An ice-cream wall of sound kicking sand in the face of a stagnant local scene, Liverpool's Beach Bastards are an expression of the British obsession with all things American. From Uncle Sam to the coke can, most of us chew the 100% pure beef pattie of US culture, but would you give these surf mutants in cheap bermuda shorts a lift in your little deuce coupe?

The album "Son of a Beach" capitalised on a cult status that lead to the circulation of bootleg tapes and even the appearance of fake Bastards claiming to be the real thing.

The Bastards themselves have stolen much from the book of Good Vibrations. "We have a lot in common with the Beach Boys, both band names begin with the letter B, one of us is mad and we live on the west coast."

Hero Joey Ramone gave his approval at a live show and Brian Wilson's T-shirt is apparently in the post.

With songs like "I Gotta Surfboard" (and I'm Gonna Use It), a highly developed sense of humour and their penchant for four-part harmonies set against raw noise, the Bastards biggest worry is that will be seen as seaside Sex-Pistols.

John Mcready | The Face Magazine