*TOURS/NEWS* MIKE LOVE & BRUCE JOHNSTON Mike Love has licensed the Beach Boys' name for his tour, which also features fellow Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. Please note that Mike and Bruce are the ONLY Beach Boys on this tour; backup band includes Randell Kirsch, John Cowsill, Tim Bonhomme, Jeffrey Foskett, and Scott Totten.
Volume 13 No 4 The Finale – Spring 2015 o…we come to the end of the Beach Boys Britain Newsletter as we know it. This will be the final edition of that blue paper missive which has been coming through your doors, for so many of you, since 1997. We’ve seen very many changes in these last few years; most to be celebrated…others, not so, but having acceptance and time to move on, has always been the best way forward.
March - 2015 March - 2015 March 18 - Austin, TX - Rodeo Austin, Travis County Exposition Center March 19 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theater at Grand Prairie March 20 - Bossier City, LA - Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino & Hotel March 21 - Robinsonville, MS - Horseshoe Casino Tunica March 22 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. March 27 - Lake Tahoe, NV - MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa March 28 - San Tan Valley Arizona - Encanterra Country Club
Personally, I want to thank profusely, the teams of past and present, for their dedication, time and for all the GOOD times we shared. I’ve learned many lessons along the way- and now, I look forward to entering the real “digital age”, when our information will be shared online and through social media. “We’ve come a long way, Baby”…and I’d like to think that we can still go far, albeit in different ways. It’s the Music that is most important. It always was – and evermore shall be.
April - 2015 April 10 - Orlando, FL- Hard Rock Live At Universal Orlando April 17 - Lincoln, RI - Twin River Event Center April 18 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata April 19 - Montclair, NJ - The Wellmont Theater with AMERICA April 21 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone Resort & Casino Showroom April 22 - Easton, PA - State Theatre April 24-25 - Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 8 p.m.
There’s a lot to report in this final edition and the delay is due to us finding JUST the right venue, at JUST the right time, for our Charity Gig, which will take place in between The Beach Boys concerts on Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st. PLEASE come and support us – we need you! Details will appear in the News Section, which I’m excited to share!
May - 2015 May 02 - Lakeland, FL - Joker Merchant Stadium Benefit Concert May 23 - Orange Beach, AL - Amphitheater at The Wharf with AMERICA May 24 - Charenton, LA - Cypress Bayou Casino May 27 - Manchester, UK - O2 Apollo May 28 - Sheffield, UK - City Hall
1
May 29 - Birmingham, UK - NIA Academy May 30 - London, UK - Royal Albert Hall May 31 - London, UK - Royal Albert Hall
20 Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre 23 Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center 24 Dallas, TX – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie 26 Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre 27 Nashville, TN – Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater 29 Philadelphia, PA – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts 30 Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
June - 2015 June 03 - Brighton, UK - Brighton Centre June 04 - Cardiff, UK - Motorpoint Arena June 06 - Trondheim, Norway - Sverresborg Arena June 20 - Brooks CA - Cache Creek Casino Resort - 2 shows
July - 2015 July 09 - Ridgefield, CT- Ridgefield Playhouse "Summer Gala" July 10 - Hampton Beach, NH - Casino Ballroom, 8 p.m.
August – 2015 August 04 - Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion w/THE TEMPTATIONS August 05 - Indianapolis, IN - Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park w/THE TEMPTATIONS August 06 - Huber Heights, OH - The Rose Music Center w/THE TEMPTATIONS August 12 - Simsbury, CT - Simsbury Meadows August 13 - Portland, ME - Maine State Pier August 14 Cohasset, Ma - South Shore Music Circus August 15 Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent - 2 shows August 16 Webster, MA - Indian Ranch August 23 Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap
JULY
2
Boston, MA –Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
4
Toronto, ON –Sony Center (Brian Wilson
5
Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
6
Chicago, IL – Ravinia Festival
8
Denver, CO – 1STBANK Center
10 Las Vegas, NV – Chelsea Theater at The
B R I A N
B A N D
Holmdel, NJ –PNC Bank Arts Center
and band only / Rodriguez will not appear)
Original Beach Boy David Marks will be joining Mike Love and Bruce Johnston for their UK tour in May & June.
W I L S O N
1
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 12 Seattle, WA – Benaroya Hall - S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium
SEPTEMBER (UK TOUR!) 18 Liverpool Echo Arena 19 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 20 London O2 Arena
JUNE
22 Birmingham Barclaycard Arena
18
25 Leeds First Direct Arena
23 Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Saratoga, CA
26 Manchester Arena 19 San Diego, CA
27 Glasgow Hydro
2
ALAN JARDINE, DAVID MARKS, BLONDIE CHAPLIN As per Brian Wilson Tour
“What a sad day. I only met him once and swapped a few e-mails with him down the years. I don’t know if you remember, but I organised a Q&A with him, involving about twenty fans across the world, to tie in with some rumoured new album that he was finishing up. Unfortunately he got cold feet on the whole thing when it turned out that there wasn’t any new music at all. A precious talent, and a thoroughly nice, very ordinary bloke. The Google Car passed his front door on a glorious day in June 2009, catching the breathtaking views from his home studio at the rear of the house on Skye. Oh, and it also caught Chris putting out the bins, and it doesn’t get much more ordinary than that. A sad loss. And some nice touching tributes from Brian on some of the BB message boards, which I thought was classy. Peter”
3
Capitol Records has put out two new archival BB releases, recorded in 1964. Keep an Eye on Summer — The Beach Boys Sessions 1964 features takes, outtakes, and alternate versions of songs from the Boys' 1964 LP sessions, as well as live BBC performances (46 songs in all). The Beach Boys Live in Sacramento 1964 features both of the full live shows that were recorded for the 1964 Concert album, plus some bonus tracks (37 songs in all). Keep an Eye on Summer and Live in Sacramento are both available for download on iTunes now.
4
https://www.facebook.com/pages/100-Year-Challenge/1434913843391968?pnref=st ory And Finally…Dear Beach Boys Fans! For those of you going to see Mike and Bruce in London at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday May 30th and/or Sunday May 31st please PLEASE PLEASE come along to support us for an afternoon of MUSIC, FUN AND CELEBRITY SURPRISES, ON Sunday May 31st, from 1 pm until 4 pm. The venue is:
We would SO appreciate your support, as this is a charity very dear to our hearts. Tickets are £5 and can be obtained from us here at Beach Boys Britain or on the door, on the day. ALL Proceeds go to the Charity and ALL performers are donating their time for the afternoon. Further details will be found on both the Beach Boys Britain Message Board http://www.boards2go.com/boards/board.cg i?acion=read&id=1427647435.99995&user= bellagio
THE ISLINGTON 1 Tolpuddle Street, Angel, London N1 0XT
Or on our Beach Boys Britain Events Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beach-Boys-BritainEvents/133986373279168
Tel: 0207-684-1577 www.theislington.com Nearest Tube Station is Angel and it is easy to get from there to The Royal Albert Hall for the evening concert.
Sean Macreavy and his band, Surf’s Up will be appearing, with guests and celebrities yet to be formally announced. You may be sorry if you miss this!
The Charity is
Billy’s Bits
March 2015 On August 9, 2014 Al Jardine & The Endless Summer Band did a show in Chicago, IL in a unique setting - dockside at the 31st St. Harbor. The audience members were in boats of all sizes that were in front of the stage, right in the water! Billy says the all day affair included a
The 100 Year Challenge for Our War Veterans – and further information can be supplied on this site:
5
Reggae group as well as an Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band.
He also enjoyed his friend, Lucie Arnaz, in her tour-de-force performance in the musical Pippin at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Never a dull moment for Billy in Vegas, eh?
Over the last few months Billy has had a chance to see a variety of shows in the Entertainment Capital of the World Las Vegas where he resides. Among the talented acts were comedian Dave Coulier of Full House fame, longtime friend and Righteous Brother Bill Medley, The Australian Bee Gees Show, Raiding The Rock Vault with Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Howard Leese of Heart and Paul Rodgers, The Million Dollar Quartet with impersonators doing a fictionalized “what if” musical that included Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, Vegas favorite Earl Turner, the one and only Tony Orlando, Britain’s Hermit Peter Noone, Swedish rock-jazz fusion group Dirty Loops, the always outrageous Kiss, the legendary Jerry Lewis and even The Beach Boys! After “sitting in” for the encore, Billy hosted a group of the original UNLV cheerleaders / dancers for a post show reunion with everyone backstage at The Cannery.
Billy was asked to participate in the taping of The Brian Wilson Soundstage Special at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas on December 12, 2014 to air on certain cable networks. His duties included hosting the opening “warm up” of the audience as well as singing and playing keyboard on “Marcella,” “Wild Honey” and “Sail On Sailor” along with fellow Beach Boys alumni Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar from the early ‘70s era configuration of the band. The official trailer for the special is available to view with “our Billy” prominently featured. The program will be aired the same week that Brian’s No Pier Pressure CD comes out on April 7 so check your local cable listings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 4GGmDPtrpWE&feature=youtu.be
6
the USSR.” He also taught a Master Class in songwriting called Brian Wilson 101 highlighting the songs and techniques used by Brian to create many of his musical masterpieces. The camp hosted rockers Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult. As you may recall, Billy was a Counselor during the Brian Wilson / Jeff Beck Rock Camp of 2013.
California Surf, Incorporated performed to a sell-out crowd in Greenville, Texas on January 17, 2015 and did two more show in sunny Florida on February 7 & 8 at venues near Port Charlotte and Orlando respectively. Billy is just one of several veterans of The Beach Boys band that includes Ed Carter, Bobby Figueroa, Matt Jardine and Probyn Gregory.
There are several books coming out in the near future to which Billy has contributed his memories, thoughts and insights. One is about Mike Love called Good Vibration: My Life As A Beach Boy by author James Hirsch and the other is about Los Angeles in the ‘60s called SixtyNine: An Oral History by Ed McNeil and Gillian McCain. Both should prove to be interesting reading.
February 12 of this year marked the 90th birthday of Billy’s dear mother, Celia Hinsche, and was celebrated both at her home in San Diego and then again for friends and family in Los Angeles on March 1 at Maggiano’s at The Grove, a popular LA destination. As part of the entertainment, Billy edited and screened a very special 15-minute version of the Hinsche family’s home movies featuring Celia throughout the years. A Filipina singer sang traditional songs of the islands and all the Wilson grandchildren sang “Surfer Girl” to the absolute delight of those in attendance. Happy Birthday Mrs. Hinsche, from all of us here at Beach Boys Britain!
Billy organized a private show for Al Jardine and The Endless Summer Band on Saturday, March 21. The black tie affair was held at the new Metreon complex in San Francisco, CA and was for invited guests only. The next day Billy’s nephew, Jonah Wilson, celebrated his 45th birthday in Los Angeles, CA. For many years, Jonah has been one of the top 10 realtors in town, representing properties from Beverly Hills to Malibu. Happy Birthday Jonah!
During the weekend of March 4 - 7 Billy was one of the Counselors at The Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas where he performed with fellow Counselors Joe Vitale (CSN, Joe Walsh), Boston guitar wizard Gary Hoey, Bruce Kulick (Kiss) and others in an all star jam. Billy’s segment spotlighted him on “California Dreaming” and “Back in
33 1/3 Book Reviews (Song Cycle & Smile) by Justin Plank of Indiana
7
So I took on the challenge of reading two books that are closely related yet are polar opposite stories in comparison. Firstly, I’ve come to know the 33 1/3 books as a quintessential series for any music fanatic, various authors have chosen some great albums to write a full book on, from the Beatles Let it Be album to Radiohead’s OK Computer. In the first round of 33 1/3 series, they chose the Beach Boys most chosen album to write album: Pet Sounds.
you know, the release of Brian Wilson Presents Smile in 2004 and The Smile Sessions in 2011 have inspired more authors, fans, and reviewers to write about Smile as much as, if not more than Pet Sounds in the past ten years. Also during that past decade, Richard Henderson had the instinct to write about the even more obscure Van Dyke Parks masterpiece: Song Cycle. Obviously, Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile! book is what educated me about what Van Dyke Parks did after leaving Smile behind, which was write and record Song Cycle. The LLVS book had a few articles on Song Cycle, one that quoted Stan Cornyn "lost $35,509 on 'the album of the year'.” I had never heard the Song Cycle album before reading those articles, and it was at least five years after then until I got to hear it. From those articles, I gathered Song Cycle was a masterpiece on a psychedelic level, and it seemed classic and patriotic. I’d actually heard Orange Crate Art before hearing Song Cycle, and I remember reading a review that stated in the beginning: “this album is not Smile.” Which makes total sense, it was just a format like Smile: Parks wrote, Wilson sung. Little did I know how amazing Song Cycle was. To a Beach Boys fan, it may not be a favorite, but anyone who enjoys Van Dyke’s writing, classic psychedelic meets baroque pop, and most anything relating to the Beach Boys, like I do, shall enjoy this trip Van Dyke takes you on. But this isn’t a review for the album, it’s a review of two books. I chose to read Song Cycle first, it was the better of the two choices in my opinion. After years of reading any and all Beach Boys articles, books, bios, etc. this book brought a freshness to mind when wanting to read about mid to late sixties album production. The book does give a brief biography of Van Dyke: his upbringing, his child acting, his work with his brother, and his work with Brian.
In my early days of being a Beach Boys fan, Pet Sounds was that one album that so many had written reviews, articles, and entire books over. As you might have read in the article I wrote about how I got into this great band, the year 2000 was when I started to obsess with the Beach Boys, and at that time, Pet Sounds was what got all the attention, not Smile, like today. With seeing the likes of Charles Granata’s Wouldn’t it Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of Pet Sounds and Kingsley Abbott’s Pet Sounds The Greatest album of the 20th Century books, I knew I had to get my hands on them and read as soon as possible. But after reading those two selections, numerous accounts, whole chapters devoted in the band’s biographies, essays, and interviews from the Pet Sounds Sessions box set, it seemed there wasn’t much left to say about Pet Sounds. Then Jim Fusilli wrote about Pet Sounds for the 33 1/3 series, which at the time in 2005 was a new series. As I heard about this book, I sighed, as I knew the fanatic in me had to buy and read the book, even though there wasn’t anything new left to learn about Pet Sounds. But the read was quite an enjoyment! The album was incredibly personal to the author and his personal connections made the read a pleasure. So I’ll give Mr. Fusilli his due, he made this fan not regret his purchase. So knowing what other classic albums the 33 1/3 series did, I had hoped they’d eventually do the Smile album. As
The writer could have chosen to write chapters about the Smile era, but he 8
kept it to a minimum, which I believe was a good idea. I always wonder what VDP fans think of the Beach Boys fandom. Are there fans of just Van Dyke Parks? If so, do they grow tired of the Smile myth as much as Parks seems to in these current years? How does one become a Parks fan in the first place and not by finding out his name through Brian Wilson-lore? Thinking about it, yes, Van Dyke does have more on his resume than Smile, Sail On Sailor, and Orange Crate Art. Perhaps some found out about Van Dyke through his writing credits on Come to the Sunshine sung by Harper’s Bizarre, or his writing credits on a Harry Nilsson album?
tremendously, this book, however, brings the reader up to date on the life of Brian Wilson in the first ninety percent of the book. Being a Beach Boys snob as some may put it (I call myself a fanatic), I look at the book as if I’m fact checking for the author. I just got called out for nitpicking on Facebook (as a fan called Marcella a surfing tune), I always go back to that quote I said months ago on FB and the Smiley Smile message board: "in this online beach boy community, I've found that you're either correct or corrected. Which in my mind is all in good fun to show ones knowledge of their favorite band." So as I see it, I’m not a snob, I’m just a fan who keeps the legacy alive, well, and correct. While there may be a few here and there, there’s a few glaring mistakes as a fan, I just have to mention to the interest of this newsletter and its readers. What these obvious mistakes point out are but a few “facts” the author didn’t even need to bring up. These facts don’t add anything to the Smile story, just perhaps in a description of the early days introduction. Sanchez needed to cut some fat off the body of his book, maybe add some more interesting facts and anecdotes to the Smile section. They’re not even about the Smile album. If there’s a mistake in the preamble, how can we trust Sanchez has done his homework? I fear that someone becoming a new fan of Smile may purchase this book as a “small” purchase, possibly being cheaper than other books on Smile. This is not the best introduction to the album.
However, I believe Song Cycle is what defined Van Dyke Parks back in the day, before being known as a legendary collaborator for Smile. What this 33 1/3 book does for the Song Cycle album is what this fan needed to learn more about the Song Cycle album. I’ve since bought Song Cycle on Record Store Day of two years ago, I believe. This book makes me appreciate the album all the more. I highly recommend this book for those looking more into Van Dyke and what went on behind creating Song Cycle. I recommend it for any Beach Boys fan looking to get to know what happen to Van Dyke after Smile ceased to be. Now the 33 1/3 book of Smile by Luis Sanchez is a different story. Looking at reviews of the book on Amazon, they confirmed my feelings towards it. As much hope and hype as we hold into anything to do with Smile (the Sessions, Brian Wilson Presents Smile, LLVS book, past and present books), this book didn’t hold to its hype. While this is the third 33 1/3 book I’ve read, it’s the most out of place book of the three. The other two books having to do with anything and everything with the albums, this book is anything but. This book titled SMILE reads more of a Brian Wilson biography somehow! Now I do understand bringing the reader up to date on the subject of the book, the Song Cycle book did that
The two mistakes I bring up have to do with who’s recorded what and who’s in what picture. The first mistake written (page 21) was that the Beach Boys recorded for the Muscle Beach Party film. The tracks they “recorded” were the title song, Surfer’s Holiday, My First Love, Runnin’ Wild, Muscle Bustle and My Surfin’ Woodie. But as we all know (or most know) that these were songs written by Brian with
9
Gary Usher and Roger Christian and performed by Dick Dale, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, and others. I wonder where he got this information? Did he just put some facts he found together and confused them with something like the Girls on the Beach film? Who knows, obviously his proof reader/fact checker didn’t know. The other glaring mistake (on page 29) is that the Boys posed by their “girlfriends” on the cover of All Summer Long, which again, most (should) know that those were just a few models. Looking closely at the models, the author should have been able to see that there are only two girls in the pictures, just in different outfits. If this author had looked at any pictures of Brian from other books, he could have seen that Brian’s girlfriend/wife Marilyn doesn’t look anything like the models on the cover.
Hawthorne – A Review I listened to Monty’s album so many times driving around in the car last year, but before finally putting pen to paper here, I thought a few more run throughs wouldn’t go amiss. What I am going to do just for fun is to suggest where the various tracks might have fitted into Beach Boys history and which albums they would have been suited to. Some of them I do know are practically impossible to pigeon hole accurately and in any case each of us will have differing opinions I suspect. OK let’s go. With respect to the first song ‘Makin Waves’, a couple of things come to mind. Firstly BB’s wise, Mike Love would be singing the lead and also the track would have been highly suitable for inclusion on set lists of their 50th anniversary tour and would not be out of place on TWGMTR. I believe there was actually another verse written but Monty deliberately decided to keep this one short.
I will say that I do appreciate the fact that the author wrote about Brian’s side projects, I always find that interesting when writers discuss that part of Brian’s life, more than just “this song was recorded on this date with this musician.” I am glad that he decided to write about Smile at the end of the book, but I just feel there’s so much more to write about Smile than just a chapter in a book about Smile. So if my feelings weren’t obvious before, I don’t recommend this book to the casual reader, but those are collectors of everything Beach Boys, there are definitely worse things you could get, it’s at least interesting to read once. Looking back, if you were to only be able to buy one of these books: 33 1/3 Song Cycle by Richard Henderson or 33 1/3 Smile by Luis Sanchez, I’d choose Song Cycle over the latter. I think there’s much to be learned from the Henderson book over the Sanchez book; as you might find yourself nitpicking the writing like I did. I hope this whole review doesn’t come off too negatively, like I said before, I just like being correct because the Beach Boys Legacy/Universe deserves nothing but that. Justin Plank 10
‘Wake up to Summer’ is a tricky song to put into any precise area of BB’s work, but if pushed I would probably go for around 1980 (Keepin the Summer alive). Of course the lyrics might be influencing me here. ‘LA Highway’ is a Jan and Dean updated type of song and is the catchiest song on the album closely followed by ‘Santa Cruz’. This is my favourite and I love it! The very first time I heard ‘Long Beach’ I said to myself ‘Carl Carl Carl’. If only he were with us still, he would have had great fun singing this track and what a version we would have to delight in. ‘Frisco Bay’ is one for Brian to have taken the lead on and would have fitted in nicely on his first solo album I reckon. Bruce would sing ‘Summer feelin’ although I can hear Mike coming in at 1min 18 secs (walking in the sand). This is another track which is so difficult to once again pigeon hole chronologically and much the same could be said about ‘Sunset on Big Sur’. I’m tempted to say that the latter might have suited the ‘Holland’ album which of course has the ‘California Saga’ trilogy .
for the big city. It’s a summer love song with rich harmonies that take you to a better place. Listening to those harmonies make you simply drift away. Monty was inspired to write ‘Leslie O’ by his beautiful wife Leslie who is from Laguna. This one is an upbeat tempo song with a catchy chorus. Two ‘Dennis’ style tracks follow. The great man would have sung the verses on ‘In California’ and the other guys would have taken over the choruses, but I’ve thought about this a good deal and have struggled to come up with any BB’s album it might have been suited to. Mention should also be made of the delightful sax break on this track. On the other hand, the melancholy ‘Californian Dream’ could well have been included on ‘Pacific Ocean Blue’. All Dennis would have needed was a piano to accompany his raspy voice to create a masterpiece methinks. The album concludes with purely a ‘stack of vocals’ of ‘LA Highway’. This works well and I suppose hearing it again for a second time in another form re-inforces the tune in the listeners’ ears so to speak. It’s probably no coincidence that this one is my favourite after all then. ‘Hawthorne’ with all its lush harmonies throughout is something that all true Beach Boys fans should have in their collection. I particularly appreciated the painstaking attention to detail to
As I suggested before, Santa Cruz is my second favourite song on ‘Hawthorne’. It’s Monty’s version of Fun Fun Fun lyrically as it’s about a girl cruising in her car around Santa Cruz. ‘San Jose’ is about a guy who doesn’t want his girl to leave him 11
ensure all the vocal work was spot on and know all the hard work that went into achieving this. Well done Monty I say for writing the songs and praise should also be heaped on his collaborators on the project who helped to make his dream come true.
reach more people and spread the word about the music that we all love, so very much. In fact, we can now have fine quality photos and share music, videos and…the possibilities are exciting. That’s why I have come to this conclusion and am happy, that it’s not the end, you see...but the BEGINNING of a new phase of Beach Boys Britain! And Bless you all, for staying with us! Val Johnson-Howe
Alec McIntosh
And Now…To The Final Days Of The Beach Boys Britain (Paper) Newsletter:… I pondered, long and hard, over what to say for this part. Since 1997, Beach Boys Britain has been appearing in members and friends mailboxes on a (mostly!) regular basis and has seen many changes. We’ve laughed and cried together, been angry and been sad – and also had some of the most wonderful times with our early days Get Togethers (happy memories working with the great Alex McCambley, at our very first get Together in Grangemouth. Yes – Grangemouth! ) and how they grew and grew and…as times changed, they dwindled, cash flow became an issue…and the internet and social media started fires which were not under control. Our Newsletter is no longer fresh “News” and it is so easy to access information via “the web”. That thought, plus the rise in the cost of postage and “physical” materials, means that BBB has to evolve. A part of me will miss producing this old blue rag, but a bigger part of me knows that by using the internet and social media, we can
It is sad really that the newsletter is coming to an end, it used to be something good arriving in the mail and I have enjoyed reading it over these last few years. I originally became a member in early 2005, just a few months after seeing Brian and his band for the first time when he came to the Eden Project down here in Cornwall on 16th July 2004 with the SMiLE tour. That was the first time I had ever seen any of The Beach Boys unless you can count Glen Campbell who I saw here at the no longer in existence Cornwall Coliseum back in 1991. I have never been to a BBB event as it's not always easy being down here in Cornwall with the distance and time but I would like to one day. I came once to the Stomp Convention in 2009 when it was at the Lakeside Complex at Frimley Green and met a lot of fans there including BBB members. It was an enjoyable day meeting different fans there as I didn't know anyone at all when I came through the door apart from speaking to Val on the phone a couple of times and an excellent performance from tribute band The Beached Boys. The evening back at the hotel in Lakeside was great too 12
spending it with some fans who were also staying there.
and I kept hearing it on the radio afterwards, their music gave the feel of summer fun.
Two years later I went to the Royal Festival Hall in London to see Brian again on the Gershwin tour and staying at the nearby Premier Inn I met the same fans again plus a lot of others. I was lucky to obtain a backstage pass to meet Brian after the show and he signed my old vinyl Pet Sounds sleeve and giving my camera to Jeffrey Foskett he took a photograph of me with Brian which I now have framed. The late evening after the show back at the hotel was really enjoyable with other fans who some brought a couple of acoustic guitars and a tambourine and we all sang Beach Boys songs plus others until the early hours next morning and I played a few things on guitar myself.
Now that the newsletter is coming to an end, I hope that Beach Boys Britain continues and I can keep in touch with the many like minded friends that I have made. Surfs up! Paul Childs
A little page filler for the final edition of the BBB newsletter (indulge me). So how did I become a Beach Boys fan?. Way back in early 1965 I was an apprentice moulder and went to college one day per week to learn to become a tradesman. I went with my friend Brian who was already a minor fan of the Beach Boys (he later became my best man in 1975). My music taste in those days was all sorts of artists from Pete Seeger through to Sam and Dave and on to Frank Sinatra. Anyway I used to call for Brian on my way to college, whilst waiting for him to finish his breakfast one day he put on a B side of a single on his Decca 63 system record player. The song I heard changed my life for ever, it was the B side of I Get Around yes it was Don't Worry Baby. Put it on again please I asked once it had finished and again please. Who is this? Brian says it’s the Beach Boys, my reply was those guys that do that surfin' stuff, yes the very same group. I was hooked, even the very simple guitar/instrumental solo was amazing not to mention those harmonies. I managed to blag that single from Brian that night on the way home, I actually swapped the record for my Gat air pistol. I remember playing that single to death (I still have it) I played it so much even my parents were singing it.
I had never seen any of the other Beach Boys but a year later was the Reunion Tour so that made things complete when I boarded a plane from Newquay to Gatwick to see the show at Wembley. Sadly I never had the chance to see Carl or Dennis but now I have seen all the others. To my knowledge, apart from Brian appearing at the Eden Project in 2004 and just after Mike and Bruce were at Plymouth Pavillions which sadly I couldn't make that one, I don't think The Beach Boys have ever appeared anywhere down here in the far South West. It would be interesting if anyone knows anything different?
I have been a fan of The Beach Boys ever since they appeared on Ready Steady Go way back in 1964 with their latest hit at the time 'I Get Around' 13
I then proceeded to buy the back catalogue of the Beach Boys and bought everything they have ever released since. Whilst the back catalogue had nothing remotely as fine as Don't Worry Baby there were some highlights amongst the surfin' and car tracks. Surfer Moon, Surfer Girl, The Warmth of the Sun and In My Room, as very easy examples. The first dance I had with my brand new wife was to Don't Worry Baby, it was also played at my son and daughter’s weddings and my 60th birthday. To this day the only track that has ever challenged and beaten Don't Worry Baby is The Beach Boys Friends single.
You do know by now, I hope, that without YOU, the fans, these bands would be nothing, would not even exist. We the band members hold you in highest esteem, and particularly those of you who attend our shows and purchase whatever CDs/merchandise our leaders choose to release for sale. The UK has always been the home of the most fervent of Beach Boy devotees; I have to say somewhat putting the home country to shame. I have declared it once, I will declare it again-- THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your dedication to us. You keep us making music, which may in fact be more important than putting food on our tables. We shall strive to be worthy of your continued interest. Sincerely Probyn Gregory
A one chance listen to a track that changed my outlook on the world of music… Dave Maclean
Probyn remarks on BBB newsletter going digital
Allow me to submit the following from my own collection of Beach Boys-related palindromes for the final instalment. Use them if you can... Best wishes Hans:
Greetings followers of BBB : It was inevitable that a medium such as BBB newsletter would change course slightly in order to get a double benefit-become available to anyone with an internet connection and the time to read, and secondarily to save money into the bargain by cutting physical costs associated with printing a multi-page publication (on notably blue paper). I myself have a soft spot for the old-time cut-and-paste manner of setting up copyable printed matter, as I published three issues of Maggot Scene Magazine in the 1990s using only an electric typewriter, a printer and an Exacto knife to cut galleys. This does not mean that just because you cannot hold a paper copy in your hand, your beloved magazine will be any the less. I'm afraid it is just part of the changing times. You will still get info about USA's greatest band and all the various off-shoots/permutations that spring forth unbidden in an affront to ease of pigeonholing .
FUN WITH PALINDROMES Those are words or sentences that read the same forward and backward. Here goes: Al's L.A. Bri's: 'I, Sir B?' Bruce-curb... ...Re: Carl-racer David as a diva-D? Dennis sinned? M.E. Love = Vole-M? Pooled pool á la Al? A Loop de Loop! PARTY!-trap...? Step-on SMiLE-kelims...(NO PetS!!) And finally a few ones using whole words as units: 14
outside had failed to deter hardy Scots, who had been milling around the futuristic Armadillo clad in not much really; kilts abounded, as did tee shirts, shorts and lots of fancy dress. Pet Sounds on Burns Night demanded a statement, and here it was in bucketloads.
Cindy, Oh Cindy Run James, Run Funky Pretty IS pretty funky! More Beach Boys palindromes online from smileysmile.net Rasmus H.C. Skotte
Tom had arranged with Darian Sahanja for our group, now augmented by the arrival of Chingford’s finest, Charlie Brennan to sit in on Brian’s sound check, and we filed in quietly during a workout of “Friends”. Brian was a huge presence on stage, dressed as he was in the most pneumatic cold-weather parka seen this side of the Arctic Circle. But he was struggling with the high notes, and seemed content to rely on the advice and encouragement coming from Melinda, who was sitting a few rows back and to the centre. Lower keys were tried out until he found one that was comfortable for his vocal, and then the band was away again, this time with “Your Imagination”. I made a note at the time that he also tried out “Busy Doin’ Nothin”, but that song failed to make the set list later that evening. When the run-throughs had finished we met Darian outside in the corridor, and he had another surprise for Tom and me. The band were having a pre-show dinner at the venue and we were invited to join them.
ARMADILLO MEMORIES… Peter Whitfield Hope all is well with you. You must have mixed emotions about the final upcoming newsletter - how we’ll all miss that blue bloody paper. You asked for some contributions, and here’s a story that hasn’t been told anywhere before. The year began in confident manner, with Michael Jackson hailed as Artist of The Century in early January. In late May, Russia would be made a limited partner in the NATO Western Alliance. Both stories would not end well of course, but then Burns Night was still perhaps too soon in the calendar for 2002 to be called a memorable year. Unless you were a Brian Wilson fan.
To call it a dining room is probably a stretch of the imagination, but it was a spacious area in the very bowels of the building, quite utilitarian and sparse. It also had a large secure and lockable door, more of which shortly. On the way down we encountered Brian in the corridor holding a conversation with one of his security people, a steely eyed lady who looked eminently capable of taking care of business if needed. After a brief introduction and handshake with Brian, we continued on until we reached the dining room, where the rest of the band was busy perusing the menu and deciding where to sit. Tom and I were welcomed warmly and took a table
After unveiling his Pet Sounds Tour in 2000, he finally brought the show over to Europe, and that’s why John Porteous, his pal Robbie, Dave Lish, Dave Jackson, Tom Bailey and yours truly were here at The Clyde Auditorium. Brass monkeys 15
with Darian, Probyn Gregory, Nick Walusko and Andy Paley.
had a Domenic-related tale to tell, and all of them were suffused with humour and affection. Happy days.
It soon transpired that Brian was not going to join us, preferring instead to take dinner in his dressing room, where he was also to receive a pre-concert massage. We then discovered that perhaps Brian’s absence had another, quirkier, dimension to it. It seemed that two days previously, prior to their show in Berlin, a local caterer had set out several tables of buffet food in a function room at the band’s hotel while most of them were having an afternoon nap following their journey from Stockholm. Unbeknownst to the rest of them, Brian had woken early and had wandered downstairs with appetite issues. He found the door to the function room unlocked and had then, allegedly, scoffed almost everything in sight, discarding the remaining items but leaving a BW-shaped bite mark in them to indicate that he at least had given them a try. The band, reportedly, were a bit miffed and Brian found himself in the doghouse for the rest of the day. It was also decided that upcoming venues should have secure premises as far as the catering was concerned.
Something that surprised a few of us was when Andy Paley confessed a deep admiration for the late British comedienne and actress Joyce Grenfell. He had discovered Joyce during his time living in London during the early 80s and was an avid collector of her humorous monologues. Not a lot of people know that. When the meal was finished a couple of band members returned to their rooms, but the rest were asked if they would like to put in an appearance at the Beach Boys Britain function room which was being overseen by the inimitable Alex McCambley. They were more than happy to oblige, so Tom and I led them through a labyrinth of corridors back up to civilisation. By then the rest of our group were already enjoying the atmosphere and anticipation along with other BBB followers, and the arrival of the band members was a cause for more celebrations. They filed into the room and I brought up the rear. Alex, bless him, wasted little time in displaying his Caledonian credentials, by taking me to one side and pointing out that there was an admission charge for everyone, no exceptions, and cheerfully asked who was going to cough up for everyone who had just barged in. At first I thought he was joking, but his Granite City visage told me otherwise and I happily paid up for myself and the guests. It was a small price to pay for the unique afternoon that Tom and I had enjoyed already, and as Alex explained, the BBB room hire had to be paid for somehow. He was a great host too, ensuring that the mingling went smoothly and that nobody was seen to be hogging any one of the band members for too long. Alex, you’re a star.
The catering on Burns Night very much reflected the occasion, with lots of traditional Scottish fayre. Most of the guys were persuaded to give the haggis, neeps and tatties a go, but Nick bottled out and ordered the mackerel. Tom and I reminisced about our travels to LA and our first meetings with Domenic Priore and later, Darian. It seemed that almost everyone 16
Wilson fans too. And when another prominent musician sauntered into the reception room to pay his respects, they flocked to him in the same way that we were making a fuss over their boss. When Chris Harley (that’s Chris Rainbow to you and me) walked in there was a moment when he went unrecognised. But that didn’t last and within seconds he was surrounded. Chris, as some of you will know, was a rather shy and unassuming guy, and he was definitely caught on the hop. His music has long been a fixture on the various mix tapes that are played before the beginning of Brian’s shows, and he is also featured on the band’s playlist in their tour bus. It was a bit surreal to see them gathering around Chris, while everyone else was concentrating their attentions on Brian. But, like I said, these guys are not stars, they have no pretensions, airs or graces, and first and foremost they are fans of really great music.
What of the show itself? On the assumption that almost everyone reading this will have been there anyway, the intention is not to analyse the performance in any great detail. Suffice to say that there are no superlatives that even come close to describing the sheer outpouring of emotion that greeted Brian and his band before, during and after each song. Towards the end of a mesmerising rendition of Pet Sounds he brought a halt to “Caroline No” during the second verse because of very high note that he failed to reach. He explained to the audience “I refuse to blow a note like that and ruin the whole song”. On the second attempt he reached for the same note and hit it perfectly, triggering an avalanche of applause. The band didn’t bat an eyelid when instructed to re-start the song, Jeff simply admitting, “He’s the boss”. The next song up was “Good Vibrations”, followed by a totally unexpected a cappella outing for “Auld Lang Syne” introduced by Brian as being “to honour one of your great poets. It was a lovely touch, and the Burns Night crowd went mental.
As the night wore on first Brian, then the band members, eventually drifted away for a well- earned rest. Our little group remained hyper for a little while longer, but fatigue won out and weary bodies dragged themselves to their rooms in the adjoining hotel.
After the show, our group was invited to the meet and greet backstage, where everyone got the chance to get up close and personal with Brian. He was in good spirits, talkative, and always ready with a warm, genuine smile for those photo opportunities. The rest of the band were, as we would get to realise over the coming years, just like us, just regular guys, just Brian
We surprised even ourselves by meeting up reasonably early for breakfast the following morning. Apart from John that is, who could sleep for Britain if it were an Olympic event, and who had to be woken by a member of the hotel staff after she
17
was asked to check on him. The conversation inevitably revolved around one subject only, as it would for many subsequent times in the years ahead. But this was the first one, Brian had actually come to share his work with us, in person, and had chosen Scotland to be the recipient. Shows in the coming years would perhaps be more technically proficient, certainly more demanding, more spectacular and much more ambitious in their scope. They would feature string sections, back projections of images and movies, poignant tributes to much loved and much missed brothers. They would evolve into wondrous showpieces and we would be enthralled. And we would push out huge waves of raw emotion back to him, as he sat there behind the comfort blanket of his keyboard, hand gestures reinforcing the music. And we would love him even more.
Coda – Kingsley Abbott "We've been friends now for so many years..."
Following any musicians in the sixties was usually a mainly solitary activity for fans. You heard your favourites on record, on the radio and even sometimes on TV. Fan clubs existed, but varied tremendously. The best had active back-up from the group or soloist and offered news and exclusive items to the fans, The Beatles' Fan Club Records being a case in point, while others offered an occasional photo and news sheet. Occasionally fine organisations like Dave Godin's Tamla Motown Appreciation Society actively promoted artists, and in turn got access and fullblooded support from the record company, all of which was really appreciated by fans, who like me at the time, were motivated to become active fans in a variety of ways.
But hey, the Armadillo on Burns Night 2002 was the first time. And the first time is always special. It might not have been the best, but it’s the one that you’ll always remember. Peter Whitfield
Being a Beach Boys fan remained one of the comparatively solitary pursuits until the Stomp conventions emerged. I only heard about the first Exeter gathering a few weeks after it had happened, but made plans to get to the second Harrow meeting which proved to be altogether a bigger event. It's quite sad to think that almost all of the people there have since dropped by the wayside for a variety of reasons, apart of course from people like Mike Grant, Roy Gudge, John Porteous et al. Any organisation has to have a hardcore of dedicated people if it is to survive, and Beach Boys fans have been well served over the years. The annual convention grew, maintaining a formula, until other groupings like Beach Boys Britain began organising more loosely based regional meetings that fulfilled some fans desire for more sociablity and more active music making. Along the way, contact with The Beach Boys themselves and their management
Photos courtesy of Tom Bailey. Apart from the one I took featuring Darian, Tom Bailey, Chris Harley and Probyn Gregory
18
was intermittent, and often restricted to a very small group. Brian's arrival at the 1988 Stomp Convention was indeed a coup of huge proportions, providing the richest of memories for those attending, and some wonderful text in the national music mags shortly after, with Q Magazine's phrase "the collective sound of dropping jaws" being my favourite. Brian was very 'managed' that day and, although he signed an autograph for everyone in the room, there was precious little real social interaction. Still, it was a real highpoint.
more than one or two older fans perceiving it as too much of a money making enterprise. Twenty years before it would have been universally welcomed by all, but in a world dominated by new recording and live technology there were some that passed on it. Still the friendships continued though: renewing these at last year's very fine Hampton Court Beach Boys shows with the band and fellow fans proved that the bond ran very deep. Each one of us will have our own personal highpoints. For me it has been certain Christmas cards and gifts, opportunities to interview band members for books and mag articles, Marilyn's delight with the food at our local pub, and most personally Bruce Johnston being the first person to call me after my heart by-pass op in 1997. I had arrived home tired and in some pain, but his call lifted my spirits more that he would ever know.
As time went by, and computer technology introduced new forms of communication, contact between fans and the band itself and other related individuals gradually increased. We had a British Beach Boy in the form of Adrian Baker for a while, called up by Bruce Johnston suddenly enough for him to request an immediate loan of albums from me for him to tape and learn songs on the plane over. We had increasing contact with Bruce Johnston, always by far the most sociable of Beach Boys towards fans. Other people close to the band, like Billy Hinsche and Stevie Kalinich, enjoyed helping out with news, and several made trips to fan meetings, Marilyn Wilson, together with husband Daniel Rutherford, made their first UK Stomp Convention trip, and amazed several people by turning up for home visits in the following days. Parallel with this, friendship between fans had solidified over the years, and with now more that the annual meet-up, a whole new coterie of enthusiasts became active with the UK Beach Boy world. Brian Wilson's increasing live and recorded solo activity, something many thought they would never see, offered fans new areas of interest and collecting focus, even to the extent of edging towards the law of diminishing returns for some.
I am delighted to respond to Val's request with this short piece, especially as I must count myself as a largely lapsed fan these days. My musical appetites have always been multi-various, and I never could consider it in any other way. Tonight will be La Boheme, and there will be small folk clubs and a Terry Riley electronica appreciation concert at The Barbican in coming days with different groupings of family and friends. Friendships that don't lapse are one of the very best and richest aspects of life, and as we all move on we can all realise that we have been more than lucky in our particular little world. Cheers everyone. Kingsley Abbott Internet Radio Stations Worth Checking Out (lots of Beach Boys Music played!): James Crowther:
http://www.radiojj.co.uk/ Mike Grant of Stomp can be found here:
Almost bizarrely the much touted original Beach Boys reunion concerts and recording of a few years ago came and went with
http://mixlr.com/mikes-mix/ 19
Betty Collignon, David Beard and ESQ, Elliott Lott, Trisha Campo, Panayotis Bogdanos, Alan Poole, to those who wish to remain unnamed… and of course, our very infamous Granny Spice!
We recommend this highly informative magazine, with wonderful colour photographs and great articles. David Beard and Lee Dempsey provide a quality product and if you’re not already subscribed..what are you waiting for?!
We’ll see you on line – do check regularly with both the Beach Boys Britain Message Board and our Facebook Pages. We’ll endeavour to keep you in the know and as up to date as we possibly can. So, it’s Goodbye From Us on the blue paper – and Hello To Us, on the web! We are: Beach Boys Britain 3, Mill Grove Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 4BS ENGLAND Email: funky.pretty@btinternet.com Tel: (+44)01455 559433
ENDLESS SUMMER QUARTERLY PO Box 470315 Charlotte, NC 28247 USA ESQeditor@aol.com (enquiries)
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS AMAZING MAG: ENDLESS SUMMER QUARTERLY. ESQ is published quarterly. Subscription rates are as follows: $30.00 U.S.; $34.00 Canada and Mexico, $38.00 Elsewhere. (U.S. funds only).
Website: http://www.beachboysbritain.org.uk/ Message Board: http://www.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?& user=bellagio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beach-Boys-BritainEvents/133986373279168?ref=hl
Cheque and money orders in US funds are accepted. We now accept online credit card payments through PayPal.
Our PayPal account ID is esqeditor@aol.com.
Harmonious Thanks: To all contributors this issue and to everyone who has ever been part of helping to produce this Beach Boys Britain Newsletter. In particular, my thanks go to : Bruce Johnston, Billy Hinsche, Jeffrey Foskett, Probyn Gregory, Nelson Bragg, Scott Totten, Randell Kirsch, Kingsley Abbott, Lucy Hall, Rob Johnson-Howe, Sean Macreavy, Dave Maclean, Paul Childs, James Crowther, Alec McIntosh, Justin Plank, Ang Jones, All at Minuteman Press, Lutterworth, All The Lovely Ladies at BBFC and Brother Inc.,
Coyright: Beach Boys Britain. No article or any part thereof contained herein may be copied or reproduced without the prior written permission of Beach Boys Britain and the author.
20
21