Most of us hope to retire one day. Play a few rounds of golf or pass time at a yearly cruise buffet, perhaps. Dick Dale knows people like that. He plays for them regularly.
At 79 years old, the pioneering guitar legend keeps the breakneck licks coming, mainly because he can't stop. His sole source of income, touring, supports necessary medical care he says keeps him alive. That's one reason you should catch him at the Granada Theater on May 12: The world needs Dick Dale a bit longer.
Need another? Here are four remarkable facts ahead of Dale's upcoming Dallas stop:
He kept blowing amps. A lot of them. So Fender reinvented the technology for him.
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As a teenager, Boston-raised Dale began developing a singular sound influenced by his Lebanese heritage, that incorporated Middle Eastern scales, reverb and a single-note staccato picking technique. At 17, he moved to Southern California and learned to surf; enamored with that culture, he began making music that mimicked the "surging sounds and feelings" he felt on the water and was soon dubbed the King of Surf Guitar. Self-taught, the left-hander learned to play by turning standard guitars upside down -- a fact that gave industry legend Leo Fender a laugh, according to Dale's website.
Dale didn't take it personally. In fact, he worked with Fender to entirely change the bounds of electronic technology. See, Dale kept blowing amps. A lot of them, thanks in part to his massive 60-gage strings of choice. He was instrumental in the development of "new equipment that was capable of producing the thick, clearly defined tones he heard in his head, at the previously undreamed-of volumes he demanded."
That's when Guitar Player dubbed him the Father of Heavy Metal.
He influenced some of the world's best guitarists
Among those spellbound by Dale's unique style were guitar virtuosi in their own right: Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen, who both went on to pioneer signature sounds. Dale also collaborated with Dallas-born Stevie Ray Vaughan for 1987's "Pipeline." Never heard of it? Give it a listen; chances are you'll recognize it immediately. It's unforgettable.
Speaking of songs you definitely know...
Dale semi-retired in 1966 when he was diagnosed with rectal cancer. He fought and beat it, but spent most of the '70s and '80s pursuing other interests like environmental activism, piloting airplanes and karate -- he practiced under the same trainer as Elvis Presley in the '60s. His comeback began in the late-'80s, but got kicked into high gear in 1994 when "Misirlou," a track from his 1962 debut album, was picked as the opening theme of Quentin Tarantino's cult hit, Pulp Fiction. A reminder: This clip contains colorful language. But, you knew that.
He doesn't want to die, but when he does, he wants it "on stage in an explosion of body parts."
Dale made news last summer when an interview with the Pittsburgh City Paper went viral. In it, he describes in excruciating detail the health issues he is dealing with and why he literally can't stop touring; his insurance company says he can get by rewashing and reusing old colostomy bags. He strongly disagrees.
The interview's candor is heart-wrenching. We won't delve further into it here, but it's worth anyone's read. Despite a cascade of physical ailments, constant pain and -- at times -- utter humiliation, due to his medical needs, Dale maintains that he's still here for a reason. He thinks it's to keep other survivors going.
"When I'm on stage, the pain can be excruciating. Someone has to help me up on stage because I can't do it alone. There's a part of my show where I play drums, and my drummer pulls my arm and my roadie pushes my butt to get up there. But I get up there," he told the paper.
Dick-Dale-the-survivor has become an integral part of the performance. He talks openly about his physical struggles onstage and frequently meets with fans who are going through similar ones.
"I play harder now than I ever have, and honestly when I go on stage I push a button. I swear at the pain. 'Get out of my damn body; I've got to do a job!'" he says.
That's why you can expect nothing less than a remarkable performance on May 12. He'll be there with superhuman energy, trademark breakneck licks and devoted followers.