With over 110 million records sold worldwide, The Ventures are the best-selling instrumental band of all time.

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With over 110 million records sold worldwide, The Ventures are the best-selling instrumental band of all time. Formed in Tacoma, Washington in 1958 by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, and joined later by Nokie Edwards and Mel Taylor, their music came to define the “surf rock” genre.

The band’s first wide-release single, “Walk, Don’t Run”, 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, including hits such as the “Hawaii Five-O” theme song and surf hit “Pipeline”, charted in the US, with six of 14 chart singles making it into the Top 40 and three making the Top 10. The Ventures also had five of 1965’s top 10 singles in Japan and, to this day, remain the most popular American rock group in Japan, the world’s second largest record market.

In 2006, The Ventures’ recording of “Walk, Don’t Run” was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame for its lasting impact on music. And, in 2008, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival) as their presenter. During his comments, Fogerty noted that the band “kicked open a whole movement in rock and roll… The sound of it became ‘surf music’ and the audacity of it empowered guitarists everywhere.”

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The latest iteration of The Ventures

Known as “The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands”, the group has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide.

Artists and groups who have publicly acknowledged their musical debt to The Ventures include Jimmy Page, Steve Miller, George Harrison, Joe Walsh, Stephen Stills, The Ramones, Dire Straits, Aerosmith, Dead Kennedys, Carl Wilson, and Elton John.

Throughout most of their history, The Ventures have played Fender guitars for both live performances and recording sessions. 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.

Over the years, numerous members have joined and left the group. The original lineup featured Don Wilson on rhythm guitar, Bob Bogle on lead guitar and bass, Nokie Edwards on bass and lead guitar, and Skip Moore on drums, who only played on their iconic debut single, “Walk Don’t Run.” Later, drummers Howie Johnson and Mel Taylor joined, with Mel becoming a cornerstone of the band’s rhythm until his passing in 1996, succeeded by his son Leon Taylor, who remains the band’s drummer today. Lead guitarist Gerry McGee brought his distinctive style to the group during various periods, while Bob Spalding, initially a touring member in the 1980s, took on lead guitar and bass roles in 2005. The last iteration of the lineup included Leon Taylor on drums, Ian Spalding on rhythm guitar (Bob Spalding’s son), Bob Spalding on lead guitar, and Luke Griffin on bass. Despite changes over time, The Ventures’ enduring sound continues to inspire music fans worldwide.

Their catalog of music, including more than 1,000 compositions and 3,000 song recordings, remains enormously popular. The Ventures currently have 162,000 followers and 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and their music is widely available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and the other major streaming platforms. The 2020 documentary film by Staci Layne Wilson (daughter of Don Wilson) The Ventures: Stars on Guitars, tells the history of the band and features some of the legendary guitarists and groups who they have influenced.