Dick Dale, the pioneer of surf rock best known for his 1962 hit “Misirlou”, featured in the film Pulp Fiction, has died aged 81.
Dale’s live bassist, Sam Bolle, confirmed to the Guardian that Dale died on the night of Saturday, 16 March.
Born Richard Anthony Monsour in Boston, Massachusetts, Dale is credited with pioneering the surf music style, by drawing on his Middle-Eastern heritage and experimenting with reverberation.
Working with Fender in order to produce custom made amplifiers, Dale produced new equipment capable of producing distorted tones at unprecedented volumes. The speed of his picking technique is also considered a precursor to heavy metal music, while also influencing guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.
His fifth single, 1961’s “Let’s Go Trippin’”, is considered to be the first surf rock song and has been credited with launching the craze of the early 1960s.
His 1962 version of the traditional Greek folk song “Misirlou”, sped up and played on a single string, became a hit after he performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino famously used the track in the opening to his film Pulp Fiction, giving Dale a renewed sense of popularity.
Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson paid tribute on Twitter, writing: “I’m sorry to hear about Dick Dale passing. Dick’s guitar playing was a big influence on all of us, and we covered ‘Misirlou’ on our Surfin’ USA album in ‘63. Love & Mercy to Dick’s family.”
In 2015, Dale told the Pittsburgh City Paper: “I can’t stop touring because I will die. Physically and literally, I will die.” According to Billboard, the musician needed the money from touring to cover medical bills for diabetes, post-cancer treatment and other debilitating conditions.
He is survived by Lana and his son, Jimmie.
