The Smiley Smile Message Board

Of all the official members of the Beach Boys, Ricky has got to be the most forgotten. Both he and Blondie were in the Beach Boys during an era of great live shows, but relatively low key popularity. And it was only like two years. But because Blondie was more upfront in the band (physically as a guitarist) and because he sang lead on the hit "Sail On, Sailor," he is better remembered than Ricky.

People tend to dub David Marks with this distinction, but Ricky is clearly more forgotten in Beach Boy history.  I hardly ever even see a quote from him.

Ricky was still in the Beach Boys when the Endless Summer LP was #1 on the national charts. So he was there when the band was "back on top" so to speak. But other than your "low key popularity" comment, i agree with everything else you said. As you said quotes are rare... he doesn't talk about the Beach Boys much because it would seem he doesn't really care much. He did say some very nice things about Dennis when I met him about a decade ago, but other than that he was very "no comment" about the Beach Boys in general.

Hi Jon. I agree. Also, I really generalized Ricky's time period in the band. I know he was around during the initial craze for Endless Summer. And categorizing the entire period of Blondie/Ricky as "low key popularity" was not fair either, as I know they had quite an audience then too. But I guess I meant their mainstream popularity in 1972 was not at quite the level it was in 1966, or 1975 for that matter. But thanks for commenting, Jon.

I'd love to see Ricky in the next possible Beach Boys reunion (and Blondie) behind the drumkit again. Wish they both participated in the C50 reunion, that would have been awesome   :smokin

Yes, it'd be nice to see Stig turn up at some kind of reunion.

I'd love to hear Ricky on the drums live, but for my money, John Cowsill kicked all sorts of ass on that c50 tour.

Yeah, he is the most forgotten Rutle, too. Barry has kept a high profile with his endless All-Womm tours, and of course Dirk still fills stadiums around the globe, playing old Rutles and Punk Floyd songs.

Didn't he play with Brian a few years back - like a guest spot with Jackson Browne, maybe? Wasn't he at one of the Carl charity walks (or was that just Blondie)?

It's currently highly probable that the next full-on "reunion" will be a non-musical occasion.

Both Ricky and Blondie were at the Carl Wilson Walk in 2000 and they performed SOS and sounded great. Brian stood on the sidelines and seemed to be really into their performance. I have it on video. Maybe I'll upload it.

I vote for a pie fight. Including alcohol and the respective backing bands. Let's work through some things!

Yeah, he played with Brian and Al in 2007 IIRC for the encore (Surfin' USA). He's playing with Bonnie Raitt or was back then.

Carl cited Ricky as his favorite musician in at least one but I believe even two interviews. Didn't he also play flute for "Sloop John B.", steel guitar and a few other instruments?

I would definitely read a Beach Boys Anthology book! ;D

Where was this?

http://members.tripod.com/~fun_fun_fun/1-28-07.html

That's funny. I was at that show - Pet Sounds was played in its entirety along with other songs. I took my cousin and we had unobstructed views near the end of the aisle. I remember when Ricky was introduced. He had a 40's style hat on and a long coat as I recall. Or long shirt. Anyway, I remember after he was introduced he kind of stood in the back near the drummer. I don't ever remember him sitting down and playing the drums on any of the songs.

How's that, then?

I don't know about anybody else, but my idea of the afterlife includes musical instruments, concerts, the whole ball of wax.

Argal, I'm quite certain the next reunion will be a most musical occasion.

 :angel:

I have heard, from someone who met him in a studio, that Ricky doesn't exactly exude happy memories/reactions when asked about his association with the BBs. There was some verbal grumbling about bad deals/financial treatment.

Court?

.

.

....and Beach Boys funerals more so I would hope.

Ricky was awesome.  He really brought the Boys up to date with his terrific drumming, both live and on record.

Hm... Obviously I wasn't there. But since the day the show was reported on this message board I heard Ricky played and I had no reason to not believe it. But as said, I wasn't there, you was.

There was a backstage picture of Brian, Al and Ricky online but I couldn't find it again.

Love that Ricky got involved in the Oz music scene in the '80s as a producer and sesh dude.

Here's a Tim Finn song from an album he co-produced, drummed and backing voxed on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iGcCWysGK0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iGcCWysGK0)

He also drummed on this later period Split Enz track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHFYTk9PXIg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHFYTk9PXIg)