The Ventures
The 2000 Pound Bee

The Ventures! A group practically unknown to most, but which can be defined as one of the most important initiators and exponents of the so-called "surf music." That is to say, the music that serves as a soundtrack for the guys who stroll on the sea waves with wooden boards...

The Story

The Ventures, still active playing songs and performing concerts, were formed in 1958 by guitarists Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. A purely instrumental group, already in 1960 they released "Walk don't run" which would delight many future musicians, as well as many more eccentric people, like notaries and ear-nose-throat specialists. The ground was fertile. The sun on American beaches at the beginning of the sixties was quite warm, and more and more people were approaching the practice of surfing: a philosophy of a few in the fifties, now it was about to become a true cultural phenomenon. Even cinema and music were influenced by the new trend. More and more bands were dedicating themselves to the new sound, fresh, energetic, and fun. Many of them became infinitely famous, see the Beach Boys first (although for them a much more in-depth discussion would be needed), or Mr. Dick Dale and co. Others were not so lucky and remained unknown to most. The Ventures are practically in the middle of the two groups. Probably now they do not sit in the Olympus of music gods, but over the years they recorded some tracks that have remained embedded in a certain history of music, in addition to having sold about 100 million records worldwide, becoming one of the most economically successful instrumental music bands ever. After all, there must be a reason if artists like Stephen Stills or Joe Walsh (Eagles) cited them as one of their major influences, or if a director like Quentin Tarantino wanted to reintroduce them for his film soundtracks? ...Either way, the Ventures continued to produce albums and singles in the early sixties. And in 1962, they made this song about a "ton bee," perhaps the first and particular example of surf music with punk hints. Et voilà?

The Song

The track is a nice mix of surf rock and "dirty sounds." The melody and tempo are typical of the early "wave" rock'n'roll, but over clearer guitars, there is a buzzing guitar that creates a background noise. It is this one that starts the song, launching a riff that repeats endlessly for about four minutes, with the other guitars and drums chasing it, slightly varying the accompaniment. There is just enough time for a small melody variation by the main guitar, and for a 4-5 second drum solo (never a good thing!!). In short: what on earth are we talking about?! I don’t quite understand? Are we talking about guitars playing along with a buzz of insects??? Could be. I mean, here they are!

The Anecdote

One afternoon many years ago, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were fooling around on the beach, gazing at the sea. The typical situation in which thoughts move back and forth, and you take stock. A radio was broadcasting a song by the Ventures, the bee one. Dan told John that if he were to die before him, he would want that song at his funeral, as an epitaph. “Because - he continued laughing - it would be great to see the effect of such a hard piece in a church full of people.” “Sure - replied John without batting an eyelid - And you must do the same with me!” The two then made a promise. We well know that the less fortunate of the two was John. During the ceremony, his old companion approached a microphone with a recorder in his hand, and as promised, he played the song, releasing the ton bee into the air. After the initial amazement, everyone laughed.

The Advice

Rediscover these beach minstrels as soon as possible, if nothing else, they will lift your spirits in this horrid weather that has suddenly arrived. And you will have a nice drink of music and sand.

Down the hatch, folks!