Drew Steele – R.I.P.

With sadness I learned that founding member of the Surf Punks, Drew Steele has passed away after a battle with cancer. Against all odds, the Surf Punks had a huge influence on me as a teenager growing up in the Midwest. I first heard them on the Dr. Demento show, and saw them briefly mentioned in a blurb about “violent surf culture punk music” in Time magazine of all places. The picture above is from Drew’s Instagram feed shortly after Dennis Dragon passed in 2017. Bonus shot of the making of the iconic cover of My Beach featuring the first (?) skateboard-as-guitar after the jump.

Drew’s brother Tommy Steele, art directing the photoshoot for the cover of My Beach. I’ve stared at the cover so many times it was sort of a shock to see that was partially concocted stage. As seen on Instagram.

The end result, a fantastic cover. Drew in the back and Dennis in the foreground. Photo via Why It Matters.