Salt & Sound: Brad Gerlach on Led Zeppelin's Iconic Physical Graffiti

Originally posted on SURFER | By Jon Coen | Last updated Nov 6, 2024 12:59 PM ET

SURFER wanted to explore how wave riders were influenced by music – the vibrations that moved them, who turned them on to it, where they were and the path it led them down. After hearing about Kassia Meador’s infatuation with the Violent Femmes, we chatted with Brad Gerlach.

1976. Picture a bedroom in one of those classic Leucadia houses. There’s a skateboard leaning on the wall, a poster of Dane Kealoha laying down a turn with a yellow headband and a pair of canvas Vans on the floor. Beneath the turntable is a pile of records – Rush, Van Halen, Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti. That record had come out in 1975. Brad Gerlach started surfing a year later.

Gerlach is one of surfing’s most soulful and colorful characters, with a cleverness to match his abilities in the water. He absorbed the California culture of the late '70s, dove fully into competitive surfing, and at age 19, made his mark on pro surfing by winning the Stubbies U.S. Pro in Oceanside. After finishing as high as number two on the ASP Tour in 1991, he had a storied post-tour career, pioneering big-wave tow spots, introducing team aspects to competition and winning the XXL Big Wave Awards.

Married with two children and creative insight, he also has an impressive Hollywood resume and plays more than one instrument skillfully. Gerlach had always been influential and his work as a surf coach and the development of the Wave Ki program continue to progress the sport.

Brad Gerlach Talks Led Zeppelin’s 1975 Physical Graffiti

Whenever I hear Physical Graffiti today it reminds me of when I fell in love with surfing. I just love the drums so much, the stop times and the power.

Songs like “Down by the Seaside” were beautiful growing up in Leucadia in the 70's. The water was super clear. There was no trash anywhere. Swami's was a kind of spiritual place, on top of the cliff with the minarets. Zeppelin kind of had that Eastern sound on songs like “Kashmir,” more edgy than The Beatles. I listen to it today and I still hear something new. I love the clavinet; it sounds like a monster walking ... There's so much depth, so much power coming out of the music and the vocals are amazing. And it’s got diversity, right? The folk stuff, then the rock' n 'roll and the progressive rock and all these different elements. And it's a double album.

When I was 11 or 12, my best friend’s older brother was 15 or so. He had all the good music. They lived in a duplex and the family was friends with the neighbor. There was an older guy there who was into that music. He was basically the prototype of the Matthew McConaughey character in Dazed and Confused, but not creepy. He talked with his lips pursed like “F--- man, the waves were so good. Here, take a dry hit off this joint. F----n take that thing!” He had a stack of Surfing World Australia magazines. So, we’re listening to Zeppelin, looking at mags and photos of Australia and I’m dreaming of being a professional surfer. That record is the soundtrack of my dreams.

They lived on Hermes Ave., so it was close to the beach. We would go to Sevies, take a few bottles from around back that someone had already cashed in, then turn them in for change, buy those Hostess donuts ... because they would fill you up ... play Asteroids or pinball and then go surf. It really was an insane way to grow up. And Zeppelin was the band everyone was into.

I had it on vinyl then, of course, and then on cassette later. And I have the record again now. I would refer back to it a lot. In the 80s I was into punk and then post- punk and new wave stuff. And then by like 89, I started going into heavy music, a return to hard rock, which was influenced by Zeppelin with powerhouse vocals. I really got into Kyuss, that heavy, low fi sound. When you listen to Physical Graffiti, it’s imperfect - not so produced.

When I got into jungle music and Groove Armada around 2000, I noticed that stuff was really well produced. I appreciate the sound, but not when it came to rock n’ roll. I think that's why Pearl Jam was so popular. It didn't sound overly produced. It's raw, right? Soundgarden’s “Loud Love” just hit me. I loved that album and just listened to it 1,000 times.

I got to see Zeppelin in 1995, in Paris. John Bonham’s (1948-1980) son was playing drums at that point. Donovan and I were in Norway surfing the Flowrider and I had a friend in Paris. We went down and heard Zeppelin was playing the day after we got there. Donovan was an accomplished musician. He had sort of taught me to play. I was playing bass in his band. We were all about live music.

My favorite new surf film is Bryce Young’s “Following the Fall Line.” The music is great. Bryce invited me down to the premier. And he’s just shredding – different stuff, the gnarliest hacks on big waves, blow tails and alley oops on his alaia. Those alternative surfers seem to be influenced by two generations before them and there’s some great hybrid stuff that they’re tapping into. If that guy is a modern-day hero, then surfing is in good shape.

There are so many bands I like, all different types of music. I am blessed that my wife is also a musician and has a deep knowledge of great music through different eras. Our older son’s name is Zeppelin. Our younger son is Zsigmond. We love David Bowie’s music, too, and hope one day Zsiggy plays guitar. Every single one of Zeppelin’s albums is good. I got a lot of joy from listening to these songs as a kid, dreaming about surfing, and I still do.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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