Photo of the Day

As Eddie Katcher has pointed out, today is Leo Fender's birthday! He would have been 97!

From Wikipedia: "Clarence Leonidas Fender (August 10, 1909 - March 21, 1991) was an American luthier who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and later founded G&L Musical Products (G&L Guitars). His guitar, bass, and amplifier designs from the 1950s continue to dominate popular music more than half a century later. Marshall and many other amplifier companies have used Fender amps as the foundation of their products. Fender and inventor Les Paul are often cited as the two most influential figures in the development of electric instruments in the 20th century."

Read more here.

Here is a Free Information Society biography of Fender.

And let's not forget the 60's surf bands who were early adopters of Fender gear. It has been said that it was the surf bands who cemented the popularity of "The Fender Bass" as a viable electric instrument.

Happy Birthday Leo Fender!

I just received my copy of Pipeline #71 Summer 2006 all the way from jolly old England. Editor Alan Taylor was kind enough to also send me #70 as a promo copy. I sheepishly admit to not being able to find the time to do a proper review. However I have no problem asserting that if you have any interest in instrumental music from any decade since the beginnings of rock and roll (and yes this includes a healthy dose of surf music!) you will be extremely satisfied with this well written and edited 'zine. Both issues are 65+ pages and they are jammed with reading material that will keep you busy for weeks.

Issue #70 features an incredibly in-depth interview and discography of George Tomsco and The Fireballs. There is also a feature on Mike Vernon and 3 Balls of Fire. Issue #71 has a lengthy interviews with Bob Spalding (the 5th Venture!) and our very own Ivan Pongracic of The Madeira / Space Cossacks. Plus coverage of Pipeline 2006, the 14th Pipeline convention that featured The Flames, Bob Spalding, 3 Balls of Fire, George Tomsco, The Original Rapiers, and The Surfin' Gorrillas. Each issue also features an extensive reviews section of recent releases.

Head on over to The Pipeline Magazine website and buy a subscription now! Back issues are also available so you can get caught up.

Hello,

I have been corresponding with John Hamilton, bass player for the Berzerkers. He told me that his jazz bass was stolen from his car during the KFJC Battle of the Surfing Bands. I told him he should post information about it on SG101, but he indicated that he did not use this site and asked if I would mind posting the details of the bass just in case someone sees it somewhere. Anyway if anyone sees his bass please let him know where he can recover it. John is a great guy and does not deserve to have this happen to him. Below are the details of the stolen bass:

The Continental Magazine - Issue #13 w/23 song CD - #CT013 - $5.95 (OUT NOW!!!)

The latest issue of The Continental Magazine, featuring interviews with Southern Culture On The Skids and The Barbary Coasters (featuring Johnny Bartlett of The Phantom Surfers/Saturn V Featuring Orbit/Hillsdale Records).

It includes a 23 track CD packed with great surf/instro/twist/garage rock tunes and is now available for only $5.95. Also included in this issue are The Nebulas, The Kilaueas and much, much more. 36 pages in all, with a 2 color glossy cover.

To order send $5.95 US + shipping ($1.05 to any US/Canadian address, or just $2.05 to any other address) to Double Crown Records - P.O. Box 4336 - Bellingham, WA 98227-4336 - USA. You can also send a Paypal payment to records@dblcrown.com or cash/check/money order, or order online at www.dblcrown.com.

Track List For Continental #13 CD:

Hey everybody,

Just a quick link to a picture album taken last saturday at the KrautsurfRelease Party in Muelheim feat. 10 german surf combos
[Razorblades, Kilaueas, The Sidemen, Commando, Stronzo Gelantino, Achtung Rakete, Pozor Vlak, Way out west, Leopold Kraus Wellenkapelle, The Cruncher]. Watch it at the german surfmusic-forum here:
Kraut Surf Release Party Photos

Also dont forget to buy the KRAUTSURF CD released via NPR Records!

Ray Duke's Devlar Surf Sessions has just celebrated 5 years of operation over at Live365 Internet Radio! Ray started his station to play his favorite band Slacktone, and quickly expanded to play the best in surf, hot rod, garage, tiki, spy, space, and lounge. Congratulations Ray, and THANK-YOU!

Check out Devlar Surf Sessions.

Rob Woolsey, guitar player with The Detonators was recently involved in a car accident. The Detonators contributed a fine track (Liquid Chaos) to our 2005 MP3 compilation. Rob recently posted an update on his condition to the Cowabunga Yahoo Group. I am reprinting it here. Please join me in wishing Rob a very speedy recovery!

Guitar Player magazine has done it again with another nod to the surf scene! In the June 2006 issue (Zakk Wylde on the cover), in the "Rants and Raves" column, Darrin Fox gives his verdict on the two Sundazed CD reissues of Richie Allen and The Pacific Surfers "Surfer's Slide" and "The Rising Surf".

I'll let you read the piece, but I think his opinion will resonate with many of us here.

Recent surf mentions in the pages of GP have included bits on Pollo Del Mar, Slacktone, and Meshugga Beach Party. Someone please send them a Madeira CD!

(Posted on behalf of Dr. Gangrene)

Hello everyone - My name is Larry Underwood, better known as TV horror host Dr Gangrene in Nashville TN. My show is on our local WB and broadcasts every Sat night into all of Middle TN and Southern KY.

I am in need music videos, and nothing goes better with old b&w monster movies than great surf music. I've had Gein and the Graverobbers on the show, from when they came through town this past November, and I know Eddie Angel and plan to get him on the show at some point too (he lives right here in Nashville).

If any of you have music videos together, I'd sure like to show them on the air. I also am always in need of cool background music, so if any surf bands out there have instrumentals we could use on the air, I'd love to get a copy. I use Gein on the show almost every episode in the backgrounds somewhere.

Here's my website for more info about us: www.drgangrene.com & www.myspace.com/drgangrene. Hope to hear from some of you. Thanks again and now, surf's up!

Colorado Springs is a lonely town, when you're the only surf guitarist around. But after playing guitar and learning guitar here for a few years, I was down at the local guitar store when a new American Vintage Jaguar showed up as a custom order. It was a beauty of a surf maching, in surf green nonetheless, and I knew there just had to be a kindred spirit in town.

I was right....