FIRST WAVE SURF GUITAR PLAYERS

SurfBeat

Joined: Dec 31, 2008
Posts: 284
Riverside, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 07:08 PM

Having some goof off time this week and for the first time taking my band down to a local VA to entertain the ex GI's, I got to wondering, who out there from the First Wave of surf bands got drafted or enlisted in any of the armed services?

If any from Southern CA, maybe we can put on a hootenanny; GI's, sailors, Marines.

Anyone?

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:17 PM

Nothing I can put my finger on right away but there were several from major bands who served. I know there was at least one of the Showmen got drafted and then were replaced in the band. Jim Gallagher & Dennis Lindsey of The Astronauts were drafted in '67 or so I think I read somewhere.

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25660
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:27 PM

Tom Stanton of the Crossfires was drafted into the Army, and went to Vietnam. He only recorded 3 of the songs that the Crossfires did.
Then they got a replacement, and then after that, morphed into
The Turtles.

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Last edited: Apr 29, 2015 21:29:06

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Ben

Joined: Feb 11, 2007
Posts: 591
Encinitas, Ca

Posted on Apr 30 2015 10:45 AM

Tom was over last night. His original '63 reverb unit quit at Surf King's rehearsal this week. Fortunately it was an easy fix so we had a lot of time to hang out, jam, and listened to music. He loves to talk about the Crossfires and his early days of surf music. We listened to some of the old Crossfires stuff...what a rocking band. He is only on 3 of their recording but he played a lot of gigs with them before being drafted. He said when he returned from Vietnam he was disgusted to see and hear what happened to the band...Beatle boots, long hair, and 12 string guitars. He said the Turtles recorded a bunch of albums...and they all sucked!!!!

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SurfBeat

Joined: Dec 31, 2008
Posts: 284
Riverside, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:10 PM

I gotta meet this Tom feller' from the Crossfires. His comments mimic mine exactly:

I got drafted in 4/66, two years after surf music died, hated the English invasion stuff so I put my gear in the garage and forgot about it until the mid 90's when my mom forwarded a letter she received from some guy wanting information about a surf record my band cut in early 1962. I had long forgotten about making the record, plus a couple others.

When I returned from Nam after arresting dozens of GI's from CA high on dope I wondered, what the hell was going on back in the states?

When I returned I was shocked what I saw: long hair guys looking like chicks wearing goofy looking clothes. Hell, I was 100% CA ivy league; short hair, button down collared shirts; cuffed pants; white socks; penny loafers. I was the odd man out in 1969 and stayed that way.

The only playing I did was when Dick would be a man short up in Riverside and have me drive up from Costa Mesa. I was a fed then, so I really did not fit into the music scene, dope n booze.

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DaveF

Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1117
Green Valley, AZ
United States

Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:29 PM

Tom's band The Surf Kings are playing at the
Huntington Beach Pier Plaza this Sunday.

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SurfBeat

Joined: Dec 31, 2008
Posts: 284
Riverside, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:49 PM

I just might put my bike-rack up and head on down there. I haven't played at the Museum since the late 90's, maybe early 2000's.

Talking about the surf museum, I read someone [somebodys] started up a Messina & The Jesters trib band, and since Jim and I played a myriad of events together in 62-64, along with the Tornados and Genteels, all IE surf bands, I want to hear them.

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Helen1947

Joined: Apr 17, 2015
Posts: 1

Posted on May 13 2015 01:09 PM

Dennis Lindsey of the astronauts was drafted and joined the army in January 1967. He served as a door gunner on helicopters and was discharged in November 1969. Sadly he passed away in Boulder May 4th 1992

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on May 13 2015 11:15 PM

SurfBeat wrote:

...Jim and I played a myriad of events together in 62-64, along with the Tornados and Genteels, all IE surf bands, I want to hear them...

Are you referring to the the Tornadoes from Redlands CA?
Those guys are still playing every now and then. They should venture out to one of the HB Pier or Museum gigs someday: The Tornadoes band website

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on May 13 2015 11:18 PM

dp wrote:

SurfBeat wrote:

...Jim and I played a myriad of events together in 62-64, along with the Tornados and Genteels, all IE surf bands, I want to hear them...

Are you referring to the the Tornadoes from Redlands CA?
Those guys are still playing every now and then. They should venture out to one of the HB Pier or Museum gigs someday: The Tornadoes band website

and their email: bustinsurfboards1@msn.com

Top

SurfBeat Joined: Dec 31, 2008 Posts: 284 Riverside, CA	Posted on Apr 29 2015 07:08 PM Having some goof off time this week and for the first time taking my band down to a local VA to entertain the ex GI's, I got to wondering, who out there from the First Wave of surf bands got drafted or enlisted in any of the armed services? If any from Southern CA, maybe we can put on a hootenanny; GI's, sailors, Marines. Anyone? Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin	Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:17 PM Nothing I can put my finger on right away but there were several from major bands who served. I know there was at least one of the Showmen got drafted and then were replaced in the band. Jim Gallagher & Dennis Lindsey of The Astronauts were drafted in '67 or so I think I read somewhere. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25660 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Apr 29 2015 09:27 PM Tom Stanton of the Crossfires was drafted into the Army, and went to Vietnam. He only recorded 3 of the songs that the Crossfires did. Then they got a replacement, and then after that, morphed into The Turtles. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Last edited: Apr 29, 2015 21:29:06 Top
Ben Joined: Feb 11, 2007 Posts: 591 Encinitas, Ca	Posted on Apr 30 2015 10:45 AM Tom was over last night. His original '63 reverb unit quit at Surf King's rehearsal this week. Fortunately it was an easy fix so we had a lot of time to hang out, jam, and listened to music. He loves to talk about the Crossfires and his early days of surf music. We listened to some of the old Crossfires stuff...what a rocking band. He is only on 3 of their recording but he played a lot of gigs with them before being drafted. He said when he returned from Vietnam he was disgusted to see and hear what happened to the band...Beatle boots, long hair, and 12 string guitars. He said the Turtles recorded a bunch of albums...and they all sucked!!!! Top
SurfBeat Joined: Dec 31, 2008 Posts: 284 Riverside, CA	Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:10 PM I gotta meet this Tom feller' from the Crossfires. His comments mimic mine exactly: I got drafted in 4/66, two years after surf music died, hated the English invasion stuff so I put my gear in the garage and forgot about it until the mid 90's when my mom forwarded a letter she received from some guy wanting information about a surf record my band cut in early 1962. I had long forgotten about making the record, plus a couple others. When I returned from Nam after arresting dozens of GI's from CA high on dope I wondered, what the hell was going on back in the states? When I returned I was shocked what I saw: long hair guys looking like chicks wearing goofy looking clothes. Hell, I was 100% CA ivy league; short hair, button down collared shirts; cuffed pants; white socks; penny loafers. I was the odd man out in 1969 and stayed that way. The only playing I did was when Dick would be a man short up in Riverside and have me drive up from Costa Mesa. I was a fed then, so I really did not fit into the music scene, dope n booze. Top
DaveF Joined: May 10, 2009 Posts: 1117 Green Valley, AZ	Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:29 PM Tom's band The Surf Kings are playing at the Huntington Beach Pier Plaza this Sunday. Top
SurfBeat Joined: Dec 31, 2008 Posts: 284 Riverside, CA	Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:49 PM I just might put my bike-rack up and head on down there. I haven't played at the Museum since the late 90's, maybe early 2000's. Talking about the surf museum, I read someone [somebodys] started up a Messina & The Jesters trib band, and since Jim and I played a myriad of events together in 62-64, along with the Tornados and Genteels, all IE surf bands, I want to hear them. Top
Helen1947 Joined: Apr 17, 2015 Posts: 1	Posted on May 13 2015 01:09 PM Dennis Lindsey of the astronauts was drafted and joined the army in January 1967. He served as a door gunner on helicopters and was discharged in November 1969. Sadly he passed away in Boulder May 4th 1992 Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on May 13 2015 11:15 PM SurfBeat wrote: ...Jim and I played a myriad of events together in 62-64, along with the Tornados and Genteels, all IE surf bands, I want to hear them... Are you referring to the the Tornadoes from Redlands CA? Those guys are still playing every now and then. They should venture out to one of the HB Pier or Museum gigs someday: The Tornadoes band website Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on May 13 2015 11:18 PM dp wrote: SurfBeat wrote: ...Jim and I played a myriad of events together in 62-64, along with the Tornados and Genteels, all IE surf bands, I want to hear them... Are you referring to the the Tornadoes from Redlands CA? Those guys are still playing every now and then. They should venture out to one of the HB Pier or Museum gigs someday: The Tornadoes band website and their email: bustinsurfboards1@msn.com Top

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