In response to an inquiry on the Surf Guitar 101 forum, I (Jesse) would like to answer to some comments regarding a sad and very unpleasant situation that exists between former band members. I am sure that some of you have had similar experiences.
Four guys who all love the genre of Surf music got together, and with a few years of practices and playing out, achieved enough recognition to get some pretty good gigs and cut a CD. Although monetary compensation was never the motivating factor, they even made a few bucks doing this. Cool stuff. But like so many bands, personalities got in the way and there was a great deal of back stabbing and complaining.
The details of the split are unimportant, two members went one way and two another. What is significant is that it was mutually agreed that the band known as “The Aquasonics” was finished and to be no more.
I closed down theaquasonics.com web site that I had authored and sadly removed the logo from my drums. Scotty and I joined with a wonderful guitarist, came up with a new name, and started from scratch learning new material. We saw “musicians wanted” ads on Craiglist that the other fellows posted and were glad to see them continue on.
We were not prepared to see that they had changed the passwords to The Aquasonics myspace site and that they were using the name, “The Aquasonics”. They claim this was done only in an effort to minimize the hit that the producer of the CD would take. Scott and I were also sensitive to this issue and tried to open communication to see how to best deal with this and other outstanding issues… our efforts were not returned.
Even though the name was a combined creation of Scotts and mine and the logo, so reminiscent of “The Astronauts” was my design, we did not feel it proper for either “pair” of us to continue under that banner. Starting over with a new name has been far more difficult but it is the right thing to do.
They claim they only used the name to help out on the CD sales.  The number of these sold is unknown to Scott and myself as we receive no recognition or compensation. It is as if we never played on it. We have a number of creative ideas that could be used in marketing this but, the others refused communication.
I feel that the Surfguitar 101 forum is best served with productive and positive energy spent on the goal of furthering the form of music that we all love. I have thus chosen to post this reply here for those who are interested enough to link to it. I want nothing more than to support the current musicians who call themselves “The Aquasonics”. They are accomplished artists and should easily be able to stand on their own merit. They should as many of you indicated, get a new name and let the healing begin.