Crazy Song Time: "Surfin' Bird" The Trashmen (1963)

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Fans of “The Family Guy” will recognize this song. Who can forget Peter doing “The Bird’s the Word”? Dick Clark called “Surfin’ Bird” a novelty song in his introduction of the Trashmen on Bandstand. The evolution of “Surfin’ Bird” is unusual. The Rivingtons had hits with “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word.” The Trashmen saw a group named the Sorenson Brothers perform “The Bird’s the Word” in concert and decided to add it to their set. Drummer and vocalist Steve Wahrer sang what amounted to a mishmash of “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word” and ad libbed added “Surfin’ Bird” lyrics and final chorus. A disc jockey urged them to record it. The Trashmen were a Minneapolis surf garage band formed in 1962. They won a local battle of the bands then another in Chicago resulting in being signed by Garrett Records. From the album of the same name, “Surfin’ Bird” caught on peaking at Billboard #4. The Rivingtons successfully sued for plagiarism and received writing credit. The Trashmen had one more hit with “Bird Dance Beat “ (#30) and disbanded in 1967. They reunited in 1980 (Wahrer died in 1989) and still play. “Surfin’ Bird” can be heard in soundtracks and has been covered by the Ramones, Cramps, Silverchair and Pee Wee Herman!