The Phabulous Phantom Surfers!
It was a thrill to catch up with The Legendary Phantom Surfers. This all boy surf quintet from the Bay Area arrived on our southern shores this summer and treated us to a lively set at the Viva Cantina in lovely Burbank, California, minus one surfer. Besides a small photo shoot outside of the club, I captured them live for your viewing pleasure.
I was able to squeeze the following interview out of several of the band members and what ensued was nothing less than pure frivolity from these masked marauders. Viva Los Phabulous Phantom Surfers!
Julie Green
September 26, 2015
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| Mighty Mel Bergman |
Julie Green: Crushed or Satin
Velvet?
Mel Bergman: Crushed considering
the jackets are 19 years old and look brand new after hundreds of gigs....
Johnny Bartlett: Crustin.
It's a hybrid.
Russell Quan: I no know? Hee hee!
JG: What is your favorite original
song by the Surfers and why?
MB: Hmmm, That's hard to say....but
off the top of my head, Johnny’s song Slotter Onn Tenth Ave...Excellent song,
Fantastic title. It holds up
well.
JB: Damare/the Tell Tale Couch. It's
got that beat where it's impossible to stand still!!
RQ: I no know ? hee hee!
JG: Who are all the members that have
been in the band over the years?
 |
| Masculine Maz Katuah |
MB: Including fill in dudes: Mel,
Johnny, Mike, Max Russell, Danny, Trent, Stork, Frank , Chris, Tom, Deke,
Barfy, ....I might be missing a few
JB: See Mel's answer.
RQ: I no know? Hee hee!
JG: Mel, do you build your own
guitars or do you customize them?
MB: Yes. I'm working on a new line
of production guitars at the moment.
JG: What is the craziest tour the
band has been on and why?
MB: Hmmm, another tough one, but I'd
have to say the Spain/ Norway tour for sheer oddness. And Norway has provided
endless humor over the years.
 |
| Moveable Mike Lucas |
JB: The 1991 cross country tour in
the 1970 Ford Econoline that only had 2 seats and no gas gauge. Oh, and an
illogical itinerary. Good times.
JG: “Sin in the Suburbs” directed by
Joeseph W. Samo is an amazing movie.
Have you watched “The Bed and How to Make it?”.
MB: No. I only watch Neighbors w
Belushi and Ackroyd
JG: Do you feel like a superhero
with your mask on?
MB: No, I barely feel like a human
JB: Yes! A blind superhero with a
lousy physique.
RQ: I no know? Hee hee!
JG: How did the tour with the
A-Phonics go this summer?
MB: Bad for the A phonics as they
had to play w us each night!
 |
| Johnny "The Peach" Bartlett |
JB: Great bunch of guys and a
really fantastic surf band!!!! They threatened to recapture California in the
name of Espana!
JG: Nations or Val’s?
MB: Cmon, that is ridiculous question!
JB: We're offended by the question.
VAL'S!!!
RQ: I no know? Hee hee!
JG: Have you ever surfed on a board?
MB: Sort of.
JB: Yes. Many, many times. I just
went on Sunday.
JG: Ever thought of doing just
strait up comedy?
MB: What do you think we have been
doing for 27 years?
JB: That would take too much effort.
We'll stick to the easy stuff like surf music and blowing clams.
RQ: I no know? Hee hee!
MB: No, but most of them should.
JG: How did you get Darren to be the
cover model?
MB: "Darren, here is you chance
to fulfill your dream of posing in a rocker wig whilst holding a plunger."
like shooting fish in a barrel, it was.
JG: Are there any new recordings in
the works?
MB: Actually yes, next year. We are
re-recording a lot of our tunes, as the current owners are doing nothing to
exploit our recordings. Wait...we own all our masters...
JB: Yes. There's a kids album in the
works aimed at 3-6 year olds. It'll be a rousing singalong lp full of ABCs and
1-2-3s.
JG: When are you playing next?
MB: We might have something in the
works for 13 months from now. I just hope we can get our shit together by then.
But, not likely.
JB: 2016 or 2017.
RQ: I no know? Hee hee!
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