Curious World Staff
Larry Tamblyn, founding member of the 1960s rock band The Standells, has died at 82. His death was announced by his nephew, Dennis Tamblyn, on Facebook.
“My uncle Larry Tamblyn passed away today,” Dennis wrote. “He lived an incredible life. He was in The Standells, whose hit ‘Dirty Water’ is still played whenever the Red Sox or Bruins win a home game. They also appeared on an episode of The Munsters.”
Dennis fondly recalled The Standells playing in Tucson a few years ago and spending time with Larry, who was still making music in his later years.
A neighbor also paid tribute on X, calling it surreal that a member of a band his own 1980s garage band used to cover lived nearby.
Born February 5, 1943, Larry was the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle to actress Amber Tamblyn. He founded Larry Tamblyn and The Standells in 1962, which later became The Standells. Their 1966 debut album, Dirty Water, featured the title track that became a Boston sports anthem.
The band reunited in 2009 and toured nationally in 2014. Their final album, Bump, was released in 2013.
In a past interview, Larry said The Beatles inspired the band to grow their hair long before Beatlemania hit the U.S. He also shared the origin of the band’s name: “We were just a bunch of young guys standing around booking agents’ offices trying to get work. That’s how The Standells came about.”
Larry was inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame by his brother Russ in December 2023, performing at the ceremony. His cause of death has not been released.
