War wasn’t just a band—they were a musical melting pot. From funk to jazz, Latin rhythms to rock, they broke barriers with their socially conscious lyrics and genre-blending sound. Rising out of Long Beach in the 1960s, they climbed the charts in the ’70s with hits like “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” Their music celebrated unity, diversity, and life’s gritty realities—earning them a lasting spot in music history.
| Band Name | War |
|---|---|
| Origin | Long Beach, California, USA |
| Genres | Funk, soul, R&B, Latin, jazz, rock |
| Years Active | 1969–present |
| Classic Members | Howard E. Scott (guitar) Harold Brown (drums) Lonnie Jordan (keys) B.B. Dickerson (bass) Charles Miller (sax/flute) Lee Oskar (harmonica) Papa Dee Allen (percussion) |
| Biggest Hits | “Spill the Wine”, “Low Rider”, “The Cisco Kid”, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” |
| Notable Albums | The World Is a Ghetto, Why Can’t We Be Friends?, All Day Music |
The Early Days: From The Creators to War
War began in the early 1960s as The Creators, a high school R&B cover band formed by Howard Scott and Harold Brown. Over the next few years, the lineup grew with the addition of Lonnie Jordan, B.B. Dickerson, and Charles Miller. Later, Lee Oskar, a Danish harmonica player, and Papa Dee Allen joined.
From the beginning, the band embraced a unique mix of styles—funk, R&B, soul, jazz, and Latin influences.
Their big break came when producer Jerry Goldstein introduced them to Eric Burdon, the former lead singer of The Animals. Burdon, looking for a new musical direction, joined the group as frontman. He also gave them their provocative name: War.
Eric Burdon and War: A Breakthrough
In 1970, the band released Eric Burdon Declares “War”. The lead single, “Spill the Wine,” became a huge hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went gold, and the band toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe.
Their second album, The Black-Man’s Burdon (1971), followed. Midway through the tour, however, Burdon left due to exhaustion. The band finished the tour without him and rebranded simply as War.
War Steps Into Its Own Identity
Now on their own, War signed with United Artists and released a self-titled album in 1971. It didn’t perform well commercially. But that changed with their next release.
In 1971, All Day Music brought success with the title track (#35 pop, #18 R&B) and the haunting single “Slippin’ Into Darkness” (#16 pop, #12 R&B). That song earned War their first gold single and set the stage for even bigger things.
The World Is a Ghetto: War Hits #1
In 1972, War released The World Is a Ghetto. It became their first #1 album on both the pop and R&B charts. The socially aware title track hit #7 pop, #3 R&B, while “The Cisco Kid” climbed to #2 pop, #5 R&B.
War’s multicultural style, blending funk with Latin horns and jazz rhythms, struck a chord across racial and cultural lines. The Latino community especially embraced them after “The Cisco Kid.”
Sustained Success in the Mid-70s
Deliver the Word (1973) followed with two more hits:
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“Me and Baby Brother” – #15 pop, #18 R&B
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“Gypsy Man” – #8 pop, #6 R&B
The band released War Live in 1974, which reached #13 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B albums chart. It went gold.
Their 1975 album Why Can’t We Be Friends? became another success:
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Title track – #6 on the Hot 100
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“Low Rider” – #7 on the Hot 100
These songs became enduring cultural staples, with “Low Rider” later used in movies, TV, and even car commercials. The album went platinum.
Greatest Hits and New Material
In 1976, War released Greatest Hits, which earned them their first platinum disc. That same year, they dropped the double album Platinum Jazz, which combined hits and new tracks. It also charted well and went gold.
They reworked earlier tracks with Burdon and released Love Is All Around under the billing “War featuring Eric Burdon.” This was followed by Galaxy (1977), whose title track made the Top 40.
Challenges and Tragedy in the Late 1970s
War’s momentum slowed in the late ’70s. B.B. Dickerson left the band in 1979. Facing the rise of disco and changing music trends, War considered rebranding as “The Music Band” but stuck with their original name. They released The Music Band and The Music Band 2. The first saw modest success, but the second flopped.
In 1980, tragedy struck. Charles Miller was murdered during a robbery. His loss devastated the band.
Fading from Charts, But Staying on Stage
War kept going. They added Luther Rabb on bass, Ronnie Hammon on percussion, and Pat Rizzo (ex–Sly & the Family Stone) on sax.
In 1981, they released “Cinco de Mayo,” which became a cult hit among Latino fans but didn’t chart. Albums like Life (Is So Strange) (1983), Where There’s Smoke (1985), and Peace Sign (1994) all failed commercially.
By the mid-1980s, War transitioned into a touring band.
More Losses, Lineup Changes, and Legacy Building
In 1988, Papa Dee Allen died of a brain aneurysm while performing on stage. The lineup changed again and again over the years, but the band kept touring.
Today, Lonnie Jordan is the only original member still in the group. The current lineup includes:
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Sal Rodriguez (drums/vocals)
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David Urquidi (sax/keyboards)
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Marcos Reyes (percussion)
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Stuart Ziff (guitar)
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Francisco “Pancho” Tomaselli (bass)
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Stanley Behrens (harmonica/sax)
In 2008, Eric Burdon reunited with War for one concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, sparking hopes of a full tour. It didn’t happen. The band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but wasn’t inducted.
Still, War remains active—touring regularly and bringing their message of unity and groove to audiences old and new.
Cultural Impact and Fun Facts
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“Low Rider” became a cultural anthem, featured in TV shows like George Lopez and movies like Up in Smoke.
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“Why Can’t We Be Friends?” was played in space—literally. NASA used it during the Apollo–Soyuz mission in 1975.
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The band’s multiracial lineup and message of peace helped pave the way for socially conscious funk bands in the ’70s.
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Lee Oskar left in the mid-1990s but launched his own line of harmonicas.
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War has been sampled by hip-hop artists including Ice Cube and Beastie Boys.
Conclusion
War created more than music—they created connection. Their sound mixed cultures, their lyrics promoted peace, and their rhythms made people move. While the band’s chart dominance faded, their legacy has never stopped growing. With a message still relevant today, War continues to tour, inspire, and prove that music really can bring people together.