Best Rock/Pop Bands in LA History

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by Island_OnThe_Land

Yep, pretty tough to beat X when talking about home grown bands.

Always hard for LA to get respect from the east coast (we are apparently too "shallow" to garner their respect). Yet, when X hit the scene in 1980, even New York's Village Voice had to take notice and admit the depth and pure artistry of X.

The title track from "Los Angeles" (1980) is a gut wrenching chronicle of LA circa 1980. Many of their songs reference the city with a very stark & poetic realism. "Johnny Hit & Run Paulene" and "Some Other Time" are just two that come immediately to mind.

(Of course, the east coast cognescenti INITIALLY IGNORED the hard core of Black Flag and the Germs as thoughtless testosterone and noise. History has proved how WRONG they were.)

"I could throw my lipstick and bracelets like gravel move to Alabama I got some more scotch instead."

I always thought Christgau was way too pompous. (I always loved Ken Tucker's write-ups in the Herald Examiner.) But does anyone remember the Rolling Stone issue on the LA punk scene? I had a Publishers Clearing House subscription at the time and I was blown away when it came to the house.

Anyway, topic. I mentioned them on another thread, but how 'bout Gun Club? They got big in Europe. Europe loved them. America and American critics could not have cared less. Why? Because Jeffrey Lee Pierce was some Blondie fan from Reseda? So he must've been a poser? Injustice, I tell ya. If you never caught some of their later stuff, check out the song "Sorrow Knows".

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

"I could throw my lipstick and bracelets like gravel move to Alabama I got some more scotch instead."

I always thought Christgau was way too pompous. (I always loved Ken Tucker's write-ups in the Herald Examiner.) But does anyone remember the Rolling Stone issue on the LA punk scene? I had a Publishers Clearing House subscription at the time and I was blown away when it came to the house.

Anyway, topic. I mentioned them on another thread, but how 'bout Gun Club? They got big in Europe. Europe loved them. America and American critics could not have cared less. Why? Because Jeffrey Lee Pierce was some Blondie fan from Reseda? So he must've been a poser? Injustice, I tell ya. If you never caught some of their later stuff, check out the song "Sorrow Knows".

Great X lyrics. Yeah, Gun Club is a good call. Had no idea they had Reseda roots. Also, I have never seen the Rolling Stone issue on the LA punk scene. I wonder what year it came out, 1980, 1981...???

[RobE]

Originally Posted by Island_OnThe_Land

Great X lyrics. Yeah, Gun Club is a good call. Had no idea they had Reseda roots. Also, I have never seen the Rolling Stone issue on the LA punk scene. I wonder what year it came out, 1980, 1981...???

The last time I saw Pierce, he was living with his mom in Hollywood. I had no idea he was from Reseda. Gun Club's bassist, Romi Mori, was also living with him. She's in the UK now with her British husband and works as an interpreter, iirc. They amassed some popularity in France. I don't know about the rest of Europe, though.

Considering some of the stuff I remember being said abut Jeffrey in Slash magazine, when I finally met the guy and was able to talk to him at length, I was surprised at how intelligent he was. Too bad he's no longer with us.

[pbergen]

great list of bands thus far. reminds me how much musical talent has come out of southern california.

here are some other groups that didn't seem to be mentioned:

la guns
the bangles
warren zevon
west indian girl
weezer
hole
descendents
the adolescents (they're actually from OC)
phantom planet
the plimsouls
jan & dean
thee midniters
the surfaris
the chantays (from OC)
rilo kiley