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 area, and nationally by May 1963: “Surfer Joe” and “Wipe Out”, which were the A-side and B-side of the same 45 rpm single. (More from Wikipedia)
Except for the manic “ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Wipe Out!!!” at the beginning, “Wipe Out” is a million-selling surf instrumental dating from 1963. As performed by the Surfaris, this song made it to #2 on the charts, kept from the top only by “Little” Stevie Wonder’s first hit song “Fingertips”.
The Surfaris were high school friends from Glendora, California; bandmembers were Ron Wilson (drums, vocals), Jim Fuller (lead guitar), Bob Berryhill (rhythm guitar), and Pat Connolly (bass guitar). “Wipe Out” was originally the “B” side of their first single; “Surfer Joe” was on the “A” side.
Wikipedia reports: “The song [“Wipe Out”] – both the Surfaris’ version as well as cover versions – has been featured in over 20 films and television series since 1964, appearing at least once a decade. First heard in Kenneth Anger’s short Scorpio Rising [1963], its most recent appearance was in Dominic Sena’s 2009 thriller, Whiteout.”
(December 2014)
