Famous Guitarists from California
List of famous guitarists born who were born in California, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Many of these guitar players from California are legends in the music world, each with their own innovative styles of play. If you play guitar, whether acoustic or electric, then these famous California guitar players should be people you look up to. These are some of the best guitarists that have ever picked up the instrument, and whether they play rock, blues, metal or folk, these men and women are considered legends.
Examples of items on this list include Katy Perry and Courtney Love.
This list answers the questions, "What guitar players are from California?" and "Who are famous California guitarists?"- Randall William Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne. A devoted student of classical guitar, Rhoads combined his classical music influences with his own heavy metal style. He died in a plane accident while on tour with Osbourne in Florida in 1982. Despite his short career, Rhoads, who was a major influence on neoclassical metal, is cited as an influence by many guitarists. Rhoads is included in several "Greatest Guitarist" lists.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
- Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, popularly known as Katy Perry, is an influential figure in the global music industry. Born on October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, California to Pentecostal pastors Mary Christine and Maurice Keith Hudson, her upbringing was deeply rooted in faith and gospel music. Despite initial struggles with a first unsuccessful album under her birth name Katy Hudson, she never gave up on her passion for music. Perry's breakthrough came when she signed with Capitol Records Company in 2007. Her second studio album One of the Boys marked a significant shift from gospel to pop rock genre and included hits like I Kissed a Girl and Hot n Cold. The release catapulted Perry into international stardom and established her as one of the leading artists of contemporary pop culture. She further cemented this status with subsequent albums such as Teenage Dream, which became only the second album after Michael Jackson's "Bad" to feature five number-one songs on Billboard Hot 100. Apart from being an iconic singer-songwriter, Perry has also made notable contributions through philanthropy and activism work. She has been involved with numerous charities including UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadorship since December 2013 focusing on improving living conditions for children worldwide. In addition to this commendable humanitarian work, Perry is known for using her platform to advocate for LGBT rights and mental health awareness among other causes close to her heart.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Clifford Lee Burton (February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986) was an American musician and songwriter, best known as the bass guitarist for the American band Metallica from December 1982 until his death in September 1986. Burton joined Metallica in 1982 and performed on the band's first three studio albums: Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. He also received a posthumous writing credit for the song "To Live Is to Die" from the band's fourth studio album, ...And Justice for All. On September 27, 1986, Burton died in a bus accident in Kronoberg County, a rural area of southern Sweden, as Metallica toured in support of the Master of Puppets album. He has been recognized as a very influential musician both during his career and after his death, placing ninth in a 2011 Rolling Stone magazine online reader poll recognizing the greatest bassists of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Metallica on April 4, 2009.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Castro Valley, USA, California
- Jerry Garcia, best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band Grateful Dead, was an influential figure in American music history. Born on August 1, 1942, in San Francisco, California, Garcia's early life was marked by tragedy when he lost his father at a young age. This experience significantly influenced him and his music, adding a touch of melancholy that resonated with his fans. Despite the adversities, he showed an early interest in music, learning to play the piano and guitar during his teenage years. Garcia's musical career took off in the mid-1960s when he formed Grateful Dead. The band quickly became a central part of the counterculture movement, known for their unique blend of rock, folk, country, jazz, and blues, and their improvisational style. They also gained fame for their live performances, which often turned into extended jam sessions. Under Garcia's leadership, Grateful Dead released numerous albums, including the critically acclaimed Workingman's Dead and American Beauty. In addition to his work with the band, Garcia was also involved in various side projects. He explored different genres, collaborated with other musicians, and even dabbled in visual arts, showcasing his versatility and creativity. His contributions to music were recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. However, Garcia's life was not without its struggles. He battled drug addiction for many years, which ultimately led to his untimely death on August 9, 1995. Despite his personal problems, Jerry Garcia's legacy continues to thrive, influencing countless musicians and earning him a dedicated fan base that keeps his music alive.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
- Dave Mustaine, born on September 13, 1961, etched his name in the annals of rock history as one of the pioneering figures of thrash metal, a sub-genre of heavy metal music. His journey began in La Mesa, California, where he spent an unruly and tumultuous childhood that fueled his passion for music. He established himself as a leading guitarist and vocalist in the industry, known for his distinctively snarling performance style and intricate guitar work. Mustaine's career took off when he co-founded Metallica in 1981, serving as the original lead guitarist. However, his tenure with Metallica was short-lived due to personal and professional disputes, leading to his expulsion from the band in 1983. Unfazed by this setback, Mustaine picked up the pieces and founded Megadeth, a band that would go on to be regarded as one of the "big four" bands of thrash metal. Under his leadership, Megadeth released several acclaimed albums like Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? and Rust in Peace, which are considered classic masterpieces of the genre. Beyond his musical prowess, Mustaine is also recognized for his outspoken political views, which often found their way into his songwriting. He battled with numerous personal issues throughout his life, including substance abuse and cancer, but his ability to overcome these challenges only strengthened his legacy. His unique blend of technical virtuosity and raw aggression continues to inspire countless musicians around the world.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, La Mesa
- Bonnie Raitt, born on November 8, 1949, in Burbank, California, is an iconic figure in the American music industry. Raised in a musical household, her father was Broadway star John Raitt, and her mother was accomplished pianist Marjorie Haydock. This early exposure to music ignited a passion within Bonnie that shaped her future and career. She attended Radcliffe College in Massachusetts with major in Social Relations and African studies. However, her love for blues music led her to drop out of college to pursue her musical aspirations. Raitt's career took off in the late 1960s when she started playing guitar and performing at local clubs and music festivals. Her unique fusion of blues, rock, and folk music combined with her powerful vocals and proficient slide-guitar playing skills, quickly caught the attention of critics and fans alike. In 1971, Warner Bros. Records signed her, and she released her self-titled debut album, Bonnie Raitt. Despite the critical acclaim, commercial success eluded Raitt until 1989 when she released her tenth album, Nick of Time, which topped the Billboard charts and won three Grammy Awards. Throughout her career, Bonnie Raitt has continually used her platform to advocate for various social and political causes. She co-founded the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which provides financial and medical assistance to older R&B artists, and has been involved with groups like Greenpeace and the Rainforest Action Network. She also champions gender equality in the music industry. With her distinctive musical style and commitment to advocacy, Raitt remains a significant force in American music, carving out a legacy that continues to inspire other musicians.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Burbank, California, USA
- James Hetfield is best known as the heart-pounding lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the iconic American heavy metal band Metallica. Born on August 3, 1963, in Downey, California, Hetfield's journey to stardom was no bed of roses. With a tumultuous family background marred by his mother's untimely death and father's sudden departure, he found solace in music. It became an escape from his challenging circumstances, shaping him into the resilient musician he is today. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 with Lars Ulrich, a drummer he met through a newspaper advertisement. The band would grow to become one of the "Big Four" thrash metal groups alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. Hetfield's distinctive style of aggressive rhythm guitar playing and gruff vocal delivery defined much of Metallica's sound and established them as significant players in the global metal community. Albums like Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, and The Black Album have since become legendary, showcasing Hetfield's songwriting prowess and contributing to Metallica's enormous commercial success. Despite achieving colossal fame and success, Hetfield has faced several personal struggles. His battle with alcoholism and other addictions is well-documented. In 2001, he entered rehab, bravely confronting his demons head-on. This experience influenced much of Metallica's later work, notably their album St. Anger. Undeterred by these battles, Hetfield continues to be a dynamic force in the music industry. His compelling life story serves as an inspiration to many aspiring musicians, proving that talent combined with tenacity can overcome even the most formidable obstacles.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been lead guitarist and a contributing songwriter for the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stone's list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. In 2009, Hammett was ranked number 15 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
- Avenged Sevenfold (sometimes abbreviated as A7X) is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Synyster Gates, bassist and backing vocalist Johnny Christ, and drummer Brooks Wackerman. Avenged Sevenfold is known for its diverse rock sound and dramatic imagery in album covers and merchandise. Avenged Sevenfold emerged with a metalcore sound on the band's debut Sounding the Seventh Trumpet and continued this sound through their second album Waking the Fallen. However, Avenged Sevenfold's style had evolved by the band's third album and first major label release, City of Evil, into a heavy metal and hard rock style. The band continued to explore new sounds with its self-titled release and enjoyed continued mainstream success before their drummer, James "The Rev" Sullivan, died in 2009. Despite his death, Avenged Sevenfold continued on with the help of drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), and released and toured in support of its fifth album Nightmare in 2010, which debuted on the top spot of the Billboard 200, Avenged Sevenfold's first number one debut. In 2011 drummer Arin Ilejay joined the band on tours and recording. Avenged Sevenfold's sixth studio album Hail to the King, which was released in 2013, marked the only Avenged Sevenfold album featuring Arin Ilejay. Hail to the King charted as number 1 on the Billboard 200, the UK Albums chart, as well as the Finnish, Brazilian, Canadian, and Irish charts. In late 2014, Ilejay left the band, and was replaced by former Bad Religion drummer Brooks Wackerman, but the lineup change wasn't announced to the public until 2015. The band then surprise-released their seventh studio album titled The Stage on October 28, 2016, which debuted as number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US. The Stage is their first conceptual album and it marked another stylistic change for the band, moving towards the progressive metal sound. To date, Avenged Sevenfold has released seven studio albums, one live album/DVD, two compilation albums and eighteen singles and have sold over 8 million albums worldwide. Avenged Sevenfold was ranked No. 47 on Loudwire's list of Top 50 Metal Bands of All Time. Avenged Sevenfold have released an original song for each game in the Call of Duty: Black Ops series.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Olympia, USA, Washington
- Merle Haggard, a towering figure in the field of country music, was born on April 6, 1937, in Oildale, California. His upbringing during the Great Depression and his early life spent in converted railroad car home provided him with ample experiences to draw upon for his future songwriting. Haggard's path to stardom, however, was rocky. His rebellious youth included several brushes with the law, culminating in a robbery attempt that landed him in San Quentin Prison in 1958. This experience became a turning point in his life. Emerging from prison in 1960, Haggard turned his focus to music. He swiftly rose through the ranks of local musicians in Bakersfield, California, a hub for the thriving honky-tonk music scene. By the mid-sixties, he had signed with Capitol Records and began producing hits like. "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers"and "Swinging Doors" As his career took off, Haggard cultivated an authentic outlaw image, reflecting his past and resonating with fans nationwide. Haggard's music transcended entertainment, giving voice to the struggles and joys of working-class America. His narrative style in songs such as "Mama Tried" and "Okie from Muskogee" resonated deeply with listeners, making him one of the most influential country artists of his generation. Throughout his career, Haggard released over 60 studio albums, earning him numerous awards including inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Center Honors. Even after his demise on April 6, 2016, Merle Haggard's legacy continues to influence generations of musicians and fans alike, affirming his position as a cornerstone of American country music.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Oildale, USA, California
- Courtney Love, born Courtney Michelle Harrison on July 9, 1964, is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Her life and career have been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, characterized by immense talent, controversy, personal struggles, and resilience. She's best known as the frontwoman of the alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989. The band gained critical acclaim with albums like Live Through This and Celebrity Skin, establishing Love as a compelling and provocative figure in the world of rock music. Born in San Francisco, California, Love had a tumultuous childhood marked by familial discord and frequent moves. This early instability would go on to shape much of her life and artistic expression. Despite these challenges, Love found solace in music and acting, pursuits that would eventually lead her to global fame. In addition to her musical endeavors, Love has also made notable contributions to cinema. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in The People vs. Larry Flynt in 1996, demonstrating her versatility as an artist. Beyond her professional achievements, Love's personal life has often been the subject of media attention. Her marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1992 placed her at the center of the grunge movement, and his tragic suicide in 1994 was a pivotal point in her life. Love's struggles with addiction and legal issues have also been well-documented. Yet, despite the numerous trials she has faced, Love's enduring influence in the realm of music and pop culture is undeniable.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
- Because he hailed from the annals of rock music and was never a classically trained musician, Danny Elfman struggled to gain acceptance among his peers on the road to becoming one of Hollywood's most prolific and respected film composers. Elfman began his career in the late-1970s as the singer-songwriter of the acclaimed rock band Oingo Boingo, which developed a significant following in Southern California, but failed to reach national prominence. Unable to quell occasional rumors that others had written his own scores, he found success to be the best revenge, particularly in his long-running collaboration with director Tim Burton. In fact, Elfman worked with the director on most of his films, including "Batman" (1989), "Sleepy Hollow" (1999) and "Big Fish" (2003) - the latter of which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Though he often cited Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Bartok as his favorite classical composers, Elfman felt greater affinity to classic Hollywood composers Bernard Herrmann, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Miklos Rozsa and Franz Waxman, whose influence were heard in his scores for "Men in Black" (1997) and "A Simple Plan" (1998). By the time he composed his Oscar-nominated score for "Milk" (2008), Elfman had gained the respect of his critics while becoming one the top echelon composers working in Hollywood.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Beck Hansen, known mononymously as Beck, is an internationally acclaimed musician and record producer. Born on July 8, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, he rose to fame in the early 1990s with his experimental and lo-fi style. He is recognized for creating musical collages of a wide range of styles, including folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alternative rock, country, and psychedelia. His breakthrough came in 1994 when he released "Loser," a single that became a worldwide hit, earning him a reputation as a novelty. Beck's career took an interesting turn with his 1996 album, Odelay, which featured a groundbreaking mix of styles and won critical acclaim. The album spawned several successful singles and went on to win two Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album, solidifying Beck's reputation as a leading figure in the alternative music scene. His subsequent albums, such as Mutations (1998), Midnite Vultures (1999), and Sea Change (2002), continued to demonstrate his diverse musical talent, each exploring different genres and sonic landscapes. In addition to his musical prowess, Beck is also known for his innovative approach to album packaging and design. For his album The Information (2006), he provided blank covers and stickers so fans could create their own custom album artwork. This creative flair has helped him maintain a distinctive presence in the music industry over the years. Despite a career spanning over three decades, Beck continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible in music, making him one of the most exciting and enduring artists of his generation.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
The Best Beck Albums of All TimeSee all
- 1Sea Change134 Votes
- 2Odelay134 Votes
- 3Midnite Vultures116 Votes
- Albert Hammond Jr. (né Hammond III; born April 9, 1980) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer. He is most famous for his role as rhythm and lead guitarist, as well as occasional keyboard player and backing vocalist, in the American rock band The Strokes. He is the son of singer-songwriter Albert Hammond. Hammond Jr. released his debut album Yours To Keep in 2006 and followed up with ¿Cómo Te Llama? in 2008, an EP, AHJ, in 2013, and a third album, Momentary Masters, released in 2015. He released his fourth solo album, Francis Trouble, through Red Bull Records on March 9, 2018.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- John Fogerty, a compelling persona in the realm of rock and roll, is best known for his tenure as lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). Born on May 28, 1945, in Berkeley, California, Fogerty's fascination with music started at an early age. He honed his skills through self-learning and became proficient in playing the guitar. His journey into the world of music began in earnest when he formed the band "The Golliwogs" in the early 1960s with his brother Tom Fogerty and two other members, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford. The band later evolved into CCR in 1967. Fogerty's influence in CCR was profound, and it led the band to unprecedented heights in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His unique voice and powerful songwriting served as the driving force behind many of the band's chart-topping hits, including "Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary," and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" Despite the band's success, internal disputes led to its disbandment in 1972. However, Fogerty's indomitable spirit never faded. After the breakup of CCR, he launched a solo career that proved equally successful, further solidifying his place in the annals of rock history. Throughout his career, John Fogerty has been recognized for his considerable contributions to music. Renowned for his passionate performances and innovative songwriting, Fogerty has received several accolades for his work. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 as a member of CCR and again in 2005 for his solo career. Fogerty's enduring impact on the music industry is a testament to his talent, dedication, and resilience. His legacy continues to inspire musicians worldwide and his music remains relevant, resonating with both old and new generations of rock and roll enthusiasts.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California, USA
- Jerry Allan Horton is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of Californian alternative rock band Papa Roach
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Dixon, California
- Allison Rae Robertson (born August 26, 1979) is an American musician and the guitarist for rock bands The Donnas and Chelsea Girls.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
- Edward Calhoun King (September 14, 1949 – August 22, 2018) was an American musician. He was a guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and guitarist and bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, Glendale, California
- Brian Elwin Haner Jr. (born July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He ranks No. 87 on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Gates was voted as Best Metal Guitarist in the World by Total Guitar in 2016 and once again in 2017.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Huntington Beach, USA, California
- Tom Waits, a distinctive figure in the music world, was born on December 7, 1949, in Pomona, California. He is an American musician, songwriter, and actor whose career spans over five decades, showcasing his unique blend of genres from jazz and blues to vaudeville and beyond. Known for his gravelly voice and eclectic musical style, Waits has created a persona that is as enigmatic as it is intriguing. Through his work, he has consistently defied categorization, creating a sound that is uniquely his own. Waits's journey into the music world began in the 1970s with albums like Closing Time and Heart of Saturday Night. His early music was influenced by jazz and beat poetry, but over the years, he evolved, experimenting with various sounds, textures, and narrative styles. In the 1980s, albums like Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs marked a significant shift in his musical direction, moving away from piano-based compositions towards more experimental, genre-defying sounds. This transition led to a new phase of innovation and creativity in his career, solidifying his status as a musical maverick. In addition to his music career, Waits has also made his mark in the world of acting. He has worked with some notable directors, including Francis Ford Coppola and Jim Jarmusch, appearing in films such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, Down By Law and Mystery Men. Waits' multifaceted talent and distinctive performance style have earned him numerous accolades, including an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Despite his fame, he remains a fiercely private individual, rarely giving interviews and maintaining a low public profile. His enduring influence and unique artistic vision continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Pomona, California, USA
The 30+ Best Tom Waits MoviesSee all- 1Down by Law47 Votes
- 2The Fisher King30 Votes
- 3Short Cuts25 Votes
- Robert Trujillo, born on October 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, is a celebrated musician and songwriter best known as the bassist for the iconic heavy metal band Metallica. Trujillo joined the band in 2003, bringing his dynamic playing style and stage presence to one of the most influential groups in rock history. Before joining Metallica, Trujillo played with several renowned bands and artists. He was a member of Suicidal Tendencies, contributing to albums like "Lights...Camera...Revolution!" (1990) and "The Art of Rebellion" (1992). He later joined Infectious Grooves, blending funk and metal elements, and collaborated with Ozzy Osbourne, recording on albums such as "Down to Earth" (2001). With Metallica, Trujillo has been part of major releases, including "Death Magnetic" (2008), "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct" (2016), and "72 Seasons" (2023). His contributions have further solidified the band's legacy, with Trujillo often praised for his technical proficiency and creative bass lines. Trujillo has also ventured into film, appearing in documentaries such as "Jaco" (2014), which he produced to honor the legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, and "Metallica Through the Never" (2013). He also performed songs for several soundtracks, like "Jungle Cruise" (2021). His dedication to music and innovation continues to influence generations of bass players, making him a pivotal figure in modern rock and metal.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, USA
- Adam Levine, best known as the charismatic frontman of the pop-rock band Maroon 5, is a man of many talents. Born on March 18, 1979, in Los Angeles, California, Levine's passion for music emerged at an early age. His love for tunes quickly morphed into a career when he formed the band Kara's Flowers with three high school friends. The band was later renamed Maroon 5 and they went on to achieve phenomenal success in the global music industry. As the lead vocalist of Maroon 5, Levine has delivered numerous chart-topping hits, including "She Will Be Loved," "Moves Like Jagger," and "Sugar," solidifying the band's status in pop music history. Under his leadership, Maroon 5 has received several prestigious accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards. In addition to his musical pursuits, Levine has demonstrated a knack for acting, making appearances in popular TV shows like American Horror Story and movies such as Begin Again. Levine's charisma and talent extend beyond his musical and acting endeavors. For several years, he served as a coach on the popular reality TV show The Voice, where he mentored aspiring singers and helped them hone their craft. Despite his multitude of commitments, Levine remains dedicated to philanthropy, supporting causes such as children's health and cancer research.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Tommy Castro (born April 15, 1955, San Jose, California, United States) is an American blues, R&B, and rock guitarist and singer. He has been recording since the mid-1990s. His music has taken him from local stages to national and international touring. His popularity was marked by his winning the 2008 Blues Music Award for Entertainer of the Year.According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Castro plays "Memphis soul-drenched R&B…top-of-the-line blues." Tom Callahan of Blurt added, "Castro has a soulful voice, searing guitar and is an excellent songwriter and vocalist. If you close your eyes you will be convinced that you are listening to Otis Redding singing in 1967…tremendous."
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Jose, USA, California
- Aly Michalka, renowned for her multifaceted talent, first found fame as a teenage star in the American pop scene. Together with her sister AJ, she formed the musical duo Aly & AJ which gained significant mainstream success in the mid-2000s. The duo's pop-rock style resonated well with the younger audience and their debut album, Into the Rush, was certified gold by the RIAA. However, music was only a part of Aly's early career; she simultaneously pursued acting and earned recognition for her performance in Disney's hit television series, Phil of the Future. Born in Torrance, California on March 25, 1989, Alyson Renae Michalka showed interest in entertainment from an early age. She honed her skills in singing and acting at a local church playgroup, eventually landing her first professional role at the age of 14. Several years later, Aly made a successful transition from teen roles to adult characters, notably starring in CW's cheerleading drama series, Hellcats, and the popular comedy sitcom, Two and a Half Men. Her commitment towards developing a versatile career has seen her act in different genres, showcasing her ability to adapt and deliver outstanding performances. Despite her flourishing acting career, Aly did not abandon her musical pursuits. After a decade-long hiatus, Aly & AJ revitalized their music career, returning with a more mature sound that juxtaposed their earlier teen-pop image. Their comeback single, "Take Me", received widespread acclaim and marked a new chapter in their musical journey, demonstrating Aly's perpetual commitment to reinventing herself artistically. Whether it's through her resonating harmonies or compelling screen presence, Aly Michalka continues to captivate audiences, solidifying her status as a dynamic force in the world of entertainment.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Torrance, California, USA
- Lindsey Buckingham, renowned for his distinct fingerpicking guitar style and unique vocal timbre, is a highly respected figure in the global music industry. Born on October 3, 1949, in Palo Alto, California, he grew up in a creative atmosphere, kindling an early passion for music. In pursuit of his aspirations, Buckingham joined the band Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band during his high school years, where he met Stevie Nicks, the woman who would greatly impact his career trajectory. Buckingham's career catapulted to unprecedented heights when he and Nicks joined the British rock band Fleetwood Mac in 1974. His innovative approach to music production and songwriting became an integral part of Fleetwood Mac's distinct sound, earning them widespread popularity and recognition. Buckingham was a key contributor to the band's iconic album Rumours, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978 and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. He eventually left Fleetwood Mac in 1987 to focus on his solo career but returned intermittently over the next few decades. Outside Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham has successfully established a solo career. His debut studio solo album, Law and Order, released in 1981, provided the hit single "Trouble". Over the years, he has continually experimented with various genres, pushing boundaries and challenging conventions. Adept at juggling multiple roles - singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer - Buckingham has proven himself a versatile artist capable of creating a lasting legacy in the music world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolity for his contributions to music, including being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, USA
- Colbie Marie Caillat ( (listen); born May 28, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter. Caillat rose to fame through social networking website Myspace. At that time, she was the number one unsigned artist of her genre. After signing with Universal Republic Records, she released her debut album, Coco, in July 2007. The album included the hit singles "Bubbly" and "Realize", and has sold 2,060,000 copies in the US, and is certified 2x Platinum. In 2008 she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy Award. In August 2009 she released Breakthrough, her second album, which became her first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It has been certified gold by the RIAA. Breakthrough was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards. She was also part of the group that won Album of the Year at the 2010 Grammy Awards for her background vocals and writing on Taylor Swift's Fearless album. In July 2011 she released her third studio album, All of You. In October 2012 she released her first Christmas album, Christmas in the Sand. Since 2018, she has been a member of the country music group Gone West. Caillat has sold over six million albums worldwide and over 10 million singles. In 2009 she was named Billboard magazine's 94th-best-selling music artist of the 2000s.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Malibu, California, USA
The Best Colbie Caillat Albums, RankedSee all- 1Coco12 Votes
- 2All of You8 Votes
- 3Breakthrough10 Votes
- Billie Joe Armstrong, born on February 17, 1972, in Oakland, California, is an iconic figure in the world of rock music. He is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day. His musical journey began at a young age when he recorded his first song at the tender age of five. As a teenager, Armstrong co-founded Green Day with his childhood friend Mike Dirnt. The band, initially named Sweet Children, had its first taste of success with their debut studio album 39/Smooth in 1990. Armstrong's illustrious career is marked by his exceptional songwriting skills, distinctive voice, and dynamic stage presence. With Green Day, he has released multiple chart-topping albums including Dookie, American Idiot, and 21st Century Breakdown, which have collectively sold millions of copies worldwide. His lyrics, often infused with political commentary and personal experiences, have resonated with a wide audience. Armstrong's contribution to the music industry was recognized when Green Day was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Apart from his success with Green Day, Armstrong has also made significant contributions to other musical projects. He formed the punk rock supergroup Pinhead Gunpowder and played with garage rock band Foxboro Hot Tubs. Additionally, he co-wrote and starred in the Broadway adaptation of American Idiot, demonstrating his versatility as an artist. Despite facing personal struggles, including substance abuse issues, Armstrong's resilience and commitment to his craft have solidified his status as a seminal figure in punk rock history.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Oakland, USA, California
- Nancy Wilson, an iconic figure in the world of music, carved her own niche as a renowned vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. Born on March 16, 1954, in San Francisco, California, she emerged from humble roots to leave an indelible mark on the rock and jazz genres. As co-founder of the influential rock band Heart alongside her sister Ann, Wilson was instrumental in crafting some of the most memorable music of the 1970s and 80s, including hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," and "Barracuda." Her contribution to Heart's unique sound - a blend of hard rock and folk - earned her a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. As a testament to her versatility, Wilson also excelled in film scoring and composition, creating emotive soundtracks that enhanced cinematic narratives. Notably, she collaborated with filmmaker Cameron Crowe, contributing to the scores of several acclaimed films such as Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire. Her knack for translating the essence of a scene into music underscores her proficiency across different artistic mediums. Despite her success with Heart and film scoring, Wilson never shied away from exploring new artistic avenues. She launched a solo career, proving her ability to captivate audiences without the backing of her band. Her albums, like Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop and You and Me, are a testament to her prowess as a solo artist. Nancy Wilson's legacy is multifaceted, reflecting her talents as a musician, composer, and relentless innovator. Her enduring influence serves as a beacon for aspiring artists in the realms of rock, jazz, and beyond.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
- Jeff Buckley, born Jeffrey Scott Buckley on November 17, 1966, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his ethereal singing voice and eclectic musical style. A native of Anaheim, California, Buckley was the son of Tim Buckley, a similarly influential musician. Despite his father's fame, Buckley Jr. only met him once, a fact that shaped his life and music. His musical journey began in earnest after moving to New York City in the early 1990s, where he performed at the East Village coffee shop Sin-é. These performances, intimate and raw, quickly gained him a devoted following, and laid the groundwork for his debut album. Grace, released in 1994, was met with critical acclaim, showcasing Buckley's soaring tenor voice and talent for genre-blending, from rock and jazz to blues and folk. Despite its initial commercial underperformance, Grace has since been recognized as a seminal album of the '90s, with Rolling Stone magazine ranking it among the 500 greatest albums of all time. Buckley's promising career was tragically cut short when he drowned during a spontaneous swim in the Mississippi River in 1997. His second album, Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk, was posthumously released in 1998, featuring tracks Buckley had been working on before his death. Despite his brief career, Buckley's influence has been enduring. His version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah remains one of his most beloved performances, a testament to a talent taken too soon. Buckley's legacy continues to inspire artists across genres, a testament to his unique voice and timeless music.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Anaheim
- Dave Navarro (born June 7, 1967) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, presenter and actor. Navarro is a member of the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction (four studio albums) and a former member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (one album). He also released one solo album Trust No One (2001). Navarro has also been a member of the Jane's Addiction spin-off bands, Deconstruction and The Panic Channel. AllMusic's Greg Prato described him as "one of alternative rock's first true guitar heroes", with an eclectic playing style that merges heavy metal, psychedelia, and modern rock."He's one of the last great guitarists," says Henry Rollins, former Black Flag singer, who saw him playing with Jane's Addiction. Navarro is also host and one of the judges on Ink Master, an American tattoo competition reality show now in its twelfth season on Paramount Network.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, USA
- Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1969), known professionally as Buckethead, is an American multi-instrumentalist musician who has received critical acclaim for his innovative electric guitar playing. His music spans many genres, including progressive metal, funk, blues, bluegrass, ambient, and avant-garde music. He performs primarily as a solo artist, though he has collaborated extensively with a wide variety of high-profile artists such as Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Iggy Pop, Les Claypool, Serj Tankian, Bill Moseley, Mike Patton, Viggo Mortensen, That 1 Guy, Bassnectar, and was a member of Guns N' Roses from 2000 to 2004. He has released 306 studio albums, four special releases, and one EP. He has also performed on more than 50 other albums by other artists. When performing, Buckethead wears a KFC bucket on his head, emblazoned with an orange bumper sticker reading FUNERAL in block letters, and an expressionless plain white mask inspired by Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. At one point, he changed to a plain white bucket without a KFC logo, but subsequently reverted to his emblematic KFC bucket. He also incorporates nunchaku and robot dancing into his stage performances.Buckethead has been voted number 8 on a list in GuitarOne magazine of the "Top 10 Fastest Guitar Shredders of All Time" as well as being included in Guitar World's lists of the "25 all-time weirdest guitarists" and the "50 fastest guitarists of all time". Buckethead has written and performed music for major motion pictures, including Saw II, Ghosts of Mars, Beverly Hills Ninja, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Last Action Hero, and contributed lead guitar to the track "Firebird" featured on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie soundtrack.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Huntington Beach, USA, California
- In Grateful Dead lore, Bob Weir was "the Other One"-- the singer, guitarist and songwriter who wasn't Jerry Garcia. But Weir was both a productive solo artist and a crucial part of the Dead mix, where his rhythm guitar anchored the psychedelic jams and his more straightforward songs balanced Garcia's cosmic epics (though he wrote a few of the latter himself). "The Other One" was also the name of Weir's first Grateful Dead song, which concerned a life-changing psychedelic bus ride that Weir took with writer Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters. Raised in San Francisco, Weir was pulled into the Dead orbit when he met the young Jerry Garcia at the music store where he taught in 1963; he was in place for the early Dead incarnation as the Warlocks. Weir became a stronger force as the band grew, though he wouldn't contribute another song until "Sugar Magnolia" in 1971. As the youngest member of the Dead (and by general consensus, the only good-looking guy in the band), Weir was also a focal point onstage. His strongest musical moment was arguably his 1972 solo debut Ace. Though billed as a solo album it featured the Dead throughout, and "Playing in the Band" and "One More Saturday Night" became popular live tunes for decades. Weir also proved willing to go in a more commercial direction outside the Dead, notably with the side band Bobby & the Midnites, whose two albums edged toward conventional arena rock. However he was back in the groove for the Dead's late-'80s resurgence, writing the key tracks "Throwing Stones" and "Hell in a Bucket" for their 1987 comeback album In the Dark. In 1985 he formed the side band RatDog, originally with bassist Rob Wasserman, doing jam-friendly music in the Dead tradition. He was touring with that band when news broke of Jerry Garcia's death in August 1995, and opted to keep playing so that he and the fans could deal musically with their grief. After Garcia's death, Weir largely devoted himself to the Dead legacy. The first post-Garcia incarnation of the band, called the Other Ones, toured in 1998, the group was renamed The Dead in 2009 and, with a reshuffled lineup, later became Furthur (named after Kesey's psychedelic bus). In 2015 the surviving Dead members Weir, bassist Phil Lesh, and drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart played a show billed as "Fare Thee Well," meant to be the last of the Grateful Dead. However a new version-- minus Lesh, and with guitarist John Mayer--emerged later that year, billed as Dead & Company. Weir was particularly active between 2016-18, working with that band, playing separate duo concerts with Lesh and releasing the cowboy-themed Blue Mountain, his first solo album in nearly 40 years. An indie movie telling his life story, "The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir," premiered in 2014.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
- David Crosby, born on August 14, 1941, is a revered figure in the realm of music, known for his distinctive voice and guitar work. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Crosby's early engagement with folk music set the stage for a career that would span over five decades and influence countless artists. Crosby began his professional music career as a founding member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash - two groups that were instrumental in shaping the sound and ethos of the 1960s rock scene. With The Byrds, he developed their signature harmonies and was pivotal in the creation of their biggest hits. In Crosby, Stills, & Nash, his songwriting took center stage, contributing to anthems like "Wooden Ships" and "Almost Cut My Hair", which have since been etched into the annals of music history. However, it was not all smooth sailing for Crosby. His life has been characterized by a series of personal challenges, including battles with drug addiction and health issues. However, these struggles have served as fuel for his creativity, resulting in music that is deeply personal and reflective. Despite his trials, David Crosby remains a resilient figure in the music world, continuing to create, perform, and inspire. His contributions to music and cultural heritage are undeniable, making him a vital part of the fabric of American popular music.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Drake Bell, born Jared Drake Bell on June 27, 1986, in Santa Ana, California, is a renowned actor, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He rose to fame at a young age, showcasing his talents in the entertainment industry. Bell's passion for acting was evident from an early age when he started appearing in commercials at five years old. His breakthrough role came when he starred as Drake Parker in the popular Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, a performance that earned him several award nominations. However, Bell didn't limit himself to acting alone. He also pursued a career in music, releasing his debut album, Telegraph, independently in 2005. His second album, It's Only Time, was released in 2006 under Universal Motown Records and peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200. This album included his single "I Know," which climbed to number 82 in the Billboard Hot 100, marking his first entry on the chart. Bell has shown his versatility by lending his voice to animated characters in shows like Ultimate Spider-Man and films such as A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner! Beyond his work in acting and music, Bell has made headlines for his philanthropic efforts, particularly his support for organizations focused on literacy and education.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Santa Ana, California, USA
- Long before he had become the musician of choice to score Walter Hill films, as well as a frequent collaborator of German director Wim Wenders, Ry Cooder had established himself as a virtuoso of fretted instruments (i.e., banjo, Mexican tiple, Middle Eastern saz), backing the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, the Rolling Stones, Randy Newman and Neil Young. Particularly renowned for his blues-flavored slide guitar he allegedly inspired Duane Allman, resulting in the distinctive sound of the early Allman Brothers albums. As much a musicologist as a musician, with interests and expertise that run a wide gamut of musical history and genres, Cooder has sought out and championed such local styles as calypso, Hawaiian "slack-key" guitar (recording with Gabby Pahinui), Tex-Mex, gospel, country, jazz and the bedrock Cuban rhythm 'son', among others, in a diversified series of albums beginning with "Ry Cooder," his 1970 solo debut.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Born on October 28, 1969, in Pomona, California, Benjamin Chase Harper is an iconic figure in the music industry. He is best known for his unique blend of reggae, blues, rock, soul, and folk genres in his music. Harper found his love for music at a very young age, thanks to his family-owned music store. This early exposure led him to master an array of instruments, including the guitar, slide guitar, and keyboards. Harper's breakthrough into mainstream success came in 1994 with his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World. His distinct sound and poignant lyrics quickly resonated with audiences worldwide. One of his most famous songs, "Burn One Down," from the 1995 album "Fight for Your Mind" has become an anthem for the singer-songwriter genre. Throughout his career, Harper has released numerous critically acclaimed albums and won three Grammy Awards, testament to his musical prowess and influence. Beyond the music, Harper is also recognized for his social activism. He is deeply committed to causes such as environmental conservation and the fight against racial discrimination. His activism is often reflected in his songwriting, where he uses his platform to voice his concerns and inspire change. Despite his fame and success, Harper remains grounded, focusing not only on his music but also on making a positive impact in the world through his actions and artistry.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Claremont, California, USA
- Lee Mack Ritenour (born January 11, 1952) is an American jazz guitarist who has been active since the late 1960s.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Though his all-American looks and athletic build primed him for a succession of roles on the small screen, Michael Trucco's first love was the stage. Spotted by a talent manager while starring in a stage production of "A Few Good Men," Trucco soon caught the eye of television audiences as a Marine fighter pilot on the syndicated series "Pensacola: Wings of Gold" (1997-2000) and later as a NASCAR driver who has an affair with a high school student on "One Tree Hill" (CW, 2003-12). It was Trucco's turn as resistance fighter Sam Anders on the cult hit remake of "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci Fi Channel, 2003-08) that proved to be the turning point in his career, positioning him as a possible leading actor worth watching.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Mateo, California, USA
- David Perry Lindley (March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2023) was an American musician who founded the rock band El Rayo-X, and who had worked with many other performers including Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton. He mastered such a wide variety of instruments that Acoustic Guitar magazine referred to Lindley not as a multi-instrumentalist, but instead as a "maxi-instrumentalist."The majority of the instruments that Lindley plays are string instruments, including the acoustic and electric guitar, upright and electric bass, banjo, lap steel guitar, mandolin, hardingfele, bouzouki, cittern, bağlama, gumbus, charango, cümbüş, oud, and zither. Lindley was a founding member of the 1960s band Kaleidoscope, and has worked as musical director for several touring artists. In addition, he has occasionally scored and composed music for film.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Marino, California
- Dweezil Zappa (born Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa; September 5, 1969) is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor. He is the son of musical composer and performer Frank Zappa. Exposed to the music industry from an early age, Dweezil developed a strong affinity for playing the guitar and producing music. Able to learn directly from guitarists such as Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen, Dweezil released his first single (produced by Eddie Van Halen) at the age of 12.In addition to writing and recording his own music, Dweezil has carried on the legacy of his father's music by touring with the group Zappa Plays Zappa. The band features renditions of Zappa's original material and the lineup has often included Zappa alumni such as Napoleon Murphy Brock, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio and others.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Hollywood, California, USA
- Bradley James Nowell (February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996) was an American musician and the lead singer and guitarist of the ska punk band Sublime. Born and raised in Belmont Shore, Long Beach, California, Nowell developed an interest in music at a young age. His father took him on a trip to Jamaica during his childhood years, which exposed him to reggae and dancehall music; he then gained a strong interest in rock music once he learned how to play guitar. Nowell played in various bands until forming Sublime with bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh, whom he had met while attending California State University at Long Beach. In Nowell's lifetime, Sublime released the albums 40oz. to Freedom and Robbin' the Hood to critical and commercial success. Throughout the band's career, Nowell struggled with a worsening addiction to heroin. He eventually became sober after his son Jakob was born, but relapsed and on the morning of May 25, 1996, he died of a heroin overdose in a San Francisco hotel while Sublime was on tour. Sublime released their self-titled third album two months after Nowell's death, and has subsequently released several compilation albums featuring the hundreds of songs he recorded throughout his life. Nowell remains an influential figure of the 1990s alternative era in his legacy.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Belmont Shore, Long Beach, California
- John Cipollina (August 24, 1943 – May 29, 1989) was a guitarist best known for his role as a founder and the lead guitarist of the prominent San Francisco rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. After leaving Quicksilver he formed the band Copperhead, was a member of the San Francisco All Stars and later played with numerous other bands, including Janis Joplin on the Dick Cavett show.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California
- Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted eight months and abruptly ended when he died in a plane crash.During this time, he had several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had adapted from a Mexican folk song. Valens transformed the song into one with a rock rhythm and beat, and it became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement. He also had the American number 2 hit ''Donna''. On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane crash in Iowa, an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Pacoima, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Grant Geissman (born April 13, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist and Emmy-nominated composer. He has recorded extensively for several labels since 1976 and played guitar on the theme for Monk and other TV series.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California
- Timothy Ross Armstrong (born November 25, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. He is best known as the singer/guitarist for the punk rock band Rancid and hip hop/punk rock supergroup Transplants. Prior to forming Rancid, Armstrong was in the influential ska punk band Operation Ivy. In 1997, along with Brett Gurewitz of the band Bad Religion and owner of Epitaph Records, Armstrong founded Hellcat Records. In 2012, through his website, Armstrong started releasing music that influenced him, along with stripped-down cover songs of his own work under the name Tim Timebomb. He has released at least one song per week since late 2012. Armstrong is also a songwriter for other artists. Armstrong won a Grammy Award for his work with Jimmy Cliff and Pink, and has also worked with Joe Walsh.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Berkeley
- Peter Buck is an actor who has appeared in his role in "The Simpsons" as of Peter Buck. Buck won a Grammy Award in 1992.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California, USA
- Jaycee Chan Joming (born 3 December 1982), known professionally as Jaycee Chan, is an American-born Hong Kong actor and singer. In 2004, he released his first Mandarin CD album in Hong Kong. He later went to Taiwan to continue his music career. He is the son of the Hong Kong martial artist and actor, Jackie Chan and his Taiwanese wife, Joan Lin. He sings and performs in Mandarin and Cantonese. He is currently on a hiatus from the entertainment industry after being arrested and jailed for providing his apartment in Beijing for acquaintances to smoke marijuana.
- Nationality: China, Hong Kong
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Brandon Richard Flowers (born June 21, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead singer, keyboardist, and occasional bass guitarist of the Las Vegas-based rock band the Killers, with whom he has recorded five studio albums. In addition to his work with the Killers, Flowers has released two solo albums, Flamingo (2010) and The Desired Effect (2015). He has reached number one on the UK Albums Chart seven times, including work by the Killers.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Nevada, USA, Henderson
- Who exactly was Creed Bratton? Fans of the American version of the British TV sitcom "The Office" (NBC, 2005-13) knew him as the actor who played a character named "Creed Bratton" - the creepy, enigmatic Quality Assurance rep who caught fish with his bare hands and claimed to have only four toes on his right foot. Fans of the 1960's folk rock group The Grass Roots also knew him as Creed Bratton, the lead guitarist who caught sharks from his Seattle hotel room and raced the band's tour bus while in the nude. His mother first knew him as William Charles Schneider, her musically gifted son whose name she changed to Chuck Ertmoed after she remarried; then she knew him as Creed Bratton after "Chuck" changed his name while traveling the world and playing guitar in his early twenties. Creed Bratton was, in fact, all these incarnations, and he crafted a unique identity in popular culture that was as slippery as those aforementioned fish and sharks he (and his like-named TV persona) used to catch.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Daron Vartan Malakian (born July 18, 1975) is an Armenian-American musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist, songwriter and second vocalist of the metal band System of a Down and as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter of the band Scars on Broadway. Daron Malakian is known for his distinctive playing and is ranked 14th in Loudwire's list of Top 50 Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists of All Time and number 11 in MusicRadar's poll, The 20 Greatest Metal Guitarists Ever. He is placed 30th in Guitar World's list of The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, Hollywood, California
- Thomas Richard Fogerty (November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990) was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California
- Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and '80s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. He has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorded on hundreds of albums in many genres, for television and movies, and on more than 100 gold records. He has been a member of the jazz fusion group The Crusaders and smooth jazz band Fourplay and has maintained a long solo career.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Torrance
- An American actress, musician and former model, AJ Michalka is a young woman of many talents. Along with her older sister, Aly, AJ began performing as a child, appearing in stage productions while honing her musical skills and working as a model in various ads. By her tween years, Michalka had made the transition to screen work, with recurring roles on the crime series "The Guardian" (CBS, 2001-04) and the sitcom "Oliver Beene" (Fox, 2003-04). In 2006, AJ and Aly made their Disney Channel debut in the TV movie "Cow Belles" and the following year, AJ took the lead in the MTV feature "Super Sweet 16: The Movie," which also featured Aly. After some time away from features, Michalka returned with a small part in the Peter Jackson drama "The Lovely Bones" (2009) and starred in the short-lived cheerleading series "Hellcats" (The CW, 2010-11). In 2013, she portrayed the lead in the faith-leaning indie drama "Grace Unplugged," a production that showcased both her acting and musical appeal.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Torrance, California, USA
- Alexander Nathan Skolnick (born September 29, 1968) is an American musician who is best known as the lead guitarist in the thrash metal band Testament from 1983 to 1993, and again from 2005. He has also performed with the Alex Skolnick Trio, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage and Metal Allegiance. According to a Guitar World magazine readers' poll, he is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and one of the fastest guitarists in the world.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Berkeley
- Joe Louis Walker, also known as JLW (born December 25, 1949) is an American musician, best known as an electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. His knowledge of blues history is revealed by his use of older material and playing styles.NPR Music described him as "Powerful, soul-stirring, fierce and gritty...a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues." Another music journalist noted "If you define 'blues' by the rigid categories of structure rather than the flexible language of feeling allusion, Robert Cray... Larry Garner, Joe Louis Walker and James Armstrong are a new and uncategorizable breed, their music blues-like rather than blues, each of them blending ideas and devices from a variety of sources – soul, rock, jazz, gospel – with a sophisication beyond the reach of their forerunners".
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
- Joseph Mark Trohman (born September 1, 1984) is an American guitarist, singer, and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the American rock band Fall Out Boy, as well as the lead and rhythm guitarist for a heavy metal supergroup The Damned Things. Fall Out Boy began as Trohman and Pete Wentz's side project from the hardcore punk scene they were involved with, and the band has scored four number one albums on the US Billboard 200. With Damned Things on hiatus, Trohman and Josh Newton formed With Knives and the duo released their debut EP Schadenfreude in April 2012 with Trohman on lead vocals and guitar. It was released through Son Of Man, the label he co-owns with Newton. With Knives played a few dates in the US before becoming quiet and announced the project was on a break. On February 4, 2013, Fall Out Boy announced a comeback with a new album, tour and single.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, Hollywood, California
- Kerry Ray King (born June 3, 1964) is an American musician, best known as a guitarist and songwriter for the American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Suzanne Nadine Vega (born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, best known for her folk-inspired music.Vega's music career spans more than 30 years. She came to prominence in the mid 1980s, releasing four singles that entered the Top 40 charts in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s, including "Marlene on the Wall", "Left of Center", "Luka" and "No Cheap Thrill". "Tom's Diner," which was originally released as an a cappella recording on Vega's second album, Solitude Standing, was remixed in 1990 as a dance track by English electronic duo DNA with Vega as featured artist, and it became a Top 10 hit in over five countries. The song was used as a test during the creation of the MP3 format.Vega has released nine studio albums to date, the latest of which is Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers, released in 2016.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Santa Monica
- Kevin Rene Cadogan (born August 14, 1970) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. A founding member of the band Third Eye Blind, he performed with the band from 1993 to 2000. He co-wrote some of Third Eye Blind's most notable hits, including "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Graduate", 10 of the 14 songs on their debut album Third Eye Blind as well as six of the 13 tracks on his final collaboration with the band in their second album Blue. Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed a recording contract with Elektra Records in May 1996 which was later reported as the largest recording deal ever for an unsigned artist and launched Third Eye Blind into stardom. In 2011, Cadogan was honored on the show Pensado's Place by record producer Eric Valentine.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Oakland, California
Donald David Guard (October 19, 1934 – March 22, 1991) was an American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio. Guard was born in San Francisco and went to Punahou School in Honolulu in what was then the pre-statehood U.S. Territory of Hawaii. Upon completion of his final year of high school in 1952 at Menlo School, a private prep school in Menlo Park, California, he matriculated at nearby Stanford University, graduating in 1957 with a degree in economics. While an undergraduate at Stanford, Guard started a pickup group with Reynolds and Shane. Guard called his group Dave Guard and the Calypsonians, with a Weavers-style signature sound that was principally two guitars, a banjo, and rollicking vocals. Guard kept the group together after Reynolds and Shane left, changing the name of the Calypsonians to The Kingston Quartet. Then in 1957, when Reynolds and Shane agreed to team up with Guard again, the group changed its name to The Kingston Trio. Under contract with Capitol Records, the Trio became a huge commercial and influential success.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
Jeff McDonald
Age: 61Jeff McDonald (born 1963 in Hawthorne, California) is a rock and roll singer and guitarist who co-founded the alternative rock, power pop band Redd Kross with his younger brother Steven Shane McDonald and remains in the band. In the early 2000s he played in Ze Malibu Kids, with his wife, Charlotte Caffey, of The Go-Go's, his brother, and sister-in-law Anna Waronker. As of 2006, he and his brother are preparing and executing a series of Redd Kross reunion shows. Redd Kross is an American alternative rock band from Hawthorne, California, who had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists, while they were still in middle school. With the addition of friends Greg Hetson and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag. Full of the brothers' pop culture obsessions, Born Innocent featured odes to Linda Blair (who starred in a television movie of the same name), a cover of "Look on Up from the Bottom" by the Carrie Nations from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and Charles Manson (whose song "Cease to Exist" they covered). The album also contains nods to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Tatum O'Neal, and Lita Ford. Not long after the release of the album, the group was threatened with a lawsuit from the International Red Cross and changed their name to Redd Kross so as not to be confused with an International Aid Organization.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Hawthorne
- Lowell Thomas George (April 13, 1945 – June 29, 1979) was an American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who was the primary guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
- Jesse Michaels is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, artist, and author from Berkeley, California. He is the son of the author Leonard Michaels and was married to producer Audrey Marrs. His lyrics deal with politics, racism, and general social issues. He is most well known as the vocalist for the ska punk band Operation Ivy.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California
- Jeffrey John Hanneman (January 31, 1964 – May 2, 2013) was an American musician, best known as a founding member of the American thrash metal band Slayer. Hanneman contributed both lyrical and musical material to every Slayer album up until his death in 2013 and wrote the songs "Raining Blood", "War Ensemble," "South of Heaven," "Seasons in the Abyss," and "Angel of Death," all of which have been played at almost every live Slayer performance after their respective compositions. He had his own signature guitar, the ESP Jeff Hanneman Signature model.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Oakland, USA, California
- Though actor Kyle Gass was a familiar face to comedy fans throughout the 1990s and 2000s with appearances in "Shallow Hal" (2001), "Elf" (2003) and "Wild Hogs" (2007), he approached something akin to superstardom as one half of Tenacious D, the satirical rock band he fronted with actor Jack Black. Gass shared writing credit on the band's outrageous parodies of rock tropes while serving as the serene onstage counterweight to Black's operatically manic vocals. Their blend of broad comedy and high-volume music earned them a Top 40 album and major world tours, though their feature film, "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny" (2006) was a considerable flop before finding a second life as a cult favorite on DVD. The popularity of Tenacious D allowed Gass to enjoy steady work as a bit player in features and on television while moonlighting as an ironic rock hero - an enviable status that even the biggest screen idols could not claim as their own.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Walnut Creek, California, USA
- Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland, Ph.D (born December 29, 1965) is an American musician and molecular biologist, best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the punk rock band The Offspring.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Garden Grove, USA, California
- Wendy Ann Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- David Randall Silveria (born September 21, 1972) is an American drummer, best known as the drummer for the band Korn from 1993 until leaving the band in 2006. He then became the drummer for INFINIKA, which was formed in 2012, but disbanded in 2015. As of 2019, David is now currently the drummer of a band called “BIAS”.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, San Leandro, California
- Susanna Lee Hoffs (born January 17, 1959) is an American vocalist, guitarist, actress and songwriter. She is best known as a co-founder of The Bangles.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Arthur Paul Alexakis (born April 12, 1962) is an American musician best known as the singer-songwriter and guitarist of the rock band Everclear. He has been a member of several notable bands, in addition to his own work as a songwriter for other artists. Alexakis founded several record labels throughout his career, and worked as an A&R representative for major record labels between and during his own musical projects. Later he became a political activist, and lobbied for special concerns which included drug awareness policies, and support of the families of the military.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
Ken Stringfellow
Age: 56Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star, Stringfellow's discography includes more than 200 albums.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Marc Bonilla
Age: 69Marc Bonilla is an American guitarist and composer. He has worked with Keith Emerson (including on 1995's Changing States and in 2006-2016 was featured in the Keith Emerson Band), Ronnie Montrose, Glenn Hughes (on Addiction (produced, co-written and performed), The Way It Is, 1999, also playing keyboards), David Coverdale (late 2000 live band) and Kevin Gilbert (Toy Matinee live band). He also appears on the Emerson, Lake & Palmer tribute album Encores, Legends & Paradox (Magna Carta Records, 1999) and a spoken word album with comedian Bobby Gaylor for Atlantic entitled "Fuzzatonic Scream" including the controversial single, "Suicide" in 1998. He has released a number of solo albums. Among them, EE Ticket (Reprise, 1991), and American Matador (Warner Brothers, 1993), which includes covers of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "I Am the Walrus" with guest Ronnie Montrose. Bonilla currently plays in California Transit Authority, a project led by former Chicago drummer, founding member and Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Danny Seraphine, featuring some updates to early Chicago songs as well as new material and has currently completed the follow-up album of all original material. He has also produced, co-written and performed with the Keith Emerson Band's new album. In addition, he tours with Eddie Jobson's UZ Project as singer, guitarist and bassist.Marc is originally from the San Francisco Bay area and, along with Joe Satriani, was one of the preeminent rock guitar teachers in the Bay area during the 80s. Marc moved to LA in the early 90's to work on TV and movie scoring working with James Newton Howard, John Debney, and others, earning an Emmy nomination in 2001. In addition, he had cameo roles in the 1997 television series Nightman about a crime-fighting sax player, for which he was the musical director and acted as a performer (with his band) in several episodes under the alias Marc Bonilla and Dragonchoir. He has done guitars for numerous films such as The Replacements, The Scorpion King, Spiderman 2, Iron Man 2, Green Lantern, The Bourne Legacy, and composed and performed the music on the hit series, Justified, on FX channel, with keyboardist, Steve Porcaro (Toto). He also composes for Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. He also lectured at LA's Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT). He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son and has recently completed a new ground-breaking album with Keith Emerson titled The Three Fates Project with the Munich Radio Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Terje Mikkelsen and has finished work on an album "Beyond The Stars - Keith Emerson" with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and also the follow-up long-awaited third guitar instrumental album called Celluloid Debris available exclusively at www.marcbonillamusic.com. He also currently tours with Harry Shearer (aka Derek Smalls from Spinal Tap) playing guitar, bass and mandolin. Although Marc appears in the video for Toy Matinee's "Ballad of Jenny Ledge," he did not actually play lead guitar on the album. Lead guitar work for the Toy Matinee LP was done by LA studio guitarist Tim Pierce, though Marc replaced him for the touring incarnation of the band along with Sheryl Crow. Around the time that EE Ticket was released, Yamaha musical instruments produced a prototype left-handed Marc Bonilla model guitar. This guitar was embellished with comic book superheroes, of which Marc was very fond. (www.marcbonillamusic.com) Aside from his work as a musician, Bonilla was also a graphic artist, who did album cover designs for Ronnie Montrose, with his 1986 solo album Territory and with his band Montrose, the 1987 album Mean.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: California
- Aaron Abeyta (born August 8, 1965), better known as El Hefe or simply Hefe, from el Jefe (Spanish for "the boss") is the lead guitarist and trumpet player for the California punk band NOFX. He started playing guitar at the age of 13, but he states that he started taking it seriously at the age of 15, joining his first band. He attended the Berklee College of Music and graduated with honors. Abeyta was given his nickname by NOFX founder Fat Mike because at the time he joined the band in 1991, Fat Mike was dating a girl named Erin and he didn't want to cause any confusion. Singer Fat Mike suggested the name El Hefe. His first recordings with NOFX contributed to NOFX's EP, The Longest Line. He once owned a night club called 'Hefe's' in Eureka, CA. He lives in Stevenson Ranch, California. He has two children and is married to Jennifer Abeyta.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Sacramento
- Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their lead guitarist, as the youngest brother of bandmates Brian and Dennis Wilson, and as the group's de facto leader in the early 1970s. He was also the band's musical director on stage from 1965 until his death. Influenced by the guitar playing of Chuck Berry and the Ventures, Wilson's initial role in the group was that of lead guitarist and backing vocals, but he performed lead vocals on several of their later hits, including "God Only Knows" (1966), "Good Vibrations" (1966), and "Kokomo" (1988). Unlike other members of the band, he often played alongside the studio musicians employed during the group's critical and commercial peak in the mid 1960s. After Brian's reduced involvement with the group, Carl produced the bulk of their albums between 20/20 (1969) and Holland (1973), where the production was nominally credited to "the Beach Boys". Concurrently, he spent several years challenging his draft status as a conscientious objector. During the 1980s, Wilson attempted to launch a solo career, releasing the albums Carl Wilson (1981) and Young Blood (1983). In the 1990s, he recorded material with Gerry Beckley and Robert Lamm, later released for the posthumous album Like a Brother (2000). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Beach Boys in 1988. Wilson was also a member of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, a religious corporation. He died, aged 51, of lung cancer in 1998.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Hawthorne
Howard E. Scott
Age: 78Howard E. Scott (born March 15, 1946 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California) is an American funk/rock guitarist and founding member of the successful 1970s funk band War.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Pedro, Los Angeles, USA, California
- David A. Immerglück (born May 3, 1961) is an American multi-instrumentalist who is best known as a guitarist in the alternative rock bands Counting Crows, Camper Van Beethoven and the Monks of Doom, as well as for a strong tenure with American singer songwriter John Hiatt. A versatile musician, Immerglück also plays mandolin, pedal steel guitar, bass, electric sitar, keyboards, and sings. He notably performs some songs as a slide guitarist.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: California
- Elvin Richard Bishop (born October 21, 1942) is an American blues and rock music singer, guitarist, bandleader, and songwriter. An original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of that group in 2015 and the Blues Hall of Fame in his own right in 2016. Bishop feels that the limitations of his voice have helped his songwriting.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, Glendale, California
- Eric Theodore Erlandson (born January 9, 1963) is an American musician, guitarist, and writer, primarily known as founding member, songwriter and lead guitarist of alternative rock band Hole from 1989 to 2002. He has also had several musical side projects, including Rodney & the Tube Tops, which he formed with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, and RRIICCEE with Vincent Gallo. While studying creative writing, Erlandson published a book titled Letters to Kurt in 2012, consisting of free-form and stream-of-consciousness poetry.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Ronald Douglas Montrose (November 29, 1947 – March 3, 2012) was an American rock guitarist, who led the bands Montrose (1973-77 & 1987) and Gamma (1979-83 & 2000) and also performed and did session work with a variety of musicians, including Van Morrison (1971–72), Herbie Hancock (1971), Beaver & Krause (1971), Boz Scaggs (1971), Edgar Winter (1972 & 1996), Gary Wright (1975), The Beau Brummels (1975), Dan Hartman (1976), Tony Williams (1978), The Neville Brothers (1987), Marc Bonilla (1991 & 1993) and Sammy Hagar (1997). The first Montrose album was often cited as "America's answer to Led Zeppelin" and Ronnie Montrose was often referred to as one of the most influential guitarists in American hard rock.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
- Robert Coppola Schwartzman (born December 24, 1982) is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and musician. Schwartzman is also best known as the lead vocalist of the rock/pop band Rooney. He has also acted in the short black-and-white film Lick the Star and The Virgin Suicides, both directed and co-written by his cousin Sofia Coppola, as well as The Princess Diaries.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Robert Lawrence Welch Jr. (August 31, 1945 – June 7, 2012) was an American musician who was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974. He had a successful solo career in the late 1970s. His singles included "Hot Love, Cold World", "Ebony Eyes", "Precious Love", "Hypnotized", and his signature song, "Sentimental Lady".
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Kevin John Wasserman (best known by his stage name Noodles; born February 4, 1963) is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Offspring.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Craig Fairbaugh (born March 11, 1978) is an American musician, singer and songwriter who is best known for playing with the rock band +44 (pronounced "plus forty-four"). The band was made up of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker (both of Blink-182) and Shane Gallagher (of The Nervous Return). Fairbaugh has joined Juliette and the Licks full-time as guitarist and back-up vocalist. He is also the guitarist and vocalist of the goth rock band Mercy Killers.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: California
- Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter best known as the guitarist of the rock band The Doors; as such he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Krieger wrote or co-wrote many of the Doors' songs, including the hits "Light My Fire", "Love Me Two Times", "Touch Me", and "Love Her Madly". After the Doors disbanded, Krieger continued his performing and recording career with other musicians including former Doors band mates John Densmore and Ray Manzarek. He was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Jason Eli Becker (born July 22, 1969) is an American musician, songwriter and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Shrapnel Records-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released the albums Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988. Cacophony broke up in 1989 and Becker began doing solo work, having released his first album Perpetual Burn in 1988, also through Shrapnel. He later joined David Lee Roth's band and recorded one album with him, A Little Ain't Enough. Becker's performing career was cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In 1996, Becker lost the ability to speak, and he now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. Despite his disability, he continues composing by using a computer and has since released with Shrapnel Collection, a "best of" album of his favorite songs and three new songs. Becker is now the longest currently living person with ALS, holding the title since the death of Stephen Hawking in 2018
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Richmond
Miko Weaver
Age: 67Miko Weaver (Born 11 March 1957 in Berkeley, California) is an American guitarist best known for his work with Prince. Weaver came to Prince's attention when he was a member of Sheila E.'s band. He and some other members of the band joined The Revolution in the studio to record a jam of "I Would Die 4 U" that would later become the song's 12" single. Prince later picked Weaver to provide guitar for his short-lived R&B band, The Family. When The Family dissolved, several members including Weaver were absorbed into The Revolution and participated in the recording of the Parade album, and the accompanying tour (which would be The Revolution's last). When The Revolution disbanded at the end of the tour, many of the newer members, including Weaver, stayed with Prince to become his touring band for the acclaimed Sign o' the Times and Lovesexy tours. Weaver also participated in many studio sessions with Prince during this time. The band changed lineups in 1989 at the conclusion of the Lovesexy World Tour, however Weaver was retained for the Nude Tour of 1990 and made an appearance in the Graffiti Bridge film. After these ventures, Weaver departed Prince's band. Longtime member Doctor Fink also left at this time and once both were replaced, the band was officially dubbed The New Power Generation. Weaver later teamed up with actor Eddie Murphy, and gave Murphy guitar lessons. The two formed a band that would play a concert at Montreux Jazz Festival. Around 1994 Weaver resided in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for a couple of years. During this period he played jams in small local clubs. In 1994 he also recorded some songs in a recording studio in Leiden, the Netherlands with some local musicians and sound engineer Armand Wouters. One track was called "Crazy with sex". The song was a mix of styles, the Time meets Parade with Weaver rapping the lyrics. The same studio also recorded a live concert he gave at Rotown in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A small venue, about 200 people attended. The recorded songs and the concert were never released. Weaver is currently residing in Ibiza, Spain, playing small concerts and gigs and also performing occasionally as DJ at some of the islands' hotspots. He switched over to the bass the last ten years and is known to be more funky on bass than guitar. Miko's guitar and bass skills are on display on fellow Berkeley native Dorian Moor's 2009 single release " ". Weaver is now creating art works and exhibits.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Berkeley
- Brett W. Gurewitz (born May 12, 1962), nicknamed Mr. Brett, is an American musician, record producer and businessman best known as the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and a number of sister labels. He has produced albums for Bad Religion as well as Epitaph Records labelmates NOFX, Rancid, and Pennywise, among others. Gurewitz also had a project called Error, which also featured Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross, and Greg Puciato. He is also the co-founder of comic book and graphic novel publisher, Black Mask Studios. Gurewitz founded Bad Religion in 1980 with Greg Graffin, Jay Bentley and Jay Ziskrout. After releasing two albums and one EP, Gurewitz left Bad Religion in 1983, but rejoined three years later, and recorded five more albums with the band before they signed to Atlantic Records in 1993. The success of his record label Epitaph prompted Gurewitz to leave Bad Religion once again in 1994, and run his label on a full-time basis. During his hiatus from Bad Religion, he released the "Hate You" single in 1996 with his one-off project Daredevils, and entered a period of drug addiction. By 1999, Gurewitz had successfully completed drug rehabilitation. He eventually rejoined the band in 2001 to write and record the album The Process of Belief (2002). He remains with the band today for occasional studio recordings.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Joshua Michael Homme ( HOM-ee; born May 17, 1973) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He is the founder, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, which he formed in 1996 and in which he sings lead vocals and plays guitar, as well as occasionally playing bass, piano, and drums. He also co-founded Eagles of Death Metal in 1998, playing drums for their studio recordings and occasionally performing live with them. Homme was formerly the co-founder and guitarist of the stoner rock band Kyuss from 1987 to 1995. He has produced a musical improv series with other musicians (mostly from the Palm Desert Scene) known as The Desert Sessions since 1997. He formed a new project in 2009 called Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, releasing their self-titled debut album later that year. In 2016, he produced, co-wrote, and performed on the Iggy Pop album Post Pop Depression. He has also been involved with acts such as Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Joshua Tree, USA, California
- Bradford Phillip Delson (born December 1, 1977) is an American musician and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the American rock band Linkin Park.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Agoura
- John Coburn Stewart (September 5, 1939 – January 19, 2008) was an American songwriter and singer. He is known for his contributions to the American folk music movement of the 1960s while with the Kingston Trio (1961–1967) and as a popular music songwriter of the Monkees' No. 1 hit "Daydream Believer" and his own No. 5 hit "Gold" during a solo career spanning 40 years that included almost four dozen albums and more than 600 recorded songs.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Diego
- David Kushner (born November 16, 1966) is an American musician perhaps best known as the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver. Kushner has also been a member of Wasted Youth, Electric Love Hogs, Loaded, Danzig, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro's solo band, Sugartooth, Zilch while he has also recorded with Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko and more recently collaborated with Scars on Broadway guitarist Franky Perez releasing songs under the pseudonym of DKFXP, a combination of the initials of Perez and Kushner, as well as working with Indian singer and actress Shruti Haasan.Kushner has also been writing and composing music for films and television, most notable the theme for FX series Sons of Anarchy, titled "This Life", where he received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music in 2009 while in 2010 he received an ASCAP Award for the theme. He collaborated with composer John O'Brien on the music for the movies Four Christmases, Couples Retreat and the ABC drama series Detroit 1-8-7 while he was also asked to develop a spin-off of How I Met Your Mother entitled "The Bro Code" by Fox creative director Dave Warren and The Simpsons segment director Ralph Sosa.In 2009, Kushner was named "One of The 50 Greatest Unsung Guitar Heroes Ever" by Total Guitar magazine.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Dennes Dale "D." Boon (April 1, 1958 – December 22, 1985) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the American punk rock trio Minutemen. In 1985 he was killed in a van crash at the age of 27.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Napa
- Jerry Lawrence Dixon (born September 15, 1967) is an American musician, and one of the original members of the 1980s rock band Warrant. He was born in Pasadena, California. He has a son, Grady by ex-wife Susan Ashley. Dixon started playing the bass guitar at 13 years of age. His first bass was a used Sears model that he had purchased from a friend for $30. Dixon joined Warrant while still in high school (11th grade). Dixon has been influenced musically by Geezer Butler and Rudy Sarzo.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, Pasadena, California
- Jack Black was born Thomas Jacob Black on August 28, 1969, in Santa Monica, California. Black has etched his name in the annals of Hollywood through a unique blend of comedy, music, and raw talent. He was raised by parents who were satellite engineers. Black's early exposure to drama at the Poseidon School sparked an interest that would soon catapult him into the world of entertainment. After completing his education at the University of California, Los Angeles, he embarked on a career that would span over three decades. His career encompass multiple facets of entertainment, from acting and voice-over work to producing and music. Black's career trajectory took a significant leap in the late 1990s when he starred in the HBO series Tenacious D, which he co-created with friend and fellow musician Kyle Gass. The show, named after their real-life rock band, showcased Black's comedic timing and musical prowess. His breakthrough role in the film High Fidelity (2000) further solidified his reputation as a versatile actor capable of delivering both comedic and dramatic performances. This versatility was demonstrated in a range of roles in films like School of Rock (2003), King Kong (2005), and the animated Kung Fu Panda series, where he lent his voice to the lead character, Po. In addition to his acting career, Black has made significant contributions to the music industry. He has released several albums, blending comedy and rock in a distinctive style that has garnered him a dedicated fan base. His passion for music has also led him to champion music education. He co-founded the Paul Green School of Rock Music to nurture young talent.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, USA
The Best Jack Black MoviesSee all- 1School of Rock3,124 Votes
- 2Kung Fu Panda2,143 Votes
- 3Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle2,090 Votes
- Kevin Roosevelt Moore (born October 3, 1951), known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician and four-time Grammy Award winner. He is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link to the seminal Delta blues that travelled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America". His post-modern blues style is influenced by many eras and genres, including folk, rock, jazz, pop and country. The moniker "Keb Mo" was coined by his original drummer, Quentin Dennard, and picked up by his record label as a "street talk" abbreviation of his given name.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, South Los Angeles, California
- Christopher William Parkening (born December 14, 1947) is an American classical guitarist. He holds the Chair of Classical Guitar at Pepperdine University under the title Distinguished Professor of Music.
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Hal Andrew Lindes (born June 30, 1953 in Monterey, California) is an American-English guitarist and film score composer. In 1979, he played guitar with the rock group Darling. Signed to Charisma Records, they released the single "Do You Wanna" (written by Lindes) and published the album Put It Down To Experience the same year. Lindes is probably best known for his work as a full-time member with rock band Dire Straits from 1980 until 1985.
- Nationality: United States of America, United Kingdom
- Birthplace: USA, Monterey, California
- William Bradford "Bill" Champlin (born May 21, 1947) is an American singer, musician, arranger, producer, and songwriter. He formed the band Sons of Champlin in 1965, which still performs today, and was a member of the band Chicago from 1981–2009. He performed lead vocals on three of Chicago's biggest hits of the 1980s, 1984's "Hard Habit to Break" and "Look Away" and "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" in 1988. During live shows, he performed the lower, baritone, vocal parts originated by original guitarist Terry Kath, who had died in 1978. He has won multiple Grammy Awards for songwriting.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Oakland, USA, California
- Chris Weber (born October 16, 1966) is an American musician best known as the guitarist and founder of the groups U.P.O. and Hollywood Rose (which featured future Guns N' Roses members Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler). With U.P.O., he released two albums, No Pleasantries (2000) and The Heavy (2004), while the Hollywood Rose demos, recorded in 1984, were released in 2004 titled The Roots of Guns N' Roses.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Michael Kenji Shinoda (, born February 11, 1977) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and graphic designer. He co-founded Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band's rhythm guitarist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, producer, and co-lead vocalist. Shinoda later created a hip-hop-driven side project, Fort Minor, in 2004. He has also served as a producer for tracks and albums by Lupe Fiasco, Styles of Beyond and the X-Ecutioners. Born in Panorama City, California and raised in Agoura Hills, Shinoda formed Xero, which later became Linkin Park, with two of his high school friends: Brad Delson and Rob Bourdon in 1996, later joined by Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell and Mark Wakefield. Chester Bennington replaced Wakefield as the lead vocalist. The band later signed a record deal with Warner Bros Records. Shinoda is also the co-founder of Machine Shop Records, a California-based record label. Outside of music, Shinoda is an artist and graphic designer. He has painted several pieces of artwork, some of which have been featured in the Japanese American National Museum. On January 25, 2018, Shinoda released the Post Traumatic EP, which contained three songs about his own feelings at the aftermath of Chester Bennington's death on July 20, 2017. In March 2018, Shinoda announced through social media that he was working on a new solo album under the same name; the record was released on June 15, 2018.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Agoura Hills, USA, California
- Jeffrey Foskett is an American singer, record producer, arranger and guitarist best known for his work with Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Foskett is described as The Beach Boys' "vice principal" by its core members.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California
- Lars Erik Frederiksen (born Lars Erik Dapello August 30, 1971) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer best known as the guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Rancid, as well as the frontman of Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and The Old Firm Casuals. In addition, he currently plays guitar in Oxley's Midnight Runners, Stomper 98, and The Last Resort. He was also briefly a member of the UK Subs in 1991. He joined Rancid in 1993 after the band was searching for a second guitar player and was present on their second album Let's Go. He has produced albums for bands such as Dropkick Murphys, Agnostic Front, The Business, Swingin Utters, Marky Ramone and the Intruders, Anti-Heros, Pressure Point, The Forgotten among others. He recently mixed GBH's 2010 album entitled Perfume and Piss, as well as Cock Sparrer's 2007 album "Here We Stand" both alongside Michael Rosen.
- Nationality: Denmark, United States of America
- Birthplace: Campbell, California
Eddie St. James
Age: 62Eddie St. James is a guitarist, singer and composer–arranger born in Hollywood, California and raised in and around the L.A. area. He is most noted for his work with many well known musicians. Some of the guitar, vocal and songwriting work he has contributed can be heard on his first solo release Out of Nowhere.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
- Alexander Greenwald (born October 9, 1979) is an American musician, actor, and record producer. He is the lead singer of the California rock band Phantom Planet.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Bill Harkleroad (born January 8, 1949), known professionally as Zoot Horn Rollo, is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. In 2003, he was ranked No. 62 in a Rolling Stone magazine list of "the 100 greatest guitarists of all time".
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, Palmdale, California
Rick Hunolt
Age: 61Richard Edward "Rick" Hunolt (born July 1, 1963) is an American heavy metal guitarist. He is best known for being the longtime guitarist in thrash metal band Exodus. He joined the band in 1983, replacing Evan McCaskey who had been hired to replace original guitarist Kirk Hammett who left to join Metallica. He subsequently performed on all their albums in the 1980s and 1990s, sharing leads with original member Gary Holt (together known as the "H-team") until the band's hiatus in 1994. He performed with the band again during their reunions in 1997 and 2001. Shortly after the 2004 Tempo of the Damned album, he left Exodus in order to spend more time with his family. Hunolt reunited with Exodus in the summer of 2012 for their European tour, but did not officially rejoin; he filled in for Gary Holt, who filled in for Jeff Hanneman in Slayer.Rick Hunolt used Ibanez and Jackson guitars in the 1980s and 1990s. Prior to his years spent with Exodus, Hunolt was a student of guitarist Joe Satriani.- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California
- Reid Laurence "Larry" LaLonde (born September 12, 1968), also known as Ler LaLonde, is an American musician best known as the guitarist for Primus, a position that he has served since 1989, where he is known for his experimental accompaniment to the bass playing of bandmate Les Claypool. Previously, he played guitar for the groups Possessed, Blind Illusion, No Forcefield, and the Frank Zappa tribute band "Caca". He also has collaborated more recently with artists such as Serj Tankian and Tom Waits.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Richmond, California
- Michael Alden Hedges (December 31, 1953 – December 2, 1997) was an American composer, acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Sacramento, California
- Victoria Anne Theresa Peterson Cowsill (born January 11, 1958) is an American rock musician and songwriter. She described herself as a solo artist in her early years – "I was a kid who brought her guitar to every sleep-over and summer afternoon in the park to play her newest creation to anyone who would listen…" In high school she formed a band that went through various incarnations as Crista Galli, Aishi, The Muze, The Fans, and Those Girls from 1976 to 1980. In 1981, she founded The Bangs, later renamed The Bangles, with her sister Debbi Peterson, and Susanna Hoffs. After The Bangles disbanded in 1989, Peterson played with the Continental Drifters and The Psycho Sisters, in both cases alongside Susan Cowsill. In addition to performing their own material, The Psycho Sisters freelanced as backing singers (Steve Wynn's Fluorescent, Giant Sand's Center of the Universe), and Peterson has also contributed harmony vocals to recordings by the Hoodoo Gurus, John Doe, Tom Petty and Belinda Carlisle. Additionally, she replaced a pregnant Charlotte Caffey on the 1994–95 Go-Go's reunion tour. In 1999 the Bangles reformed and have recorded and played sporadically since. Peterson married musician John Cowsill on October 25, 2003. An earlier relationship had ended when her fiance Bobby Donati died of leukemia in 1991.In August 2014, after playing together as The Psycho Sisters for more than 20 years, Peterson and Susan Cowsill released their first album, entitled Up on the Chair, Beatrice. In 2017, she and John Cowsill joined with Bill Mumy as the band Action Skulls to release an album (also including posthumous contributions from the bassist Rick Rosas) entitled "Angels Hear".
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- American musician Georg Ruthenberg, best known for his stage name Pat Smear, was born and raised in Los Angeles. His interest in music was honed at an early age with piano lessons, which would eventually lead Ruthenberg to take up the guitar. He formed the band The Germs as a teenager after meeting vocalist Darby Crash in an alternative school, from which both ended up being expelled. Their first album, "(GI)" (1979) was produced by Joan Jett and is now considered a milestone in the history of punk rock, with Smear's work as guitarist and co-writer being thoroughly praised. Vocalist Darby passed away not too long after their first release, and Smear went on to release some solo work, do some acting, and play in different bands, such as Twisted Roots, 45 Grave and a brief stint with The Adolescents. The guitarist also played with Courtney Love's band Hole and toured with Kurt Cobain's Nirvana during the early 1990s. After Cobain's passing, Ruthenberg went on to also play with the Foo Fighters for a brief period. He would return to the spotlight with the release of "What We Do Is Secret" (2007), a film about The Germs for which he was a creative consultant. Smear rejoined the Foo Fighters in 2005 and would go on to work in the band's seventh album, "Wasting Light" (2011). The project got to the top of the United States' Billboard 200 chart and was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning four of them. After winning several more awards for his work with the Foo Fighters, Smear was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band in 2021.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- William Everett Strange (September 29, 1930 – February 22, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He was a session musician with the famed Wrecking Crew, and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of The Wrecking Crew in 2007.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Long Beach, California, USA
- Gary Duncan (born Gary Ray Grubb, September 4, 1946 – June 29, 2019) was an American guitarist and singer. He was guitarist with The Brogues, then most notably with Quicksilver Messenger Service, where the complex interplay between himself and fellow-guitarist John Cipollina did much to define the unique sound of that San Francisco based band.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: San Diego, California
- Brian Philip Welch (born June 19, 1970), also known by his stage name Head, is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is one of the guitarists and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death. Along with fellow Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, Welch helped develop Korn's distinctive sound, a mix of sirenlike shards of dissonant guitar that mimicked a turntablist's various effects and rumbling down-tuned riffing, that defined the nu metal aesthetic beginning in the mid-'90s.After becoming a born again Christian, Welch left the band in 2005 to focus on life as a father and to pursue his own solo career. He released his debut Christian album, Save Me from Myself, in 2008. He reunited with Korn on-stage at the Carolina Rebellion on May 5, 2012 for the first time in seven years, and on May 2, 2013, officially announced rejoining the band. Welch and Munky were ranked at No. 26 of Guitar World's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Torrance, California, USA
- Brix Smith Start (born Laura Elisse Salenger, best known as Brix Smith) is an American singer and guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist and a major songwriter for the English post-punk band The Fall. She is currently the lead vocalist and guitarist with Brix & the Extricated, along with brothers Steve and Paul Hanley.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Shane Gallagher is a musician who played guitar for rock/alternative band +44, punk band Mercy Killers, and formerly The Nervous Return.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Fontana, California
- Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, Steve Vai, and Joe Bonamassa. He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994–99, is the founder of Planet X and also one of the founding members of Black Country Communion and Sons of Apollo. He has released seven solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitarists Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Sheehan, Zakk Wylde and Al Di Meola. Sherinian has distinguished himself by his aggressive "guitaristic" approach to his keyboard style. In 2018, he was voted #9 Greatest Keyboardist Ever in Prog Magazine. He has also appeared on the cover of numerous keyboard magazines around the world, including the November 2011 issue of Keyboard Magazine, which declared Sherinian a "Keyboard Hero for a new generation". He has also been called the "King of the Keys" by Guitar World magazine and the "Caligula of Keyboards" by Alice Cooper. His musical influences include Elton John, Van Halen and Jeff Beck. He is of Greek and Armenian descent and has a special interest in Armenian history.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: USA, California, Laguna Beach
- Nels Courtney Cline (born January 4, 1956) is an American guitarist and composer. He has been the guitarist for the band Wilco since 2004. In the 1980s he played jazz, often in collaboration with his twin brother Alex Cline, a drummer. He has worked with musicians in punk and alternative rock such as Mike Watt and Thurston Moore. He leads the Nels Cline Singers, Nels Cline Trio, and the Nels Cline 4. Cline was named the 82nd greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in November 2011.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Thomas Charles "Thom" Bresh (born February 23, 1948 in Southern California, United States) is an American country music guitar virtuoso and singer. From age 3 to age 17, he worked as an actor and stuntman at Corriganville.Fingerpicking in the style made famous by Travis, he brings the Travis legacy to new audiences. Bresh is a singer, songwriter, impressionist, and instrumentalist, whose instrument of choice is his custom-made two-sided Langejans SuperDualette, which he calls "my band." He has performed alongside performers ranging from Bob Hope to Chet Atkins to Gordon Lightfoot.Bresh hosted a weekly television variety show of his own creation, Nashville Swing, was a regular on the Merv Griffin Show and Dinah, and made a guest appearance on the TNN special A Salute to the Country Greats. As a producer, he has been employed by country legend Jerry Reed, classical guitarist Valerie DuChateau, and Merle Travis. As a videographer, Bresh has shot, produced, and edited projects for Hank Thompson, Lyle Lovett, Brooks & Dunn, George Jones, Tanya Tucker and Jerry Reed.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
- Bill Connors (born September 24, 1949) is an American jazz guitarist who was a member of Chick Corea's band Return to Forever. After leaving Return to Forever, he recorded three acoustic albums and then three electric albums as a leader/soloist.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Tracy Richard Irving Ulrich (born January 20, 1966), known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American musician best known as the founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also a founding member of Guns N' Roses, but left shortly afterwards and was replaced by guitarist Slash.
- Nationality: United States of America
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
