Left Alone
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Left Alone is a punk rock band from Wilmington, California. They were formed in May 1996 by lead vocalist/guitarist Elvis Cortez. Cortez formed his own label, Smelvis Records, to release Left Alone's records, and has since expanded the label to include numerous other underground bands. Cortez was also the owner of the PCH Club in Wilmington, which is now defunct. Left Alone's music has ska influences, and the band is notable for adhering to a do it yourself ethic, by avoiding major labels, booking their own tours, and making their own merchandise.
After releasing numerous demos, splits, and EPs, Left Alone released their first full-length, Streets of Wilmington, in 2002. A year later, the band compiled their earlier, out-of-print recordings on the anthology Left Alone: 1996-2000. In 2003, Cortez went on the Warped Tour as a roadie. After Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman heard Left Alone's music, he chose the band to be the Warped Tour BBQ band for the 2004 tour. The band were invited back to be the BBQ band for the 2005 tour. While on the Warped Tour, Tim Armstrong of Rancid heard Left Alone's 2004 album, Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. Armstrong signed the band to his label, Hellcat Records, and re-released Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. The band released their third full-length album, Dead American Radio, on August 8, 2006, which features guest appearances from Tim Armstrong and Patricia Day of the Horrorpops.
[edit] Band members
- Elvis Cortez - lead vocals, guitar
- Kat (aka Noe)-Bass,vocals
- Billy The Kid-Drums
- James the roadie-Keyboards (Live Only)
[edit] Former band members
- Oscar Avila - Drums
- Rick Cruz-Bass guitar
- Ruben Medina - bass guitar
- Sal Ibarra - Drums
- German 57 - Trumbone
- Larry Sanchez - Saxophone
- John Perez - bass guitar
- Ram Rod - Drums
- Rudy - bass guitar
- Shane - drums
- Steve Gonzalez - Trumbone
- David Serrano - rhythm guitar (1995-1996)
[edit] Discography
- Live at the Roxy (EP), Smelvis Records, 1997
- Stranded Again (EP), Counterfit Records, 1998
- My Mistake (EP), Smelvis Records, 2000
- Left Alone/Snap Her Split, Smelvis Records, 2001
- The Question (single), Smelvis Records, 2001
- Wilmington, CA (single), Smelvis Records, 2002
- Lonely Ride (acoustic demo), Smelvis Records, 2002
- Streets of Wilmington, Smelvis Records, 2002
- Left Alone: 1996-2000, Smelvis Records, 2003
- Live in T.J. (DVD), Smelvis Records, 2003
- Voodoo Glow Skulls/Left Alone Split, Smelvis Records, 2004
- Anything for the Kids (EP), Smelvis Records, 2004
- Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts, Smelvis Records, 2004
- Left Alone/Far From Finished Split, Do Tell Records, 2005
- Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts (re-release), Hellcat Records, 2005
- Dead American Radio, Hellcat Records, 2006
