::The Secret Samurai::

.:Meet The Samurai:.
e	The Secret Samurai was formed by Ryan Ruiz & Steve Van Wyk in the Spring of 2005 after the veteran instro-surf quartet, Surf Report, ended its 12 year reign. The initial incarnation of the band was as a four-piece, including Craig Yarnold (Buck 'O Nine) on saxaphone and ex-Surf Report drummer, Eric Lustig, on drums. Chris Russo took over on drums in 2006 and is the drummer featured on the band's debut CD, GUN-SHO-GUN. The current lineup has been refocused towards a guitar-heavy, no frills trio consisting of Ryan Ruiz on lead guitar, Steve Van Wyk on bass, and Bill Zuck on skins. They straddle the line between traditional and no-wave progressive instro-surf and incorporate a wide array of musical influences from The Astronauts to Morricone to Middle-Eastern and Asian cinema.
	Ryan Ruiz Ryan has been heavily influenced by a plethora of musicians from various genres including surf, rock, metal, blues, jazz, country, asian, eastern-european, middle-eastern, classical, etc. His main surf/instro-related influences include Ivan Pongracic (The Madeira/The Space Cossacks), Laika & The Cosmonauts, Jim Messina, Dick Dale, Takeshi Terauchi, The Atlantics, Phantom Frank (The Treble Spankers/Phantom 4), and Frankie Blandino (The Fathoms). His first fouray into the surf genre was as an original member of the veteran surf revivalists, Surf Report, in the summer of '93. He spent the next 12 years with the twin-lead band and contributed a substantial portion of the songwriting for their four self-released albums. When Surf Report called it a day, Ryan's obsession with the surf genre continued to grow. As a result, he, along with Bassist and fellow Surf Report(er), Steve, formed The Secret Samurai. Gear: American Vintage Reissue '62 Fender Stratocaster American Vintage Reissue '62 Fender Jazzmaster 1967 Dual Showman Amp Mid-sixties 2x12 Bandmaster Cabinet with JBL D120F speakers Early '90s Fender '63 Reissue Reverb Tank
	Steve-O Steve took up the bass at the ripe age of 18. He learned to play on a Peavey Patriot with a small amp in his college dorm room (to the dismay of the other students). He was, and still is an avid show-goer. He met up with Ryan in 1993 and was also an original member of Surf Report. Highlights of his career include: opening for Link Wray, Dick Dale, Jackie and the Cedrics, D.I., Tanner, the 5,6,7,8's...having the following musicians sit-in with band: Paul Johnson, Mike Palm, and Dusty Watson.He enjoys all sorts of music: his current favorites being Belle & Sebastian, High On Fire, the Secret Chiefs 3, and MONO. He enjoys a good Scotch, Russian Literature, and bullseye-ing womprats in his T-16 back home (they're no bigger than 2 meters.) Gear: All Parts Precision Bass Gallien-Krueger 800RB Amp Ampeg 4x10" Cabinet
	Bill Zuck Bill has been a percussionist ever since he started banging on two different sized Tupperware containers on the floor of his mother's kitchen early in his childhood. His incessant thumping earned him many a time out, but his love for all things rhythmic only deepened. Following years studying timpany, vibraphone, and piano, Bill set his sights on the drums approximately 10 years ago and has never looked back. His influences include anything that keeps a beat with more feeling than a metronome. Gear: Yamaha Stage Custom Drums Remo Pinstripe Heads Zildjian 21" Sweet Ride Sabian 18" Medium Thin Crash Zildjian 14" New Beat Hi-Hats Any wood tip 5B sticks that come his way