The Sonics is an American garage rock band from Tacoma, Washington, formed in 1960. The group's earliest lineup was formed by teen-aged guitarist Larry Parypa, alongside drummer Mitch Jaber and guitarist Stuart Turner. In November 1964, the band signed with Etiquette Records and released its debut single, "The Witch", which became a local hit despite radio play restrictions due to its bizarre subject matter. Its debut studio album, Here Are The Sonics, was released in early 1965, followed by the album Boom (1966). These albums featured original tracks such as "Strychnine" and "Psycho". In late 1966, the group transferred to Jerden Records, releasing the album Introducing the Sonics in 1967. The classic lineup fell apart between 1966 and 1968 as members pursued other interests. Their music saw a resurgence in popularity with the emergence of punk rock in the late 1970s and grunge in the 1990s, leading to re-releases by various labels. The band reunited in 2007 and subsequently released the EP 8 (2010) and its first studio album in over forty years, This Is The Sonics, on March 31, 2015. Original drummer Bob Bennett died in February 2025.
