L is for… Los Straitjackets
Formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1988, Los Straitjackets are a brilliant surf group featuring guitarists Eddie Angel and Danny Amis, bassist Pete Curry and drummer Jason ‘Teen Beat’ Smay. The group are famous for wearing Mexican wrestling masks.
Los Straitjackets have released a bunch of great records: Supersonic Guitars In 3D (2003) and 2007’s Rock En Español Vol. 1 are particularly essential.
The band also contributed a great cover of The Munsters Theme (listen here) to the 1998 Halloween Hootenanny album released on Rob Zombie’s Zombie A Go-Go Records, a great compilation that also features The Bomboras, The Ghastly Ones and the awesome Southern Culture On The Skids.
L is also for… Laramie Dean
Laramie Dean is a surf punk guitarist from New York. A Fender endorsee, Laramie uses more distortion than you’re average surf guitarist. His cover of Ghost Riders In The Sky (watch it live here) is typical of his approach. Subtle it ain’t.