Musician Larry Tamblyn of The Standells Passes Away at 82
Larry Tamblyn, a founding member of the influential garage rock band The Standells, has died at the age of 82. He was the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn, known for his roles in films like Django Unchained and Drive, and the uncle of actress Amber Tamblyn (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Joan of Arcadia). The musician’s passing was confirmed by his nephew, Dennis Tamblyn, in a social media post.
In a tribute online, Dennis Tamblyn shared fond memories of his uncle: “A few years ago, The Standells performed at Hotel Congress in Tucson and Larry stayed with me. It was wonderful to spend time with him and reconnect. He continued to create music late in life. Uncle Larry, you will be missed.” The cause of death has not been publicly released.
Fans and Family Remember Rock Legend
News of Tamblyn’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans. “I can’t imagine a more quintessential garage rock anthem than The Standells’ ‘Dirty Water’,” one fan commented online. “It’s undoubtedly one of the most memorable songs of that era, and I’ve always loved dancing to it. I was very saddened to hear the news. Sincere condolences to his loved ones.”
Another fan wrote, “RIP Larry Tamblyn… too many legends leaving us.” A further tribute stated, “I was a fan of Larry Tamblyn’s music with the Standells from back in the day. So sorry for the loss of Larry. He was a great man.”
One admirer added, “I was saddened to learn of the passing of Larry Tamblyn of the Standells. He perfectly embodied the idea that good guys sometimes don’t wear white – and certainly never wear red hats. Deepest condolences to Larry’s wife Glenda and all his friends, family, and fans.”
Another comment read, “Shocked by the sudden death of rocker Larry Tamblyn. My heart goes out to his close friends and family, including his wife, children, older brother Russ, niece Amber, and nephew Dennis. You will be deeply missed.” A final tribute simply said, “Very saddened to hear about the passing of Larry Tamblyn of the Standells. Rock on Larry, thank you for the music.”
A Musical Journey: From Solo Success to Garage Rock Fame
Born in Los Angeles, California on February 5, 1943, Larry Tamblyn established The Standells in 1962. This followed a period of solo work in the late 1950s and early 1960s, during which he released songs such as “Dearest,” “Patty Ann,” “This Is The Night,” “My Bride To Be,” and “Destiny.”
“Dirty Water”: An Enduring Anthem
The Standells achieved their greatest success in 1966 with “Dirty Water.” The track later became an anthem for Boston sports teams and is played after every home victory for both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins. “Dirty Water” is recognized for its impact and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”
Beatles Influence and The Lolliwinks
In an interview, Tamblyn acknowledged the influence of The Beatles on the band’s image. “We were among the first groups to have long hair in 1963. We had seen photographs of The Beatles in London before they became famous here in America, and we let our hair grow. When they began to gain popularity here, we already had long hair and were performing the same style at a club called The Peppermint West,” he recounted. “They had a large sign out front proclaiming ‘Beatlemania’.”
Ventures into Children’s Music
In the 1980s, Tamblyn also produced a children’s album for K-Tel Records titled “The Lolliwinks”. Looking back on the project in 2018, he shared on social media: “’The Lolliwinks’ was a concept I created for K-Tel Records. I developed all the characters, produced the album, wrote the majority of the songs, sang all the character voices, and wrote and produced the national TV commercial in 1981. Each song had a lesson, such as ‘Planning Ahead,’ sung by Blinky Thinkertinker, and ‘Listen if you can,’ sung by Farfi Fiddlefast.” He added, “There isn’t an accurate record of how many albums it sold, but today there seems to be a cult following of my album.” Although a Saturday morning cartoon series based on The Lolliwinks was considered, it ultimately did not materialize.