Funk group that started life in the early 1970s in Southern California. They formed out of the ashes of an earlier R&B covers group, (who also recorded as The Romeos and ), initially naming themselves Nightshift before producer discovered them and gave them a more distinctive name.
Their initial recordings were collaborations with of English group The Animals, notably their first album ''. They later signed to United Artists and began releasing material on their own. Their first album was not a big success but their popularity was growing and later albums were very successful. They peaked commercially in the mid-70s with their Number 1 hit 'Low Rider'. Four members of the classic lineup from the 1970s have formed a new band (for legal reasons) called Lowrider Band.
Things started to go downhill for the group in the late 70s when bassist B.B. Dickerson left and another member, Charles Miller, was murdered. Various line-up changes followed but the original magic was lost and the group were not as successful, eventually becoming just a touring act.
A new generation has since discovered the music of War as they have been heavily sampled by hip-hop artists. The band continues to tour, although with only one of the original members.
The other original members now play as the "Lowrider Band " however due to legal restrictions they are not even allowed to advertise themselves as former members of the band.
Members
- Lonnie Jordan
- Charles Green
- Howard Scott
- Pat Rizzo
- Sal Rodriguez
- Papa Dee Allen
- Harold Brown
- Charles Miller
- B.B. Dickerson
- Luther Rabb
- Ronnie Hammon
- Stanley Behrens
- Alice Tweed Smyth
- René Camacho
- Scott Martin
- Marcos J. Reyes
- Stuart Ziff
- Lee Levitin
Whether they like it or not??
I'm simply tired of mad rage
On rocket ship no time to wait
I just want to gravitate
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
Gone, it's gone
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
Gone, it's gone.
I'll take you out to see the place
Where man and moon have a smilin' face, oh yeah
You don't have to wear no fancy lace
Just a funky feel and a lot of taste.
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's gone, it's gone
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
Gone, it's gone.
People movin' to and fro
To a song and a band and a laser show
Superman, Batman, goin' all night
Playin' one on one with a meteor light.
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's gone, it's gone
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
Gone, it's gone, gone, gone.
Ninth dimension, seventh lane
I'll get raised in solar cane
The star patrol said keep it down, keep it down, keep it down
Keep it down, keep it down, keep it down, keep it down
As long as the rule when you stay in town
As long as the rule where you stay around.
Out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's gone in the galaxy
It's gone at the galaxy.
Out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's gone in the galaxy
It's gone at the galaxy.
Out of sight, it's out of sight
It's out of sight, it's out of sight
It's gone in the galaxy
It's gone at the galaxy