The Chocolate Watchband

The Chocolate Watchband was a psychedelic rock band that emerged from the vibrant garage rock scene of the 1960s in California. Formed in 1965 in the San Jose area, the band is known for their raw energy, rebellious attitude, and a sound that blended garage rock, blues, and Eastern-influenced psychedelia. They gained a cult following with tracks like “Let’s Talk About Girls” and albums such as No Way Out and The Inner Mystique. Though they weren’t major commercial hits at the time, their music became influential to later generations of garage and punk rock fans.

Their story includes a mix of studio manipulation and lineup changes—producer Ed Cobb is known for having brought in studio musicians or had songs recorded without the full band's participation, which created some tension over their authentic sound. Despite this, the Chocolate Watchband is credited with helping shape the West Coast garage rock sound and eventually reunited decades later, delivering new material like the 2019 album This Is My Voice. Their legacy lives on as a cornerstone of the American garage-psych scene of the '60s.