The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey all,

I enjoy reading all the posts here, & I've finally decided to register & post a topic.  I haven't seen this one addressed if I'm not mistaken.  Has Ricky Fatarr or Blondie Chaplin ever commented on the Beach Boys today & their role in the band back during the early '70s?

 Whenever "reunion" pops up, their names are noticably absent, although I think that may be due to them being friends with Carl & Dennis mostly.  In my opinion, they made the group sound like a real band, & I don't think it's a coincidence that they left during a period when no studio albums were appearing.

 I also wonder if they've ever reunited with the band on-stage or in-studio since Ricky left in 1975.  I know Ricky drummed for Dennis on occasion.  Thanks,

Jeremy

I know Ricky played on one track on Keepin' the Summer Alive in 1980. In 1995 at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, Blondie sang Sail On Sailor with the band and also played the entire encore.

Ricky drummed on Dennis' solo-album, and he's also present on a few BB-tracks on 15BO and the Keepin'  The Summer Alive (on the latter, I don't have a clue which song(s))
And a few years ago Ricky drummed during the encore of a BW-concert (only one song, I think Johnny B Goode)

Blondie: except for one rare guest performance during a mid-90ies (exact date won't come to mind right now) BB-concert - he sang Sail On Sailor - nothing I guess.

Athough both Blondie and Brian Wilson are featured on Anton Fig's album Figments (2002). Blondie sings lead on 3 tracks, among which the co-written " Hand On My Shoulder" on which Brian sings backgroundvocals.

But looking back upon those 33/34 years since they've left the band.... virtually nothing.


As for looking back on the band: there's an article in Mojo-Collections (Spring 2002) on the Holland album for which both Ricky and Blondie gave interviews.

You can find the Fataar/Chaplin interviews that Santa mentions in the "Recollections" left nav at http://www.the-flames.com/.

I believe that Ricky was on Bill Hinche's Dennis Wilson documentary and he talked about Dennis.

Have they been interviewed at all about working with Carl on the Brother LP?

On the KTSA album, Ricky plays on the title track, Sunshine, and possibly Endless Harmony.
In addition to Blondie's 1995 appearance with the band, he also joined them at a 1997 show, also on the east coast (Carl's last tour).
Ricky played on Surfin' USA (along with his current boss, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne and Garry Tallent from the E Street Band) at Brian's DC show on the SMiLE tour in '04.  Ricky also joined Brian and Al at one of their shows in 2006 or 2007.
Both Blondie & Ricky have played at at least one Carl Wilson Benefit in L.A. (performing Sail On Sailor while Brian watched). 

Most, if not all, of Ricky's drum parts on POB were recorded while he was still playing with the BB's...I don't think Dennis ever brought him in to play for him post 1975. BTW...I've interviewed Ricky a couple of times, briefly, and only about Dennis.

Those interviews that you can find online on fataar and chaplin are GREAT.

Oakland, 2007-01-28

Brian, Jeff, Ricky, Boz Scaggs & Al backstage:

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2co29s4.jpg)

One of the coolest pictures Ihave seen in a long time. Ricky and Blondie were great. I don't remember him in the Dennis doc.

Very cool pic.  I think Ricky wore the same hat & clothes in Hinsche documentary.  Would make sense, since Billy was probably there too, he probably filmed Ricky there.

So he was in it. I will have to run it again.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your responses so far.  I do wonder if Blondie & Ricky would fit in a one-off reunion of the band today.  Seems like they're not looking back, though. 

Mr. Stebbins talked about interviewing Ricky concerning Dennis.  Has this interview been posted online in any format? 

I did read the interview on the Flame website; as it turned out, I had read it before, but it was a good refresher.  In that interview, Ricky mentioned the studio version of "We Got Love."  Maybe only the Beach Boys know why it hasn't been released.  Any unreleased tracks, especially from 1970--1973, would be welcome.  At least it's feasible now with the success of the POB reissue, or so I hope.

Blondie and Ricky played at one of the CWF concerts. See photos of them at:
http://www.carlwilsonfoundation.org/walk00/walk00d.htm

The party line is that the album, with that song on it, had no hit single. And my personal feeling is that the song is a bit of a bore, some nice moments but too long of too few ideas in a tune. Still, it is amazing that it hasn't been officially released yet, as a historical artifact if nothing else. It's well done, for what it is.

Also, I might add there was a pretty good interview with Blondie in a 1979 issue of the BBFUN newsletter.  He talked about recording Sail On Sailor among other things.

Agree with all those sentiments! though the live version on the double LP rocked!

Incidentally R&B's names HAVE been mentioned in some re-union fantasy line-ups. Mine included.

And with little fanfare, the lineup of the Beach Boys reunion group was announced with the release of a cryptic backstage photo on a message board.  Fans were puzzled by the absence of BB heavy-hitters Mike Love and Bruce Johnston and the return of ex-drummer Ricky Fataar.  However, none of this seemed to matter after the group staged a one off concert special which was as heavy on Beach Boys rarities as it was on hits.  New member Boz Scaggs contributed greatly to the evening, the highlights being a Boz sung "Hold On Dear Brother" and for an encore, a stomping rearranged "Lido Shuffle" into which Brian was playfully able to sneak his reoccurring "Shortenin' Bread" piano riff.  Backstage founding member Al Jardine was interviewed.  "It's a dream come true...they even let me play the airplane song!"

"After the concert the band met fans and signed autographs. 'I've always loved the Beach Boys and was thrilled to have my photo taken with them,' said 12-year-old Jeffrey Foskett. 'One day I want to be just like them!'"

Just to add to all the info that has been posted, I do recall that Blondie has been a guest at a Mike & Bruce concert AT LEAST once this decade as well, singing lead on "Sail On Sailor".