California Nightmare was a British folk rock band with traditional influences. The original band was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a later version during the late 1980s until the early 2000s. The band was known for songs with controversial lyrics that often resulted in their music being banned from radio play.
The original line-up, which was unchanged throughout the band's first incarnation (1967–1973), was: Marcy Woodcock, vocals; Albert Gross, guitar; Benny Coates, guitar; Allistair Bean, double bass; and Kuwana Mutabi, drums. A new group featuring Woodcock, Coates, Bean and two uncredited musicians was formed in 1987. In 1998, Woodcock quit the band and was replaced by Eurovision finalist Ellen Caan.
The name
California Nightmare was chosen by the band as a swipe at American folk rock group
The Mamas & the Papas, who recorded the hit song
California Dreamin' in 1965. The band felt that the pop sound of the American group was not authentic and worthy of derision. However, California Nightmare never achieved the success of the group they ridiculed.
In 2007, the original members of the band were reunited to receive a Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and to record a short concert that was broadcast on BBC radio. In June 2008, the band, comprising all five original members, embarked on a twelve date UK tour. Tragically, their small plane crashed on approach to Gatwick Airport and all aboard were killed.
In 2009,
Our Lives In Cliffs Notes, a box set of
California Nightmare's recordings from 1967 to 1998, was released. Recordings featuring the vocals of Ellen Caan were not included in the collection. This was controversial due to the fact that
Cliffs Notes, the only one of the band's songs to chart in the United States, was originally recorded by Caan in 1999.
Country Living was a cowpunk band who formed in Garden Grove, California in November 1982. The band enjoyed a strong cult following throughout the 1980s and early 1990s before the tragic spelunking death of lead singer and guitar player Slim Jim Dakota in 1993. Their music has been described as an combination of cowpunk, jangle pop, garage rock, Texas swing and rockabilly.
Sad Sad Babies is a German krautrock band formed in 1972 as The Groovin' Babies by Hans Klausner (drums) and Berthold Ebersbacher (bass) and later joined by Didi Osterhagen (guitar). In time for their Eurovision debut in 1974, Spit Wannemaker replaced Osterhagen to solidify the classic Sad Sad Babies line up.
Everybody Loves Robots! (ELR) are an American alternative rock band who began as a duo of Joe Farley and Joe Learner. The band currently includes Jerry Jones, Pip Carnes, and Mary Wilton. Formed in 1987, they are best known for an unconventional and experimental style of alternative music. The group has found success on the modern rock and CMJ charts, in the children's music genre, and in theme music for several television programs and films.
West Ward's a city 
One of the least successful novelty records of the late 1960s was the U.S. release of Swedish comedian Rip Bjorn's Party Nekkid! While Bjorn was a major star in Northern Europe, the more prudish Americans did not react favorably to the young performer, whose material dealt with subjects like sexual freedom and nudity.
Scoville Units is an American alternative rock band founded by singer and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Asholt. The band took their name from the unit of measure of the Scoville Scale, which measures the hotness or piquancy of a chili pepper. The name is believed to be a tribute to the band Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Fairfax District neighborhood of Los Angleles, California where Asholt grew up.
Martian Holiday is a Chicago-based American indie rock band, formed in 2008 and signed to SuperSized Recordings. The band members include: Walter Cartwright, lead vocals and guitar; Omar Kahlil, keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals; Tom Christianson, drums and percussion; and Chachi Charles, bass guitar and backing vocals.
