R&B band WAR to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Morris Dickerson Jr, Jerry Goldstein, Laurian Miller, Lonnie Jordan, Lee Oskar, Howard E. Scott, Harold Ray Brown at the ceremony honoring War with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on June 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Bu
LOS ANGELES - Iconic R&B band WAR was honored with the 2,814th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday.
What we know:
WAR received their star in the category of Recording.
The ceremony was emceed by music producer and Walk of Famer Jimmy Jam, with actor and Walk of Famer George Lopez as a guest speaker.
Following the ceremony, WAR held a signing at Amoeba Hollywood.
The music group War perform onstage at the Paradise Artists Party during IEBA 2017 Conference on October 17, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for IEBA)
The backstory:
WAR, known for their fusion of funk, soul, jazz, Latin, rock, and street music, first rose to prominence 55 years ago.
Beyond their musical style, they became known for crafting songs of social consciousness, with their track "Why Can't We Be Friends?" being transmitted into space by NASA during the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.
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The band has consistently addressed themes of racism, hunger, crime, and conflict in their music.
Their songs have been widely sampled by artists like Janet Jackson, Tupac, and the Beastie Boys, and covered by a diverse range of musicians including Willie Nelson and The Muppets.
By the numbers:
WAR boasts an impressive discography, with more than 50 million albums sold.
They have achieved 20 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum records, received three Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations, and earned a GRAMMY Hall of Fame entry.
Their career includes four #1 LPs, nine Top 10 hits, and twenty Top 40 songs.
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What they're saying:
Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer, stated, "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honored to welcome the iconic band WAR to the Hollywood Walk of Fame."
She added, "The group is being honored for their significant contributions to the music industry and their enduring impact on fans around the world. We are also excited to add an exciting touch to the ceremony. The group will arrive in low riders provided by car clubs, Imperial Car Club, Groupe ELA, Spirit Car Club, and Southern Life Car Club."
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Billboard described WAR as "one of the most seminal bands in music," and Variety noted that "when it comes to low rider Cali-cool multiculturalism, WAR wrote the biggest, loudest book."
What's next:
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of WAR's album, Why Can't We Be Friends? To commemorate this milestone, the Why Can’t We Be Friends? (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) is set to arrive on Friday, June 6th, available on 3CD and digital platforms.
WAR will also be embarking on a tour across the U.S. and abroad, with dates available on their website, including a hometown headline performance at the LA County Fair.
The Source: Information for this story is from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.