Paul Weller of The Jam was 18 when they were signed to Polydor; In The City and This Is The Modern World came out when he was 19.
John Carter of Mars wrote:
Well, if you’re going to suggest that Rock ‘n’ Roll begins with Elvis, we need to have ‘the talk.’
Good call on Modest Mouse, This is a long Drive for… came out when Brock was 17 and they had been together for 2-3 years at that point.
Most of Gomez was still in their late teens when they recorded Bring it On, which now that I’ve typed it out reminds me that I need to listen to it today. They’ve since left me a little flat with some of their stuff, but this album kills.
All of Eisely was in their teens and I think the youngest was 13 or 14 when they broke a couple years ago. They are not the best thing ever but considering where they are and their ages I think they show potential.
Randy California, the best guitarist you probably have never heard of, played with Jimmy James & The Blue Flames five sets a night, for three months, in Greenwich Village at the age of 15. Jimmy James was later known as Jimi Hendrix! Jimi invited Randy to come with him to England to start his solo career, but his parents wouldn’t let him!
Randy California later formed Spirit, a killer band, and had some good solo records, as well. He died in '97 in Hawaii in a rip current, after pushing his son to safety.
No, but I don’t know how old Billy Ward was when he made Sixty Minute Man.
I believe Bright Eyes (aka Connor Oberst) wrote and recorded a few albums while still in high school, and he’s only in his early 20s now. Someone may come along who knows better, but I was surprised by how good a songwriter and musician he was for such a young guy.
I recently heard a radio interview with Charlie Sexton. When he was twelve he used to sneak into bars to watch his friend Stevie Ray Vaughn play. Stevie would invite him up on stage to play and then leave, letting little Charlie front Double Trouble. He joined Joe Ely’s band at 13, and recorded with Keith Richards and Ron Wood at 15.