With their combined influences of '77 punk and vintage surf rock, the three piece of Bob Rydman (guitar), Marty Sparks (bass) and Jim Kruzie (drums) took the moniker of Plank upon their 1995 formation. Hailing the likes of The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Clash and The Misfits as an inspiration for their hybrid, Plank would spend the next two years gigging around their Northwest territory of Seattle before releasing their first full-length Sounds of Manahoa in 1997. ~ Mike DaRonco