The best LA rock artists of all time, A-Z

For over five decades The City of Angels has gushed rock and roll artists that painted the landscape of everything from pop to punk to heavy metal to alternative rock. Now let's take a few moments to express our collective "thank you" to Los Angeles by breaking down the best the city has had to offer, A through Z. 

Art Alexakis - The Everclear frontman was raised on the mean streets of Mar Vista Gardens. The hardships he encountered growing up left emotional scars that he has carried his entire life, but boy did they result in some great songs. Everclear became a fixture of 90s alternative rock.  

The Beach Boys - These harmonizing lads met at Hawthorne High School, brought Southern California youth culture to the forefront of pop culture and have been called "American's first, best rock band". [1] (Honorable Mention - Bad Religion, Black Flag, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds) 

The Cruzados - Originally formed in Hollywood as the Plugz in 1978, this Chicano punk band dissolved after having only two records released, but they left an indelible influence on West Coast punk that drew accolades from artists such as Bob Dylan, John Fogerty and Billy Joel. Not too shabby. 

The Doors - Try walking down Hollywood Boulevard or Venice Beach without seeing Jim Morrison's likeness hanging in a dozen t-shirt shops. Not gonna happen. The self-proclaimed "Lizard King" and fellow UCLA film school alumnus, Ray Manzarek, met in Venice Beach in 1965, and the rest is history. The poetry that resonated from Morrison's baritone, layered on top of Manzarek's rich organ pieces ultimately made The Doors one of America's most iconic bands. (Honorable Mention - The Descendents) 

The Eagles - These boys met and formed in LA in 1971, fusing country music elements with hard rock to create one of the most successful groups of the 1970's. Five number one singles and six number one albums don't lie. 

Fear - Lee Ving and his oft-changing ensemble have been been one of the most relevant bands of the hard core punk rock scene since launching in Los Angeles in 1977. The act that once used to verbally assault audience members in order to coax them into fighting on-stage and once did $2,500 worth of damage to the "Saturday Night Live" set during a Halloween television appearance has always been a portrait of punk angst. (Honorable Mention - Flogging Molly) 

Guns N' Roses - Guitar God Slash, along with frontman Axl Rose and his signature rock and roll wail, have been involved in one of the most tumultuous and controversial band relationships in rock history. Nonetheless, the band that formed in Hollywood in 1985 has sold over 100 million albums worldwide to date. It's hard to argue with that. (Honorable Mention - The Germs) 

Hole - Originating in LA in 1989, Courtney Love's band released one of the most revered albums of the 90s in "Live Through This". Love, however, ultimately became more famous for being the wife that may or may not have played a role in driving Kurt Cobain to commit suicide in 1994. You don't earn the title "the most controversial woman in the history of rock" [2] for nothing. 

Incubus - Since dropping the multi-platinum-selling "Make Yourself" in 1999, the alternative rockers and Calabasas-natives have become one of LA's most commercially-successful bands. If you were a teenager at the dawn of the new millennium, these guys were undoubtedly part of your CD collection. 

Jane's Addiction - Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro & Co. formed in LA in 1985 and helped shape the 90s alternative rock scene before calling it quits in 1991. The band that gave us Lollapalooza would go on to re-unite and disband three more times. Next Jane's Addiction reunion/break-up: TBD. 

Keel - Named after vocalist/guitarist Ron Keel, the band was instrumental in the birth of the "glam metal" scene that permeated the Sunset Strip in the 80s and even won "Best Band of the Year" honors from Metal Edge Magazine in 1986. 

Los Lobos - You may recognize this East LA-native Chicano band's brand of Tex Mex-infused rock from the "La Bamba" and "Desperado" soundtracks. Others may know them from those three Grammys they've won. 

Metallica - In 1981, drummer Lars Ulrich took out an ad in the local paper looking for band mates. One of them happened be Downey-local guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield. Two years later guitarist Kirk Hammett jumped on board, and since then the three (with a rotation of bassists) have become the highest-selling heavy metal band of all time. Highest-selling, that is, as long as they don't leave Hammett's trademark screaming guitar solos out of the album. They've learned their lesson. (Honorable Mention - Megadeth, Motley Crue) 

No Doubt - Ok, so technically No Doubt is from Anaheim. For the purposes of this article they can be referred to as The Los Angeles No Doubt of Anaheim. Ska-pop-punk goddess Gwen Stefani and the group lay claim to diamond-certified (that's 10 million copies, folks)  "Tragic Kingdom", a staple in 90s alternative culture. They also made your little sister want to be a rock star.

Oingo Boingo - Hard to overlook a band that launched the career of vocalist, composer and all-around musical genius Danny Elfman.  Were they a New Wave band? Where they a ska band? Who cares. Oingo Boingo had a sound all their own and totally rocked it. Everything the Oscar and Grammy-nominated Elfman has touched has turned to gold ever since. Tim Burton can vouch for him. (Honorable Mention - Ozomatli) 

Phantom Blue - Coming out of Hollywood in 1987, they were an all-female heavy metal band. Need I say more? Alright, listen to their "Built to Perform" album and you will hear a quality of rock and roll that any female band should strive to recapture. It's good - really good, and not just for a bunch of girls. For anyone. 

Quiet Riot - "Cum on feel the noise..." I don't need to say the next line because you already know it. Although the song was but a cover of Slade's 1973 track, the LA-based heavy metal group's version became the first metal song to crack Billboard's "Hot 100 singles chart". (Honorable Mention - Queens of the Stone Age) 

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Sometimes I feel like my only friend is the city I live in, the City of Angels. Lonely as I am together we cry." Has any band written more songs about Los Angeles than RHCP? These guys have some serious LA pride. They've also got seven Grammys and over 55 million records sold, not to mention some strategically-placed socks. (Honorable Mention - Rage Against the Machine, Rilo Kiley)

Slayer - When it comes to thrash metal, they're right up there with fellow Angelenos Metallica for most influential in the genre. The guys from Huntington Park are as epically dark and heavy as you'll find, and can even boast "heaviest album of all time" [3] in 1986's "Reign in Blood". That's so metal. (Honorably Mention - The Skulls, Silversun Pickups, Social Distortion, Sublime, Suicidal Tendencies) 

Tool - In 1989 a couple guys who had moved LA to try to make it in the film industry met up with a visual artist who remodeled pet stores. 20 years later, the band that defined 90s alternative metal is still going strong with singer and pet shop boy Maynard James Kennan's foreboding lyrics that express a disdain for, well, just about everything. (Honorable Mention - TSOL) 

The Urinals - These punk rockers that first started pumping out mosh-worthy anthems in their UCLA dorm rooms in 1978, ultimately went on to play with such notable acts as the Go-Go's and Black Flag and even played the first punk rock concert in China's, let's say "vast", history. See, you learn something new every day. 

Van Halen - Which band that calls LA home and has put more singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart than any band in history? That would be Van Halen (turned Van Hagar-turned Van Halen yet again). The group that brought us male unitards, mind-blowing guitar solos and outrageous backstage riders ("ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN M&Ms") is undoubtedly one of the most successful American rock and roll acts ever. (Honorable Mention - The Vandals, Ritchie Valens) 

War - Hailing from Long Beach, this funk band has pumped out such mega-hits as "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine" and "Why Can't We be Friends?" and has been sampled by everyone from Korn to TLC to Janet Jackson. Selling over 50 million records is pretty funky indeed. They were even featured on the "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo" soundtrack, so you know they're good.

X - Thank goodness for X. If it wasn't for this prominent local band, the West Coast punk scene that emerged in the 1970s might not have been the same, I might also not have had any other band for the letter "X". It's also notable that X's "Los Angeles" rivals "LA Woman" when it comes to the best songs ever written about our fair city.

Youth Brigade - These three brothers graduated from Beverly Hills High School and were active in helping shape the emerging LA punk scene of the early 1980s, and they're way better than the Jonas Brothers. 

Zappa - Frank Zappa, both as a solo artist and with his band, The Mothers of Invention, produced some of the most innovative rock and jazz music known to man with over 60 full-length albums. Never heard of him, kids? You have some homework to do. 

[1] "Still America's Band: The Beach Boys Today" Kevin M. Cherry. National Review. Published July 8, 2002. Accessed July 12, 2008.

[2] "Love me do Rock | Guardian Unlimited Music". Music.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-05-16.

[3] "Kerrang! Hall Of Fame". Kerrang!. 24 August 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2006.