Wipe Out was released in 1963 by California surf rock band The Surfaris and became one of the defining instrumentals of the surf era. Written almost on the spot as a B-side, it reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to Ron Wilson's relentless drum solo and the song's simple, driving guitar riff. It has since appeared in countless films, adverts and sports clips, and its title made it the natural soundtrack for actual wipeouts, keeping the riff familiar to new generations online.