Boardman rocker’s band wins award

Staff report

NEW YORK

The War on Drugs, the rock band that includes Boardman native Anthony LaMarca, won the Grammy for 2017 Best Rock Album for its “A Deeper Understanding.”

The award was unveiled early Sunday evening as part of the pre-telecast ceremony at Madison Square Garden. The War on Drugs was in New Zealand on Sunday as part of its tour of that country and Australia.

LaMarca, a 2005 graduate of Boardman High School, joined the alt-rock band in 2013. He plays guitar and other instruments.

In an interview with The Vindicator this month, LaMarca said his music career began when he was in high school with The Deep, a blues-rock band he formed that played in local clubs.

His professional career took a big step forward in 2008 when, while living in New York, he began working with indie-rock act Dean & Britta. LaMarca also performed with St. Vincent in 2009-10.

The War on Drugs is led by Adam Granduciel of Philadelphia. “A Deeper Understanding” is its fourth album.

The band beat out four other nominees for the award: “Emperor of Sand,” Mastodon; “Hardwired ... To Self-Destruct,” Metallica; “The Stories We Tell Ourselves,” Nothing More; and “Villains,” Queens of the Stone Age.

In the Best Rock Song category, the Foo Fighters, led by Warren native Dave Grohl, won for its song “Run.”