Dick Dale, The King Of The Surf Guitar, Passes At 82

Dick Dale Was 82

RICHARD ANTHONY MONSOUR, better known by his stage name DICK DALE, whose mastery of the Fender Stratocaster helped launch the surf-rock genre, passed away after a long illness at the age of 92.

DALE’s influence could be felt in the styles of JIMI HENDRIX and EDDIE VAN HALEN, as he drew on EASTERN musical scales and experimented with reverb, working closely with LEO FENDER to produce custom-made amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt amp. His distorted, “thick, clearly defined tones,” the breakneck speed of his single-note staccato picking technique and stage showmanship helped contribute to the birth of heavy metal music. His hit instrumental, “Misirlou,” was memorably used as the title song in QUENTIN TARANTINO’s “Pulp Fiction,” as well as TV campaigns for DOMINO’S PIZZA, MOUNTAIN DEW and the NISSAN MAXIMA.

DALE is survived by his wife and their son JIMMY “STIX” DALE, a drummer who often opened for and performed with his dad.

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