The Blasters

The Blasters are a rock music group formed in 1979 in Downey, California by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. Their so-called "American Roots Music" was a blend of blues music, rockabilly, early rock and roll and rhythm and blues. They have a devoted fan base and have received largely positive critical reviews, but have never been able to achieve mainstream success.

Related Topics:
Rock music - 1979 - Downey, California - Phil Alvin - Guitar - Dave Alvin - Bass guitar - Drum - American Roots Music - Blues music - Rockabilly - Rock and roll - Rhythm and blues

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The Alvin brothers had an early interest in blues music, and attended concerts by T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner and others, sometimes jamming and reminiscing with the musicians. Rhythm and Blues saxophone legend Lee Allen joined The Blasters for their last two albums, and toured with them as well. Steve Berlin (later of Los Lobos) joined, playing baritone sax, and Gene Taylor joined as well, perfoming boogie woogie style piano.

Related Topics:
Blues music - T-Bone Walker - Big Joe Turner - Lee Allen - Steve Berlin - Los Lobos - Boogie woogie - Piano

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The Blasters' energetic live performances gained a local following, and they became fixtures of the early 1980s Los Angeles punk rock scene, performing alongside X, Black Flag, The Gun Club and others. Former Black Flag singer and current Rollins Band leader Henry Rollins 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 drummers there is, and then of of course, there are the Alvin brothers. A lot of talent for one band." (Rollins, 36)

Related Topics:
1980 - Los Angeles - Punk rock - X - Black Flag - Gun Club - Rollins Band - Henry Rollins - Drummer

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The Blasters toured almost continually for much of their existence. The notes for The Blasters Collection report that in one particular month, they toured with psychobilly pioneers The Cramps, with western swing revivalists Asleep At The Wheel and on a leg of Queen's west coast tour. The Blasters gave boosts to both Los Lobos and Dwight Yoakam by inviting them on tour; Yoakam would later score a modest hit with his version of Dave Alvin's "Long White Cadillac".

Related Topics:
Psychobilly - The Cramps - Western swing - Asleep At The Wheel - Queen's - Los Lobos - Dwight Yoakam

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Dave Alvin--always the group's primary songwriter--left the band in 1986 for a critically acclaimed if sometimes only moderately successful solo career. Phil Alvin has led various incarnations of The Blasters intermittently since then, including a few reunions of the original line up. Personnel as of 2005 is Phil Alvin together with John Bazz, Keith Wyatt, and Jerry Angel.

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