I met Brandon a few years back surfing in Venice. Since Venice is my home surf break, I know who the usual suspects are surfing. One day, I saw a guy surfing who I haven't seen before in the water. I usually watch new people so that I know to stay away from them if they're a beginner surfer, don't want them crashing into me and dinging up my board. Anyhow, this guy was a goofy footed surfer and surfed pretty good. After taking a wave, he paddled back to the line up and chilled next to me waiting for a set to roll through. As we were waiting, we had eye contact and he said good morning to me, "I said, that was a nice wave you had earlier" and that's when he introduced himself and our long conversation began. At that time I didn't know who Brandon Boyd was because I only listened to R&B, Hip Hop and House music. 

We mainly talked about places we have surfed at and what our favorite surf spots are. I mentioned I surfed in Fiji and how beautiful it is over there. He said that's one place he hasn't surfed at and would someday like to go. He said he went to Costa Rica but didn't get a chance to surf. I was surprised to hear that so I gave him shit for that. He said he couldn't surf because he was working. I asked him what kind of work does he do and he said he's a musician. I said, if you're a musician, don't you guys play at night? He said yeah, I said, so you have the day to go surf. He said, I know, you're right, but where we were playing was far from the beach. I asked him what instrument does he play and he said, "I sing". I asked him what his band's name is and he said "INCUBUS". I never heard of them then, so I changed the subject back to surfing. In between catching waves he would paddle back over to me and continue our conversation. We talked for a while until it was time for me to go. He asked if I live in Venice, I said yeah, I live a block from the beach. He said I live in Venice too, I'll see you around. And that is how I met Brandon Boyd.