April Birthdays 
I was in San Diego for an academic conference this past weekend, and completely by fluke came across this exhibit in the Hard Rock Hotel! I had no idea that was there - and neither did anybody else, based on the Facebook discussion about this! (John Blair had no idea, and it doesn't seem any of the San Diego surf music contingent was aware of it, either. Crazy!)
Steve Soest, Dick's long-time bass player in the '70s and '80s as well as guitar luthier extraordinaire (including for Dick himself), posted a couple of things about the guitar and the surfboard - here are his comments:
"I believe that the guitar was made at the Fender Custom Shop...the board looks like the original one. I think there's a good photo of me with the board on Dick's website...or maybe Lana's Facebook page...."
"Or might be a good replica...I seem to remember the original was more beat up from us schlepping it around for years.... You could ask Lana.... Eglit said at one time it was in the hanger out in the desert....or if I could find the photo of me with the original..."
"The original Beast got the modified model name around 1981-82. The "Stratocaster" part of the decal was long gone, so as a joke, I got some of those rub on letters at the art supply store, and voila, the Suckocaster model was born. Dick liked it, so he left it on the Beast. I didn't realize how accurate this replica was."
Back to me: this display is in the little shop on the ground floor, right next to the register. As I was taking the photos, the salesgirl told me that they actually had pens to go with the display!! Unfortunately, they were sold out. Man, I really wish I could see one of those - or actually own one.
Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
