The Standells were a 1960s rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California who, like The Seeds, exemplified the garage rock style.
It was first started in 1962 by guitarist Tony Valentino and organist Larry Tamblyn. The band's first hit single was " Dirty Water," which reached #11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966.
Other hits included "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White," "Why Pick On Me," "Riot On Sunset Strip" (about the 1966 riots resulting from police attacks on hippies), and "Try It."
Singer/drummer Dick Dodd, who sang the lead on "Dirty Water", is a former Mouseketeer, and singer/keyboardist Larry Tamblyn is the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle of Amber Tamblyn, star of "Joan of Arcadia". The group appeared in several low budget films of the 1960s, including "Get Yourself a College Girl" and "Riot on Sunset Strip". Lowell George, who would go on to play with Little Feat, briefly played guitar in the Standells prior to their breakup in 1968.
The Standells also made an appearance on the 1964-1966 television sitcom The Munsters in the episode "Far Out Munster". The band was an integral part of the show, and performed the songs "Come On and Ringo" and The Beatles' " I Want to Hold Your Hand."
The Standells were wrongly thought by some to be from Massachusetts, due to the lyrics of "Dirty Water", written by their producer Ed Cobb. "Dirty Water" is played after every home victory by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
All of the original members are back together, and recently performed at the second game of the World Series at Fenway Park.
