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Flamin' Groovies

Flamin' Groovies

San Francisco garage rockers who helped pioneer power pop, with Teenage Head praised by Mick Jagger as an excellent Stones-adjacent album.

APPLE MUSIC

I'll Cry Alone

Flamin' Groovies

About

MOODS · garage rock · power pop · rock and roll revivalism · British Invasion-inspired · raw · melodic · anthemic · cult classic · vintage · energetic · guitar-driven · retro

BIOGRAPHY

Formed in San Francisco in 1965 and originally co-led by Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan, the Flamin' Groovies built their sound on raw 1950s rock and roll revivalism mixed with emerging power pop melodies, as heard on their 1968 EP Sneakers and 1969 debut Supersnazz. Their 1971 album Teenage Head, recorded for Kama Sutra Records, drew praise from Mick Jagger, who called it an excellent album with parallels to the Rolling Stones' own work. After Loney left in 1971, Chris Wilson joined as co-leader and the group leaned further into British Invasion-inspired power pop, culminating in 1976's Shake Some Action, produced by Dave Edmunds. Allmusic has called the band "one of America's greatest, most influential, and legendary cult bands," noting their role as forerunners of punk rock. The classic lineup reunited in 2013, releasing Fantastic Plastic in 2017.

WHY THEY'RE COOL

The Flamin' Groovies fused 1950s rock and roll energy with British Invasion-style power pop years ahead of the genre's breakout, earning Teenage Head a spot in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and comparisons to the Rolling Stones from Mick Jagger himself. Their 1976 song 'Shake Some Action' became a power pop anthem celebrated by critic Greil Marcus, while Allmusic has called the band one of America's greatest, most influential, and legendary cult acts, crediting them as forerunners of punk rock.

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