The Standells

The Standells were a 1960s rock and roll band from Los Angeles, California who, like The Seeds, exemplified the garage rock style. The band was formed in 1962 by guitarist Tony Valentino and organist Larry Tamblyn. The Standells' first hit single was Dirty Water, which reached #11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966. Multiple urban myths exist about the origins of "Dirty Water", which has become a Boston radio staple. One goes that the boys in the band, in town for a gig, were mugged, and as an act of vengeance, they wrote "Dirty Water." Another suggests that the Standells played Beantown one night and found, to their dismay, that the bars closed early and the girls were a little chilly. But while they were walking over the Harvard Bridge, the Charles River below appeared full of condoms. 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, founding drummer of The Bel Airs, 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. Dodd replaced original drummer Gary Leeds, who went on to fame as Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. 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." Despite the lyrics of "Dirty Water", which states, "Boston, you're my home." The Standells are not from Massachusetts. The song was 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 performed at the second game of the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park.