The Ventures
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
The Ventures are a hugely successful instrumental rock combo that formed in 1958 in Tacoma, WA. The original line-up was
Don Wilson (rhythm guitar),
Nokie Edwards (bass),
Bob Bogle (lead guitar) and Skip Moore on drums (he was later replaced by
Howie Johnson, who in turn was replaced by
Mel Taylor. Taylor played drums
for the group right up until his death from cancer in 1996 and was
replaced by his son, Leon). The Ventures scored their first big hit
with "Walk Don't Run", which peaked at #2 on the Billboard pop
charts in September 1960. The follow-up singles "Perfidia" and
"Ram-Bunk-Shush!" likewise did well. The band's stirring rendition of
the theme for the TV series
Hawaii Five-O (1968) went all
the way to #4 on the Billboard pop charts and "Walk Don't Run
'64" charted at #8 in 1964. In addition, the group has released more than 150 albums altogether (85 in the US alone) that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide (they
are especially popular in Japan). The group appears in the rock
concert documentary
Beloved Invaders: The Ventures (1965).
Such artists as George Harrison,
Stephen Stills,
Gene Simmons,
Elton John,
Keith Moon,
Alan White,
Joe Perry and
Roger Glover have cited the band as a
major influence on rock music. Their songs have been featured on the
soundtracks to several movies, including Madagascar (2005),
Kangaroo Jack (2003),
Zoolander (2001),
American Pie (1999),
The Van (1996),
Dutch (1991) and
Crocodile Dundee II (1988).
The band continues to play and tour all over the world. The
Ventures celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2008 and were inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008.
