Once upon a time, American automobile designs were the envy of the world. Today’s piece is a tribute to the creative genius who not only designed Batman and Robin’s iconic mode of transport but also the Munster Koach, and the unbelievably spectacular Voxmobile that guitarist extraordinaire, Jimmy Bryant, once befriended. As Brett Barris informed the world this week with a heavy heart, “Sorry to have to post that my father, legendary kustom car king, George Barris, has moved to the bigger garage in the sky.”
(image courtesy of Vintage Guitar)
Apparently, I wasn’t the only Ohioan who was smitten in the 1960s with Barris’s radical design for the Batmobile. Youngstown’s The Squires would bequeath to future generations their musical interpretation of Barris’s most famous creation in pop’s peak year, 1967:
“Batmobile”
The Squires (1967)
Guitar: Phil Keaggy
Guitar: Al Frano
Drums: Jim Love
Bass: Bob Flamisch
Wow, I just discovered that the lead guitar work on “Batmobile” is from that Phil Keaggy – here’s a link to his bio on Keaggy’s own website.
(image courtesy of George Barris)
As it turns, landlocked musical combos can create credible surf sounds – not just West Coast bands. Cincinnati’s King Records, you might recall, even delved into the “surf rock” genre via The Impacs, whom Zero to 180 profiled just over a year ago.
“Batmobile” would be included in Volume 9: Ohio of AIP’s “Highs in the Mid Sixties” – released in 1984 – as well as 2012’s 4-CD box set, Surf-Age Nuggets, and also 2020’s 16-track vinyl collection, Loud Pipes & Long Boards.
