the list of 9 for march 29, 2006:
THE NINE BIGGEST BANDS TO COME FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Although I've lived in or around Los Angeles for almost half my life now, I'm still a NorthernCalifornia boy at heart, raised in Cupertino, home of Apple Computer and about forty miles southof San Francisco. So this is my tribute to pop music from the Bay Area, which has provided theworld with a long line of major recording artists. While this list only honors the most popular,most significant performers from the region (with one cheeky exception), I have to name-drop atleast a few of the many other recognizable Bay Area performers: Dead Kennedys, Huey Lewis & theNews, Eddie Money, The Donnas, Counting Crows, En Vogue, Rancid, Night Ranger, the PointerSisters, Smash Mouth, Steve Miller, Spearhead, John Lee Hooker, Joan Baez, Third Eye Blindand Faith No More, not to mention transplants such as Neil Young and Tom Waits as well as thoseartists who spent important, if temporary, periods of their careers in the region such as TupacShakur, Van Morrison and Janis Joplin. Anyway, here are the top nine, in chronological order:
- THE GRATEFUL DEAD. When somebody says "name a band fromSan Francisco," the first name that comes to mind is inevitably the Grateful Dead, who were at thecenter of the Haight Ashbury scene of the 60's and kept the groove going for years until frontmanJerry Garcia passed away. Ironically, though, despite their legendary status as a live act, few ofthe Dead's songs outside of their unlikely 80's hit "Touch of Grey" are familiar to thenon-Deadhead public.
- JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/STARSHIP. Singer Grace Slick may havebeen the only consistent element in this group's frequently changing lineup (and name: JeffersonAirplane, Jefferson Starship, and finally just Starship), but from the definitive 60's anthem"White Rabbit" to the wretched 80's anthem "We Built This City" (an ode to San Francisco), theychurned out a healthy number of pop hits over a twenty year span.
- SANTANA. Still going strong after five decades ofperforming, guitarist Carlos Santana was born in Mexico but moved to San Francisco when he was 13,so few will deny that he is a true Bay Arean. His eponymous band remains a source of local pride.
- SLY & THE FAMILY STONE. Like the Velvet Underground, Slyis probably more important to musicians than to - ahem - the "everyday people" of today. But it'sinarguable that the eccentric soul icon laid the groundwork for all the funk, disco and even hiphop that was to follow.
- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL. Producing over a dozen ofthe most memorable singles in rock history over a mere four years (1968 to 1972), the short-livedbut prolific CCR came from the East Bay suburb of El Cerrito. Their Southern blues-rock soundconnected with mainstream America while most of their contemporaries appealed mainly to hippies.To this day, ordinary folks probably know more Creedence tunes than the entire output of the Dead,Airplane/Starship, Santana and Sly combined, which is saying something. Plus, John Fogerty made itcool for future grunge bands to wear flannel.
- JOURNEY. Though now just a kitschy staple on the karaokecircuit, few hitmakers could top Journey during their late 70's/early 80's heyday. They weresuperstars, and among their string of Top 40 singles was "Lights," their own tribute to theirhometown of San Francisco.
- METALLICA. One of the most successful metal bands ever,Metallica officially formed in Southern California but relocated to El Cerrito (what's with ElCerrito?) less than two years into their long career.
- GREEN DAY. Comprising one of the most popular bands in theworld today, the three Green Day lads all grew up in the East Bay, coming of age in Berkeley'sbeloved punk scene.
- THE DOOBIE BROTHERS. Originally I had ended this list withthe execrable Smash Mouth because I believed these one-hit wonders (okay, two-hit wonders:gotta count both "All Star" and "Walkin' on the Sun") were the only notable group to ever come outof my home town, San Jose. (Not to split hairs: Cupertino is essentially San Jose.) I was thencorrected by a San Jose music fan who reminded me that, in fact, the Doobie Brothers also startedoff in ol' SJ and are undoubtedly the more significant band.
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