The Blasters are a
rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
music group formed in 1979 in
Downey, CaliforniaDowney is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, 21 km southeast of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 107,323.-History:...
by brothers
Phil AlvinPhil Alvin is an American singer and guitarist. He is known primarily as the frontman of the roots-rock band The BlastersAlvin grew up in Downey, California in a music-loving family where he and his younger brother...
(vocals and
guitarThe guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
) and
Dave AlvinDave Alvin , is a guitarist, singer and songwriter.- Early musical influences :Dave and his older brother Phil grew up in a music-loving family in Downey, California...
(guitar), with
bass guitarThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum....
ist John Bazz and
drumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of music instruments, technically classified as a membranophone.. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with parts of a player's body, or with some sort of...
mer Bill Bateman. Phil Alvin explained the origin of the band's name: "I thought Joe Turner’s backup band on Atlantic records – I had these 78s – I thought they were the Blues Blasters. That ends up it was Jimmy McCracklin. I just took the 'Blues' off and Joe finally told me, that’s Jimmy McCracklin’s name, but you tell ‘im I gave you permission to steal it."
Their self-described "
American MusicRoots Rock is a term recently used to describe "a style of rock music that draws material from various American musical traditions including country, blues, and folk." The term is sometimes used in a broader sense to encompass other Americana, including early rock and roll, country rock, and other...
" was a blend of blues music,
rockabillyRockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, early
rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
,
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
,
mountain musicMountain Music may refer to:* Mountain Music , a 1982 album released by country music group Alabama.** "Mountain Music" , title track from the above album.* Mountain Music , a 1977 Will Vinton Claymation short film...
, and
rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues is the name given to a wide-ranging genre of popular music created by African Americans in the late 1940s and early 1950s...
.
The Blasters are a
rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
music group formed in 1979 in
Downey, CaliforniaDowney is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, 21 km southeast of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 107,323.-History:...
by brothers
Phil AlvinPhil Alvin is an American singer and guitarist. He is known primarily as the frontman of the roots-rock band The BlastersAlvin grew up in Downey, California in a music-loving family where he and his younger brother...
(vocals and
guitarThe guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
) and
Dave AlvinDave Alvin , is a guitarist, singer and songwriter.- Early musical influences :Dave and his older brother Phil grew up in a music-loving family in Downey, California...
(guitar), with
bass guitarThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum....
ist John Bazz and
drumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of music instruments, technically classified as a membranophone.. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with parts of a player's body, or with some sort of...
mer Bill Bateman. Phil Alvin explained the origin of the band's name: "I thought Joe Turner’s backup band on Atlantic records – I had these 78s – I thought they were the Blues Blasters. That ends up it was Jimmy McCracklin. I just took the 'Blues' off and Joe finally told me, that’s Jimmy McCracklin’s name, but you tell ‘im I gave you permission to steal it."
Their self-described "
American MusicRoots Rock is a term recently used to describe "a style of rock music that draws material from various American musical traditions including country, blues, and folk." The term is sometimes used in a broader sense to encompass other Americana, including early rock and roll, country rock, and other...
" was a blend of blues music,
rockabillyRockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, early
rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
,
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
,
mountain musicMountain Music may refer to:* Mountain Music , a 1982 album released by country music group Alabama.** "Mountain Music" , title track from the above album.* Mountain Music , a 1977 Will Vinton Claymation short film...
, and
rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues is the name given to a wide-ranging genre of popular music created by African Americans in the late 1940s and early 1950s...
. They have a devoted fan base and have received largely positive critical reviews, but have earned only limited mainstream success. Critic Mark Deming wrote of them, "the Blasters displayed a wide-ranging musical diversity [and] were a supremely tight and tasteful band with enough fire, smarts, and passion for two or three groups."
Band history
The Alvin brothers had an early interest in blues music, and attended concerts by
T-Bone WalkerT-Bone Walker was an American blues guitarist, singer, pianist and songwriter who was one of the most important pioneers of the electric guitar. His electric guitar solos were among the first heard on modern blues recordings...
,
Big Joe TurnerBig Joe Turner was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri...
and others, sometimes jamming and reminiscing with the musicians. Phil Alvin remembers that his mother would take him backstage to get harmonica lessons from
Sonny TerrySaunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry was a blind blues musician...
when Phil was still a boy. Rhythm and Blues saxophone legend
Lee AllenLee Allen was an American tenor saxophone player born in Pittsburg, Kansas.A key figure in the New Orleans rock and roll scene of the 1950s, Allen recorded with many leading performers of the early rock and roll era...
joined The Blasters for two albums and toured with the original line up until his death in 1994.
Steve BerlinSteve Berlin is an American saxophonist, keyboardist and record producer, best known as a member of the rock group Los Lobos and, before that, The Blasters and The Flesh Eaters...
(later of
Los LobosLos Lobos are an American Chicano rock band. They are 3-time Grammy Award winners. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, R&B, blues and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as boleros and norteños....
) joined, playing baritone sax, and
Gene TaylorGene Taylor is a prolific and widely acclaimed blues rock and boogie-woogie pianist.-Biography:Taylor reputedly starting out as a drummer at age 8 but two years later he had picked up his initial piano skills from boogie-woogie pianist-neighbours...
joined as well, performing boogie woogie style
pianoThe piano is a musical instrument which is played by means of a keyboard. Widely used in Western music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
The Blasters' energetic live performances gained a local following, and they became fixtures of the early 1980s
Los AngelesLos Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second largest in the United States. Often abbreviated as L.A. and nicknamed The City of Angels, Los Angeles has an estimated population of 3.8 million and spans over in Southern California...
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene, performing alongside X,
Black FlagBlack Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes...
, The Gun Club,
The ScreamersThe Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s.Included among the first wave of the L.A. punk rock scene, the label "techno-punk" was applied to the band by the Los Angeles Times in 1978. The Screamers are widely cited as the pioneers of a genre...
and others. In 1986, members of the Blasters appeared with Screamers front-man
Tomata du PlentyTomata du Plenty was the stage name of David Xavier Harrigan, the singer of the late 1970s synthpunk band The Screamers. He was also an artist and stage performer, having been part of the San Francisco drama troupe the Cockettes and founder of Seattle's counterculture troupe Ze Whiz Kidz...
in the punk rock musical
Population: 1Population: 1 is a 1986 punk rock musical film written and directed by Rene Daalder.The film stars Tomata du Plenty of the Screamers as a defense contractor who somehow becomes the sole survivor of a nuclear holocaust. In his solitude, he traces the history of U.S...
. Former Black Flag singer and current
Rollins BandRollins Band was an American rock group, led by singer and songwriter, Henry Rollins.They are best-known for the songs "Low Self Opinion" and "Liar", which both earned heavy airplay on MTV in the early 1990s...
leader
Henry RollinsHenry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, raconteur, spoken word artist, writer, publisher, actor, radio DJ, and activist....
wrote of the Blasters, "In my mind, they were a great band that not enough people found out about. Bill Bateman is one of the best
drummerA drummer is a person who plays drums, particularly a drum kit , marching percussion or hand drums. The term percussionist applies to a musician performing on any percussion instrument, but usually refers to one who plays classical or Latin percussion. Most bands for Rock, Pop, Jazz, R&B etc...
s there is, and then of course, there are the Alvin brothers. A lot of talent for one band." (Rollins, 36)
The Blasters toured almost continuously for much of their existence. The notes for
The Blasters Collection report that in one particular month, they toured with
psychobillyPsychobilly is a genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, trashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly, and gothabilly...
pioneers
The CrampsThe Cramps were an American punk band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009 with the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
, with
western swingWestern swing is a style of popular music that evolved in the 1920s in the American Southwest among the region's popular Western string bands. Fundamentally an outgrowth of jazz, much Western swing is dance music with an up-tempo beat consisting of an eclectic combination of rural, cowboy, polka,...
revivalists
Asleep at the WheelAsleep at the Wheel, is a multiple Grammy Award-winning Country/Western Swing band formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have...
and on a leg of
Queen'sQueen were an English rock band. Formed in London in 1970 following the demise of the band Smile, Queen consisted of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor. The band became popular with audiences via their hit songs, live performances,...
west coast tour. The Blasters gave boosts to both
Los LobosLos Lobos are an American Chicano rock band. They are 3-time Grammy Award winners. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, R&B, blues and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as boleros and norteños....
and
Dwight YoakamDwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter and actor, most famous for his country music. Active since the early 1980s, he has recorded more than twenty albums and compilations, and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.-Early life:Yoakam was born...
by inviting them on tour; Yoakam would later score a modest hit with his version of Dave Alvin's "Long White Cadillac".
Their song "Dark Night" was featured in a 1985 episode of Miami Vice, and they gained more exposure in the Walter Hill film
Streets of FireStreets of Fire is a 1984 film directed by Walter Hill and co-written by Hill and Larry Gross. It was described in previews, trailers, and posters as "A Rock & Roll Fable." It is an unusual mix of musical, action, drama, and comedy with elements both of retro-1950s and 1980s...
, performing two songs for the soundtrack as well as appearing as themselves in the film, and in 1996 they also appeared in the
Quentin TarantinoQuentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s he was an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and aestheticization of violence...
-
Robert RodriguezRobert Anthony Rodríguez is an American filmmaker, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He is perhaps best known for making profitable, crowd-pleasing independent and studio films with fairly low budgets and fast schedules by Hollywood standards. He shoots and produces many of...
collaboration
From Dusk Till DawnFrom Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis...
.
Dave Alvin--always the group's primary songwriter--left the band in 1986 for a critically acclaimed if sometimes only moderately successful solo career. He was replaced by
Hollywood FatsHollywood Fats was a blues guitarist active in Los Angeles.-History:...
(birth name: Michael L. Mann) who appeared with them at
Farm AidFarm Aid started as a benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States. The concert was organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier in that year...
. Phil Alvin has led various incarnations of The Blasters intermittently since then, including a few reunion tours and live albums of the original lineup. Personnel as of 2008 is Phil Alvin together with John Bazz, Keith Wyatt, and Bill Batemen.
Albums
Albums by the "original" Blasters:
- American Music (1979)
- The Blasters
The Blasters is a 1981 album by American rockabilly band The Blasters. Although the album was released in the US by the independent label Slash Records, its strong performance required a deal for wider distribution with Warner Bros. Records...
(1981)
- Over There (live EP) (1982)
- Non-Fiction (1983)
- Hard Line
Hard Line is a 1985 album by the American band The Blasters.-Track listing:All track written by Phil Alvin unless otherwise noted.#"Trouble Bound" #"Just Another Sunday" #"Hey, Girl" #"Dark Night"#"Little Honey"...
(1985)
- The Blasters Collection (1xCD Best Of) (1990)
- Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (2xCD Anthology) (2002)
- Trouble Bound (live) (2002)
- Going Home (live) (2004)
Albums by current line-up:
External links