California

VAN HALEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as good as the Beach boys were. VH might be the best American band ever!

Van Halen??? You've got to be joking...no way! The Beach Boys did something different. No doubt Van Halen was a good band but what did they do differently

Eagles??????? Grateful Dead??????

hello - THE MINUTEMEN maybe?

On reflection, this is probably a good call.  The Beach Boys undoubtably touched more of the worlds population, crossing the boundaries of gender and age while having a significant influence on major artists ie. Beatles, Elton John etc. than any other band from California or perhaps the US. They also produced an impressive body of work that spanned many years utilizing new techniques and technology.  In their songs and arrangements you can hear the broad range of their influences from barber shop, roots rock (Chuck Berry), surf (indiginous to the California lifestyle) and classical.  They played all the major venues around the world including the White House.  Also, for those who feel gossip is an important part of the package, although the Beach Boys presented themselves with a clean cut image they had their share of offstage drama including the drug related death of Dennis Wilson (the good looking young drummer), and 'free love' encounters at the singers Love Foundation in Santa Barbara.The Doors, Grateful Dead, Van Halen would be runners up in my opinion.