The Blasters

The original Blasters were one of the defining sounds of L.A.’s music scene in the early 1980s, and they helped keep American roots music alive during what was otherwise the genre’s dark age. Their live shows were the stuff of legend.

The Blasters membership has changed quite a bit since 1985’s Hardline LP was released. The quartet is led by founding members Phil Alvin on vocals and John Bazz on Bass. Jerry Angel on drums and Keith Wyatt on lead guitar have been in the band ten years and 8 years respectively.

The popularity of the recent reissues of all the original Blasters recordings (American Music on HighTone in 1997 and Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings on Rhino in 2002) is evidence of the enduring interest in this band. Even 22 years after they recorded for the first time in Rockin’ Ronny Weiser’s Van Nuys garage-studio, their sound is still vital and energetic, the lyrics are still relevant, and the traditional American music that forms the foundation of the Blasters’ sound is still as primal and timeless as when they first devised their unique blend of blues and rock ‘n’ roll. The guys from Downey have picked up all the old magic exactly where they left off in 1985.