Los Angeles-based collective WAR first formed in 1969, its members representing very different backgrounds, as they were all raised in various ghettos around the city. This fusion of backgrounds is reflected in the fusion of musical styles that came together in WAR's music--a blend of funk, rock n' roll, Latin and jazz. After being discovered by prominent record producer Jerry Goldstein, the band went on to produce multiple hits, still popular today, including "Low Rider" and "Why Can't We Be Friends." Though the group disbanded during most of the 1980s and 1990s, its music was heavily sampled by hip hop artists and used in national ad campaigns and films, which prompted the group to reunite. While some of the original members have passed away and others opted out of the reunion, WAR's founding members are included in the the reformation of the hit band, which began touring again in the 2008.
