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Great response Gavin, appreciate you taking the time. Some of you
have responded in great length on the guestions I brought up
especially those of you who are DD bashers. OK, we all have to agree
that surf music got its origin from the early surf scene of Cali.
Those early musicians whether they surfed or not wrote original songs
or 'surfed out' other peoples tunes. Has surf music evolved much
since then? Not really, why? part way because it was interupted by
the British Invasion. People didn't want theBelairs anymore they
wanted theBeatles they didn"t want DD they wanted the Stones. So now
many years later, (and for the sake of time I have left out stuff)
here we are in 2003 and surf music is still around. It still has a
place in many peoples hearts. However in some circles it gets no
respect. On some music lists it doesn't even come up as a recognized
genre. Why? And who cares? Even within surf music circles people
bash Dick Dale. If he doesn't get respect among other surf music
lovers thenwhy should surf music get respect from other musicians? If
surf musicians think that being a surfer ain't the least bit
important then why even call it surf music in the first place? Gavin
you said that you got into surf music by watching 'surf movies' Did
the surfing have anything to do with it? Not much I surmise. So if I
understand some of you correctly, and correct me if I'm wrong,
Surfing has very little to do with surf music. And so just give me my
jazzmaster, my showman, my reverb tank and leave me alone. The water
is to cold anyway. I'm a gonna play pipeline and Mr. moto until my
fingers bleed. Surfing is irrelevant. Boo on Dick Dale cause he tries
to pick up on young women. Which way to the ocean who cares cause it
has nothing to do with surf music. Passion who needs passion. Feel
who needs it? Emotion who cares. Cause I have memorized every lick on
the Ventures Surfing album so who needs to put any soul in the actual
playing of the songs. And why bother coming up with my own sound when
it is so much easier to copy someone elses.Surfers? who likes them
anyway. So Gavin you said you went to the ocean twice a year but
surfing has nothing to do withsurf music right. So why bother? After
all you could better use the time memorizing the licks to your
favorite spaghetti westerns. And so now that we have established that
surfing is totally irrelevent to surf music. Then why don't we make a
motion to change the name of the music to something that won't bring
shame and embarassment to the nonsurfing musicians who so masterfully
share their wonderfull talent with the world. Because after all, the
sport of surfing has absolutely nothing to do with surf
music ..................right?
Your logic escapes me. I started watching surf movies because, ta da!
I lived in SoCal and surfed! And I did so for years and years, working
as a dish washer, carpenter, eating beans and tortillas in Mexico,
etc. to feed my passion. Then, I moved to Colorado. So, I have a life
here and can only surf when I can get free. I do however, snowboard
and wake board and skateboard and windsurf...at the age of 41! So, am
I a surfer? No, I am a guy who surfs. But I think about surfing nearly
every day, ride a board of some sort whenever I can, and plan my year
around my trips.
'Nuff said. I love Dick Dale...hearing him was what revitalized my
memories of early surf music and made me pick up a guitar in the first
place. When he plays next week downtown, I'll be there. But, Dick is
no saint or even, IMHO, a guitar God. And he can be redundant, if
you've seen his shows. He's just a good musician who plays cool music.
I admire him for persisting.
But there's a lot of cats who've advanced the music since Dick's glory
days, and I give my props to them. Some of them play with soul and
passion and brilliance. Whether they surf or not is purely incidental
and coincidental. I admire Mel and Dano and Ferenc and so many other
people who frequent this site and I don't know nor do I care if any
one of them surfs! They rock and I love their sound!
Surf music is to surfing what country music is to rodeo...part of the
culture, but not essential to that culture. Do you have to, for
instance, be a country boy to play country music? Of course not! Do
you have to be a black man to play Jazz? An Indian to play Sitar? A
Mexican to play mariachi? No, no, no. Being part of the culture,
however, helps. But modern surfers scarcely listen to what we call
"surf" music, anyway.
Anyway, these types of polemic discussions go nowhere. I won't
belittle anyone on this site for their background or there experiences
or their playing ability. I appreciate everyone for their stoke,
whether they play Pipeline note-for-note, or whether they write
cutting-edge surf and play it on a kazoo (with reverb, or course)!
It's all about having fun playing music. And if one doesn't understand
or appreciate that, if one feels we need to construct barriers that
say "Locals Only!" or "Surfers Only!", it defeats the whole purpose of
our music, which is to stoke and to share and entertain.
So, does surf music have anything to do with surfing? I guess so, yes.
But does surfing have anything to do with its performance or
appreciation? I'd venture to say, no. Perhaps you think different. But
I think, in respect to everyone, it's best to share the positive and
encourage one another rather than draw lines in the beach sand.
'Nuff said!
Gavin
>OK, we all have to agree
> that surf music got its origin from the early surf scene of Cali.
Only if you are willing to accept that an old Greek folk song
qualifies as Californian...Dick Dales original spontaneous performance
of Miserlou had absolutely nothing to do with any idea of surfing. He
has said so on numerous occasions. It was only after the fact that
some surfers commented that the song reminded them of surfing. A rodeo
rider might have commected that it reminded them of calf roping. Or a
sports fisherman might have commented that it reminded him of fighting
a big marlin. Or a Jewish groom might have commented that it reminded
him of his wedding.
> Those early musicians whether they surfed or not wrote original songs
> or 'surfed out' other peoples tunes. Has surf music evolved much
> since then? Not really, why?
Excuse me, but are you stating that the Insect Surfers, Slacktone, the
Fathoms, The Aqua Velvets, and the Mermen have not evolved surf music
since the Belairs and the Surfaris?
If you cannot see the evolutionary difference between Mr Moto and
Honeybomb--then I suggest maybe you give another listen.
>part way because it was interupted by
> the British Invasion. People didn't want theBelairs anymore they
> wanted theBeatles they didn"t want DD they wanted the Stones. So now
> many years later, (and for the sake of time I have left out stuff)
> here we are in 2003 and surf music is still around. It still has a
> place in many peoples hearts.
So does Lawrence Welk and Jimmie Rodgers. So what?
>However in some circles it gets no
> respect. On some music lists it doesn't even come up as a recognized
> genre. Why? And who cares? Even within surf music circles people
> bash Dick Dale. If he doesn't get respect among other surf music
> lovers thenwhy should surf music get respect from other musicians?
Anybody that appreciates surf music probably respects it. Those that
do not appreciate it probably don't respect it. My opinion that Dick
Dale embarrasses his self by dragging his sorry old carcass around in
his 60's playing stuff that's 40 years old or played better by the
originators(at least in the case of Hendrix)isn't the cause of other
musicians not appreciating or respecting surf music. Give me a break!
>If
> surf musicians think that being a surfer ain't the least bit
> important then why even call it surf music in the first place?
Good question. Why call it Surf Music? Was Walk Don't Run, Surf music?
How about Apache? The Savage? Rumble? Jack the Ripper? How about the
Astronauts? Did they surf? Did the Trashmen? Does it even matter? Does
Frankie Blandino surf? Eddie Angel? Does it matter? Do they play
guitar better than most? Does it matter? Yes!!!
Right On!!!...may the stoke be with you.
peace,
dp
--- Gavin Ehringer <> wrote:
> Your logic escapes me. I started watching surf movies
> because, ta da!
> I lived in SoCal and surfed! And I did so for years and
> years, working
> as a dish washer, carpenter, eating beans and tortillas
> in Mexico,
> etc. to feed my passion. Then, I moved to Colorado. So, I
> have a life
> here and can only surf when I can get free. I do however,
> snowboard
> and wake board and skateboard and windsurf...at the age
> of 41! So, am
> I a surfer? No, I am a guy who surfs. But I think about
> surfing nearly
> every day, ride a board of some sort whenever I can, and
> plan my year
> around my trips.
>
> 'Nuff said. I love Dick Dale...hearing him was what
> revitalized my
> memories of early surf music and made me pick up a guitar
> in the first
> place. When he plays next week downtown, I'll be there.
> But, Dick is
> no saint or even, IMHO, a guitar God. And he can be
> redundant, if
> you've seen his shows. He's just a good musician who
> plays cool music.
> I admire him for persisting.
>
> But there's a lot of cats who've advanced the music since
> Dick's glory
> days, and I give my props to them. Some of them play with
> soul and
> passion and brilliance. Whether they surf or not is
> purely incidental
> and coincidental. I admire Mel and Dano and Ferenc and so
> many other
> people who frequent this site and I don't know nor do I
> care if any
> one of them surfs! They rock and I love their sound!
>
> Surf music is to surfing what country music is to
> rodeo...part of the
> culture, but not essential to that culture. Do you have
> to, for
> instance, be a country boy to play country music? Of
> course not! Do
> you have to be a black man to play Jazz? An Indian to
> play Sitar? A
> Mexican to play mariachi? No, no, no. Being part of the
> culture,
> however, helps. But modern surfers scarcely listen to
> what we call
> "surf" music, anyway.
>
> Anyway, these types of polemic discussions go nowhere. I
> won't
> belittle anyone on this site for their background or
> there experiences
> or their playing ability. I appreciate everyone for their
> stoke,
> whether they play Pipeline note-for-note, or whether they
> write
> cutting-edge surf and play it on a kazoo (with reverb, or
> course)!
>
> It's all about having fun playing music. And if one
> doesn't understand
> or appreciate that, if one feels we need to construct
> barriers that
> say "Locals Only!" or "Surfers Only!", it defeats the
> whole purpose of
> our music, which is to stoke and to share and entertain.
>
> So, does surf music have anything to do with surfing? I
> guess so, yes.
> But does surfing have anything to do with its performance
> or
> appreciation? I'd venture to say, no. Perhaps you think
> different. But
> I think, in respect to everyone, it's best to share the
> positive and
> encourage one another rather than draw lines in the beach
> sand.
>
> 'Nuff said!
>
> Gavin
>
>
>
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Ennio Morricone and Lalo Schifrin and Neal Hefti and Hank
Mancini all surf...dude, I saw them on the Bluetorch Old
and Dead Arranger Shootout at Trestles last spring. Dude,
dead Hank Mancini totally dropped in on dead Neal
Hefti...dead Mancini shreds!
dude,
dp
--- ohsyrus <> wrote:
> >OK, we all have to agree
> > that surf music got its origin from the early surf
> scene of Cali.
>
>
> Only if you are willing to accept that an old Greek folk
> song
> qualifies as Californian...Dick Dales original
> spontaneous performance
> of Miserlou had absolutely nothing to do with any idea of
> surfing. He
> has said so on numerous occasions. It was only after the
> fact that
> some surfers commented that the song reminded them of
> surfing. A rodeo
> rider might have commected that it reminded them of calf
> roping. Or a
> sports fisherman might have commented that it reminded
> him of fighting
> a big marlin. Or a Jewish groom might have commented that
> it reminded
> him of his wedding.
>
>
> > Those early musicians whether they surfed or not wrote
> original songs
> > or 'surfed out' other peoples tunes. Has surf music
> evolved much
> > since then? Not really, why?
>
> Excuse me, but are you stating that the Insect Surfers,
> Slacktone, the
> Fathoms, The Aqua Velvets, and the Mermen have not
> evolved surf music
> since the Belairs and the Surfaris?
>
> If you cannot see the evolutionary difference between Mr
> Moto and
> Honeybomb--then I suggest maybe you give another listen.
>
>
> >part way because it was interupted by
> > the British Invasion. People didn't want theBelairs
> anymore they
> > wanted theBeatles they didn"t want DD they wanted the
> Stones. So now
> > many years later, (and for the sake of time I have left
> out stuff)
> > here we are in 2003 and surf music is still around. It
> still has a
> > place in many peoples hearts.
>
> So does Lawrence Welk and Jimmie Rodgers. So what?
>
> >However in some circles it gets no
> > respect. On some music lists it doesn't even come up as
> a recognized
> > genre. Why? And who cares? Even within surf music
> circles people
> > bash Dick Dale. If he doesn't get respect among other
> surf music
> > lovers thenwhy should surf music get respect from other
> musicians?
>
> Anybody that appreciates surf music probably respects it.
> Those that
> do not appreciate it probably don't respect it. My
> opinion that Dick
> Dale embarrasses his self by dragging his sorry old
> carcass around in
> his 60's playing stuff that's 40 years old or played
> better by the
> originators(at least in the case of Hendrix)isn't the
> cause of other
> musicians not appreciating or respecting surf music. Give
> me a break!
>
>
> >If
> > surf musicians think that being a surfer ain't the
> least bit
> > important then why even call it surf music in the first
> place?
>
>
>
> Good question. Why call it Surf Music? Was Walk Don't
> Run, Surf music?
> How about Apache? The Savage? Rumble? Jack the Ripper?
> How about the
> Astronauts? Did they surf? Did the Trashmen? Does it even
> matter? Does
> Frankie Blandino surf? Eddie Angel? Does it matter? Do
> they play
> guitar better than most? Does it matter? Yes!!!
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
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