Bands/Musicians List of Famous Bands from California

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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

26
Blink-182 is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop punk, Rock music, Skate punk Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, a suburb of San Diego, California in 1992. The band currently consists of bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker, while ...more

27
Jerry Garcia is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Blues-rock, Rock music, Folk rock Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician who was best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead, which came to prominence ...more

28
Eagles is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Country pop, Rock music, Folk rock The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner. With five number-one singles, six Grammy Awards, five American ...more

29
Beck Hansen is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Alternative hip hop, Anti-folk, Country rap Beck Hansen, known by the stage name Beck, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his lo-fi, sonically experimental style, ...more

30
N.W.A is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Political hip hop, Gangsta rap N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton that is widely considered to have been among the earliest and most significant popularizers of the gangsta rap and west coast hip hop subgenres ...more

31
Brandy Norwood is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Pop music, Dance-pop Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R singer-songwriter, record producer, television entertainer, actress, and film producer. In 2009, ...more

32
Karen Carpenter is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop music, Soft rock Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo Carpenters. Although her skills as a drummer earned admiration from drumming ...more

33
Ice-T is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Rock music Tracy Lauren Marrow, better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He began his career as a rapper in the 1980s and was signed to Sire Records in 1987, when he ...more

34
Jane's Addiction is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Rock music, Grunge, Heavy metal Jane's Addiction is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1985. The band consists of Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney. Founded by Farrell and ...more

35
Faith No More is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Nu metal, Rock music, Heavy metal Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1981. The band was originally named Faith No Man. Billy Gould, Roddy Bottum and Mike Bordin are the longest ...more

36
Dave Mustaine is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Thrash metal, Progressive metal, Heavy metal David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is an American musician. He was the original lead guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica and is the co-founder, rhythm and lead guitarist, ...more

37
As I Lay Dying is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Thrash metal, Metal, Christian hardcore As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by vocalist Tim Lambesis, the establishment of the band's first full lineup, which included drummer ...more

38
Maroon 5 is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Jazz rap, Ballad, Neo soul Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band that originated in Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1994 as Kara's Flowers while its members were still in high school and originally ...more

39
Brian Wilson is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop music, Rock music, Outsider music Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for being the multi-tasking leader and co-founder of the rock band the Beach Boys.

40
Cypress Hill is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Nu metal Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino-American hip hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 ...more

41
Jefferson Airplane is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Blues-rock, Psychedelic folk, Rock music Jefferson Airplane is a musical band. The members have included Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Spencer Dryden, Jack Casady, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen and Skip Spence.

42
Dead Kennedys is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Psychobilly, Anarcho-punk, Skate punk Dead Kennedys is an American hardcore punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large ...more

43
Papa Roach is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Nu metal, Rock music, Emo Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest. The group's success continued with their gold album ...more

44
Bad Religion is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop punk, Crossover thrash, Melodic hardcore Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band makes extensive use of soaring 3-part vocal harmonies, guitar solos and lyrics that often contain ...more

45
Counting Crows is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop music, Rock music, Folk rock Counting Crows is an American rock band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1991. The band consists of Adam Duritz, David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, Dan Vickrey, David Immerglück, Jim ...more

46
30 Seconds to Mars is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Neo-progressive rock, Rock music, Space rock Thirty Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević. The band's debut album, 30 Seconds ...more

47
No Doubt is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Pop punk, New Wave, Pop music No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, that formed in 1986. Since 1995, the group has consisted of vocalist Gwen Stefani, guitarist and keyboardist Tom Dumont, bassist and ...more

48
Bassnectar is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Hip hop music, Electro hop, Electronic dance music Lorin Ashton, better known under his stage name Bassnectar, is an American DJ and record producer. He is best known for his live performances, light shows, and community engagement.

49
Incubus is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Nu metal, Rock music, Experimental rock Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in ...more

50
Jackson Browne is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list List of Famous Bands from California
Rock music, Folk music, Folk rock Clyde Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Coming to prominence in the 1970s, Browne has written and recorded ...more