The Surf Punks were formed in 1976 by Malibu residents Dennis Dragon (son of the Symphony conductor Carmen Dragon, and brother of The Captain And Tennille's Daryl Dragon) and Drew Steele (son of the B-movie actress Allison Hayes, made famous as the alcoholic abused housewife Nancy Archer in Attack of The Fifty Foot Woman, and Gavin MacLeod of "The Love Boat" fame). Dennis recruited the additional talents of Malibu residents John Heussenstamm for lead guitar duties and fellow bodysurfer/frisbeeist John Hunt on bass. This was the original core group, produced and engineered by Dennis in his garage studio across the street from Zuma Beach, his favorite body surfing spot. Scott Goddard [b.1952-d.2006] later joined as lead vocalist.
Record producer and then Malibu resident Denny Cordell saw merit in the group and released their first recordings on a single, "My Beach" b/w "My Wave" in Australia on Shelter Records with hopes of creating a sonic tidal wave. It didn't happen. Their subsequent first album, an independent release on their own label, Day Glo Records, garnered them enough airplay on the then fledgling L.A. alternative radio station KROQ to lead to a re-release of the album on EPIC Records in 1980, and the release of two further albums, "Locals Only" and "Oh No, Not Them Again" on Enigma. The Surf Punks also provided the music to KLOS Shock Jock Frazier Smith's signature show bumper, "Cool Patrol". The Surf Punks were managed from 1980 to 1983 by Michael Parenti ( the artist, http://es-tr.com , not Michael Parenti the political writer), who also provided many of the T-Shirt designs for the band. At one time, rock legend Johnny Rivers showed interest in the band by co-producing with Dennis a single titled "Surf Punks Medley" released on his own Soul City label. TV Producer Chris Bearde also managed the band for a short time and tried with movie producer Brian Grazer and Johnny to procure a Hollywood movie deal for the band. It didn't happen.
The live shows of the Surf Punks included prancing bikini-clad babes on stage, as well as a full size Lifeguard Tower (with lifeguard!), beach sand, surfboards, trash, etc. In the heydays of the punk explosion in L.A., the shows were wild and abandoned, the lead singer Drew Steele known to cover his body with baby oil, ketchup, mayonnaise, and all sorts of sundry foodstuffs during the song "I Can't Get a Tan", which usually led to the audience being doused with a fire extinguisher, and then having a bag of baking flour dumped on them in a white cloud by the flailing Steele.
The lyrics of the band centered primarily on the in-group/ out-group experiences of "locals" - surfers living on the beach in Malibu, and "valleys" - commuters from the San Fernando Valley to the private and public beaches of the exclusive Malibu Beach community. Never truly "punk" in the traditional sense of the word, the Surf Punks were sort of a "Beach Boys" of the punk world, offering an intelligent take on the "turf wars" over the southern California beaches and its waves.
The band made at least one video, for the song "Shark Attack".
The term "surf punk" was a generational adaptation of the term "surf nazi" which was in wide use in the early days of the sport in the 60s and 70s also used tongue-in-cheek to describe people who were fanatically dedicated to their sport.
Enter into a realm where fantasy & reality coexist in harmony together ~ Simultainiously synchronized to enhance the very synapse of endorphins that will ultimately elevate you into a sanctuary of ecstatic self fulfillment ~ inner peace ~ & unconditional love that exists as you will transcend beyond a simple listening pleasure ~ You are always welcome inside my Ashram / Asylum ~ I hope you like my tunes !
I have a new tune on my other myspace called 'Jazzy Blue' ~
This is the first time I've gotten to record within my brand spanking new ~ totally optimized Ashram / Asylum ~ & I must say with this updated digital recording facility & some new axes to grind ~ it is truly a luxury at it's finest ~ at least it is for me me me !!!!! So here it is ~ just a rhythm track I'd made over the last couple of days ~ in order to acclimate myself with all the new toys I now have at my disposal . . . I'll be writing lots of new lyrics as well as new music ~ for both of my upcoming projects ~ the follow-up to my debut CD now available on Moiko Records ~ it's a new concept album I've been (Ben) working on for over a year & a half ~ as well as the awesome new version of The Altruistic Messiah's latest touring band ~ a line up consisting of life long friends & a few of the most amazingly talented new individuals I have just recently had the honor to become associated with ! I am always wishing each & every one of you the very best ~ & this continues to be the primary focus of any & all communication between us as individuals ~ it is my belief that this concern is fundamental in the advancement of humanity ~ & that this is the reason we are alive ~ that this is what we are living for ~ as human nature must transcend into something greater than it ever has been (Ben) ~ as every single one of us collectively evolve into everything we are destined to realize ~ & we must leave no man or woman behind ~ FUCK WAR ~ I know I go way off the beat & path often ~ but I love everyone !!!!!! Peace, Ben P.S. PLease don't forget to attend my CD Release Party at the Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip ~ It starts at 3:00 P.M. November 1st & of course YOU ARE INVITED !
------------------------------- This comment was sent by your friend via the Friend Factory... Where you are the boss! application. To block comments sent via Apps.
We’d thought we’d celebrate Valentine’s day with this vidéo , but we decided not to hurt the sensitive souls... or the incurable romantics out there! So we’re introducing it to you this month instead. The installation is by L’Atlas and Jérôme G Demuth.. Beats by Cinematic Orchestra
The first time I ever felt a song...You know what I mean, it made my blood speed up a bit. SOMEBODY RIPPED MY STICK...Bad ass!!!I have a big smile on my face now just thinking about it...Thanks for the add and your music...You were a big influence...
