As surfing became popular as a sport in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it also evolved into a youthful lifestyle that included fast cars, parties at the beach, and its own language. Every new culture develops its own soundtrack as well and Southern Californian musicians were there to provide it for the burgeoning surf scene. Initially, instrumental songs were prevalent, the instruments of choice being Fender amplifiers and guitars, especially Stratocasters, Mustangs, and Jaguars, with lots of vibrato and reverb. Dick Dale, the “King of Surf Guitar”, The Ventures (“Walk Don’t Run”), and the Del-Tones were providing a string of songs in this new style, with a variety of one-hit-wonder bands filling in the gaps: The Chentays with “Pipeline”, the Trashmen with “Surfin’ Bird” (that The Ramones later did a version of), The Rivieras with “Warm California Sun” (also covered by The Ramones), and, of course, The Surfaris with “Wipeout!”

A vocal duet named Jan and Dean had a half-dozen or so popular songs, but it was really The Beach Boys, and Brian Wilson in particular, who gave lyrics to the music, gained longevity for the style, and gave credibility to this new genre called surf music, catapulting it into the limelight and keeping it there. The band members consisted of three Wilson brothers, their cousin, and a couple of friends. Dennis Wilson was the only serious surfer in the band. He would relay his experiences on the waves to his brother, Brian, who would find a way to wrap lyrics and a tune around the tale and call it a song. And it was Brian who became serious about vocal harmonies and recording techniques, the crescendo being “Pet Sounds” a landmark album on any level. Even the Beatles later admitted the influence that album had on them to become more creative in the studio.

In the Eighties, popular bands like The Pixies, The Go-Go’s, and the aforementioned Ramones definitely exhibited the influence surf music had on their own. One of my favorite bands from that era was the lesser known Surf Punks. Surfers always carry a bit of machismo with them, and the band reflected it with the tongue-in-cheek song “My Wave” (“this is my wave, this is my beach, those are my chicks, that’s my sand…”). One of the two members of The Surf Punks is the younger brother of Darrel Dragon, the “Captain” of The Captain and Tennille. What a weird household that must have been to grow up in.

Rolling into the Nineties and the Twenty-First Century, the surf torch has been carried by Man or Astro-man? and The Mermen. A faction of surf music has always retained that garage sound, as reflected by modern surf bands Monsters From Mars, The Aqua Velvets, and VonRippers. Now, in the second decade of this century, upstart surf bands ala Banana Seat and The Bitch Boys continue a tradition that started nearly half a century ago. As long as there are waves, there will be a soundtrack to accompany them. Surf music rules!