THE TRASHMEN - Surfin' Bird + Interview (1963)

Mega cult song performed by awesome surf rock trio THE TRASHMEN from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Released in 1963. on the LP with the same name - Surfin' Bird. Song is combined from parts of two R&B songs by THE RIVINGTONS (aka THE SHARPS), called "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird Is The Word". Song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the later part of 1963. During the years it has been covered by lots of artists like THE RAMONES, THE CRAMPS, SILVERCHAIR, PEE-WEE HERMAN, EQUIPE 84, BEAST IN HEAT, ATENTAT NA SLUH, SODOM... and has been used in several movies like Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket" and "Pink Flamingos" by almighty John Waters.

[@steveo2737]

59 years after and Peter still helping everyone know that the bird is the word

[@trainandtruckmodeler786]

LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@randywilder2797]

Since I was a kid in the 70's, I have always known that bird is the word, but I'm not sure what to think in today's world.

[@pompelmostique]

Word. 😂 By far the best single I scooped out of my parents cassettes for donation bin... LOVED singing the end of the song as a kid!

[@calfan4life]

Put this song on at a kids party and watch things quickly get out of control!

[@Petemonster62]

dg hc - The Trashman actually had four members. Steve was the drummer; there were also a lead guitarist, a rhythm guitarist, & a bass guitarist. They could not raise the money for all 4 to fly out to play on American Bandstand, so Steve went alone.

[@ezandycle]

During his interview, Dick Clark wondered if The Trashmen would be gigging at the Copa in ten years time. Actually, they were immortalized around ten years later, but it was in a scene from PINK FLAMINGOS that no one who saw the film could ever forget.

[@cronos222]

Amazing he's such a soft spoken and polite guy during the interview

[@user-rg7fy1sc9y]

Love that song one of my favorites

[@66JoeB]

Man what courage,terrific...

[@bogart968]

Sono nato nel 68' e già da qualche parte nell'infinita estensione del nulla ascoltavo questo pezzo è mi estasiato di gioia.

[@michaeljoyner6470]

One of the All time favorites.

[@meryrock10]

Esto es una genialidad, no puedo parar de reirme

[@rogerb5615]

These guys invented punk rock.

[@jasonkessler6841]

Link Wray did.

[@wrotenwasp]

Amen! You said it all. This cat is bad as hell! That groovy suit makes it all the cooler.

[@meryrock10]

Esto es una genialidad

[@miquelangelsantandreugomez2350]

Que maravilla oir luego hablar a este tipo....maravilla y alocada canción

[@skyemacallister1306]

Remember watching this on tv when it premiered

[@CarlosGonzalez-yv1tg]

An act like this, a solo guy dancing in such an unusual way, must have looked like an act from Mars in those days

[@juanfelipecopete9368]

I love this song remembered me full metal jacket when animal mother says "let's the vietnamese play indians".

[@madridista1902]

He never found out that Stanley Kubrick put his song in his movie

[@Naminski1a]

You mean Full Metal Jacket (1987) and don't forget Family Guy.

[@GustavoMedinaHuaman]

muy buena musica esos tienpo retroseder en el tienpo

[@jon1jjjjjj]

Fun Times!

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

Cool!!! Great upload thx!!!

[@JCHaywire]

That is a really funny statement, "Well we're going to try and come out with something that resembles this...." You guys are great. There's always a home for you in bluegrass if the surfing thing doesn't work out in Minnesota.

[@dougschrecengostii3656]

I have to say, I love Trashmen. Let this be a lesson. The Rivingtons did it first. Trashmen wrote this version, combining "The Bird is the Word" and "Om Papa Mau Mau." These days we give credit where it's due. The times were different, as there was no way to know right? No internet. Trashmen still went to court over this I believe. The Bird has always been, and will always be.... The Word.

[@gcart7675]

wow😑🤦🏻‍♂️😒

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

The Trashmen were actually only aware of one of those songs, either way they completely make it their own on this recording. Nothing else sounded like that and especially not the Rivingtons

[@normanwitt4692]

Big song on Full Metal Jacket

[@hamricmike8]

At the end he should have said, Dick I'm gonna ask you this only once. Do you or do you not know about the bird?

[@jordonhowe2920]

because everyone knows that the bird is the word

[@alvaroakatico9188]

I did not know that!

[@alvaroakatico9188]

Now I know.

[@7Tino777]

Mike Hamric 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣😁😁

[@kevinharrington1766]

I heard the frontman tell Dick Clark "WE wrote this song" but I knew that was a lie -- I have the Rivingtons' two original songs !!!~~

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

The Trashmen were only aware of one of those two. Either way they make it their own on this recording

[@DoctorShocktor]

@@rocknroll_jezus9233Wrong, reading comprehension is actually important. The Trashmen “claim” that they hadn’t heard the Rivington’s perform “Bird is the Word” but rather a group called the Sorensen brothers. So they HAD heard BOTH songs prior to being SUED by the Rivingtons and losing, having to credit the Rivingtons as the original writers. Yes, after illegally plagiarizing the song, and even claiming authorship on this interview, the Trashmen’s version became famous through promotion.

[@1165slugman]

​@@DoctorShocktor Well I guarantee the rising rivingtons didn't have that og bird dance lol

[@Vincerama]

@@rocknroll_jezus9233 That would be impossible. Listen to the two songs "Papa Om Mow Mow" and "Bird's the word". Clearly they must have heard both songs.

[@danborwick8779]

Haven't you heard?

[@markino1963]

inspiration for many of the following rockers

[@zippykip2600]

he looks like hosea from red dead 2

[@terrafirma91]

Man, this singer has some good moves.

[@TheGrindhouselover]

anytime i hear this song, i either think of Peter Grifin or Pink Flamigos :) :)

[@MrSetaiberica]

Podras reírte de el, podras juzgarle,,, pero ejecuto un clásico de música loca. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow

[@bobgarner44]

I hit pause so he could catch his breath

[@inhibited44]

someone played this song with highlights of Larry Bird's exploits during games. It's really good there too.

[@myrecordcollection5602]

The godfather of mumble Rap

[@paavoviuhko7250]

Actually I think the Trashmen were the originators of everything we might now call Heavy Metal.. They are not actually doing anything original. They're just expanding on the original concept.

[@robertbrewer2320]

I was 8 &1/2 yrs old and it was my favorite song "bapa um mow mow" what was I thinking? It's so stupid, it's funny and these guys made a fortune.... Go figure

[@leftyo9589]

they really did not make a fortune.

[@NASWOG]

nice

[@KillKenny09]

did he sing ... Well everybody fucking knows about the bird! ???

[@119jle]

Yes at 1:32

[@KillKenny09]

@@119jle This song never gets old!

[@mikelisacarb]

Dang! He never let him tell us how they wrote the song!

[@kenlieberman4215]

Well they basically stole it...something Dick likely knew.

[@shiroibasketshoes]

@@kenlieberman4215 What's amazing to me is how did the Trashmen singer have such confidence Dick would not ask like "Have you thought about what you're going to say when people claim you stole this song from the Rivingtons' two songs?"

[@bluestormride]

So Bad It's Good!

[@lorividaurri7989]

the gangnam style back then

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

Oh gosh

[@docbailey3265]

The Rivingtons are not pleased.

[@williamneal9817]

Actually, he's Fee Waybill of the '80's band the Tubes.

[@macclure]

@KillKenny09 Yes he did it 1:32

[@REDEPHACHELVIDEOS]

ESTE VIDEO VAI SER RE-POSTADO. SEM O RELÓGIO NA TELA.

[@TheDaemonico]

1 person haven't heard

[@maurosanchez1188]

!! HELLO GUYS !! can some one please be so kind to explain the meaning of this song? i know i could just google it but i feel more confortable asking here on you tube thanks !

[@alvaroakatico9188]

Finally an answer four years after you asked that question. Google it, ha ha.

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

I'd say it is surfmusic. Meant to just help you "run riot". No meaning but party!!

[@traildoggy]

You know what else is also a word? Amphetamines

[@RogerColglazier]

I hate how kids think it's a made up song because it was on Family Guy.

[@derpface8308]

RogerHorrorShow I'm a kid and tbh I hate all today's music beside a few but today's music is just voice changes and shit but back then it was non of that and I like the olden music like Rolling Stones and other musics

[@Detroitlionsfan2749]

@@derpface8308 ?

[@davidhinchy8199]

They did some nice instrumentals but The Bird was their only big hit.👍

[@arlenroth8373]

It's the bird is A word, not THE word

[@MrStilleogrolig]

he was lucky the ditten luck him in a rubber cell and thow away the key :P

[@TheACCars]

Susie Q

[@PaleBunnyInfidel]

@TheDaemonico YOU haven't HEARD? lmao then watch family guy

[@zathra300]

LOL

[@dragonburnout10]

Is it me or did he swear at 1:30 to 1:33

[@matthew4430]

GOTTA GO FEST "everyone is TALKING about the bird"

[@alvaroakatico9188]

GOTTA GO FEST, I have to go with...it is you!

[@kntshrm]

@TheErrol1975 Cancer, more than 20 years ago now.

[@NuggetTractor]

Why is he lip syncing? :(

[@death2pc]

Oprah does this much better..................

[@nathan9903]

peter griffen sings it better

[@Skyrilla]

Looks lip synched as hell.

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

That's because it is to the original single version

[@Skyrilla]

@@rocknroll_jezus9233 I don't remember what I was doing nearly seven years ago but thanks for replying to my ancient comment...

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

@@Skyrilla LMAO no problem 😂😂

[@Skyrilla]

@@rocknroll_jezus9233 I actually remember making that comment but yeah. Seven years ago... geez man, I'm depressed.

[@greatestever8976]

@@Skyrilla 😆