California Breed
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2013 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Glenn Hughes, Andrew Watt, Jason Bonham |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Number of employees | 3 (band members) (2013–2015) |
California Breed was a hard rock ensemble originating from Los Angeles, California. Established in 2013, this supergroup brought together bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes, guitarist Andrew Watt, and drummer Jason Bonham. Following the dissolution of Hughes's former band Black Country Communion, he encountered Watt in 2013, leading to the swift formation of California Breed, with Bonham completing the trio. The band collaborated with producer Dave Cobb to record their self-titled debut album in late 2013, which was released by Frontiers Records in May 2014 and attained position 78 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Subsequent to the album’s launch, Bonham departed due to other obligations and was succeeded by Joey Castillo, known for his work with Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal. California Breed supported Alter Bridge on tour and later performed five UK shows alongside Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. Bonham’s exit became permanent, and in January 2015, the band publicly announced their breakup.
2013–2014: Formation and debut album
On February 9, 2013, Hughes met Watt through musician Julian Lennon in Los Angeles. After Watt shared some musical material via email, Hughes immediately recognized his talents in songwriting, guitar playing, and vocals as ideal for a new venture. Within a few days, they composed two tracks—"Chemical Rain" and "Solo"—which later appeared on their debut record. Hughes then invited Bonham to join, finalizing the trio. Drawing inspiration from groups such as Rush and Cream, they chose to maintain a power trio format without incorporating keyboards.
During 2013, the band recorded twelve songs credited equally among all members. The group’s formation and their first single "Midnight Oil" were revealed on February 6, 2014. Their debut album, California Breed, was released in May 2014. It reached number 78 on the Billboard 200 chart, climbed to number 22 on Top Rock Albums, and secured the top spot on the US Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Internationally, it peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart, led the UK Rock Albums Chart, and charted throughout Europe.
California Breed made their live debut on May 28 at the iconic Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Their performance included all thirteen tracks from their album alongside covers of Led Zeppelin’s "What Is and What Should Never Be" and "Immigrant Song", as well as selections from Hughes’s previous bands: Trapeze’s "Medusa" and Deep Purple’s "Burn".
2014–2015: Lineup change and breakup
In August 2014, prior to their UK tour, Bonham exited the band citing "professional commitments." He was replaced by drummer Joey Castillo. Bonham expressed his support for California Breed and commended Castillo’s involvement; however, Hughes later confirmed that Bonham’s departure was permanent due to scheduling conflicts that impacted the band's activities.
On January 15, 2015, California Breed announced their disbandment via Twitter with the message: "We are no more… another thing we couldn't keep together." Reflecting on the split, Watt highlighted his dedication to the project and maintained an optimistic outlook for what lies ahead. Shortly thereafter, Hughes clarified that continuing without the original lineup comprising himself, Watt, and Bonham was not feasible.
Style, songwriting, and influences
Upon their inception, Hughes characterized California Breed's sound as "authentic rock," merging elements from both classic and contemporary rock genres. Watt acknowledges inspirations such as The Who, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin, while Bonham likened Watt's guitar technique to that of Jimi Hendrix. The group's initial album was a collaborative writing effort among all members, merging the "classic rock" traits familiar from Black Country Communion—including strong riffs and heartfelt vocal delivery—with a modern refinement.
Band members
- Glenn Hughes – bass, lead vocals (2013–2015)
- Andrew Watt – guitar, backing vocals (2013–2015)
- Jason Bonham – drums, backing vocals (2013–2014)
- Joey Castillo – drums (2014–2015, touring musician)
Discography
| Title | Album details | Highest chart rankings | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US Hard |
US Rock |
AUT |
BEL Wal. |
GER |
NED |
SWI |
UK |
UK Rock | ||
| California Breed |
|
78 | 1 | 22 | 51 | 196 | 40 | 93 | 40 | 26 | 1 |