The Riptides were largely a vehicle for the immense song-writing talents of Mark Callahan but over a career spanning 6 years from 1979 to 1983 the band also featured a number of excellent musicians including Howard Shawcross and Russell Parkhouse. Parkhouse is an extraordinary keyboard player and subsequently played amongst other bands with The Mexican Spitfires.
Callaghan went on to find commercial success with Gangajang but the sometime surf inspired but always inspiration pop sensibilties of The Riptides had a fun loving and naivete which could not be surpassed.