Spies Who Surf
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Spies Who Surf | |
|---|---|
 L-R: Todd Colburn, Tommy Klein (seated), David Suycott, Marty Busca | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Genres | Surf rock |
| Years active | 1987-1997, 1999 |
| Past members | Tommy Klein, Todd Colburn, Marty Busca, David Suycott, Tim Mulvena, Marshall Dawson |
Spies Who Surf were a surf rock band from Chicago. They were recognized by Billboard (magazine) as being part of a global surf rock movement.[1] They have shared the stage with national surf acts, including the Ventures[2] and Dick Dale.[3]
They debuted on Thanksgiving 1987[4] and disbanded in 1997, though they did reform for one show in 1999.[5][6][7]
In the Illinois Entertainer's first Chicago Musician Awards, held July 16, 1990 at Cabaret Metro, David Suycott was voted "best drummer" and Todd Colburn was voted "best guitarist".[8] Suycott also won the Avalon's Drum Solo Contest in 1990.[9]
In 1993 David Suycott left the band to join the industrial rock band Stabbing Westward.[10] Todd Colburn moved to New York where he formed his own surf band, called "This Spy Surfs", with B. Clay on bass and Max Tucker on percussion.[11][12] Tommy Klein co-founded the jazz fusion ensemble Liquid Soul along with Psychedelic Furs sax player Mars Williams.[13]
Tommy Klein and Marty Busca continued the Spies Who Surf with new drummer Tim Mulvena and new guitarist Marshall Dawson. This line-up continued until 1997 when they disbanded.
In 1999, Tommy Klein was drafted to play a gig with the Greaseballs, another Chicago surf band, substituting for their guitarist Manny Guevara who could not play the show. When the Greaseballs played a few Spies Who Surf tunes, the reaction from the crowd prompted Klein to talk to Busca, who attended the show, about reforming the band.[5] The band did reform briefly, with Suycott returning on drums, but the reunion was short-lived due to Busca's continuing problem with drug abuse. Busca died of a heroin overdose on January 5, 2002.[14] The Spies played one more show on January 20, 2002, as a memorial to Busca, at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago with Dan Polonsky substituting on bass.
In 2010, Tommy Klein and Marshall Dawson started a new surf rock band called "Ambassadors to Earth", along with Dan Polonsky on bass, and Larry Brown on drums.[15][16]
Band members
Spies Who Surf
- Tommy Klein — guitar (1987-1997, 1999)
- Marty Busca — bass (1987-1997, 1999) (Died: Jan 2002)[14]
- Todd Colburn — guitar (1987-1993)
- Marshall Dawson — guitar (1993-1997, 1999)
- David Suycott — drums (1987-1993, 1999)
- Tim Mulvena — drums (1993-1997)
Ambassadors to Earth
- Tommy Klein — guitar (2010–present)
- Marshall Dawson — guitar (2010–present)
- Dan Polonsky — bass (2010–present)
- Larry Brown — drums (2010–present)
Discography
Albums
Calling All Martians
- Released: 1993
- Format: CD
- Label: Monsterdisc
- Tracks: "Intro: Walk of the Zombie", "Spy Beach", "Cyanide Junkie", "Ecology Trilogy: Suicide Spree / Destroy All Pollution / Evacuation", "Boss X Blowout", "Stakeout", "Calling All Martians", "Xenophobia", "Keys to Her Ferrari", "The Creep", "Black Earth", "Surf Nazi Clambake", "Necrophiliac"
Compilation appearances
- "Stake Out" on It Came From Jay's Garage (1988, Moving Target Records)
- "Hocus Pocus" on 20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions! (1991, Pravda Records)
- "Spy Beach" on Beyond the Beach (1994, Upstart Records)
