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MANTI — The band whose big hit starts out with an unforgettable, laughing "wipe out," recently returned to Utah. Even if you caught the free show at the Rat Fink Reunion last year, things were different this year, especially for the person who's brought them there.
The first difference was the set list.
Bob Berryhill, the only remaining founding member, explained that, in 2022, the band played popular surf songs by a variety of artists. But this year, it was more of their own tunes.
The Rat Fink Reunion honored Ed Roth, creator of the ugly counter-Mickey Mouse character. He died in 2001, and his widow, Ilene Roth, and family, carry on the legacy with a get-together in Manti the first weekend of every June.
Ilene Roth said her favorite song is "Wipe Out," so she brought the Surfaris to her backyard in 2022. But she said she was so overwhelmed that she couldn't enjoy it. She was still in shock after losing her husband. Here's a sample of the concert.
This year, she planned to soak it all in — just take in some deep breaths and take in the music.
Bob Berryhill was happy to take the band back to the middle of Utah for two reasons: First, a group of hot-rodders from around the world relate to the Surfaris, who played both surf and hot-rod music.
Also, Berryhill sold the Surfaris' authentic "Wipe-Out" album. The real Surfaris. He said that after the self-funded single, the teenage musicians got on Dot records. They recorded an album full of songs on a Saturday in 1963, and, earlier this month, the album came out. It was no feat of fast vinyl pressing; the producers used other musicians on most of the tracks. The record cover states: "THE SURFARIS — WIPE OUT (the two songs from the previous single) AND SURFER JOE.. AND OTHER POPULAR SELECTIONS BY OTHER INSTRUMENTAL GROUPS."
The group was shocked and angered. Saxophonist Jim Pash's dad Ed sued Dot records, which got the band kicked off the label in September. Dot kept the album out there because it was making money, and the Surfaris ended up on the Decca label.
This year in Manti, the Surfaris sold and signed their own version of the "Wipe Out" album, on vinyl. You can get the full reunion schedule at ratfink.com.
