Except for the manic “ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Wipe Out!!!” at the beginning, “Wipe Out” is a million-selling surf instrumental dating from 1963.  As performed by the Surfaris, this song made it to #2 on the charts, kept from the top only by “Little” Stevie Wonder’s first hit song “Fingertips”. 

The Surfaris were high school friends from Glendora, California; bandmembers were Ron Wilson (drums, vocals), Jim Fuller (lead guitar), Bob Berryhill (rhythm guitar), and Pat Connolly (bass guitar).  “Wipe Out” was originally the “B” side of their first single; “Surfer Joe” was on the “A” side. 

Wikipedia reports:  “The song [“Wipe Out”] – both the Surfaris’ version as well as cover versions – has been featured in over 20 films and television series since 1964, appearing at least once a decade.  First heard in Kenneth Anger’s short Scorpio Rising [1963], its most recent appearance was in Dominic Sena’s 2009 thriller, Whiteout.”  

(December 2014)