Joe Kurkowski* - Guitar
Frank Hughes* - Bass Guitar
Bill Swanson *- Sax, Flute, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele
Doug Harlow* - Drums
John Blair - Guitar
John Benton - Guitar - 2007 to 2008
Preston Wilson* - Guitar - (on hiatus)
*Original founding band member
Influences
Doug Harlow - Doug Clifford (CCR), Ringo Starr, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Richard Delvy, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, The Challengers, The Specials, Jimmy Cliff, The Clash
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Bob Spickard of the Chantays who co-wrote PIPELINE performs with The Eliminators. Thanks to Bob for inviting the band to perform with him on his classic surf tune. Bob and The Chantays are members of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Eliminators also wish to thank our good friend and Internet radio host/personality Unsteady Freddie for shooting this video.Taped 8/2/2009.
"ONE STEP BEYOND!" taped 8/2/2009 Courtesy of Unsteady Freddie.
"RUMBLE AT WAIKIKI" taped 8/2/2009 Courtesy of Unsteady Freddie.
Recipient of the Surf Music's Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement
Award, producer of the classic 1996 "Cowabunga - The Surf Box"
(Rhino Records) and author of The Illustrated Discography of
Surf Music, guitarist John Blair's guitar virtuosity, songwriting, and
production on Jon & The Nightriders award winning recordings of
classic, modern and post-modern "instro" surf have been recognized throughout the world.
John Blair now recognized as the idiom's most visible and sought-after
virtuoso whom Vintage Guitar Magazine called "the Segovia of Surf Music."
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On 9/20/2009 The Eliminators performed at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum "Before Their Was Surf" event.
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"Tiki Treasures and Polynesian Pin-Ups"
Book The Eliminators to make your event an epic success!
The Eliminators promo video featuring the TV, commercial and movie work of The Eliminators. All music is original music by The Eliminators.
John Blair Joins The Eliminators!
Surf guitar legend John Blair of Jon & The Nightriders, who is responsible for starting the second wave of surf music, has joined The Eliminators Surf Band.
Jon & The Nightriders electrified music lovers in 1979 when their maiden effort "Rumble At Waikiki" exploded on to the Hollywood scene and ignited what music historians now call the "second wave," or modern school of rock & roll's first electronic revolution: "instrumental" surf music.
In addition to reintroducing the nearly-forgotten style of guitar-based, instrumental surf music that laid the groundwork in the late 50s and early 60s for heavy metal and fusion styles, Jon & The Nightriders inspired classic "first wave" bands such as The Ventures and Dick Dale to resume touring.
Between 1981 and 2001, Jon & The Nightriders continued to record, perform locally, and tour Europe. The band has recorded eight studio and live albums to date, and released a retrospective collection in addition to appearing on numerous compilation albums including Rhino Records' 1996 box set of surf music, "Cowabunga." The band's music has been heard in several theatrical film soundtracks and in two surfing documentaries from filmmaker Bud Browne. They have made five successful European tours, performing in nearly every major European country.
Thirty years after the formation of Jon & The Nightriders, John Blair remains one of the most respected and popular surf instrumental guitarists and performers on the planet. The pairing of John Blair with The Eliminator's Joe Kurkowski combines two of the foremost guitarists and composers in history of surf-rock instrumental music.
The Eliminators are well known for their scorching reverb drenched instrumentals that have been featured on such shows as Beverly Hills 90210, Providence, The View, Battleground Earth, The Mark and Brian Show on 95.5 FM KLOS and the IMAX movie, Hawaiian Watermen. The Music of The Eliminators was also featured in the Bud Light “Left Coast, Right Beer” commercials. The Eliminators have opened for numerous major touring acts such as Dick Dale, Midnight Oil, Jimmy Buffett and Chris Isaak.
The Eliminators are currently in the studio working on a new CD due out by summer 2009 and will be doing several live appearances and tours in 2009. If traditional reverb drenched, scorching hot dueling lead guitars and sax is your idea of what surf music should sound like, get the fire extinguisher checked, because you’ll need it when these guys come to your town to play. See www.theeliminators.com and www.JohnBlair.us.
August 2, 2008 in Hermosa Beach with surf guitar legend
Eddie Bertrand of
the "Belairs" & "Eddie and The Showmen."
The Eliminators with Surf Guitar Legend Eddie Bertrand in Long Beach, Feb. 2008.
The Eliminators TV taping of "Battleground Earth" for the Discovery Channel, TLC and Planet Green. The show features Tommy Lee and Ludachris.
See The Eliminators performance at the Huntington Beach Pier April 27, 2008
"One of the premiere surf bands on the face of the Earth today" .... Corkey Carroll.
To book The Eliminators, contact Tim@theeliminators.com or call 714-580-1605.
THE ELIMINATORS have lead the way in the resurgence of instrumental surf music that was popular during the early 60's by staying true to the sound while giving the music and their show a 21st century twist.
Their popularity is due to their incredible live performances and their T.V. and radio sound waves. You know them their sounds from the Bud-Light "Left coast right beer" commercials, guest appearances on "Beverly Hills 90210",
" Battleground Earth", bumper music and record review on 95.5 KLOS "Mark and Brian" show, a guest band appearance on the popular talk show
"The View" and supplying music for the hit T.V. drama "Providence".
THE ELIMINATORS have had great national exposure by performing on a 25-city tour sponsored by Bud-Light and sharing the stage with superstar Jimmy Buffett on the west coast leg of his 1997 tour. THE ELIMINATORS have also shared the stage with Chris Isaak, Dick Dale, Tommy Lee, Ludachris and Midnight Oil.
THE ELIMINATORS are five California long boarders who live the lifestyle of the music they play. All five-band members are longtime Orange County surfers who were brought together through common interest; surfing, the love and respect for the ocean and the desire to bring the authentic sound of the early 60's surf bands back to the forefront of the music industry. They pride themselves on authenticity, pressing Fender guitars, blonde "Fender Showman" amps for that unmistakable sound unique to surf music. The Eliminators capture a piece of the past, from the traditional surf guitar drenched debut album "UNLEASHED", to the cutting edge sounds of their most recent effort "ULTRA SONIC SURF GUITARS". If that true California surf sound is what your after, THE ELIMINATORS nail it!
In May 2008, The Eliminators taped a live performance for the new Discovery Channel show "Battleground Earth" starring Tommy Lee of Motley Crue and the rapper, Ludacris. In summer 2008, The Eliminators performed at several epic concerts with surf guitar legend, Eddie Bertrand of The Bel-Airs and Eddie and The Showmen.
In 2009, The Eliminators will be appearing in the feature documentary film "Sound Of The Surf" The Story Of Surf Music.
The music of The Eliminators was featured in
the IMAX Movie "Hawaiian Watermen."
I hope you had a Happy 4th of July; it’s the most important Holiday in America. Love of your country is important! We will turn our country around! As for the socialist and communist bastards, if they don’t like it, they can get the hell out and take Perez Hilton with them! God Bless America! -Bo