DRIFTING FAQ

Q: WHO ARE DRIFTING SAND?

A: Drifting Sand are a San Francisco Bay Area surfpop band that have released two full-length CDs, several CD singles and have played various clubs, benefits and radio events over the years. The band claim they are the Bay Area's goofiest surf band but they can also be quite serious at times. In general though, Drifting Sand sing songs about having fun at the beach, going surfing and living the California myth begun in the early 60's by Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. The current members of Drifting Sand are Surfer Spud on lead vocals and keyboards, Rockaway Rob on surf guitar, Driftwood on beachin' bass and Wookie on surf drums.

Q: HOW DID DRIFTING SAND BEGIN?

A: The origins of the band can be traced back to March 1993 when Surfer Spud and original guitarist Surfer John were hangin' out at Funston Beach in San Francisco. When a seagull flew overhead, Spud remarked that he wished that he could fly too. John then noted that birds can fly but they can't surf and Spud replied that someone should write a song about that. Spud then wrote the words and chords that would become the song Birds Can't Surf and after John added his signature guitar sound, Birds Can't Surf came to life. Surfer Spud then named the band after seeing a "Drifting Sand" sign on the Pacifica Coast Highway while driving to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Q: WHAT WERE DRIFTING SANDS FIRST RECORDINGS?

A: After recording 4-track demos of Birds Can't Surf and Shark! Shark! (conceived by Surfer John while sitting on the jetty in El Grenada), Drifting Sand entered the studio in June 1993 with producer Lester Temple. The result was the band's debut double A-sided single on limited-edition surf-colored vinyl. A few copies still exist and you can order one here.

Q: WHO IS THE RADIO ANNOUNCER ON SHARK! SHARK!?

A: Producer Lester Temple on the original 45 version and former LIVE 105 Music Assistant Joanna Moore on the CD version.

Q: WHO AND WHAT ARE DRIFTING SAND'S INFLUENCES?

A: In somewhat random order, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jan & Dean, Dick Dale, DEVO, Chris Isaak, The B-52's, Oingo Boingo, Duran Duran, The Lively Ones, The Ventures, Baywatch, Bruce Brown's The Endless Summer & The Endless Summer II, California beaches, beautiful girls, surfing, sand, summer, seafood and the sun. With their quirky sense of humor, Surfer Spud also cites the Marx Brothers, Spongebob Squarepants, Southpark, The Monkees and Ween as influences. And for some odd reason, several band members over the years have been big Rush fans but this has never been evident in the band's music...thankfully!

Q: WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO DRIFTING SAND PLAY?

A: Drifting Sand call their music Surfpop. It's what happens when you put traditional 60's instrumental surf & vocal surf and 80's new wave pop music in a blender and hit shred! The first Drifting Sand album, Surfpop, illustrated this very well. The second self-titled album found the band venturing in an alternative and psychedelic rock direction while still retaining the band's surfpop roots. The common themes on a lyrical level have been surfing, the beach, summer and girls. Drifting Sand songs are fun, happy, positive and sometimes funny!

Q: WHY DID SURFER JOHN LEAVE THE BAND?

A: Surfer John originally left Drifting Sand after he decided he wanted to take the band in a golf direction (some people thought he said "goth"). Surfer Spud wanted to keep Drifting Sand a surf band so the two split in 1997 and Dana Point (aka Dana Vincent from Splashback) joined as surf guitarist. After Dana left in 1998, Surfer John rejoined the band only to leave again to pursue his role as guitarist in Drifting Sand's hillbilly cousin band Hayness Surf. Hayness Surf has since disbanded and Surfer John became Johnny Goldenvoice, one of America's most beloved entertainment and DVD documentary hosts.

A: Spud recruited Kenney when original drummer Don Patrol bailed on Surfpop. Spud, a big Chris Isaak fan, thought it would be really cool to have Kenney play drums on the album so he sent Kenney a demo tape. Kenney liked what he heard and recorded all the drums in one afternoon session in between Chris Isaak gigs. Kenney's favorite song from the album was Sand Is Your Friend but he remarked that the song would have been better if the lyrics weren't so goofy. Spud replied that the lyrics weren't meant to be goofy.

Q: WHY DO DRIFTING SAND SOMETIMES CHANGE THE WORDS TO OTHER BANDS' SONGS?

A: Blame Surfer Spud for that one. Says Spud, "Sometimes I like the melody of a song so much that I get inspired to write new words. I also like taking on the challenge of making a non-surf song "surf" though lately I've been resisting the urge to do that so that people don't start calling us the Weird Al of surf bands!" Some of Drifting Sand's most famous "mutated covers" are Surfin' Half Moon Bay, I Fought The Wave and I'm Gonna Surf (500 Waves).

Q: HOW MANY CDs DO DRIFTING SAND HAVE?

A: Drifting Sand have two full-length CDs: Surfpop, released in 1999 and the self-titled Drifting Sand CD released in 2003. Both CDs were released on the band's own Pina Colada Records label and are available for sale here as well as at local Bay Area record stores and surf shops. Drifting Sand have also released a number of CDs and the band's original release was a 45 on limited-edition surf-colored vinyl which one drifting fan called an old-fashioned CD. The band are currently working on songs for DS3 (working title of third album).

Q: IS SURFIN' WITH BRITNEY REALLY ABOUT BRITNEY SPEARS?

A: Yes.

Q: WHY?!!

A: Surfer Spud wrote Surfin' With Britney in 1999 after seeing Britney's "Live in Hawaii" special and to this day claims he only ever wanted to go surfin' with Britney and never had any ulterior motives…those were reserved for Jessica Simpson!

Q: HAS BRITNEY SPEARS HEARD SURFIN' WITH BRITNEY?

A: The answer to that question is unknown but a copy of the CD single was actually handed to Britney when she played at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA in 2000. Britney remarked that the guys on the cover of the CD looked cute.

Q: WHO IS HODAD STEVE?

A: Hodad Steve is Drifting Sand's first and only roadie. The only problem with Hodad Steve is that he very rarely shows up at Drifting Sand gigs, leaving the band members to haul their own equipment to and from the stage. Hodad Steve has also been known to leave surfboards at the beach, remove the other two fins from his surfboard when one accidentally breaks and leave unexpectedly and unannounced from parties and shopping sprees.

Q: WHAT KINDS OF GUITARS DOES ROCKAWAY ROB PLAY AND WHO ARE HIS INFLUENCES?

A: Rockaway Rob plays a Fender Stratocaster, a Fender Japan Jazzmaster '62 reissue and an original late 60's Mosrite (Ventures Model) through a Roland JC-120 amp. Rockaway Rob says his major influences from the world of surfing music are The Ventures, The Surfaris, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Challengers, Dick Dale and Booker T & the MG's.

Q: WHY DOES DRIFTWOOD KEEP CHANGING HIS NAME AND INSTRUMENT IN DRIFTING SAND?

A: Driftwood has a passion for music and loves to play a variety of instruments. Says Driftwood, "Playing drums brings out a certain primal satisfaction that isn't part of my normal day-to-day existence, the diversity of sounds that emanate from a guitar are endlessly compelling for me and the bass has a powerful punch that I find stimulating." The main reason he switches around is because he can and because there have been quite a few line-up changes since Driftwood joined the band. Driftwood has also been called Snorkl, Nuku and Bam Bam before settling on Driftwood.

Q: IS WOOKIE A BIG STAR WARS FAN?

A: No, Surfer Spud is actually the Star Wars nut in the band. In fact, Wookie has only seen Episodes IV, V and VI and probably couldn't even tell you what planet Chewbacca is from (answer: Kashyyyk). Wookie was named by former Drifting Sand bassist Goofyfoot Greg for his height and friendly demeanor, plus he always wins in a fight!

Q: WHERE HAVE DRIFTING SAND PLAYED LIVE?

A: Drifting Sand have played live since 1998 and have played at a variety of different venues and events. This includes opening up for Dick Dale at Slim's, opening up for Nancy Sinatra at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, opening up for The Red Elvises (three times!), playing on the outdoor stage at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and at the San Jose Convention Center for Radio Disney, playing Surfrider Foundation benefits and a couple of corporate events and lobster parties. Surfer Spud has said that Drifting Sand will play just about anywhere and notes that they even once played a party where there were more frogs in attendance than people!

Q: WHY HAVE THERE BEEN SO MANY LINEUP CHANGES?

A: This has been a question up for great debate for many years. Surfer Spud insists it's not him and will specifically tell you why each individual member has left the band. The reasons vary and make for great band history. In fact, local SF Bay Area radio star and filmmaker Web Fingors has been working on a documentary called Behind The Sand which details the drifting story and focuses on the seemingly hundreds of musicians that have drifted in and out of the band. Remarked Surfer Spud, "As long as I don't break up with myself, there will be a Drifting Sand surfing band!"

Q: HAVE DRIFTING SAND RECEIVED ANY RADIO AIRPLAY?

A: Yes! Drifting Sand have received airplay on KROQ in Los Angeles (Rodney on the Roq is a fan and plays the band quite regularly), on LIVE 105 in San Francisco (At The Mercy Of The Wave and Shark! Shark! have been used for the surf report heard during the Howard Stern show) and various college and internet surf shows, most notably KFJC's Surf's Up! (Phil Dirt), KCR (Clint Beachwood) in San Diego, the Devlar Surf Sessions (Ray Dukes) and Twang Shebang (Unsteady Freddie). Drifting Sand have also received airplay in Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil and Australia and think they may be big in Japan!

Q: WHAT DO DRIFTING SAND DO IN THE WINTER?

A: During the cold winter months, Drifting Sand morph into their alter-ego snowboard-shredding winter band Drifting Snow and perform at ski lodges and après-shred parties. The band have released one EP that includes the tracks Drifting Snow, Avalanche, Cold December Morning and Surfing At Night. You can buy a copy here.

Q: DO DRIFTING SAND HAVE A RECORD LABEL?

A: Drifting Sand have released all of their CDs and records on the band's own Pina Colada Records, based in Burlingame, CA. Says Surfer Spud, "Pina Colada are a great label because they give us the freedom to do whatever we want whenever we want. Plus, the CEO is really cool and understands when we aren't working on new songs because the surf is up!"

Q: WHAT IS DRIFTING SAND'S DREAM GIG?

A: Ultimately, Drifting Sand just want to play the Buzz Light-Year stage in Disneyland. Surfer Spud has said that if that ever happened, he would probably call it a day because there would be no way to top that!

Q: DO THE MEMBERS OF DRIFTING SAND ACTUALLY SURF?

A: Yes...and surf's up so we'll sea ya in the water!

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