
Richard Anthony Monsour (May 4, 1937 – March 16, 2019), known professionally as Dick Dale, was an American rock guitarist. He was a pioneer of surf music, drawing on Middle Eastern music scales and experimenting with reverb. Dale was known as "The King of the Surf Guitar", which was also the title of his second studio album.
Dale was one of the most influential guitarists of all time and especially of the early 1960s. Most of the leading bands in surf music, such as The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and The Trashmen, were influenced by Dale's music, and often included recordings of Dale's songs in their albums. His style and music influenced guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Eddie Van Halen and Brian May.
He has been credited with popularizing tremolo picking on electric guitar, a technique that is now widely used in many musical genres (such as extreme metal, jazz fusion, etc.). His speedy single-note staccato picking technique was unrivaled until guitarists like Eddie Van Halen entered the music scene.
He is cited as one of the fathers of heavy metal for pushing the limits of amplification. Working together with Leo Fender, Dale also pushed the limits of electric amplification technology, helping to develop new equipment that was capable of producing thick and previously unheard volumes including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier. Dale also pioneered the use of portable reverb effects.
The use of his recording of "Misirlou" by Quentin Tarantino in the film Pulp Fiction led to his return in the 1990s, marked by four albums and world tours. He was also nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Instrumental Performance category for the song "Pipeline" with Stevie Ray Vaughan. In "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time", Dale was ranked 31st in 2003 and 74th in the 2011 revision.
I saw him live in Adelaide in the 90's. Ears are still ringing.
Jimi Hendrix played the same way!
that's what SHE said
Dick plays left hand. He also plays with the strings reversed for a leftie.(the strings are correct for a right hander playing his guitar). This is a seriously weird way to play. I know because I play the same way & never fail to get weird looks & comments at gigs. It also contributes to his unique sound. The upstroke hits the fat E string first. & his style favours the lower strings. I want dibs on any old guitars he wants rid of!
I saw him live in Adelaide in the 90's. Ears are still ringing.
Give me your six, I got the 9!
LOL!!! I gave it a TEN!!!
Jimi Hendrix played the same way!
No, Jimmy Hendrix played a right handed Stratocaster flipped around but the strings were re-strung. I read that Jimmy also knew how to play right-handed as demanded by his father. Albert King however played like Dick Dale on a right handed guitar strung upside-down. I imagine this to be very hard to learn since everything has to be done in reverse and self-taught.
I saw him live in Adelaide in the 90's. Ears are still ringing.
My eldest is a lefty and wanted a left handed guitar when he was in his early teens. I insisted that he learn right handed as there are hundreds, thousands probably, of rh guitars in many households just sitting around. Now the @#$# can outplay me any day and also plays fiddle and piano. Never seen a lefty piano!
The 1948 original by Stan Jones & The Death Valley Rangers? Burl Ives did a good version too.
Truly Epic piece of music! If you don't respond to this, then I'm afraid your DOA!!
Jimi Hendrix played the same way!
To clarify. Dick Dale was left handed & played a left handed bodied stratocaster. He then strung it upside down to be correct for a right handed player.
Jimmy was left handed & played a right handed bodied stratocaster. He then strung it upside down to be correct for a left handed player.
They were doing opposite to eachother. Confused? Welcome to my world!
Funny how nicknames or monikers come and go... Dick is one that I don't hear any young people calling themselves these days.
I suppose using the work Dickhead as a form of ridicule or contempt put an end to that.
Tricky Dick put it all to rest.