Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore scores surfing by Mick Fanning.
Do you remember the post-career trajectory of pro surfers pre-Kelly Slater? It was rarely pretty. A regional surf school or a little freelance surf coaching was the best anyone could hope for.
Soon, what was left of the sponsorship money dried up and it was mouth upon ice pipe to dull the despair and hopelessness.
Oh, I know, I exaggerate a little.
Now, as shown by Kelly Slater, a pro surfing career can easily morph into a series of profitable businesses. Kelly has a pool, a clothing label, surfboards.
And, Mick Fanning, whom we’ll watch in the short movie below, has beer, boards and battery chargers.
This clip which was scored by the former Mars Volta, and current Queens of the Stone Age, drummer Jon Theodore is a promo for Grapes the Cat, a cut-price charger for your telephone.
Theodore liberates us from the hold of guitars and electronica with a solo whose rhythmic tension, moments of relaxation and subtlety, mirror wonderfully the surfing of thirty-six-year-old Fanning.
Watch here.
ONE WAV // MANY WAVES from Grapes The Cat on Vimeo.
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
According to Martin Potter aka “Pottz”, surfers shuffle up their boards in order to slow down in the tube.
Cuz I always plug my iPhone into a palm tree and leave it on the beach while I surf.
Never been a big fan of Micks, but damn that first wave was good. Straight up no bullshit kind of good.
And then the rest of the clip was basically the same turn repeated, and then I remembered why I was never a big fan of Mick
Have to admit I underestimate Mick’s surfing. That clip of his surfing Mexico a few years back, just amazing. Mick free surfing (not just comp right hand torqueing) right hand barrels, just epic
Said Wardo’s PO never.
The Hunchback of Snapper Rocks
There were some amazing technical drummers back in the 60’s – Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, Ginger Baker – guys of that ilk. This guy is like Bam Bam on garbage cans.
Its one song, he is worthy…
God you are right.. Their is footage of Ginger Baker playing outdoor venue in England that is moving..
Ginger Baker is on another planet. Drumming is out of this world also. That stuff he did will Fela Kuti is insane.
This opinion couldn’t be more wrong, my dude. Jon Theodore is otherworldly.
My back gets sore watching that whip around off the top.
Holy flicking shit, that first wave was unreal. Very rarely do I rewind anything Mick Fanning does, but that first wave – in the words of the inimitable Noob-Noob, “god damn.”
The high line to needle thread through the duck divers really made that one extra special.
Nice dab at the end there. Eugene is dead.
its a rare let-down with just drums…. lest we forget Eugene slices fruits like a ninja warrior….
Alas, my last session could have been mirrored by a triangle.
I want Thuston Moore to improv to my entire session. Lulls and all.
If Mick is Jon Theodore, Mason Ho is Jimi Hendrix, who is Kelly? Who is Jordy? Filipe?
Kelly is Moby. Jordy is U2. Filipe is the Gypsey Kings.
How about this: who’s Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus?
Miley Cyrus is Chris Ward. Beyonce is Medina. Taylor Swift is Kelly’s weird instagram alter-ego Ranch Hand.
Ford A. is more akin to Miley
Ford and Alex are Butthole Surfers.
Except the Butthole Surfers are actually amazing.
I won’t accept the Butthole Surfers are actually amazing. Neither will I make an exception for Tomorrow’s Tulips.
Try the Hurdu Gurdy Man cover on the Hairway to Steven album. A tame introduction. Never heard of Tomorrow’s Tulips. I’m probably too old.
The butthole surfers are well truly amazing. Electric Larryland is perfect.
Nat Young; Nickelback (You have to get in early).
Kanoa; Yoko.
Frederico; Julio Iglesias.
Michel; Phil Anselmo.
Filipe; Prince.
Yoko could really strum that wreck this chord with blind ease.
Yeah, but not Filipe as Prince
Others spot on, especially Nat Young & Nickelback
You’re not convinced by his scrawny elfin approach?
Pretty on point
FArrrkkkkk my brain!
Kelly is Angus Young, should give it up but won’t and we love it.
Jordy is Sth Africa’s last title hope and in three decades they will try to find him ala Rodriguez.
Filipe is probably, hmmmm let’s say, that Gangnam dude. Lights up the world and then whateve’s.
If I sent a clip of my surfing to Theodore, he’d forward it to Jerome Deupree of Morphine.
Mine would be scored by the Muppets.
Ha!
Morphine! Also a crazy reveired Melbourne jazz band?!?!
Mark Sandman!!!! I freakin LOVED Morphine. Saw them at Irving plaza in NYC…. curr for pain is amazing. Like swimming was insane!!!
Mr. Nuts, I think you might be the person who would most appreciate the story of how I came to trying to sell a hideously customised Fender Jazz to T. Moore and K. Gordon at The Playroom one fine evening. How’s the band going by the way? Touring Qld in the foreseeable future?
You are fucking kidding me! Well, did QLD last year, so probs not soon considering some bastard gave me alcohol poisoning for the third and last gig of the tour! Worst thing to play with ever.