The Balboas Commemorate Goodyear Blimp's 100th Anniversary with New Tune

The Balboas above Los Angeles aboard the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of America in Carson, CA. Credit: Courtesy of the Balboas

The Balboas, a punk surf band that formed in Akron some 25 years ago after a chance meeting with surf rock icon Dick Dale, now call L.A. home. But they remember their Akron roots and will release a cover of CD Truth’s “We Got the Blimp” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp.

The music will even be featured in an upcoming documentary film about the blimp.

Since leaving Akron, the group has recorded with acts such as Black Flag, the Misfits, Dead Kennedys, Christian Death and the Minutemen. Their version of “We Got the Blimp” features CD Truth singer-guitarist Jeff Hardy.

“If you come from Akron, you know the Blimp. You love the Blimp,” reads a press release about the tune. “That is just Akron. And the Balboas were born in Akron. ‘We Got the Blimp’ was the default anthem when CD Truth belted it out in the ’90s, and the song was near and dear to the heart of the Balboas.”

The Balboas’ Rich Griffith says Hardy represents Akron well with his music and attitude.

“We knew CD Truth back in the day, and have played with Jeff a bunch of times with his other projects,” he says. “The dude is a total Akron icon. The original ‘We Got the Blimp’ was a great tune that fit Akron to a tee! The song was a NE Ohio middle finger to the world, saying we matter too and embracing the symbol of the city with a punk snarl. I have raised my fist to salute the Blimp many times. We walked around for years reciting those lyrics when the Blimp flew by.”

The Balboas worked with punk producer Paul Roessler (Screamers, 45 Grave) to record a faithful version of the song but with the signature Balboas sound. To keep the record as authentic as possible, Roessler incorporated a number of the original samples from the CD Truth version. He worked with more than 10 hours of audio to samples to make sure he represented Hardy in the song.

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