current_members associated_acts years_active label article_title landscape past_members background genre origin name
phil alvin john bazz bill bateman keith wyatt los lobos 1979 & ndash ; present slash , shout ! factory , rip cat records the blasters
 yes dave fats alvin lee allen gene taylor steve berlin hollywood group_or_band roots blues rock , cowpunk , americana rock , rock & roll , rockabilly , downey , california , usa the blasters
the blasters

`` for others with this name , see blasters -lrb- disambiguation -rrb- . ''
the blasters are a rock and roll band formed in 1979 in downey , california , by brothers phil alvin -lrb- vocals and guitar -rrb- and dave alvin -lrb- guitar -rrb- , with bass guitarist john bazz and drummer bill bateman .
phil alvin explained the origin of the band 's name : `` i thought joe turner 's backup band on atlantic records -- i had these 78s -- i thought they were the blues blasters .
that ends up it was jimmy mccracklin .
i just took the ` blues ' off and joe finally told me , that 's jimmy mccracklin 's name , but you tell ` im i gave you permission to steal it . ''
their self-described `` american music '' was a blend of blues , rockabilly , early rock and roll , punk rock , mountain music , and rhythm and blues .
they have a devoted fan base and have received largely positive critical reviews , but have earned only limited mainstream success .
critic mark deming wrote of them , `` the blasters displayed a wide-ranging musical diversity were a supremely tight and tasteful band with enough fire , smarts , and passion for two or three groups . ''
