Dave Alvin

On Tour
Play Radio
Listen to Dave Alvin Radio, featuring artists like Joe Ely, Tom Russell, Slaid Cleaves, Buddy Miller and more…

360,255 plays (51,350 listeners)

Shop now at Amazon | Send Dave Alvin Ringtones to Cell
Buy
Add to my Library

Dave Alvin (born November 11, 1955, in Downey, California), is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has been one of the leading proponents of ‘roots’ or ‘American’ music, bringing together elements of rock-and-roll, blues, rural and tejano music.

Alvin and his older brother Phil Alvin grew up loving Americana, country and blues. In 1979 they formed The Blasters with friends Bill Bateman and John Bazz.

Shortly after leaving the Blasters, Alvin joined X as lead guitarist after the departure of Billy Zoom. Alvin amicably left the group to work on a solo project shortly after the recording sessions for their album See How We Are. Alvin is also a member of country band The Knitters (composed mainly of members of X), appearing on 1987’s Poor Little Critter on the Road and the 2005 follow-up, The Modern Sounds of The Knitters.

In the early 1980s Alvin, along with fellow Blasters members Bill Bateman and Steve Berlin, performed on several albums with the Los Angeles punk band The Flesh Eaters. These albums are considered precursors to what is now called “deathrock”. Alvin also played with the band The Gun Club briefly, playing guitar on “Eternally Is Here” & “The Stranger in Our Town” from the 1984 album, The Las Vegas Story.

Alvin’s first solo album, entitled Romeo’s Escape (1987) in the United States and Every Night About This Time in England, added a purer country influence along with a larger side-portion of the blues; while the album was critically well received
Read more… Edit bio

Popular tags: , , , ,  See more

Share this artist:

Top Albums

  • West of the West
    Dave Alvin Play
    Buy
  • King Of California
    Dave Alvin Play
    Buy
  • Blackjack David
    Dave Alvin Play
    Buy
  • Romeo's Escape
    Dave Alvin Play
    Buy
See more

Top Tracks

1
60
2
58
3
57
4  
56
5
52
6
48
7
44
8  
40
9
37
9
37
11
36
12
30
13  
27
14  
25
15
24
Buy all tracks at Amazon MP3
See more

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

  • FraserElliot45

    His gig at Jazz Cafe, Camden was great

    20 days ago

  • NLLObStEr

    Indeed, new album is great!

    August 2011

  • RandyB1961

    ELEVEN ELEVEN is fantastic!

    July 2011

  • mada11

    yup...............

    July 2011

  • strajnic

    run rabbit run!

    June 2011

  • Aristotlekh

    RIP, Amy Farris. Beautiful talent, beautiful lady.

    October 2009

  • lonndoggie

    Y'know, iamfreechuck, Dave's got some "chops" as well. No one's calling Phil up to produce or play guitar on their albums like they do with Dave, and Phil's songwriting credits are pretty slim. Phil can sing like no one else, so if you meant vocal chops, I'm with you (even though Dave's evolved into quite the evocative singer, if somewhat of an acquired taste). BTW, we probably bumped into each other at several dozen shows back in the day in LA, at, oh, Club 88, the Whisky, Al's Bar, Music Machine, Florentine Gardens, Hong Cong Cafe, Madame Wong's (both locations), On Club.

    December 2008

  • asphaltcigar

    Listen to Ashgrove as bluesy as it gets.

    October 2008
See all 13 shouts

Videos

See more

Events

See more Add event

News

DAVE ALVIN FEATURED IN LOS ANGELES TIMES MAGAZINE JUNE "MUSIC ISSUE"

3 Jun 2011 | from blog.myspace.com/davealvin

"The King of California" Dave Alvin is featured in the June 2011 "Music Issue" of the Los Angeles Times Magazine. Penned by writer Mark Barabak aboard the Coast Starlight "Roots on the Rails" …

Add comment

See more

Listening Now

Top Listeners

See more

More Information

Links
Labels