It's one of the most recognizable tunes to come out of the 1960s, and after nearly 50 years it is still played by people across the world.
Friday we sat down with the man behind the famous song, "Wipe Out." For the accurate full story on Bob and his group, see http://www.thesurfaris.com/
Bob Berryhill and the Surfaris knew there was something special about this song.
"Wipe Out was written in about 10 minutes," said Berryhill.
But they never imagined it would be one of the most popular tunes of their generation.
"The bass player kind of had a feel for this and through that into the lead," he said.
Berryhill says the song was written because the group needed a second tune for their 45. Wipe Out sent the Surfaris from the California surf scene to international fame.
"And by the third time he says okay boys, that's good, we got it, and that was all there was to it. It was just a spontaneous creation of three 15 years old and our drummer, he was an old guy, he was 17."
That was in January 1963. By April it was number one in Los Angeles and by July, Wipe Out shot to number one across the world.
"And it was number one in Germany for that year, number one in Australia, number one in Japan so it went all over the world just lightning, so by the time we were 16 years old we had a number one record all over the world."
Today it is one the most popular songs played on the ukulele. This is Hawaii's own Jake and Bruce Shimabukuro shredding it at a local bar.
"It's been on 746 albums documented on BMI."
The 63-year-old Berryhill says the song allowed he and his high school buddies to travel the world touring with such acts the Beach Boys and Roy Orbison. Billboard recently came out with the 30 most popular summer songs of all time. Wipe Out was number two behind Summer in the City, by Lovin Spoonful.
"It's one of those situations where you learn to enjoy the greatness of something at 15 years old. I tell other guys who are learning to play guitar be careful what you create when you're a young kid, it might stick with you."
And to think it started when a bunch of southern California surfers decided to make a fun song a song that is still loved decades later.
Berryhill will be on the Perry & Price Show Saturday morning
The Surfaris were an American surf rock band formed in Glendora, California in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles, California area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" on the A side and "Wipe Out" on the B side of a 45 RPM single.
Contents [hide]
1 Career
2 Discography
2.1 Albums
2.2 Singles
2.3 Compilations
3 References
4 External links
[edit] Career
The original band members were Ron Wilson (drums), Jim Fuller (lead guitar), Bob Berryhill (rhythm guitar) and Pat Connolly (bass). Saxophone player Jim Pash joined after their "Wipe Out" / "Surfer Joe" recording sessions at Pal Studios. Ken Forssi, later of Love, played bass with The Surfaris, as well as Jack Oldham, who performed with the group from 1966-1967, including a performance at the 1967 Grammy Awards.
Wilson's energetic drum solo made "Wipe Out" one of the best-remembered instrumental songs of the period. "Wipe Out" is also remembered particularly for its introduction before the music starts, a cracking sound (imitating a breaking surf board), and a maniacal laugh followed by the only two words of the song, "wipe out". "Wipe Out" was written in the studio by the four original members (Berryhill, Connolly, Fuller, Wilson), and was originally going to be titled "Switchblade". It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1]
The band released a series of records, with two other singles, "Surfer Joe" and "Point Panic", having an impact on the charts. Point Panic is a renowned surfing venue in Hawaii named after the song.
The Surfaris disbanded in 1966 but have periodically reunited and are still active as of 2008[update], performing and recording, often re-recording their old and new songs. They still perform as Bob Berryhill's Surfaris and Jim Fuller's Surfaris (two separate groups) all over United States and Europe with a large fan base.
Following the death of television personality Morton Downey, Jr., news reports and obituaries incorrectly credited him as the composer of "Wipe Out" (as well as The Chantays' "Pipeline").[2] As of 2010[update], Downey's official website continues to make this claim.[3]
Drummer Ron Wilson died on 7 May 1989, one month short of his 44th birthday. Wilson had released an album of his songs, entitled Lost It In The Surf, on Bennet House Records of Grass Valley, California, which was recorded in June 1987. A very small number of cassettes of this album were produced. Lost It In The Surf included a cover of "Louie Louie", complete with Scottish bagpipes.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
1963 Wipe Out (Dot 3535)
1963 The Surfaris Play Wipe Out (Decca 4470)
1964 Hit City '64 (Decca 4487)
1964 Fun City USA (Decca 4560)
1965 Hit City '65 (Decca 4614)
1965 It Ain't Me, Babe (Decca 4683)
1994 "Surf Party - The Best of the Surfaris Live" (GNP Crescendo 2239)
2005 Wipe Out
[edit] Singles
1962 "Wipe Out" / "Surfer Joe"
1963 "Wipe Out" / "Surfer Joe"
1963 "Point Panic" / "Waikiki Run"
1963 "Wipe Out" / "I'm A Hog For You"
1964 "Murphy The Surfie" / "Go Go Go for Louie's Place"
[edit] Compilations
1973 Yesterdays Pop Scene
1973 Wipe Out, Surfer Joe & Other Great Hits
1976 Surfers Rule
1977 Gone with the Wave
1982 The History of Surf Music
1989 Surfin Hits
1994 Wipe Out! The Best Of
1994 Surf Party!: The Best of the Surfaris Live!
1995 Pulp Rock Instros - Vol 1
1995 Surfaris Stomp
1996 Cowabunga! Surf-Box
1996 Teen Beat - Vol 3
1996 Let's Go Trippin'
1996 Surf Crazy
1997 Guitar Heroes
1997 Hot Rod - Big Boss Instrumentals
1997 Kahuna Classics
1998 Hard Rock Records - Surf
1998 Surf! Sand! Sun!
1998 Wipe Out
1999 Surfers Rule / Gone With The Wave
2000 Water Logged
2000 Teen Beat - Vol 5
2003 Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar - Vol. 02
2003 Basic Tracks w/ Jim Fuller
2005 Wipe Out, Surfer Joe And Other Great Hits
2006 Street Party w/ Jim Fuller
[edit] References
^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 167. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
^ Morton Downey Jr. Dies, Combative Talk Show Host Was An Icon Of The 1980s - CBS News
^ Morton Downey Jr.'s Home Page
[edit] External links
The Surfaris featuring Jim Fuller official MySpace site
The Surfaris featuring Bob Berryhill official MySpace site
The Surfaris', Bob Berryhill official website
The Surfaris', Jim Fuller official website
Allmusic Entry
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Surfaris"
File:SurfarisByPhilKonstantinPublicDomain.jpg
File history
Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.
Date/Time Thumbnail Dimensions User Comment
current 11:37, 17 August 2009 500×378 (33 KB) Philkon ({{Information |Description={{en|1=Musicians, surf rockers the Surfaris}} |Source=Own work by uploader |Author=Philkon Phil Konstantin |Date=2007-06-25 |Permission= |other_versions= }} See related photos on my website at: http://americanin)
Or follow this wikikpedia link: (you'll have to copy and paste the link on your address bar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SurfarisByPhilKonstantinPublicDomain.jpg
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Surfaris
