"Only one of the Beach Boys actually surfed" Discuss...

[D409]

From the Twitter feed of the QI Elves ( @qikipedia : Quite Interesting bits and pieces from the mythical creatures behind BBC TV's QI)

"Only one of the Beach Boys actually surfed"

Now, we all know this statement is not strictly true, don't we ? Could we post some responses to these guys on Twitter (put them up here as well) as I don't think this should be unchallenged ?

[Youre Under Arrest]

It's more or less true. Dennis was the only avid surfer. The others tried it but did not stick with it.

[Cabinessenceking]

those posers don't know what they're talking about.

[Lowbacca]

Bruce still surfes. But if you're referring to the original guys - yes.

[Jim V.]

Keep in mind that Mike claims he surfed too. Remember his claim that he though of the idea for "Do It Again" after going surfing with a guy named "Bill Jackson". I gotta say, could one think of a more made-up type name than "Bill Jackson"? I don't believe for a second that story is true.

[bonnevillemariner]

Thing is, one need not necessarily surf to enjoy and be a part of beach/surf culture.  Plus (and if I'm wrong I'm sure somebody will correct me), but I don't remember reading or hearing anything claiming that none of the others BBs EVER got on a board.  I've always understood the "only Dennis surfed" thing to mean Dennis was the only avid surfer.  My dad and one of my brothers are pretty avid fisherman.  I don't consider myself a fisherman, but I spent enough time on the lake with them growing up to know a thing or two about it.  Were I a painter, it wouldn't be a stretch if I were to start my career with paintings of flies and rainbow trout.

[Jukka]

While I don't necessarily question Mike's story, I'd love to hear about this Bill Jackson guy... Has he ever been mentioned again after the original story where Mike dropped his name?

Bill Jackson. Such a cool name. It doesn't get much more American than that. Kind of like Max Power. Johnny Cash. Bruce Johnston.

[Lowbacca]

Thing is, one need not necessarily surf to enjoy and be a part of beach/surf culture.  Plus (and if I'm wrong I'm sure somebody will correct me), but I don't remember reading or hearing anything claiming that none of the others BBs EVER got on a board.  I've always understood the "only Dennis surfed" thing to mean Dennis was the only avid surfer.  My dad and one of my brothers are pretty avid fisherman.  I don't consider myself a fisherman, but I spent enough time on the lake with them growing up to know a thing or two about it.  Were I a painter, it wouldn't be a stretch if I were to start my career with paintings of flies and rainbow trout.

Right. As far as I know, each of the boys tried it at least once. Dennis was the surfer, Mike did it now and then (although I don't know if/when he stopped), Bruce is still out there from time to time - and the rest of them, Al/Carl/Brian/David, never got into it, I guess. Those guys (apart from Dennis) never were the surfer type to begin with. The actual surfers who hung out at the beach all day were guys like Dennis, not 'squares' like Carl or Al.
Isn't it crazy how all of this started with a teen garage band searching for a topic to sing about and one of them (who wasn't really in the band) suggested the current surfing craze? From that perspective it's hard to expect any of them to actually give a sh*t about the sport (nevermind actually catching a wave).

[Rocky Raccoon]

"SURFING?  I DON'T WANT TO GO SURFING, NOW LOOK YOU GUYS!"

I just recently bought the Good Vibrations Tour DVD.  What a strange production.

[drbeachboy]

"SURFING?  I DON'T WANT TO GO SURFING, NOW LOOK YOU GUYS!"

I just recently bought the Good Vibrations Tour DVD.  What a strange production.

What is strange about it? It seems very much of it's time. Remember too, that was produced by Saturday Night Live producer, Lorne Michaels. It has a documentary-skit feel to it.

[ontor pertawst]

More importantly, it was directed by Gary Weis who did all those SNL short films so it has his style.

He also made another film with a former Beach Boy you guys might have heard of... THE RUTLES! I'm guessing this was good practice.

[Jon Stebbins]

Many people are now saying the "Dennis was the only Beach Boy who surfed" meme is untrue because Bruce surfs, and I guess a couple of the others tried it etc... But that piece of Beach Boys lore actually comes from the earliest Beach Boys press and interviews during the '62 - '64 period when they were constantly asked about surfing because of the fame they had gained due to singing about it. The answer from the band and their press releases was always "Dennis is the only one of the boys who is a real surfer"...he was a known surfer before the group became famous and he continued to surf into the '70's. Bruce was not a member of the Beach Boys until after all of those surfing hits and after all of that early press had branded Dennis as the band's only legit surfer. The Beach Boys FAQ book has a chapter that looks closely at this subject.

[guitarfool2002]

Gary Weis is a terrific director, his SNL film set to "Homeward Bound" is one of the most emotional short films I've ever seen (one of my favorite films period), I'd say pure genius based on basic subject matter. I actually didn't realize or didn't consider that Weis shot the Brian Wilson short!

[Lowbacca]

Many people are now saying the "Dennis was the only Beach Boy who surfed" meme is untrue because Bruce surfs, and I guess a couple of the others tried it etc... [...]

That's not what I was saying.
Any self-respecting BBs fan would know about which of them surfed and when, and how the image of Dennis as the only surfer came about. I merely wanted to put the quote into a more comprehensive context since most rock music fans (or casual fans of the band) know about Dennis being the only (real) surfer but not about the actual level of the other guys' surfing activities (Bruce, for example).

[Paulos]

Dennis was the only real surfer from the founding members but would I be right in saying that both Dave and Carl loved instrumental surf music?

[runnersdialzero]

Thing is, one need not necessarily surf to enjoy and be a part of beach/surf culture.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^6666666666666666666666

666: SATAN'S CHILD

No, really, what you said is the truth.

[TonyW]

On the Boys '78 tour of Australia - a country with a surfing culture as strong as if not greater than California - hip radio station 2JJ had a surfing program and had a respected journalist ('Reggae' Ellis if I recall correctly) of TRACKS surfing magazine interview both Dennis and Mike about surfing ... Dennis came off really cool, very knowledgeable about the latest trends in the sport, board design and how far Californian surfing had dropped behind the rest of the world at that time - on the other hand Mike came off as a complete guffawing kook ... it was embarrassing.

[Jon Stebbins]

Dennis was the only real surfer from the founding members but would I be right in saying that both Dave and Carl loved instrumental surf music?

Yes, absolutely...early on they were hugely influenced by local surf instrumentalists like Dick Dale and the Bel-Airs, as well as some of  the more mainstream instrumental artists like the Ventures and Duane Eddy.

[Cam Mott]

You can add whatever shading to it you desire but "Only one of the Beach Boys actually surfed" is false. Capt. Obvious out.

[alf wiedersehen]

If Mike didn't surf, how would he have written all those surfing songs?

Clearly this attention to detail

At huntington and malibu
They're shooting the pier
At rincon they're walking the nose
Were going on safari to the islands this year
So if you're coming get ready to go

suggests first hand experience.

[clack]

Dennis was the only real surfer from the founding members but would I be right in saying that both Dave and Carl loved instrumental surf music?

Yes, absolutely...early on they were hugely influenced by local surf instrumentalists like Dick Dale and the Bel-Airs, as well as some of  the more mainstream instrumental artists like the Ventures and Duane Eddy.

Didn't Dave also claim that he and Carl were listening to B.B. King at this time? Impressive for a couple of white kids barely into teens in the early 60's, pre-blues boom.

[TonyW]

If Mike didn't surf, how would he have written all those surfing songs?

Clearly this attention to detail

At huntington and malibu
They're shooting the pier
At rincon they're walking the nose
Were going on safari to the islands this year
So if you're coming get ready to go

suggests first hand experience.

Well for a start he managed to put "Australia's Narrabeen" into Surfin' USA so it tells you straight away that his geography wasn't too good ... and all one had to do in the early 60s was buy a copy of Surfer or Surfing magazine 'cut and paste' a few words and phrases into the song and any kook could be a "surfer".

[joe_blow]

Keep in mind that Mike claims he surfed too. Remember his claim that he though of the idea for "Do It Again" after going surfing with a guy named "Bill Jackson". I gotta say, could one think of a more made-up type name than "Bill Jackson"? I don't believe for a second that story is true.

I have been in favor of a search for Bill Jackson for a long time!

[leggo of my ego]

Dennis came off really cool, very knowledgeable about the latest trends in the sport, board design and how far Californian surfing had dropped behind the rest of the world at that time - on the other hand Mike came off as a complete guffawing kook ... it was embarrassing.

Yeah, maybe those two attributes fit Mr. Love to a "T". 

[leggo of my ego]

If Mike didn't surf, how would he have written all those surfing songs?

Clearly this attention to detail

At huntington and malibu
They're shooting the pier
At rincon they're walking the nose
Were going on safari to the islands this year
So if you're coming get ready to go

suggests first hand experience.

Yes, its truly amazing -- and without any Wikipedia in those prehistoric days