The Surf Ballroom — the National Historic Landmark where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson performed on February 02, 1959, as part of the Winter Dance Party tour — announced on February 03 that they would install a life-sized bronze statue of McLean as a tribute to the lasting impact of his iconic anthem.
Acclaimed sculptor Zenos Frudakis has carved the statue, having previously worked with McLean to create the bronze portrait used for his Classics album artwork. The new statue will serve as a landmark for visitors to the Surf Ballroom, helping them learn about the history and the final performance of these young rock stars.
Photo Courtesy of Zenos FrudakisPhoto Courtesy of Zenos Frudakis
"While 'American Pie' was famously inspired by the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson on February 03, 1959, it has stood for more than half a century as an anthem to the cultural shifts of our country and is as relevant today as it has ever been," added French.
Following the show at The Surf Ballroom—an unscheduled stop on the troubled Winter Tour—a frustrated Holly, unhappy with the state of the malfunctioning tour bus, chartered a plane to fly himself and his band to the tour's next stop near Fargo, North Dakota. The Big Bopper, who was dealing with the flu, took the place of one of Holly's bandmates, Waylon Jennings. Valens won his seat on the plane from Tommy Allsup over a coin toss.
"I was conscious of the fact that I was trying to create a rock'n'roll dream sequence," McLean said in a recent interview. "But it was way more than rock'n'roll. It was about an America that was coming apart at the seams."
McLean included the song on his album, American Pie, which he released in October 1971. A month later, he released the eight-and-a-half-minute-long song as a single. Despite its unconventional length, the song resonated with listeners, and "American Pie" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Don McLean's management is working with the Surf Ballroom to plan a proper unveiling of the statue upon completion. Until then, McLean will be on the road, playing the following dates across America.
For tickets and the latest updates, visit DonMcLean.com.
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