Damn. R.I.P. 🙁
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/17/dick-dale-dies-aged-81-misirlou-pulp-fiction
On the track Misirlou, Dale transformed the traditional Greek folk song into a sped-up, one-string performance, which became a national sensation after Dale performed it on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1962. In 1994, Quentin Tarantino used it as the opening music for Pulp Fiction.“Having Misirlou as your opening credit, it’s just so intense,” Tarantino told Rolling Stone. “It just says you’re watching an epic, you’re watching a big, ol’ movie ... It just throws down a gauntlet that the movie now has to live up to.”
Born Richard Anthony Monsour in May 1937, Dale developed his distinctive sound by adding to instrumental rock influences from his Middle Eastern heritage, along with a “wet” reverb sound and his rapid alternative picking style.
Dick Dale was pivotal in the development of the Fender Stratocaster guitar.
In 2011, he told the Miami New Times that the hectic drumming of Gene Krupa, along with the “screams” of wild animals and the sound and sensation of being in the ocean inspired his sound.His fifth single, 1961’s Let’s Go Trippin’, is considered the first surf rock instrumental and has been credited with launching the early 1960s craze. The Beach Boys’ “vocal” surf pioneered the sound’s second wave.
Dale once claimed that Frank Sinatra had offered to manage him, but he turned him down because the singer wanted a 90% cut of his earnings.
At the turn of the 60s, Dale was pivotal in the development of the Fender Stratocaster guitar. “Everything that came out of Leo Fender’s head, I was his test pilot,” Dale told the Miami New Times in 2011. “He used to say: ‘When it can withstand the barrage of punishment from Dick Dale, then it is fit for the human consumption.’ So I blew up over 50 amplifiers. And that’s why they call me the Father of Heavy Metal.”
Very sad to hear that. He was one of my top ten favorite electric guitarists and a big influence on me as an amateur guitar player.
I got to see him six times over the years and he always put on a great show and seemed to have a genuine love for his fans. He would stick around after every show and chat with fans, pose for pictures, and sign autographs for everybody that wanted one and not leave until everyone that wanted to speak with him had gotten their turn.
I last saw him play a show in 2017 at The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA. I had always wanted to record some video of Dick and his band and got the chance that night.
Here is the YouTube playlist for the videos for anyone interested...
R.I.P.
[Edited on 3/18/2019 by Psy]
Fun goofy...:D
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Dick Dale - Pipeline (1987)
Dick Dale was a true original and a true innovator. Not only did he invent the Surf Guitar sound, he invented a heavy guitar sound that were the true roots of heavy rock guitar and heavy metal. He was the link between Chuck Berry and Eddie Van Halen. Every hard rock and heavy metal musician and fan owes a huge debt of gratitude to Dick Dale, even if they don't even know who he is. All Hail the King of the Surf Guitar. RIP
Many, many years ago, I got turned on to Albert King. I realized after hearing some of his stuff, that his licks were what I had heard Clapton doing, and Page, and about every bluesman I thought was good. And I realized they all copped Albert.
Had heard of Dick Dale, and this week was like that King experience years ago. With his passing, I dug a bit into his music and guitar stuff. And I realized a whole lot of people been coppin' his licks also. Effin genius.
He was an innovator. Thanks to Quintin Terrantino for using his music in his films.
I got to meet him after a show in Athens back in the 90s, and he was very kind and gracious to me. The show that night was great as well. That was pretty much my only experience seeing him or meeting him, but he left a good impression on both counts. I always liked a blessing that he said at one point during the show I saw, "I wish for you the same thing I wish for myself."
I have told many people since that he had, by far, the biggest and strongest hands of anybody who ever shook my hand. There is a reason normal humans can't make a guitar sound like Dick Dale, or Stevie Ray, or Jimi Hendrix. Those guys were working with tools most of us don't have.
RIP to a true original.
Fortunate to have seen Dick perform in a small club in one of the surfing capitals of the world, Santa Cruz, a couple of years ago. Dick could still bring it. Apparently he didn't have much choice to continue his musical career as he had extensive medical bills related to several lingering ailments, including two occurrences of colon cancer. In fact the Jimi Hendrix phrase of "then you will never hear surf music again" from Third Stone from the Sun was inspired by Jimi's concern that Dick might not recover from a bout with colon cancer at the time.
Also thought his Lebanese-Polish ancestry was very cool (Polish myself). While the Lebanese influence was quite prominent in his playing, always wondered why he never attempted to take the polka to new heights. 😉 😉 😉 Can you just imagine where guitar playing might be today? R.I.P.
Fortunate to have seen Dick perform in a small club in one of the surfing capitals of the world, Santa Cruz, a couple of years ago. Dick could still bring it. Apparently he didn't have much choice to continue his musical career as he had extensive medical bills related to several lingering ailments, including two occurrences of colon cancer. In fact the Jimi Hendrix phrase of "then you will never hear surf music again" from Third Stone from the Sun was inspired by Jimi's concern that Dick might not recover from a bout with colon cancer at the time.
Also thought his Lebanese-Polish ancestry was very cool (Polish myself). While the Lebanese influence was quite prominent in his playing, always wondered why he never attempted to take the polka to new heights. 😉 😉 😉 Can you just imagine where guitar playing might be today? R.I.P.
Break out the pierogies and kielbasa and rock out to...:D
Polka Floyd Comfortably Numb
...not bad guitar playing!
Dick Dale was one of those that has gotten away from me now as I never caught him live. Bummer. A GREAT album of his to seek out is Calling Up Spirits. Covers 3rd Stone on it and it’s really amazing to hear, esp LOUD!!!!!!
Some people lump surf guitar in with corny pop but they’ve just not heard the right stuff. Not sure if they play much anymore but Los Straitjackets are AMAZING to see. They can really hit the note/ wave.
If you have never seen the 60’s surf movie classic “Endless Summer”, I highly recommend it. Great Ventures sound track and amazing journey around the world.
Dick Dale May have been A godfather of heavy metal heavy guitar but let’s not forget Native American Link Wray. His tune Rumble was one of THE Notes that set the stage. Another original who kept playing til the end.
EAPFSurfGuitarand get a little sand in yer waistband.
Fortunate to have seen Dick perform in a small club in one of the surfing capitals of the world, Santa Cruz, a couple of years ago. Dick could still bring it. Apparently he didn't have much choice to continue his musical career as he had extensive medical bills related to several lingering ailments, including two occurrences of colon cancer. In fact the Jimi Hendrix phrase of "then you will never hear surf music again" from Third Stone from the Sun was inspired by Jimi's concern that Dick might not recover from a bout with colon cancer at the time.
Also thought his Lebanese-Polish ancestry was very cool (Polish myself). While the Lebanese influence was quite prominent in his playing, always wondered why he never attempted to take the polka to new heights. 😉 😉 😉 Can you just imagine where guitar playing might be today? R.I.P.
Break out the pierogies and kielbasa and rock out to...:D
Polka Floyd Comfortably Numb
...not bad guitar playing!
effin brilliant. If that doesn't get your attention, yer dead
This weekend in Sedona I had the pleasure of spending some time with Tim Wilson whose Father, Don was the guitar player in the Ventures who wrote "Walk, Don't Run". Among the many topics that arose and the people he has met, the name Dick Dale came up during the course of our time together more than once. Pretty fascinating hearing these stories and the respect Don had for Mr. Dale.....
R.I.P. Sir and thanks for the music
Break out the pierogies and kielbasa and rock out to...
Polka Floyd Comfortably Numb
...not bad guitar playing!
Never thought I'd see the day! That was pretty incredible. Don't know what the ancestors might have thought but hey, go with the times.
And that is some mean guitar work. Wonder if Dick Dale was aware of these guys?
Made my We-We waggle
Holy crischiki !
I just want to share with you all my experience of seeing Dick Dale for the first time.
It was in a small rock club called Staches & Little Brothers in Columbus , Ohio, back in 1995, just after Tribal Thunder was released.
It was my first time seeing him, and he came off as being a bit cocky while he was onstage. So much so that I remember one guy standing in front of me say to his friend..." Yeah. He's great. Just ask him"...
But, after an incredible show (he WAS great) , I stuck around with a few other folks and to my amazement , he came back out and sat down on the edge of the stage and proceeded to sign autographs and shake hands. I had nothing to sign so when it was my turn I shook his hand and all I could think of saying off the cuff was "Mr. Dale....If you promise to come back, I promise to be here".
He looked me straight in the eye and gave me a warm smile, grabbed my hand, shook it a 2nd time and said " Thank you man. I really appreciate that."
I walked away from that encounter feeling really good ...:)
So, as I found after seeing him three more times, the cockiness was just part of his stage persona, and off stage, he was a really nice guy who truly treasured his fans. And he always came back out after the show to shake hands or sign autographs. The last time I saw him a few years back, there was easily over 100 folks who waited for him after the show and he did not leave until each person got that handshake or autograph.
An incredible guitarist and a true innovator.
RIP Dick Dale
[Edited on 3/21/2019 by les_paul_sunburst]
Foolishly perhaps, I didn't seek out a lot of Dick's music, but saw him on PBS a couple times and was floored. A lot of nice tributes here Guys. RIP Dick Dale.
. . . the Ventures who wrote "Walk, Don't Run". . .
"Walk Don't Run" was written, recorded by Jimmy Smith in 1954, covered by Chet Atkins in 1956, which is the record the Ventures worked with for their version in 1960, and became a global smsh hit. The Ventures were a cover band, relied almost completely on other people's music.
I saw them at a police force fundraiser in Lacy Washington (Olympia) in 1985 , phenomenal. The drum solo during Wipe Out (by the Surfaris) was endless - drummer started hitting the bass guitar strings, drumming all over the stage.
Dick Dale hit Flagstaff AZ a few times, last time thru he had wireless guitar, during the encore he ran out the door and stood in the middle of Highway 66 (Santa Fe Ave), straddling the double yellow ripping guitar with cars passing by honking, crowd spilled on sidewalk, surf rock blaring out the door.
[Edited on 3/22/2019 by BrerRabbit]
