Digging Dick Dale at the Whisky A-Go-Go

Dick Dale is one of the big four of American rock instrumentalist on guitar. Duane Eddy, Link Wray, and Davie Allan round out the other three. He made a fine showing on June 19th in Hollywood's Whisky A-Go-Go with Sam Bolle on bass. Most of his material I either knew or have heard him perform in the past. A contemporary of Eddie Cochran, they used to discuss the future of the electric guitar and agreed that the studio would be an essential element of this. Dick Dale preferred solid-body guitars while Eddie Cochran stuck with the Gretch and could play marvelously well. His friendship comes up by his doing Summertime Blues. Cochran, as is well known, was slain at the age of 21 while concluding at UK tour with Gene Vincent. The driver, ironically was named George Martin! Even with a sore back, Dick Dale made a showman's entrance from the second floor. while blasting through a hidden speaker. Most like a Fender.

His Fender Stratocaster has only one setting: LOUDEST! Yet, as close as I was to the stage, my ears did not ring as often happens at live, club shows.

Fans that came ranged in teens to probably over 60 or people from the first era of instrumental surf music like meself. Had I really thought about it, I may have been able to meet him backstage. He's scheduled to return in the fall and maybe next time I shall. When it was over the trio of men took their bows and the appreciative throng let them know how much this show meant to us.