Bands/Musicians List of Famous Bands from California

Reference
138.7k views 1,326 items
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, Ranker may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

List of California bands, listed by their level of fame. This California musicians list includes both bands and solo artists. All famous California bands are included, as well as many California musicians of underground status. This list of California musical artists includes information like what genre the artist falls under, what albums they've put out and more. If you want to know more about these famous California bands you can click on their names to learn more about them. Bands from every genre are listed here, including rock, pop, hip-hop/rap, jazz, and more.

This list contains bands like Metallica and Katy Perry.

If you're wondering, "What bands are from California?" or "What is a list of California bands?" then this list will answer your questions. (1326 items)

1
Metallica is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Thrash metal, Rock music, Heavy metal Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. Metallica was formed in 1981 when vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield responded to an advertisement posted by drummer ...more

2
Katy Perry is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Christian music, Synthpop, Rock music Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, better known by her stage name Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter and occasional actress. She had limited exposure to secular music during her childhood and ...more

3
P!nk is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Synthpunk, Pop punk Alecia Beth Moore, better known by her stage name P!nk, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Originally a member of the girl group Choice, she rose to fame as an R&B artist with ...more

4
Green Day is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop punk, Rock music, Alternative rock Green Day is an American rock band formed in 1986. Green Day's members include Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. Green Day was originally part of the punk scene at the DIY ...more

5
Guns N' Roses is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Glam metal, Blues-rock, Rock music Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, in 1985. The classic lineup as signed to Geffen Records in 1986 consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm ...more

6
Cher is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Rock music, Dance-pop Cher is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model, fashion designer, television host, comedian, dancer, businesswoman, philanthropist, author, film producer, director, and record producer. ...more

7
Linkin Park is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Nu metal, Rock music Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the ...more

8
Jim Morrison is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Blues-rock, Rock music, Acid rock James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, poet and songwriter best remembered as the lead vocalist of the Doors. Due to his songwriting, baritone voice, wild personality and ...more

9
Miley Cyrus is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Adult contemporary music, Bubblegum pop, Synthpop Miley Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her father is country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. She held minor roles in the television series Doc and the film Big Fish in her ...more

10
Dr. Dre is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Rap music, Gangsta rap Andre Romelle Young, known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. ...more

11
Grateful Dead is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Blues-rock, Rock music, Folk rock The Grateful Dead is an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, ...more

12
Korn is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Dubstep, Nu metal, Industrial metal Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian ...more

13
Journey is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Rock music, Jazz fusion, Pop rock Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest ...more

14
Gwen Stefani is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip Pop R&B, Synthpop, New Wave Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and actress. She is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band No Doubt. During the band's hiatus, Stefani ...more

15
Eddie Vedder is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Grunge, Folk rock, Alternative rock Eddie Vedder is an American musician who is best known for being the lead vocalist and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. Known for his distinctive and powerful ...more

16
Megadeth is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Glam metal, Thrash metal, Rock music Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine's dismissal ...more

17
Jeff Buckley is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Rock music, Folk music, Folk rock Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley, raised as Scott "Scottie" Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. After a decade as a session guitarist in Los Angeles, ...more

18
John Fogerty is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Americana, Blues-rock, Swamp pop John Cameron Fogerty is an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist, early in his career best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for the band Creedence Clearwater Revival and later ...more

19
Fergie is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Blue-eyed soul, Pop music Stacy Ann "Fergie" Ferguson is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer, rapper, television host, and actress. She is the female vocalist for the hip hop group The Black Eyed ...more

20
Janet Jackson is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Pop music, Rock music Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate ...more

21
Mötley Crüe is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Glam metal, Rock music, Heavy metal Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by ...more

22
Etta James is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Rock and roll Etta James was an American singer. Her style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with ...more

23
Creedence Clearwater Revival is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Blues-rock, Blue-eyed soul, Swamp pop Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty, rhythm ...more

24
Axl Rose is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Heavy metal, Hard rock W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Due to his powerful and wide vocal ...more

25
Avenged Sevenfold is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Thrash metal, Deathcore, Rock music Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band's members are lead vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Zacky ...more