Zambetti, John

Historical note

The Malibooz is a band that specializes in surf-style music. The group has been playing together on and off since 1964 and the band's longest members are guitarists/singers John Zambetti and Walter Egan. In 1964, the group released their first EP and their first single, Goin' to Malibu, received favorable reviews. This led to an appearance at the New York State World's Fair in 1965.

Soon thereafter, Zambetti and Egan left for college at Georgetown University and it wasn't long before they met drummer Tom Scarp, singer Annie McLoone, and several other musicians. The students formed a band called Sageworth, and by 1970, the band was opening for such acts as the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. Although Sageworth was pursued by several labels, no deal was ever reached and the band went their separate ways after graduation. By 1976, both Egan and Zambetti had moved to California.

The Malobooz recorded their first full LP in 1981, when Rhino Records signed the Malibooz for an album, Malibooz Rule! that they recorded their first full LP. The single Hot Summer Nights appeared in the movie California Girls . The music video for the single was one of the first videos aired on MTV. The Malibooz followed the album with a string of singles and concerts throughout 1984.

In 1992, the Malibooz recorded their second album, A Malibu Kind of Christmas, for Iloki Records. Three songs from the album were part of the soundtrack for the 1996 movie Theodore Rex . Later that year, Rhino Records released the surf music box set Cowabunga Surf!, which included the Malibooz single Goin' To Malibu. The song's resurgence led to it being selected by MTV to serve as the theme song for MTV's Malibu Beach House Beach Party.

In 1997, three Malibooz songs appeared in the film An Alan Smithee Film, Burn, Hollywood, Burn, starring Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Chan and Eric Idle. The 1998 film Plump Fiction included the Malibooz' song Fluorescent Hearse.

In 1999, the Malibooz released their third album, Living Water (The Surfer's Mass), which was named one of the top five albums of the year by CD Magazine . In 2002, the band released Beach Access . The song The Call of the Wave was included on the soundtrack for the movie Step Into Liquid and was nominated in the category Best Song From A Motion Picture at the 2004 Grammys.

In late 2003, the Malibooz filmed Celebrations: A Malibu Christmas, hosted by Carmen Electra. The DVD features thirteen songs and five on-screen performances by the Malibooz. The special aired in December 2005.

In 2004, the Malibooz released The WRVR Sessions '65, a three-song CD of the band's first recording session in 1965. That same year, the band appeared on BBC Radio for a live interview and concert, and played at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Six Malibooz songs were included in the 2006 feature film The Surfer King. The songs include Crest, Then Broken, Caught A Wave, Face-Off at Point Dume, Firestorm at Surfrider, Shredder, and Bel Mar Bolero.

In 2010, the band released its first new album in eight years, Queen's English, which is a tribute to 1960s British Invasion style music and features several guest artists.

From the guide to the The Malibooz collection, 1981-2010, (Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.)