Santa Monica surfers and high school friends Bill Costigan and Peter DiStefano, founded the band K-38 with Eric Boltz (bass) and Mike Mullen (keyboards, trumpet and EVI) in 1981. K-38 started as a surf influenced band that drifted to embrace many different styles of music including jazz, rock, pop, alt rock, reggae, and country. Perhaps too many different styles of music. The band’s name was taken from the surf break located 38 kilometers south of the border in Baja Mexico.
K-38 had some local success playing hundreds of shows up and down the California coast. Plus within westside clubs that included: Madam Wongs West, the Troubadour, At My Place, Hop Singh’s, and the Music Machine. The band was mentored by several talented recording engineers/producers. They helped open the doors to some of LA’s finest recording studios including: A&M, Capital Records, Cherokee, Conway, Crystal Sound, Ground Control, Post Logic, Westlake, and Yamaha R&D which became Aire LA. K-38 went into dry dock in 1992. Peter joined the hugely successful “Porno for Pyros” band which formed with two of the founding members from the very successful “Jane’s Addiction” band. Peter ignited the music scene writing the music for two Warner Brothers backed records. Peter has toured the world playing music with one highlight playing at Woodstock 2 in front of 300,000 people.
Bill and Peter reunited for a single Bozeman show in 2010.
K38 Alumni
Peter DiStefano- Lead Guitar/Vocals
Bill Costigan- Drums, percussion, and backing vocals
Eric Boltz- Bass and backing vocals 1981-1984
Mike Mullen- Keyboard, Trumpet, EVI and backing vocals 1982-1986
Brad Cummings- Bass 1984-1985
Jimi Ray Oliver- Bass & Vocals 1985-1987
Scott Pape- Keyboards and backing vocals 1986-1987
John Mohr- Bass 1987-1988
Barend Bendorf- Keyboards 1987-1987
Erik Travis- Keyboards and backing vocals 1987-1989
Matti Seth- Keyboards, Bass and Vocals 1989-1992
Bruce Palma- Bass and Vocals 1989- Present
* two bass player names are MIA
Surf Film Production and Projection during shows, friendship and guidance – Hal Jepson RIP – 1983-1986
Recording Engineers and Friends
Miles Christensen- Post Logic
William Rogers- Post Logic, Independant and Oversoul Records
Steve Burdick- Westlake Audio Studios / http://www.westlakestudios.com/
Rob Seifert- Aire LA Studios and Independant
Darryl Dobson- Westlake Audio – Darryl’s photography business: / https://www.darryldobson.com/
