David Arnson

Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Electric Sitar Guitar, Bouzouki, Electric Saz, Bass, Vocals

1979-2021

Founding member, principle songwriter, creative and visionary force behind the band since 1979. For over 40 years, David Arnson has brought the music of Insect Surfers alive through a steady creative flow of surf, psychedelia, Spaghetti Western, outer space, punk rock energy and eastern soundscapes. A true music “fan” in every respect of the word, David also performs a solo show of psychedelic electric bouzouki and is the Iggy in L.A.’s notorious Stooges tribute band Raw Power Rangers.

Jonpaul Balak

Fender Precision Bass

2007-2021

Jonpaul has been holding down the low end since 2007, when he went from serious long-time fan to full-time member. He has played a vital role in the accomplishments of the 21st century Insect Surfers, including releasing two important full length albums and several tours of Europe and the Eastern US.

Also known for his playing with Exotica Septet The Tikiyaki Orchestra and legendary Italian Surf guitarist Surfer Joe, he is one of the first call Southern California Surf bass players, and has performed with John Blair, Paul Johnson, The Ghastly Ones, The Boardwalkers, The Kilaueas, Threesome, Randy Holden and many more.

He holds a BA in Musicology from UCLA, attended The Grove School Of Music, and hosts a weekly 2-hour Surf music radio show called “Fiberglass Jungle” that airs on www.luxuriamusic.com every Saturday from 2-4PM PST.

Michael Abraham

Lead & Rhythm Guitar

2012-2021

Originally from the suburban marshlands of post-industrial Pittsburgh, PA, Michael is known for his ability to bridge diverse styles with a creative edge, keeping busy as a valuable session player in Los Angeles and the SF Bay Area.

His work includes performances, recording and touring with 60s icon Donovan, the hit musicals Wicked and American Idiot, Jack Douglas, Grammy-winning Mads Tolling, Steve Huffsteter, Dayna Stephens, Mitch Marcus and many more.

Chris Roberts

Drums

2015-2021

FL native Chris has been teaching, playing and recording based in L.A. since 2009. He has worked with VNV Nation, Sejo Navajas, Daniel Jimenez Afanador, Surfer Joe, Chris Mullins, Smoke Season, The M-Squad Hollywood Soundtrack Quintet, Jim Wirt, Nomi Abadi, Davie Allan and many more.

Playing drums and percussion since the age of 10, he received his BA in music from the University Of Florida, and studied at the Collective School Of Music in NYC.

Marty Tippens

Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Drums

2000-2021

When not being a college math professor and Associate Dean Of The College Of Liberal Arts at Woodbury University in Burbank, CA, or collecting and obsessing about The Ventures, Dr. Tippens steps in as the Insect Surfer MVP, having filled in on every instrument in the band!

Dano Sullivan

Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Saxophone, Keyboards

1985-2007

Dan was involved at the very beginning of the new L.A. Insect Surfers, played that very first fateful show at KXLU on June 6, 1985 and can be heard on every L.A. era recording from Reverb Sun through circa 2007. He was a vital part of the dual lead guitar attack that the band would become known for.

Dan Valentie

Bass, Lead & Rhythm Guitar

1994-2010

Originally from Cininnati, OH, Dan became a staple of the L.A. music world, primarily within the garage and Surf scenes. He performed with The Hillbilly Soul Surfers, The Customs, The Unclaimed, Thee Fourgiven, and is probably best known for his own groundbreaking Surf trio The Boardwalkers, who released two 7” singles on Dionysus Records and appeared on several 90s compilations. Dan was another “MVP” of the band, often switching between bass and second guitar depending on what was needed for the gig.

Jim Sciurba

Drums

1991-2005

Mark Hoeschler

Bass

1995-2000

Mark is another busy L.A. multi-instrumentalist, having played with The Bomboras, The Boardwalkers, Raw Power Rangers, Lawndale and many more.

Mike O’Neil

Bass

1991-1994

Reverb Sun era

John Convertino

Drums

1987-1994

Convertino is well known for his work with Calexico, Friends Of Dean Martinez, Giant Sand, The Fugitive Kind and many more

Steve Bidrowski

Drums

1994-5, Death Valley Coastline era

Bidrowski has played with The Unknowns, Hollywood Hillbillys, Davie Allan, The Deoras and many more

Jeff Utterback

Drums

1994-7, 2013

Utterback’s Surf resumé reads like a “who’s who” of the revival. Among many others, he has played with Los Straitjackets, The Surfaris, The Bomboras, The Sliders, The Huntington Cads, The Boardwalkers, The Tiki Tones. If that’s not cool enough, when he was a kid, he was a pro BMX rider, often found on the covers of magazines and influential on the development of cutting-edge BMX products. Oh wait, yeah, and he is also a pro drag racer and professional welder! He even has his own HOT WHEELS! We’re not worthy!

David Petersen

Guitar, Vocals

1979-1981

One of the original DC Insect Surfers!

Dan Buccino

Drums

1979-1981, 2015-2021

One of the original DC Insect Surfers!

When the modern (21st Century) Insect Surfers made it back to the East Coast in 201, Buccino got back behind the drums and has been in the fold, on-deck ever since! He played again in 2019 for the 40th anniversary celebration year, including the moving, triumphant sold-out hometown reunion show, which saw back to back performances of the very first and most recent iterations of the band.

Mike Duke

Keyboards

1979-1981

One of the original DC Insect Surfers!

Tom Tomlinson

Keyboards

1982-1985

One of the DC Insect Surfers!

Robert Fass

Bass

1979

One of the original DC Insect Surfers!

Robert is now the Audie Award–winning narrator of more than 200 unabridged audiobooks. An eight-time Audie nominee, he has earned multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards and is equally at home in a wide variety of styles, genres, characters, and dialects. To learn more, visit robertfass.com