User:Blanketape/sandbox

The Skurfs are a ski-surf, or "skurf," band originally formed in Missoula, MT. The band started when Gavin McCourt (Donny McBride) and Daniel Venturella (Danny Venture) met and wanted to form a surf band. Because they were located in the Rocky Mountains and not near the ocean, the two settled on becoming a ski-surf band rather than a surf band. By combining the two words ski and surf the band settled on a name. Samuel Ore (Sammy Hepburn) was approached to play bass and eventually drummer Alex Van Minnen (Van Alexander) was brought on.

While keeping with the mainly instrumental tradition of surf music, the Skurfs added heavy, palm-muted riffs as well as a range of other musical styles to the surf template. Early shows were highlighted by the finale "Black Diamond," a completely improvised jam revolving around two simple parts.