The Birth of Surf Rock
Cover Image: ©thehardtimes.net
Surf Rock put a newfound US obsession with surfing into words, added a beat, and captured the psyche of a moment in history with classic tunes like Beach Boys, "Surfin' in the USA." The music embodied the Southern California surf scene and emerging surf culture. Here is a brief history of the birth of Surf Rock.
The Start
As the 1960s began, the US caught surfing fever. The popular novel, and Hollywood blockbuster, Gidget (1959) catalyzed the mainstreaming of surf with a young, blonde girl from Malibu who was determined to master the craft and be one of the boys. As surfboard designs became lighter, the sport was ever more accessible to the general public. Before long, the perception of surfers evolved from beach bums to respectable athletes, and surfing became a cool activity with the birth of counterculture in the 60s.
The start of the Surf Rock craze originates in Southern California. Bands like Dick Dale and the Del-Tones in Orange County, and the Bel-Aires in South Bay, Los Angeles pioneered a distinctive guitar style, described as giving the guitar a wet sound. Dick Dale claims he was the first surf guitarist, and this instrumental style evolved to be the distinguishing tune of Surf Rock. An example of this sound is easily heard in the Bel-Aires' first single hit, “Mr. Moto.”
Popular Characters and Hits
The groups' distinctive sounds gained traction and popularity. Surf-themed events featured Surf Rock bands, and before long, this sound was giving rise to a whole new cultural and musical obsession with surf sounds. The Beach Boys, The Challengers, Eddie & the Showmen, among other groups, followed the trend of this energizing, feel-good music.
The true launch to the space of Surf Rock was the Chantays, “Pipeline”, which scored a top ten national hit in 1963, just two years after the first filming of the North Shore Legendary Break . “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris was the most famous surf song reaching number two in the charts. More notable surf hits were “Surfer Joe,” by the Surfaris (named the worst surf song ever by surfer magazine in 1989), and “Surf City,” by Jan and Dean. Surf bands sprung up around the country and even into Australia.
The Different Types of Surf Rock
There are two distinct categories of Surf Rock, instrumental and vocal. In The Encyclopedia of Surfing, Matt Warshaw differentiates the two by “the pulsating, reverb-heavy, ‘wet’-sounding instrumental form exemplified by guitarist Dick Dale, and the smooth-voiced, multitracked harmonized vocal style invented by the Beach Boys. Purists argue that surf music is, by definition, instrumental.”
Death of Surf Rock
The 1960s were by far the hay day of surf music. By the 1970s, the US entered the Vietnam War, the British Invasion occurred, and JFK was assassinated. The shift in the world state and culture left the pleasant sounds of surf rock behind. Despite a dip in popularity, the instrumental beats of Surf Rock remained an influence to later rock musicians like The Who and Keith Moon.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, Surf Punk was born as surfers and skaters pushed boundaries, and the culture shifted from cool and calm to more aggressive. The most popular of these bands were The Unforgotten Rebels with their single, Surfin' on Heroin in 1981, Agent Orange from Orange County with their punk covers of the old classics, Mr. Moto and Pipeline, and finally the famous So-Cal band Sublime.
Surf Music Today
Today surf music doesn’t have a distinct category, however, surf themes prevail most typically in casual rock and reggae bands who capture down-to-earth and mellow vibes associated with surfing.
Some surfers have bands and make music as well. Some of the most famous are Jack Johnson, Alex Knost, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Jimmy Buffet.
Now that you know a bit more about the history of Surf Rock, it’s time to hit the waves. Remember to check out the Jamie O’Brien App here for anytime, anywhere surf coaching.
People Also Read
Did we miss something? Send us a message at hello@jamieobrien.com
