their money, but after that the field thins fast (OK, props to Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon and Richard Penniman).
Posted by: Tahlavi | 06/05/2011 at 11:13 AM
Go ahead and replace Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Slayer (3 bands that did more to destroy music than progess it) with Flogging Molly, the Carpenters, and the Eels.
Posted by: Chark | 06/05/2011 at 11:23 AM
The Dickies!
Posted by: Spoonie | 06/05/2011 at 11:36 AM
Missed these two -
Spirit
The Red Roosters
Posted by: Tim | 06/05/2011 at 11:54 AM
That's funny. The bands that have 0 votes are all not so good.
Megadeth , Linkin Park, Canned Heat, Maroon 5, Mötley Crüe, Ozomatli.
Posted by: Ajax | 06/05/2011 at 11:56 AM
HELLO?? AMBROSIA!!!!!
Southbays best!
Posted by: Fan | 06/05/2011 at 12:03 PM
Sparks!!! Yay - although they deserve to be in the top 5.
I agree with others here, Incubus should have made the list.
Posted by: Here in Heaven | 06/05/2011 at 12:03 PM
Hello?!
Incubus?
Jan and Dean?
C'mon guys...
Posted by: JGregg | 06/05/2011 at 12:35 PM
Maroon 5 over the Minutemen? Astounding.
Posted by: Rob Coe | 06/05/2011 at 01:10 PM
Little Feat?
Posted by: vicki | 06/05/2011 at 01:37 PM
Quote by randall: A few off the top of my head.
Grateful Dead
Creedance Clearwater
Minutemen
Mazzy Star
Campervan Beethoven
Uh, dude, with the exception of the Minutemen and Mazzy Star those bands are Bay Area, not L.A. That said, the Minutemen are a glaring omission on this poll.
Posted by: steve | 06/05/2011 at 01:47 PM
the Plimpsouls, que no?
Posted by: Slowjoe | 06/05/2011 at 02:01 PM
Metallica may have formed in LA but are def not an "LA band"...they were the founders of the Bay Area thrash scene. Metal Fail!
(otherwise, good job, and yeah not sure how you could forget the minutemen and remember linkin park...but good job regardless)
Posted by: cags | 06/05/2011 at 02:05 PM
Kip Tyler and the Flips
Posted by: densestarr | 06/05/2011 at 02:16 PM
Aw, was hopin' to see Lone Justice there!
Posted by: finalharvest | 06/05/2011 at 02:34 PM
Little Feat
Posted by: J. Lyons | 06/05/2011 at 03:00 PM
I'm dismayed this list didn't include Wall of Voodoo, one of the most innovative and interesting bands of the new wave era. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Posted by: The Keymaster | 06/05/2011 at 03:16 PM
Fishbone...where's FISHBONE?!?!
Posted by: Scott | 06/05/2011 at 05:17 PM
How about Little Feat? Lowell George and Richie Hayward must be spinning in their graves! And Jackson Browne. And J.D. Souther. Warren Zevon. Counting Crows.
Posted by: David A. Goodman | 06/05/2011 at 06:10 PM
Maroon 5??? Really? That's just lame. Really lame.
At least Toto was full of insanely talented studio musicians.
Incubus. Bad Religion. RIchie Valens. As mentioned by others... are all UNDOUBTEDLY BETTER than Maroon 5.
Posted by: Edwoodca | 06/05/2011 at 06:46 PM
You missed Spirit
Posted by: gb | 06/05/2011 at 06:58 PM
Oingo Boingo really deserves to be on this list. For many years they were THE band to see in LA and their Halloween shows were incredible. I'm glad to see them finally get some overdue recognition.
Posted by: Michael A. Adashefski | 06/05/2011 at 07:17 PM
Linkin Park but no My Chemical Romance!!!!!
Posted by: Janett Ortega | 06/05/2011 at 08:21 PM
Linkin park but no my chemical romance dont
Posted by: Janett Ortega | 06/05/2011 at 08:23 PM
you have to be kidding? right? No EAGLES??? Bad Religion, Minutemen, Kyuss, Descendents, Failure, Queens of the Stone Age, L7, Cypress Hill, Redd Kross, Social Distortion, J5, Dream Syndicate, System of a Down… what a joke list, good thing they have Maroon 5 on there for that extra dose of cred.
Posted by: Tim Osgood | 06/05/2011 at 09:22 PM
the brothers johnson
Posted by: transfiguration | 06/05/2011 at 10:56 PM
fishbone
Posted by: transfiguration | 06/05/2011 at 11:09 PM
the brothers johnson
Posted by: transfiguration | 06/05/2011 at 11:10 PM
the brothers johnson and
fishbone and canibal and
the headhunters
Posted by: transfiguration | 06/05/2011 at 11:12 PM
No L7??
Posted by: nicelyput | 06/05/2011 at 11:33 PM
Little Feat!
Posted by: Randy | 06/06/2011 at 06:35 AM
You forgot The Electric Prunes and Strawberry Alarm Clock.
:(
Posted by: kerry brown | 06/06/2011 at 07:48 AM
What? No Social Distortion!
Posted by: Andy McCaffrey | 06/06/2011 at 09:01 AM
Sad to see that Missing Persons didn't make the list.
Posted by: Fitz | 06/06/2011 at 09:06 AM
No Tom Petty/Heartbreakers but the soccer mom rock of Maroon 5 makes the list? Shame on you.
Posted by: Alex | 06/06/2011 at 09:19 AM
how about Ravana??? anyone ever heard of them?
Posted by: chaz | 06/06/2011 at 09:32 AM
Oh my little pretty one, my pretty one
When you gonna give me some time, Shaorna?
Keepin' it a mystery, a mystery . . . etc.
The Knack!!
Posted by: Ann Humphreville | 06/06/2011 at 09:52 AM
Black Flag.
Posted by: Evan | 06/06/2011 at 09:53 AM
What about the Black Eyed Peas? Doesn't look like a lot of time was put into this cover feature. Do you need a research editor? I'm available.
Posted by: lynnegrande@earthlink.net | 06/06/2011 at 10:20 AM
Strawberry Alarm Clock !
Posted by: Phil | 06/06/2011 at 10:29 AM
the Plimsouls, anybody???
Posted by: Carol Erickson | 06/06/2011 at 11:16 AM
The Screamers! What an oversight.
Ariel Pink? Didn't this group make the overrated list in the Times? Shame.
Posted by: Greg | 06/06/2011 at 11:30 AM
Two of the most glaring omissions from this fairly accurate list are Thee Midniters and The Gun Glub.
Bands which deserve an honorable mention include The Merry Go Round, The Electric Prunes, The Standells, Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys, The Dickies, The Quick &The Weirdos, Also, how about both Black Flag,& The Circle Jerks? Are they disqualified because of their point of origin, "The South Bay?"
Posted by: Charmin' Larman | 06/06/2011 at 12:03 PM
Yo- calm down homeboy. The Eagles are on the list. Also Kyuss and Queens of the Stoneage formed in Palm Desert which is outside of LA
"you have to be kidding? right? No EAGLES??? Bad Religion, Minutemen, Kyuss, Descendents, Failure, Queens of the Stone Age, L7, Cypress Hill, Redd Kross, Social Distortion, J5, Dream Syndicate, System of a Down… what a joke list, good thing they have Maroon 5 on there for that extra dose of cred."
Posted by: R. Packer | 06/06/2011 at 01:13 PM
No Little Feat? Seriously? Huh.
Posted by: Ron | 06/06/2011 at 01:36 PM
LITTLE FEAT!!!
Posted by: jp | 06/06/2011 at 01:42 PM
The Mutha EEFing PHARCYDE!!!
Posted by: SLIMKID3 | 06/06/2011 at 01:56 PM
Suicidal Tendencies made it somehow but Bad Religion and the Descedents didn't? The Descendents! What about Fishbone?! Ay ay ay. Two thumbs way down.
Posted by: Ali | 06/06/2011 at 02:12 PM
yay!! OZOMATLI..Ya se fue.
Posted by: Dave Allen | 06/06/2011 at 02:40 PM
NO PHARCYDE?? Ridiculous.
Posted by: Martha | 06/06/2011 at 02:43 PM
Litte Feat, Little Feat, Little Feat. LA Times don't fail me now!
Posted by: Jerry | 06/06/2011 at 02:46 PM
How about the vocal groups that influenced Zappa? Namely, the Penguins ("Earth Angel"), Vernon Green and the Medallions ("Heaven and Paradise"), The Robins/Coasters (Charlie Brown), the Flairs/Cadets ("Stranded In The Jungle"), and Richard Berry & the Pharoahs (the ORIGINAL "Louie Louie")?
Posted by: Dave Leucinger | 06/06/2011 at 03:11 PM
/ahem/
The Plimsouls.
Posted by: Don | 06/06/2011 at 03:52 PM
Anyone vote for Bill Champlin and/or Sons of Champlin?
http://www.sonsofchamplin.net/
Posted by: DALE SULLIVAN | 06/06/2011 at 04:07 PM
You missed so many fantastic L.A. bands. Just your exclusion of The Gun Club , The Dream Syndicate, Super Heroines and Rock Bottom and The Spys alone says it all. Whoops!
Posted by: Kkay | 06/06/2011 at 04:12 PM
The mars volta. You should've had a more experienced & open minded writer do this. Or better yet, let us, the fans, pick the contestants next time.
Posted by: erik | 06/06/2011 at 04:38 PM
FUckingggg kill mee!!!!!
Posted by: Bryce | 06/06/2011 at 05:55 PM
LITTLE FEAT!
JAN & DEAN
THE ASSOCIATION
then
LITTLE FEAT, AGAIN!!
Posted by: LARRY | 06/06/2011 at 06:13 PM
It is a crime against humanity that Fishbone does not appear on your list.
Posted by: Taek | 06/06/2011 at 07:43 PM
O.K. guys, nobody mentioned them...The Long Ryders!!! Looks like you owe us another Top 50. Coulld be wrong on this but how about Chic.
Posted by: Brian Heatley | 06/06/2011 at 07:51 PM
The Weirdos, The Screamers, The Minutemen, The Music Machine, The Standells, The Adolescents, Redd Kross, The Bags, The Dils, The Zeros, The Flesh Eaters, The Plugz are all missing. For me arguably the greatest of all time are the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Love, X, the Germs and Black Flag.
Posted by: David | 06/06/2011 at 09:04 PM
Well, you didn't specify rock, so my vote goes to Stan Kenton.
Posted by: David Leech | 06/06/2011 at 09:39 PM
The Monkees was a TV Show not a band. Sparks? Wow, that's interesting. Los Lobos? A pretty good band but, huh the best? At least they were all from LA, grew up here, like the Beach Boys. Canned Heat, awesome! Oingo, bitchin! The Mothers, unreal! Runaways, kewl! Van Halen, killer! You should seperate the bands that were actually from here and the ones that came here to try to make it. Kind of a confussing mix up of music over the last 60 years isn't it?
Posted by: Alan Lawrence | 06/06/2011 at 09:43 PM
The Ventures are from Tacoma, Washington! You'd never guess they made surf music up there. We sure adopted them and they are the band that launched a thousand bands.
I wonder if this opinion piece was written by someone who has lived here long enough to be completely aware of what bands have truly hit here. Is this supposed to be about US or is this a piece for everyone else.... gotta wonder these days...writing from a cell phone hard to check
Posted by: diana diaz | 06/06/2011 at 09:44 PM
Seriously??? Why is Oingo Boingo not on this list???
Sorry kids, I love MCR, but My Chemical Romance started in New Jersey. (I love a nice Jersey boy!)
Posted by: Diana Diaz | 06/06/2011 at 09:48 PM
Oh, Phew, Boingo is on at 35.
But whoever thinks Ariel Pink is "great" needs to have a psych eval. Coachella was a disaster. Don't you have to be able to pull off a concert to be "great." Mamas & Papas were left off for that trash? Really?
What about NO Doubt?
What about Fishbone?
SOCIAL DISTORTION
Posted by: Diana Diaz | 06/06/2011 at 09:58 PM
The Ventures
Spirit
Little Feat
Ambrosia
Tom Petty & the Heart Breakers
The Knack
Guns & Roses
Posted by: Skip Taylor | 06/06/2011 at 10:47 PM
UGH!@Best L.A. Band voters.
Van Halen/Hagar@#1, Sparks@#2, and Zappa and the Mothers@#3?
Really! Metalheads, scenesters, and aesthetes skewed this list. A proper accounting of musical impact would have the Beach Boys first, with the Doors and Eagles vying for place and show.
Posted by: Philip | 06/06/2011 at 11:41 PM
System of a Down!
Posted by: No Name | 06/06/2011 at 11:54 PM
Thee Midniters, The Dream Syndicate, The Gun Club, The Plugz, Minutemen, The Standells, Christian Death, Screamers, War, Mazzy Star, Wall Of Voodoo, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band...blah blah blah to name a few.
Posted by: bri-ro | 06/06/2011 at 11:57 PM
OK, Jesus, where to being:
For those who say MCR they are from Jersey City. And Social Distortion is from Fullerton, CA in Orange County. Technically, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers formed in Gainsville, Florida but they relocated soon after to LA, so I guess they count. ::shrug::
Now: Bad Religion replaces Maroon 5. And the Mama's and the Papa's replaces the Monkees. And for Evan: Black Flag is there.
ALSO: I don't care if QOTSA is Palm Desert, they are awesome enough to make the list.
Posted by: alex | 06/07/2011 at 12:05 AM
Los Lobos and The Seeds better than The Association? The SEEDS???
Posted by: ulyssesmsu | 06/07/2011 at 07:15 AM
£@v€ 45? Shirley You Jest
If you were hear during their reign there was no band more relevant
& There would be no Elektra Doors
Also
Please apologize for neglecting Spirit. as without them the Spirited musicality of Los Angeles is forever lacking
Posted by: Morley Bartnoff | 06/07/2011 at 07:23 AM