The Rip Chords

The Rip Chords are a 60's surf/hot rod rock group from California. The original band members were Ernie Bringas, Phil Stewart, Rich Rotkin, Arnie Marcus, Terry Melcher, and Bruce Johnston. Founding members Bringas and Stewart first met each other in 1957 and started out as a vocal duo called the Opposites. They eventually landed a contract with Columbia Records in 1962, added additional members to the line-up, and subsequently changed their name to the Rip Chords. The band's debut single "Here I Stand Alone" only went to #51 on the Billboard pop charts in 1963. The Rip Chords scored their biggest and best known hit with the rousing hot rod song "Hey Little Cobra," which peaked at #4 on the Billboard pop charts in 1964 and sold a million copies. The equally stirring follow-up number "Three Window Coupe" cracked the Top 30 in the summer of 1964. The single "One Piece Topless Bathing Suit" was the group's last chart success. The Rip Chords appear as themselves and perform the song "Red Hot Roadster" in the enjoyably inane "Beach Party"-style musical teen comedy romp "A Swingin' Summer." Moreover, the band was featured on two of Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars tours. The group split up in late 1965. Arnie Marcus and Rich Rotkin formed a new version of the Rip Chords in the mid 90's; this current incarnation of the band has not only recorded and released several albums, but also tour and perform in concert on a regular basis all over the United States.