70's era questions for the board

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I wonder who's job it was to keep Mike and Dennis away from each other backstage (and onstage) during them mid-years!

Not to be a downer, but it must have been a complicated situation.

[c-man]

I always found it interesting that they never included a vibraphone in their stage show especially since it was a key element of so many of their songs.

Those were pre-digital days! I wouldn't want to be the guy hauling a vibraphone from stage to stage! 

Would it be any more difficult to haul around than a piano?

Most touring groups don't actually bring their own personal piano on tour; instead a piano is either provided by the venue or rented. It's possible that the Beach Boys toured with their own piano, but as far I know, most groups don't generally do that. Either way, I don't know whether the band traveled with pianos or vibraphones, but I still wouldn't want to be the guy with that job! 

In the late '70s/early '80s, they toured with a white grand piano that later ended up at Al Jardine's studio.

[TdHabib]

I always found it interesting that they never included a vibraphone in their stage show especially since it was a key element of so many of their songs.

Those were pre-digital days! I wouldn't want to be the guy hauling a vibraphone from stage to stage! 

Would it be any more difficult to haul around than a piano?

Most touring groups don't actually bring their own personal piano on tour; instead a piano is either provided by the venue or rented. It's possible that the Beach Boys toured with their own piano, but as far I know, most groups don't generally do that. Either way, I don't know whether the band traveled with pianos or vibraphones, but I still wouldn't want to be the guy with that job! 

In the late '70s/early '80s, they toured with a white grand piano that later ended up at Al Jardine's studio.

Ah yes, it matched Brian's 1981 never changing white shirt.

[metal flake paint]

In the late '70s/early '80s, they toured with a white grand piano that later ended up at Al Jardine's studio.

Would that be the same piano that Al plays a snippet of Sloop John B on in Endless Harmony?

[c-man]

In the late '70s/early '80s, they toured with a white grand piano that later ended up at Al Jardine's studio.

Would that be the same piano that Al plays a snippet of Sloop John B on in Endless Harmony?

Probably!

[adamghost]

I always found it interesting that they never included a vibraphone in their stage show especially since it was a key element of so many of their songs.

Those were pre-digital days! I wouldn't want to be the guy hauling a vibraphone from stage to stage! 

Would it be any more difficult to haul around than a piano?

Most touring groups don't actually bring their own personal piano on tour; instead a piano is either provided by the venue or rented. It's possible that the Beach Boys toured with their own piano, but as far I know, most groups don't generally do that. Either way, I don't know whether the band traveled with pianos or vibraphones, but I still wouldn't want to be the guy with that job! 

When I toured with Counting Crows, I marveled that they hauled around a grand piano from gig to gig.  Then their road manager beckoned me over to show me a little secret...it was a fake!  They hauled around the shell of a grand piano with no keyboard or strings inside, then seated a weighted digital piano inside the assembly where the keyboard would go.  Could have knocked me over with a feather.  But it's a pretty common practice...now that I know what to look for I see it all the time on videos.

Back in those days, man, keyboards were murder.  Not just pianos, but Wurlitzers were very hazard prone and difficult to tune.  I wasn't around then, but I was playing in the '80s and a lot of that stuff was still in use because we couldn't afford samplers and such....you could buy a Wurli for $100 then!

[TdHabib]

I always found it interesting that they never included a vibraphone in their stage show especially since it was a key element of so many of their songs.

Those were pre-digital days! I wouldn't want to be the guy hauling a vibraphone from stage to stage! 

Would it be any more difficult to haul around than a piano?

Most touring groups don't actually bring their own personal piano on tour; instead a piano is either provided by the venue or rented. It's possible that the Beach Boys toured with their own piano, but as far I know, most groups don't generally do that. Either way, I don't know whether the band traveled with pianos or vibraphones, but I still wouldn't want to be the guy with that job! 

When I toured with Counting Crows, I marveled that they hauled around a grand piano from gig to gig.  Then their road manager beckoned me over to show me a little secret...it was a fake!  They hauled around the shell of a grand piano with no keyboard or strings inside, then seated a weighted digital piano inside the assembly where the keyboard would go.  Could have knocked me over with a feather.  But it's a pretty common practice...now that I know what to look for I see it all the time on videos.

Back in those days, man, keyboards were murder.  Not just pianos, but Wurlitzers were very hazard prone and difficult to tune.  I wasn't around then, but I was playing in the '80s and a lot of that stuff was still in use because we couldn't afford samplers and such....you could buy a Wurli for $100 then!

What do you have to look for in videos? I'd love to know.

[adamghost]

Well, for instance, if you're watching Elton John and he plays "Daniel" and suddenly you hear an electric piano patch instead of a real piano...that's a pretty good clue that he's playing a digital piano and not a real piano.

[TdHabib]

Well, for instance, if you're watching Elton John and he plays "Daniel" and suddenly you hear an electric piano patch instead of a real piano...that's a pretty good clue that he's playing a digital piano and not a real piano.

I've seen Elton do that song at least twice, and I always wondered how the grand piano had an electric sound

[c-man]

McCartney does the same thing with his pschycedelic upright piano (and probably his grand, too, but if you ever see him playing the upright from an angle that shows his hands, you'll see it's a digital keyboard sitting inside an upright shell).

[hypehat]

I've heard that Jools Hollands grand is the same as well.....

[rogerlancelot]

On "In Concert", who played the amazing organ solo on "Leaving This Town"?

[smile-holland]

On "In Concert", who played the amazing organ solo on "Leaving This Town"?

Carli Munoz

[Alex]

Ed Carter - bass and guitar (3rd Guitar when Carl played keys)
Billy Hinsche - piano, guitar and bass (3rd guitar when Carl played keys or bass when Ed played 3rd guitar)
Robert Kenyatta - percussion
Mike Kowalski - drums and percussion (Drums when Rickey played guitar or pedal steel)
Carli Munoz - Keyboards

I would've swore the liner notes said Kenyatta played woodwinds. Can't forget about the Dragon Bros., either!!

[c-man]

Ed Carter - bass and guitar (3rd Guitar when Carl played keys)
Billy Hinsche - piano, guitar and bass (3rd guitar when Carl played keys or bass when Ed played 3rd guitar)
Robert Kenyatta - percussion
Mike Kowalski - drums and percussion (Drums when Rickey played guitar or pedal steel)
Carli Munoz - Keyboards

I would've swore the liner notes said Kenyatta played woodwinds. Can't forget about the Dragon Bros., either!!

The liner notes on the original album don't specifiy who played what...if it's the CD reissue you're referring to, they quoted an erroneous credit assignment from Brad Elliott's 1981 book "Surf's Up! The Beach Boys On Record".  I think Brad didn't recognize the name Robert Kenyatta, and asssumed it was he who played the flute on "Caroline no" and the beginning of "Sloop John B." (it was really Ricky).  Robert Kenyatta is most definitely a percussionist.

[Alex]

Ed Carter - bass and guitar (3rd Guitar when Carl played keys)
Billy Hinsche - piano, guitar and bass (3rd guitar when Carl played keys or bass when Ed played 3rd guitar)
Robert Kenyatta - percussion
Mike Kowalski - drums and percussion (Drums when Rickey played guitar or pedal steel)
Carli Munoz - Keyboards

I would've swore the liner notes said Kenyatta played woodwinds. Can't forget about the Dragon Bros., either!!

The liner notes on the original album don't specifiy who played what...if it's the CD reissue you're referring to, they quoted an erroneous credit assignment from Brad Elliott's 1981 book "Surf's Up! The Beach Boys On Record".  I think Brad didn't recognize the name Robert Kenyatta, and asssumed it was he who played the flute on "Caroline no" and the beginning of "Sloop John B." (it was really Ricky).  Robert Kenyatta is most definitely a percussionist.

I stand corrected. I didn't know Ricky could play flute!

And didn't Dennis play drums during the encores sometimes?

[Ed Roach]

Robert Kenyatta was/is an incredible percussionist; didn't know until recently that he had a first name, though.  All we ever knew him as was Kenyatta - Howie Edelson has been fascinated by him, and tracked him down here: http://www.folkloreproject.org/folkarts/artists/kenyatta_r/index.php 
"...traveled with Wilson Pickett to Rio de Janeiro, London, and Germany, toured with the Beach Boys, performed with Sonny Rollins in Japan..."  It always blows me away how much Billy Hinsche's 8mm film so perfectly matches my 16mm, as we shot several of these same shows for this era.  We both have some fantastic shots of him, (shot in either Long Beach or San Fran), of Kenyatta going to town during Jumping Jack Flash!

[Ed Roach]

What happened to Ed Carter when JWG became the bass player - did he just become the third guiterist or did he leave the band for a while?

Sadly, the way I recall it, Ed was very unceremoniously dropped by the band, once he finished teaching Jim the bass parts!  (This is confirmed by the way he mentions having heard about Jimmy playing bass in Billy's video.)  I recall Dennis taking me to this little dive bar in West LA around this time, and seeing that we were there because Ed's side group, (The Stanky Drawers maybe?), were playing there.  Dennis, (who around this time lived next door to Ed's Dad in Pacific Palisades), felt terrible about the shoddy way Ed had been treated, and Carter was none too happy about it either!

[punkinhead]

speakin of Jumpin' Jack, that should have been an encore tune for longer than it was...like later 70's concerts....Mike's vocals are killer

[Shady]

speakin of Jumpin' Jack, that should have been an encore tune for longer than it was...like later 70's concerts....Mike's vocals are killer

"Jumpin Jack Flash Vs I Get Around any day day now" 

[Phoenix]

Wow!  Thanks for all the info so far.

When I read the first post, I thought "well who in the world was playing drums?!?"  Seems I totally forgot Mike K being listed as one of the supportting players. 

I'm sure I'll have more questions once I process everything but my internet connection is kinda spotty right now and I wanted to thank everyone now, while I could.

Until next time, does anyone know if Ricky played the Sloop intro on flute and then switched to drums for the rest or if that's Mike K on drums on that one?  Or for that matter, can anyone list the songs with Mike on drums from In Concert and/or the Carnegie Hall recordings?

Thanks again.  You guys (and gals) are a fantastic source of information!

[Ed Roach]

I remember seeing Ricky Fataar playing the pedal guitar with the slide. He discusses that very thing on Billy Hinsche's 1974 DVD.

Was looking for Brother Studio pictures I'd previously posted here,
& came across this of Ricky on the pedal

[DefMode66]

The '72-72 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Blondie Chaplin - bass, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals
Ricky Fataar - keyboards, drums, vocals
Brian Wilson - keyboards, bass, vocals (only in the studio)

The '73-74 lineup: By the end of '74 Both Fatarr and Chaplin had left the band

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals
Ricky Fataar - keyboards, drums, vocals
Brian Wilson - no longer involved in the studio

The '74-'76 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Brian Wilson - keyboards, bass, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums
Bobby Figueroa - drums

The '76-'78 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Bobby Figueroa - drums
Brian Wilson - bass, keyboards, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums

The '78-'83 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Bruce Johnston - bass, keyboards, vocals
Bobby Figueroa - drums
Brian Wilson - bass, keyboards, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums


Though not corporate members of The Beach Boys, supporting players have featured many notable musicians over the years. Keyboard players Daryl Dragon & Toni Tennille, later famous as the pop duo The Captain & Tennille, toured with the band. Carli Muñoz, who had been playing keyboards with the band since 1970, in 1971 replaced Daryl Dragon as keyboard player until 1979. Mike Meros took over the position from May 1, 1979 to July 4th, 2000. Drummer Mike Kowalski and bassist/guitarist Ed Carter were two of the first outside musicians to join the group in 1969. Percussionist/drummer Bobby Figueroa was added in the mid-seventies until the end of 1987. Adrian Baker joined the band in 1981 as a vocalist/guitarist and left sometime in mid-1982. Jeff Foskett came aboard in early 1982 as a guitarist and vocalist and played his last show with the group on the night of July 4th, 1990. There was a stretch of time in 1981 and 1982 where both Jeff Foskett and Adrian Baker were in the band. Foskett was generally filling in for Carl's harmony parts, while he was away, while Baker did the falsetto vocals. Foskett is currently a member of Brian Wilson's group. Adrian Baker re-joined the band in 1989 to 1993 as a vocalist/guitarist. Saxman John Renner was added in the Summer of 1991 for live sax on Kokomo and others. John Renner was replaced in 1992 by Ritchie Cannata, one of Billy Joel's early live band and record saxophone players. Billy Hinsche, of Dino, Desi, & Billy fame, was also a longtime member of the supporting band throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s. Matt Jardine, son of Beach Boy Al Jardine also joined the band in 1989 through 1998 as singer / percussionist. In 1998, Adrian Baker re-joined the band (for a record-breaking third time) in 1998 until 2004. Randell Kirsch replaced Baker in 2004 to present as falsetto vocalist/guitarist. Nashville musician John Foster temporarily filled in on falsetto vocals and guitar between Baker's tenure and the addition of Kirsch. John Cowsill, an original member of the 1960s pop band The Cowsills, has been a vocalist/keyboardist since 1999. John Cowsill, replaced Mike Kowalski as the group's full time drummer in late 2007, leaving his secondary keyboard spot vacant.

And that sums it up!

 

 

[Alex]

The '74-'76 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Brian Wilson - keyboards, bass, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums
Bobby Figueroa - drums

I didn't think Brian went back on the road until '76 after 15 Big Ones came out.

[BillA]

The '72-72 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Blondie Chaplin - bass, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals
Ricky Fataar - keyboards, drums, vocals
Brian Wilson - keyboards, bass, vocals (only in the studio)

The '73-74 lineup: By the end of '74 Both Fatarr and Chaplin had left the band

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals
Ricky Fataar - keyboards, drums, vocals
Brian Wilson - no longer involved in the studio

The '74-'76 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Brian Wilson - keyboards, bass, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums
Bobby Figueroa - drums

The '76-'78 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Bobby Figueroa - drums
Brian Wilson - bass, keyboards, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums

The '78-'83 lineup:

Mike Love - lead vocals
Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
Al Jardine - guitar, vocals
Bruce Johnston - bass, keyboards, vocals
Bobby Figueroa - drums
Brian Wilson - bass, keyboards, vocals (also on stage)
Dennis Wilson - keyboards, vocals, drums


Though not corporate members of The Beach Boys, supporting players have featured many notable musicians over the years. Keyboard players Daryl Dragon & Toni Tennille, later famous as the pop duo The Captain & Tennille, toured with the band. Carli Muñoz, who had been playing keyboards with the band since 1970, in 1971 replaced Daryl Dragon as keyboard player until 1979. Mike Meros took over the position from May 1, 1979 to July 4th, 2000. Drummer Mike Kowalski and bassist/guitarist Ed Carter were two of the first outside musicians to join the group in 1969. Percussionist/drummer Bobby Figueroa was added in the mid-seventies until the end of 1987. Adrian Baker joined the band in 1981 as a vocalist/guitarist and left sometime in mid-1982. Jeff Foskett came aboard in early 1982 as a guitarist and vocalist and played his last show with the group on the night of July 4th, 1990. There was a stretch of time in 1981 and 1982 where both Jeff Foskett and Adrian Baker were in the band. Foskett was generally filling in for Carl's harmony parts, while he was away, while Baker did the falsetto vocals. Foskett is currently a member of Brian Wilson's group. Adrian Baker re-joined the band in 1989 to 1993 as a vocalist/guitarist. Saxman John Renner was added in the Summer of 1991 for live sax on Kokomo and others. John Renner was replaced in 1992 by Ritchie Cannata, one of Billy Joel's early live band and record saxophone players. Billy Hinsche, of Dino, Desi, & Billy fame, was also a longtime member of the supporting band throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s. Matt Jardine, son of Beach Boy Al Jardine also joined the band in 1989 through 1998 as singer / percussionist. In 1998, Adrian Baker re-joined the band (for a record-breaking third time) in 1998 until 2004. Randell Kirsch replaced Baker in 2004 to present as falsetto vocalist/guitarist. Nashville musician John Foster temporarily filled in on falsetto vocals and guitar between Baker's tenure and the addition of Kirsch. John Cowsill, an original member of the 1960s pop band The Cowsills, has been a vocalist/keyboardist since 1999. John Cowsill, replaced Mike Kowalski as the group's full time drummer in late 2007, leaving his secondary keyboard spot vacant.

And that sums it up!

 

From 74 to 76:
Brian did not tour.  Per a prior post Ed Carter was replaced by JWC.  On you tube I have seen a documentary made during the Beachago tour.  Ron Altbach is scene behind a piano and I am pretty sure that Carli Munoz also played keyboards.  In addition there is another video from that era that has Billy Hinsche playing guitar and singing "Wishing You Were Here".

From 76 to 77:
If you look at the Landover concert on You Tube you see the following line up:

Stage Front:
Mike Love:Tamborine, Vocals
Alan Jardine: Guitar Vocals
Carl Wilson: Guitar, Electric Piano, Vocals
Dennis Wilson: Drums, vocals
Brian Wilson: Piano, bass, Vocals
Ed Carter: Bass
Billy Hinsche: Electric Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Charles Lloyd: Sax Flute

On the Sail Boat:
Bobby F: Percussion, Drums
Keyboard Player 1: Carli Munoz
Keyboard Player 2: Ron Altbach?
Keyboard player 3: Gary Griffin?
Trumpet 1: ?
Trumpet 2: ?
Sax 1: : ?
Sax 2: ?
Sax 3: ?

1978:
From a look at the Melbourne concert it appears that Billy Hinsche and Ed Carter are not present (Brian played bass), otherwise the line-up is similar although I saw them in the summer of 78 in Providence and Brian was at an electric piano for all but a couple of tunes so I would think that Ed carter was there (At one point Brian is playing something other the song, Dennis left the drums and pulled the plug on Brian's piano and then Brian charged at Dennis only to be broken up by some of the road crew.  The rest of the band played through it.

1979:
Bruce re-joins the band.  All of the horns, including Charles Lloyd are gone.  By the looks of the Midnight Special show the number of additional keyboards has gone from 3 to 2.

1980:
Mike Meros joins the band and there is now only one additional keyboardist.  Ed Carter is on guitar in Europe (see Knebworth) but by the 4th of July he is back on bass and they play with two guitars.