Larry Tamblyn, co-founder of the garage-rock band the Standells, passed away on Friday at age 82. The band confirmed his death on social media, though no cause was provided. Tamblyn, the band’s keyboardist and occasional lead singer, was instrumental in their success.
The Standells are best known for their 1965 hit “Dirty Water,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though drummer Dick Dodd sang lead on the track, the song became an enduring anthem, particularly in Boston, where it is played during sports victories. The band performed it at Fenway Park during the Red Sox’s 2004 World Series win.
Tamblyn was also the younger brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle of actress Amber Tamblyn. Despite the band’s limited chart success beyond “Dirty Water,” they remain influential in garage rock and punk circles. The song’s inclusion in the Nuggets compilation and its adoption by Boston sports teams helped cement its legacy.
The Standells also appeared on The Munsters in 1965, a moment Tamblyn called a highlight of the band’s career. The band’s song “Try It” was halted by radio bans due to its suggestive lyrics, a setback Tamblyn later attributed to programmer Gordon McClendon.
Tamblyn briefly pursued a solo career before reviving the Standells in 2009, releasing Bump in 2013. His brother Russ inducted him into the California Music Hall of Fame that same year.
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