The Ventures Performing “Wipeout” In ’65 Will Have You Missing The Beach

Cowabunga!

The Ventures, possibly the greatest instrumental rock group of all time, covered The Sufaris’ “Wipeout” and turned it not only into the Hawaii Five-O Theme Song, but one of the greatest instrumental tunes in the world. You really cannot help but thinking about the beach when you hear this “California-esque” jam, let alone picture a surfer getting whomped after ripping a sweet swell, right?

“We’re not just rock ‘n’ roll. We play all kinds of different things. We had a classical album out, which is Bach and Beethoven, with 35 pieces on it. Our Tenth Anniversary album was certainly considered to be, I don’t want to say a step above rock ‘n’ roll, ’cause I think rock ‘n’ roll is number one, but at least a step away from it. I think we’re much more than surf that’s for sure.” – The Ventures’ Don Wilson

Inspired by the apparent Hawaiian fascination we had in the 50’s and 60’s, “Wipeout” hit #2 on the 1963 Billboard Charts and returned to the Hot 100 in 1966, reaching #16 in Billboard and #9 in Cash Box in its second national chart run, landing at #63 on the Year-end chart. The hit appeared on The Ventures’ The Ventures On Stage album and became one of the greatest beach-related songs in the world, soon to be covered by The Beach Boys.

Interesting Fact: Don Wilson and Bob Bogle first met in 1958, when Bogle was looking to buy a car from a used car dealership owned by Wilson’s father. Finding a common interest in guitars, the two decided to play together, while Wilson joined Bogle performing masonry work.

With some of the best drumming ever by Mel Taylor, The Ventures performed their awesome, upbeat hit in Japan in this video and the black and white really brings us back!

Enjoy The Ventures and the song that will always make you want to make to move to California!