The Surfaris - Career

Career

The original band members were Ron Wilson (drums, vocals), 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 after Pat Connolly.

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" - added by their then manager Dale Smallin. "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.

The band released a series of records, with two other singles, "Surfer Joe" (sung by Wilson), and "Point Panic", having an impact on the charts. Point Panic is a renowned surfing venue in Hawaii named after the song.

The 1963 Surfaris disbanded in 1966 but have periodically reunited and are still active, performing and recording, often re-recording their old and new songs. They still perform as two separate groups, Bob Berryhill's Surfaris (Bob is the only original member that still performs) and Jim Fuller's Surfaris, all over the 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"). As of 2010, Downey's official website continues to make this claim.

Drummer Ron Wilson died on 12 May 1989, one month short of his 45th 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.