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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Music General Discussion »

Permalink Whats the deal with "Del"?

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What are the roots to the convention of using "Del-" in surf band names?

I've always just assumed that it's some California thing I don't understand and just took it for granted because it sounds cool. But recently a buddy of mine asked where it comes from and now I'm super curious.

From past me to future you

I'm thinking you need to begin with the Delphi Oracle and Bob Keane's appropriation of the name. He made a small spelling change to give a nod to "high fidelity," to name his label, Del-Fi in 1958. I'm guessing that inspired The Del-Tones, and all the rest of the "Dels" to follow. Keene's bio is called "The Oracle of Del-Fi."

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Well that makes a bunch of sense. Much appreciated!

The Delphi Oracle angle is a fun tidbit. In all the years of seeing "Del-Fi" I never made that connection, always just accepted it as a spin on "Hi-Fi".

At one point in our conversation my buddy referenced Del Taco - and that's sorta where we assumed the "Del" roots lay in some Cali-specific reference indiscernible to us non-west coasters. Looking at the Del Taco wiki page, seems they were established in 1964 - so perhaps they also saw a marketing advantage and ran with it.

Anyway - This is one of my favorite little idiosyncrasies of the genre that seems to span the full timeline of surf music all they way up to some of my current fav bands -- Delstroyers, Del-Vipers

Thanks for the added context!

From past me to future you

Last edited: Dec 20, 2018 12:23:28

Del also means "of the" in Spanish when added before a noun.
I think in some cases, Del Taco for example it's more of a (loose) Spanish translation of "Of the Taco"
or Del Fuegos = Of the Fire etc.

Paul
Atomic Mosquitos
Bug music for bug people is here!
Killers from Space

Last edited: Dec 20, 2018 12:56:55

Ha! Well yes, that would make a lot more sense in context of Taco.

Hyphens causing me to conflate!

Thanks for the elucidation on my Del Simplista thought process. I'm slightly embarrassed of myself.

From past me to future you

rottenman wrote:

Anyway - This is one of my favorite little idiosyncrasies of the genre that seems to span the full timeline of surf music all they way up to some of my current fav bands -- Delstroyers, Del-Vipers

Aww, shucks. You're too kind! Smile

Four String Fender for The Delstroyers & The Woodhavens

Last edited: Dec 20, 2018 15:31:48

pffft... you guys kick ass!

Also... the buddy I was having this "Del" discussion with is the bass player for Muerte Men up in your neck of the woods. Pretty sure y'all have crossed paths.

Small surf world.

From past me to future you

rottenman wrote:

pffft... you guys kick ass!

Also... the buddy I was having this "Del" discussion with is the bass player for Muerte Men up in your neck of the woods. Pretty sure y'all have crossed paths.

Small surf world.

Yeah! Jason is a good dude. Are you by any chance the guy he used to do a surf radio show with back in the 90s?

Four String Fender for The Delstroyers & The Woodhavens

amnesiack wrote:

Yeah! Jason is a good dude. Are you by any chance the guy he used to do a surf radio show with back in the 90s?

Yea he's a good dude for sure. I am indeed that guy. We broadcast the 3rd wave with our show Surfwax 6000 on NMSU's KRUX 91.5 FM out in Las Cruces, NM in the mid-90's. Proud to say we also pioneered the southern NM live surf scene with our band the Dirtsurfers during that time as well.

Now, just lucky to live among Austin's thriving surf scene. Hope to see the Delstroyers make it down here for a Second Surf some day!

From past me to future you

Just to add another dimension to this discussion: before Dick Dale & The Del-Tones formed in 1961, there was also a trend among doo wop and R&B vocal groups (and a handful of instrumental teen bands) in the late 50's that produced group names such as: Del-Airs, Del Vikings, Del Satins, Del Valaros (1960 Minnesota instrumental band), Del Capris, Del Stars, Dale & The Del-Hearts, Del Tears, Del-Larks, Del Counts, Del-Reys (a '58 instrumental band), Del Rios, Del Royals, Del Roys, and probably a whole lot more similar hyphenated and non-hyphenated names that never recorded. I really have no idea how THAT trend began without some diligent research. Bottom line: definitely NOT inspired by Del Taco. Smile

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Last edited: Dec 20, 2018 18:22:37

I'd say John is "Del" informed when it comes to this.

Good question, rottenman. These are the types of discussions I like. Smile

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

And what about Dell Comics? One of my most treasured comics is Tarzan #1 from 1939. I joke. Interesting thread!

Daniel Deathtide

Don't forget 1961's top hit "RUNAWAY" by Del Shannon.

This is the reason I love this site!!!

-John

The Seatopians 2017-
The Seatopians on bandcamp

Del Fuegos Testiculos has a nice ring to it.

Aww, shucks. You're too kind! Smile

The Del-Mystery deepens!

Flashing back to today - Lukas, I'd be interested in hearing the story of how the Delstroyers got their name. Any particular reason y'all ended up going the "Del" route? Was there a hyphen discussion?

Any other Del-Bands have a name origin story they'd want to share for that matter?

From past me to future you

Clarry wrote:

Del Fuegos Testiculos has a nice ring to it.

Best laugh I’ve had all day.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

rottenman wrote:

Any other Del-Bands have a name origin story they'd want to share for that matter?

The Del-Vamps formed in the early 1990s and we took the "Del-" idea from a lot of what we listened to. Our drummer insisted that we name the band anything as long as Del was in front of it. His other idea was anything with "Dinky" in front of it. We settled on the Del-Vamps and made a back story that we were the misfit children of Vamps (since we were in Phoenix, the Spanish meaning was taken literally here.)

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Matt22 wrote:

rottenman wrote:

Any other Del-Bands have a name origin story they'd want to share for that matter?

The Del-Vamps formed in the early 1990s and we took the "Del-" idea from a lot of what we listened to. Our drummer insisted that we name the band anything as long as Del was in front of it. His other idea was anything with "Dinky" in front of it. We settled on the Del-Vamps and made a back story that we were the misfit children of Vamps (since we were in Phoenix, the Spanish meaning was taken literally here.)

Dinky-Vamps definitely doesn't have the same ring.

From past me to future you

LOL! I agree. But it was either the Dinky Ghouls or the Del-Vamps and the vote was 2-1 for Del-Vamps because we were a trio back then.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

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