Their first wide-release single, "Walk, Don't Run" (1960), brought international fame to the group, and is often cited as one of the top songs ever recorded for guitar. In the 1960s and early 1970s, 38 of the band's albums charted in the US, ranking them as the 6th best album chart performer during the 1960s, and the band had 14 singles in the Billboard Hot 100. With over 100 million records sold, the Ventures are the best-selling instrumental band of all time.
The Ventures have had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. The band was among the first to employ and popularize fuzz and flanging guitar effects, concept albums, and twelve-string guitars in rock music. Their instrumental virtuosity, innovation, and unique sound influenced many musicians and bands, earning the group the moniker "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands". Their recording of "Walk, Don't Run" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its lasting impact, and in 2008 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Don Wilson and Bob Bogle first met in 1958, when Bogle was looking to buy a car from a used car dealership in Seattle owned by Wilson's father. Finding a common interest in guitars, the two decided to play together, while Wilson joined Bogle performing masonry work. They bought two used guitars in a pawn shop for about $10 each. Initially calling themselves the Versatones, the duo played small clubs, beer bars, and private parties throughout the Pacific Northwest. Wilson played rhythm guitar, Bogle lead. When they went to register the band name, they found that it was already taken. Disappointed, they cast about for an appropriate name. Wilson's mother suggested the name "The Ventures", upon which they eventually agreed in 1959.
During their first years (1958โ1961), the Ventures played Fender guitars (a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster and a Precision Bass) for both their live performances and their recording sessions. These instruments are prominently visible on the covers of two early albums: The Ventures and The Colorful Ventures. From 1962 to 1963 they used two Jazzmasters with a Precision Bass, shown on the album cover of "Bobby Vee meets The Ventures". Then in early 1963, California guitar manufacturer Mosrite re-branded their uniquely styled, futuristic-looking Mark 1 electric guitar model for the Ventures by applying decals that stated "The Ventures Model" on the headstock. The band adopted these guitars (which included a bass model) and first used them on The Ventures in Space (1963), one of their most influential albums because of the unique, otherworldly guitar sounds it contained. From 1963 through 1968, a statement on their album covers announced that the Ventures used Mosrite guitars "exclusively" (the Ventures and designer Semie Moseley were partners in the distribution of these instruments). After the expiration of their contract with Moseley, the Ventures returned to playing mainly Fender guitars. Only rarely have they used Mosrite guitars since that contract ended.
In the mid-1990s, Fender issued a limited edition Ventures Signature Series of guitars consisting of a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Fender Jazz Bass, all with specifications determined by the band.
Aria Guitars and Wilson Brothers Guitars have subsequently issued Ventures Signature Model instruments. The Wilson Brothers guitar, in particular, is closely modeled physically on the original Mosrite design.
The Ventures pioneered the use of special effects on such songs as "The 2000 Pound Bee", recorded in late 1962, in which lead guitarist Nokie Edwards employed a fuzz pedal. Edwards' use of "fuzz tone" predated the "King of Fuzz Guitar", Davie Allan of The Arrows, by at least three years. In addition, Edwards was among the first to use the twelve-string guitar in rock. The 1964 The Ventures In Space album was a primer in the use of special guitar effects, and made pioneering use of 'reverse-tracking'. The Ventures In Space, because of its ethereal space-like effects, was deemed an influence on the later 1960s San Francisco psychedelic generation, as well as being cited as a favorite by Keith Moon of the Who.
The band's cover of the Tornados' "Telstar" (released in January 1963) featured one of the first instances of flanging on a pop record. The song "Silver Bells" on The Ventures' Christmas Album, released in November 1965, has one of the first recorded uses of a talk box as a musical effect, voiced by Red Rhodes.
The Ventures have had an influence on many musicians, both professional and amateur. Their instructional album, Play Guitar with the Ventures, was the first such record to chart on the Billboard Top LPs list, peaking at No. 96, and taught thousands of budding guitarists how to play the guitar. George Harrison stated in a Guitar Player interview that he preferred the American guitar sound of the Ventures to British contemporaries. When asked to name the most influential rock guitar solos, Joe Walsh said he would have to include the entire song "Walk, Don't Run" because it changed so many guitar players' lives. John Fogerty, during his introduction of the Ventures at their Hall of Fame induction, said that it "kicked open a whole movement in rock and roll... The sound of it became 'surf music' and the audacity of it empowered guitarists everywhere." Stephen Stills told Ventures guitarist Don Wilson that he learned to play on Ventures records. Jeff Baxter and Gene Simmons were early members of the Ventures Fan Club. Carl Wilson called the Ventures a major influence on his early guitar playing, stating that the Beach Boys had learned to play all of their songs by ear.
Bob Bogle lived in Vancouver, Washington, for years and died there on June 14, 2009, of non-Hodgkin lymphoma; he was 75.
Nokie Edwards died on March 12, 2018, due to complications after hip surgery. He was 82.
Gerry McGee died on October 12, 2019, after having a heart attack and collapsing onstage four days earlier in Japan. He was 81.
Don Wilson continued to record with the band, but retired from touring at the end of 2015. He died of natural causes on January 22, 2022, at the age of 88.
Mel Taylor died on August 11, 1996, of cancer, at the age of 62. He was diagnosed two weeks before his death.
Tequila
The Ventures Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was me Jack Daniels and my homey Jim Bean
We were kinda blitzed and we were trying to behave Y'all
When in walked a soldier he was from the fuzzy naval
We were fallin, stumblin, crawlin
Her come da police, Captain Tom Collins
And the rapper said freeze
He said "hands in the air and hand over your keys"
Now here came Marguarita and her friend Shirley Temple
I asked my friend 'bout Marguarita,
He said Shirley was a virgin an I wouldn't wanna meet her
So I talked to Marguarita, cause yoh, she was flyer
I took her to the coast cause I wanted to Screw Driver
Now Im not one for a speech
But there was plenty of Tequila and Sex On The Beach, Y'all
Tequila
Te-te-te, Tequila
Tequila
Here we go again and I'm not fussin'
See I'm a French Mexican but I can get with White Russians
At the bar with a drink in my hand
In walked Jose Cuervo what was margaritas man
I talked to the wise man cause, yoh he's distinguished
His name was St. Ives and he spoke in old English
He said "you'd better think fast
Cause Jose is kinda crazy and I heard he Shot Glass"
He gave me some advice and it went like this
"Catch the night train and head up to 'cisco"
I didn't wanna stick around
I caught the 1:51 to New York, the Grey Hound
Now I'm at the Red Zone, everybody's stylin'
Was sippin' Ice Teas on Long Island
I blacked out and the party came to a halt
Cause I was drinking the Tequila with the lemon assault Y'all
Tequila
Te-te-te, Tequila
Tequila
I woke up in the morning and felt like a Zombie
The Tequila Gold Label had bombed me
You see I woke up late and wasn't feelin' so great
And Mike said there's a Bicardi party startin' at eight
Yo we walked in the party and started playin our games
We played tops, fuzzy quarters, with Bartles and James
Here came Shirley Temple and they told me to chill
Because the Mickey Brothers took her up to strawberry hill
They took her a thousand mink and she could barely think
Cause the Tequila that she drank had her tickled pink
Now the music came on and I rocked the instrumental
There's a groupie named Mai Tai, a fly oriental
A groupie is a girl that jocks
She wore the def Black Velvet and drank Scotch on the Rocks
We had a fake marriage, now here's to honeymoon
Ya zone vagabond and the Blue Lagoon
Now everybody take a word from the wise
A girly and a bottle, Tequila Sunrise
Tequila
Te-te-te, Tequila
Tequila
Tequila
Te-te-te, Tequila
Tequila
The Ventures's song Tequila tells a story of a night of heavy drinking and partying. The singer and his friends, Jack Daniels and Jim Beam, are at the bar trying to behave when a soldier walks in from the "fuzzy naval" (a cocktail) and soon the police arrive. After their run-in with the law, two women, Margarita and Shirley Temple, enter the scene. The singer is warned that Shirley is a virgin, and he ultimately chooses to talk to Margarita. They go out to the coast to enjoy Screwdrivers made with plenty of tequila. The rest of the song recounts more drinking and partying with various other alcohol brands, including Jose Cuervo and Bacardi, and eventually ends with a fake marriage and a call to enjoy a Tequila Sunrise.
Line by Line Meaning
I was at the bar with my drinkin team
The singer was at a bar with his group of friends who drink together
It was me Jack Daniels and my homey Jim Bean
The singer was drinking Jack Daniels whiskey and his friend was drinking Jim Beam whiskey
We were kinda blitzed and we were trying to behave Y'all
Even though they were somewhat drunk, they were attempting to act appropriately
When in walked a soldier he was from the fuzzy naval
A man wearing a military uniform entered, stating that he was part of the Fuzzy Naval (a mixed drink)
We were fallin, stumblin, crawlin
The group was so intoxicated that they were stumbling and falling down
Her come da police, Captain Tom Collins
A police officer named Captain Tom Collins arrived on the scene
And the rapper said freeze
The police officer yelled for the group to stop moving
He said "hands in the air and hand over your keys"
The officer instructed them to surrender their car keys
Now we did, and that was kinda simple
The group complied with the officer's demands and it was an easy exchange
Now here came Marguarita and her friend Shirley Temple
Two women named Margarita and Shirley Temple arrived
I asked my friend 'bout Marguarita,
The singer inquired about Margarita from his friend
He said Shirley was a virgin an I wouldn't wanna meet her
His friend warned him that Shirley was inexperienced and not worth pursuing
So I talked to Marguarita, cause yoh, she was flyer
The singer struck up a conversation with Margarita because he found her attractive
I took her to the coast cause I wanted to Screw Driver
The singer went to the beach with Margarita because he wanted to make a Screwdriver mixed drink
Now Im not one for a speech
The singer doesn't like giving speeches
But there was plenty of Tequila and Sex On The Beach, Y'all
Despite his speech aversion, the artist noted that there was a lot of tequila and a mixed drink called Sex on the Beach available
Here we go again and I'm not fussin'
The artist is ready for another round of drinking and not complaining
See I'm a French Mexican but I can get with White Russians
The singer identifies as a French Mexican but enjoys White Russian mixed drinks
In walked Jose Cuervo what was margaritas man
A man named Jose Cuervo arrived and was known for drinking margaritas
I talked to the wise man cause, yoh he's distinguished
The artist spoke with a wise man who appeared distinguished
His name was St. Ives and he spoke in old English
The wise man called himself St. Ives and spoke using outdated English language
He said "you'd better think fast
St. Ives warned the artist to act quickly
Cause Jose is kinda crazy and I heard he Shot Glass"
The wise man mentioned that Jose Cuervo was known for taking shots and acting erratic
He gave me some advice and it went like this
The wise man offered some guidance
"Catch the night train and head up to 'cisco"
He suggested taking the night train to San Francisco
I didn't wanna stick around
The singer didn't want to stay in the current situation
I caught the 1:51 to New York, the Grey Hound
The singer took a Greyhound bus to New York, leaving the place behind
Now I'm at the Red Zone, everybody's stylin'
The artist found themselves at the Red Zone, where everyone was dressed stylishly
Was sippin' Ice Teas on Long Island
The artist was drinking Long Island Iced Teas
I blacked out and the party came to a halt
The singer drank too much and lost consciousness, ending the party
Cause I was drinking the Tequila with the lemon assault Y'all
The singer blames Tequila mixed with lemon for causing his blackout
I woke up in the morning and felt like a Zombie
The next day, the artist felt terrible
The Tequila Gold Label had bombed me
The artist attributes their condition to drinking Tequila Gold Label
You see I woke up late and wasn't feelin' so great
The artist woke up late and was still feeling unwell
And Mike said there's a Bicardi party startin' at eight
The singer's friend named Mike informed him of a Bacardi party happening at 8 PM
Yo we walked in the party and started playin our games
The artist and his friend arrived at the party and started playing their own games
We played tops, fuzzy quarters, with Bartles and James
They played spinning tops and a drinking game called Fuzzy Quarters while drinking Bartles and James wine coolers
Here came Shirley Temple and they told me to chill
Shirley Temple appeared and the singer's friends advised him to calm down
Because the Mickey Brothers took her up to strawberry hill
Shirley Temple left with two men named the Mickey Brothers to go to Strawberry Hill
They took her a thousand mink and she could barely think
The men gave her a lot to drink and she was very intoxicated
Cause the Tequila that she drank had her tickled pink
Shirley Temple got very excited and happy due to drinking Tequila
Now the music came on and I rocked the instrumental
The band started playing and the singer performed on an instrument
There's a groupie named Mai Tai, a fly oriental
A woman named Mai Tai arrived who was of Asian descent and a fan of the group
A groupie is a girl that jocks
The artist defines a groupie as a woman who is a fan of the band and seeks attention from them
She wore the def Black Velvet and drank Scotch on the Rocks
Mai Tai was wearing a black velvet outfit and drinking Scotch on the rocks
We had a fake marriage, now here's to honeymoon
The artist and Mai Tai had a pretend wedding and the band started playing a song for their honeymoon
Ya zone vagabond and the Blue Lagoon
The singer is a wandering traveler with Mai Tai at the Blue Lagoon
Now everybody take a word from the wise
The artist advises everyone to heed the words of the wise
A girly and a bottle, Tequila Sunrise
The singer recommends enjoying a bottle of tequila and a mixed drink called Tequila Sunrise with a woman
Tequila
Repeating the name of the drink
Te-te-te, Tequila
Repeating the name of the drink with a more rhythmic pattern
Tequila
Repeating the name of the drink
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Danny Flores
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@steveskouson9620
OK, it was 1977 or so, 2 cute twin girls got up,
to play a song, in a program, at the local Mormon
church. They requested that we call out at the
right time, the only word from this song. I was the
ONLY one to get it. Just another interesting story,
from my misspent youth.
Haven't heard this song, for well over 50 years,
nailed the cues. Tequila!
steve
@waynejohanson1083
Ventures, the kings of instrumental rock. Sad so many people have never heard of these guys.
@jmrodas9
They really mastered those electric guitars, all their tunes are excellent and still worth listening so many years after being performed and released.
@ratanmalik4314
I have grown up listening to such a great instrumental song. It is a very good instrumental song undoubtedly. I like listening to such a great instrumental song.
@rosesuarez3372
Wowww! Que mรบsica ๐ฒ๐ต๐ผ๐ถ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐๐๐๐โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
@FarbSyndicate
This music is great. It can be the background for a bar fight or a childrenโs party.
@KailashGokral
The ventures were the one of best musicians in my growing years in the 70s.
@debabratamukherjee6408
Superb
@edwardmaccarthy9164
They still are
@alakbhattacharyya3563
AWESOME GORGEOUS Effects Of THIS MUSIC.
TRULY Agave Of Mexico/ Tequila Drinks Affect Listeners, Viewers Vehemently. MAMMA MIA. WOW.
@daliser
Oh how I love this group and this particular song!