The Phantom Surfers
The Phantom Surfers are an American surf rock band and formed in early 1988 with the line-up Johnny Bartlett and Mel Bergman ( guitar ), bassist Mike Lucas and drummer Danny Seelig. Originally founded as a replacement for a canceled concert at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the “Phantom Surfers” quickly developed into an indie favorite, known for their mystery kitsch image (lone ranger masks) and carefully rehearsed stage choreographies.
Band history
Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by the two guitarists Johnny "Big Hand" Bartlett and Mel "Frostbite" Bergman, the "Phantom Surfers" debuted in 1991 with the EP Banzai Washout released on "Estrus Recordings". The single Besame Mucho on "Standard Recordings" from 1991 was released again in 2000 on the album A Decade Of Quality Control 1988-1999 on "V8 Records" and "Secret Recipe".
The debut album Eighteen Deadly Ones! Some singles followed on Norton Records from 1992, e.g. B. Unknown Museum Stomp on "Sympathy For The Record Industry", Bikini Drag on "Estrus Recordings" or Flutter Foot on "Drop-Out". In the years that followed, the “Phantom Surfers” produced several albums and singles, including with Dick Dale and Davie Allan .
The album Phantom Surfers Play The Songs Of The Big-Screen Spectaculars on "Estrus Recordings" from 1993 with Trent "Big Drag" Ruane from The Mummies on guitar, is a collection of surf classics from the 60s.
The humorous concept album Exciting Sounds Of Model Road Racing on "Hobby Hut Recordings" from 1995 was followed by the singles Survival Of The Fattest with the song Fuck Surf Music on "Planet Pimp Records" and Istanbul on Lookout! Records 1996. The 1996 album Phantom Surfers with Dick Dale was released on Crown Records .
Before the album The Great Surf Crash of '97 was released on Lookout! Records ”from 1996, Russell Quan (The Flakes) replaced drummer Seelig (later with The Hi-Fives ) and Bartlett was replaced by guitarist Maz Kattuah.
Together with the guitar legend Davie Allan, the “Phantom Surfers” celebrated their tenth anniversary in 1998 with the instrumental rock opera Skaterhater (based on Noel Black's cult film Skaterdater ) on “Lookout! Records ".
The 2000 album XXX Party on “Lookout! Records ”included several contributions from comedy legends Rudy Ray“ Dolomite ”Moore and Clarence“ Blowfly ”Reid.
Discography
Albums
- 1992 Eighteen Deadly Ones!
- 1992 Phantom Surfers Play The Songs Of The Big-Screen Spectaculars
- 1995 The Exciting Sounds Of Model Road Racing
- 1996 Phantom Surfers with Dick Dale
- 1996 The Great Surf Crash Of '97
- 1998 The Exciting Sounds Of Model Road Racing on “Lookout! Records "
- 1998 skater hater
- 2000 XXX party
- 2000 A Decade Of Quality Control 1988-1999 with 3-D cover and band biography
Singles
- 1991 Besame Mucho
- 1992 Unknown Museum Stomp
- 1992 Banzai Washout
- 1992 Bikini Drag
- 1993 Flutter Foot
- 1995 Survival Of The Fattest
- 1996 Istanbul
Contributions to compilations
- 1988 Blood Orgy Of The Leather Girls
- 1991 The Estrus Half-Rack
- 1991 Northwest Budget Rock Massacre
- 1992 Hell Beach Party
- 1993 Ultra Punch Deluxe
- 1994 Turban Renewal: A Tribute To Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
- 1995 Locked In To Surf Vol. 1
- 1994 Fuck You Spaceman!
- 1994 Surfin '/ Rocket To Europe Tour 1994
- 1996 Locked In To Surf Part 1
- 1996 Heide Sez
- 1996 Cowabunga! Surf box
- 1997 Halloween Hootenanny
- 1997 You're Only As Good As The Last Thing You Did
- 1997 Surforama - Vol 1
- 1997 Surforama - Vol 2
- 1997 The Last Great Thing You Did
- 1998 Turn On, Tune In, Lookout VHS
- 1999 Forward Till Death
- 2000 Everybody's Surfing / Nobody's Surfing
- 2001 Continental Magazine # 8 Sampler
- 2002 Greasy Kid Stuff
- 2003 The Necessary Effect, Screamers Songs Interpreted
- 2003 Go! The Phantom Surfers Race Against The Tormentos
- 2004 Instro-Mental Mania
Band members
Current occupation
- Mel Bergman - guitar
- Mike Lucas - electric bass
- Maz Kautuha - guitar
- Russell Quan - drums
former members
- Johnny Bartlett - guitar
- Danny Seelig - drums