Music

List of Famous Bands from San Diego

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Updated June 8, 2017 125.7k views 131 items

List of San Diego bands, listed by their level of fame. This San Diego musicians list includes both bands and solo artists. All famous San Diego bands are included, as well as many San Diego musicians of underground status. This list of San Diego 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 San Diego 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.

List contains bands like Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits.

If you're wondering, "What bands are from San Diego?" or "What is a list of San Diego bands?" then this list will answer your questions. (131 items)
1
Eddie Vedder is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego
Genre: Grunge, Folk rock & Alternative rock; Nationality: United States of America

Albums: Into the Wild, Water on the Road, The Molo Sessions (feat. The Walmer High School Choir), Ukulele Songs, Love Boat Captain, + more

Eddie Vedder (born Edward Louis Severson III; December 23, 1964) is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and one of three guitarists ...more

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#36 of 311 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriters #16 of 696 The Best Rock Vocalistslisted on Famous Accordionists

2
Tom Waits is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego
Genre: Blues-rock, Rock music & Folk music; Nationality: United States of America

Albums: Rain Dogs, Mule Variations, Blood Money, The Heart of Saturday Night, Alice, + more

Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. His music is characterized by his distinctive deep, gravelly voice and lyrics focusing ...more

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The Best Tom Waits Albums of All Time #16 of 311 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriters #232 of 696 The Best Rock Vocalists

3
Blink-182 is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Enema of the State, Dude Ranch, blink-182, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, Cheshire Cat, + more

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

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One Of Blink-182’s Lead Singers Left The Band To Become An Outspoken UFO Researcher #652 of 2,179 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time #252 of 2,211 The Best Rock Bands of All Time

4
Stone Temple Pilots is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Purple, Core, Tiny Music… Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop, №4, Interstate Love Song, + more

Stone Temple Pilots (often abbreviated as STP) are an American rock band from San Diego, California, that originally consisted of Scott Weiland (lead vocals), brothers Dean DeLeo (guitar) and ...more

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The Best Stone Temple Pilots Songs #244 of 2,179 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time #129 of 2,211 The Best Rock Bands of All Time

5
As I Lay Dying is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: An Ocean Between Us, The Powerless Rise, Beneath the Encasing of Ashes, A Long March: The First Recordings, Frail Words Collapse, + more

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

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The Best As I Lay Dying Albums of All-Time #108 of 454 The Greatest Heavy Metal Bands Of All Time #64 of 125 The Best Screamo Bands of All Time

6
P.O.D. is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Brown, Testify, P.O.D., Satellite, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, + more

Payable on Death (abbreviated P.O.D.) is an American Christian nu metal band formed in 1992 and based in San Diego, California. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer ...more

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#257 of 1,039 The Worst Bands & Musicians of All Time #400 of 620 The Greatest Live Bands of All Time #165 of 208 The Best Hard Rock Bands/Artists

7
Ratt is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Invasion of Your Privacy, Out of the Cellar, Detonator, Dancing Undercover, Ratt, + more

Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum, and multi-platinum by the RIAA. The group is ...more

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#594 of 2,179 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time #552 of 2,211 The Best Rock Bands of All Time #211 of 502 The Greatest Musical Artists of the '80s

8
Switchfoot is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Learning to Breathe, Oh! Gravity., New Way to Be Human, Vice Verses, Best of Bootlegs Vol. 1, + more

Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, ...more

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#1,028 of 2,211 The Best Rock Bands of All Time #699 of 1,039 The Worst Bands & Musicians of All Time #14 of 83 The Best Dadrock Bands That Are Totally Worth Your Time

9
Slightly Stoopid is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Chronchitis, Closer to the Sun, The Longest Barrel Ride, Top of the World, Everything You Need, + more

Slightly Stoopid is an American band based in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of folk, rock, reggae and blues with hip-hop, ...more

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The Best Slightly Stoopid Albums of All Time #35 of 70 The Best Stoner Music #3 of 26 The Best Bands Like Sublime

10
Carly Smithson is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego
Genre: Pop music, Rock music & Gothic metal; Nationality: Republic of Ireland

Albums: Ultimate High, American Idol Singles, Carly's Christmas Album

Carly Sarah Smithson (née Hennessy; born 12 September 1983) is an Irish soul and pop rock singer, songwriter and actress who was the sixth place finalist on the seventh season of American ...more

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#152 of 158 The Best Female Rock Singers #61 of 161 The Best American Idol Contestants Ever

11
Iron Butterfly is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Fillmore East 1968, Scorching Beauty, Sun and Steel, Ball, + more

Iron Butterfly is an American rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock and heavy ...more

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The Best Iron Butterfly Albums of All Time #214 of 2,211 The Best Rock Bands of All Time #113 of 454 The Greatest Heavy Metal Bands Of All Time

12
Angels & Airwaves is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: We Don't Need to Whisper, I-Empire, Love, Stomping the Phantom Brake Pedal, LOVE: Part Two, + more

Angels & Airwaves (stylized and abbreviated as ΛVΛ) is an American rock group, featuring Tom DeLonge (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar), David Kennedy (guitars, keyboards), and ...more
13
Pierce the Veil is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: A Flair for the Dramatic, Collide with the Sky, Selfish Machines, King for a Day, Kissing in Cars, + more

Pierce the Veil is an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2006, the band was founded by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbandment of the group Before ...more

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The Best Pierce the Veil Albums, Ranked #196 of 1,039 The Worst Bands & Musicians of All Time #6 of 125 The Best Screamo Bands of All Time

14
Nick Cannon is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego
Genre: Hip hop music and Rhythm and blues; Nationality: United States of America

Albums: Nick Cannon, Can I Live?, Gigolo, Child of the Corn, Stages, + more

Nicholas Scott Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American actor, rapper, director, producer, television presenter, radio personality, and activist. On television, Cannon began as a teenager on ...more

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#53 of 1,039 The Worst Bands & Musicians of All Time #44 of 59 The Best Black Actors & Actresses Under 40 #350 of 529 Things That Are Not As Cool As People Think They Are

15
Wavves is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: King of the Beach, Wavvves, Afraid of Heights, So Bored, Wavves, + more

Wavves is an American rock band based in San Diego, California. Formed in 2008 by singer-songwriter Nathan Williams (born June 12, 1986), the band also features Alex Gates (guitar, backing ...more

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#446 of 1,039 The Worst Bands & Musicians of All Time #107 of 605 The Most Hipster Bands #124 of 576 The Best Indie Bands & Artists

16
B.Slade is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego
Genre: Hip hop music, Neo soul & Rhythm and blues; Nationality: United States of America

Albums: O2, Stereotype, Protranslutionary, Oak Park 921'o6, Oak Park 92105, + more

Anthony Charles Williams II (born (1975-05-16)May 16, 1975), better known by his stage name B.Slade, formerly known under the gospel moniker Tonéx ( TOH-nay), is an American singer, ...more
17
Unwritten Law is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Unwritten Law, Elva, Oz Factor, Here's to the Mourning, Blue Room, + more

Unwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the ...more

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#194 of 390 The Best Punk Bands Of All Time #94 of 119 The Best Post-Grunge Band

18
Cage is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Movies for the Blind, Hell Destroyer, Unveiled, Hell's Winter, Weatherproof, + more

Cage is an American heavy metal band from San Diego, California.
19
Rocket from the Crypt is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Scream, Dracula, Scream!, All Systems Go, Volume 2, + more

Rocket from the Crypt is an American rock band from San Diego, California, originally active from 1989 to 2005. The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the ...more
20
Augustana is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Can't Love, Can't Hurt, Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays, All the Stars and Boulevards, Life Imitating Life, + more

Augustana is an American rock band from San Diego, California that has released albums signed to Epic Records and Washington Square Music/Razor & Tie. They are best known for their song

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#468 of 605 The Most Hipster Bands #482 of 576 The Best Indie Bands & Artists #593 of 676 The Best Alternative Bands/Artists

21
Louis XIV is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Finding Out True Love Is Blind, God Killed the Queen, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, Illegal Tender, Slick Dogs and Ponies, + more

Louis XIV is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band has released four EPs between 2003 and 2007, and three albums between 2003 and 2008, the latter two of which were ...more
22
Destroy the Runner is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: I, Lucifer, Saints

Destroy the Runner was an American metalcore band from San Diego, California, United States. Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying managed them for their album Saints, and did so again with Jason ...more
23
Future of Forestry is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Twilight, Travel, Future of Forestry, Young Man Follow, Advent Christmas EP, + more

Future of Forestry is a melodic ambient rock alternative band from Southern California, USA.
24
Mortal is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Fathom, Pura, Lusis, Wake, Nu-En-Jin, + more

Mortal was a Christian industrial/dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. Both members went on to found the alternative rock group Fold Zandura, and for a time were members of ...more
25
Rough Cutt is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list List of Famous Bands from San Diego

Albums: Rough Cutt, Wants You, Rough Cutt Live, Anthology, Live

Rough Cutt was an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California who released 2 studio albums on Warner Bros. Records in the mid-1980s. Rough Cutt never achieved the commercial success ...more