California is known for many unique and amazing things, especially its music. Many notable music artists in the world emanated from California. Some of these artists include famous names like Billie Eilish, Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Katy Perry, Josh Groban, Adam Levine (from Maroon 5), and many others. However, we will only focus on the music groups in this article.
The theme ‘’California Sound’’ has existed since the 1960s, and it originates with American pop and rock. Different talented bands have since the early 1960s emerged from the Golden State and captivated the world with their outstanding sounds.
Read on to learn about some of the most amazing bands that emanated from the Golden State.
7 Best Bands From The Golden State
Eagles
The Eagles were formed far back in 1971. Like The Beach Boys, this band made some outstanding albums. They were not regular rock bands; They also made country and folk music, adding to their uniqueness. Some of their hit singles include ‘’Life in a Fast Lane’’, ‘’Hotel California’’, and ‘’Desperado’’. The Eagle is a legendary band, and some of their sounds are still listened to till date.
Journey
The Journey band was formed in 1973, and they are still making rounds in the music world to date. Between 1978 and 1996, they released seven straight platinum albums, and one of them even moved to diamond status after selling over 10 million units. Journey is one of the greatest-selling bands in history. Some of the songs released by this band include ‘’Separate Ways’’, ‘’Who’s Now Crying’’, and the popular ‘’Don’t Stop Believing’’. Journey is still active, and they even released a studio album in 2022.
Red Hot Chilly Peppers
This Grammy-winning band is one of California’s finest. The group was formed in 1983, and like the Journey band, they are one of the greatest-selling bands. Their music is a fusion of rock, punk, funk, and sometimes, reggae. The Red Hot Chilly Pepper has sold over 80 million records, and they have also bagged 6 Grammies. They released some of the best albums in history, but their most popular album is Californication.
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys was formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961 and led by Brain Wilson. The group was known for their multi-part harmonies. Unlike many bands with lead singers, everyone in this particular group participated in the singing. Their songs were mostly about the beach, love, and youth rebellion. The Beach Boys’ songs were very influential, especially due to their surf rock genre. Their songs are known worldwide, and to date, they still stand out as one of the best rock bands globally. The Beach Boys, during their time, inspired many people to move to California. Their style of music impacted different areas, including real estate. The real estate industry in California is one of the best in the country, not just because of beautiful stories about the state told through some of the best songs in history but also due to other amazing features. Selling a house in the Golden State, especially in Richmond, is mostly seamless. You can easily get a cash buyer for your Richmond home as long as you go through the right measures.
Metallica
The list of heavy metal bands can barely be mentioned without adding this band to it. Metallica was formed in 1983 but they became widely known in 1986 after they released Master of Puppets, one of their greatest albums. Some of their albums have topped the Billboard chart and they have also won a lot of awards.
Green Day
Green Day is a three-man band that was formed in Berkeley in 1987. The band consisted of a lead vocalist who also played the guitar, a backing vocalist who was also the bass player and a drummer. Like others on this list, the Green Day band made some of the most amazing rock music in history. Some of their albums went double platinum and gold. Green Day maintained its activity in the music world and even released an album called The Father of All Motherfuckers in 2020.
Sublime
Sublime was formed in Long Beach, California, in the early 1990s. Their songs were a fusion of ska, reggae, and punk. The band created a perfect picture of California with their style of music. They released some notable songs like ‘’Wrong Way’’ and ‘’Santeria’’. Sadly, Sublime didn’t exist for long due to the death of its leader Bradley Nowell. However short-lived the band was, it made a lot of impact in the music world that is still recognized.
Conclusion
The Golden State has flourished admirably in many areas and the music industry is one of them. California sounds have made many impacts in the state and in different parts of the world. Great musical legends from California, some of which are still making rounds in the music industry have influenced the world, with their unique and amazing music.
Peter Williams is a graduate of B.A Arts and Culture from the University of Technology Sydney. Peter is very much interested in cultural practices around the world including music, history, languages, literature, religion and social structures.