The Smiley Smile Message Board

This'll mean nothing to some of you, but the 2010 UK Beach Boys Stomp Convention (which would have been the 32nd consecutive) has been cancelled I've been to all of them (beginning in 1979 in Exeter), and it's been a bigger part of my life than I'd care to admit to anyone else. Given recent events, it was all but inevitable, but still... a sad day for UK BB fandom.

Why has it been cancelled Andrew?

Well... Reader's Digest version, back in the 80s & 90s we used to get 300, 350 turn up year in, years out - then the 1999 gig was postponed with literally days notice and it never really recovered. It didn't help that one of the organizers developed a mania for getting not just guests, but major guests, and to try to accommodate them the date was left open and not announced until it was really too late (and the guests in question never showed). The move out of London wasn't a good idea either - last year just 50 fans turned up. It was embarrassing. Pre-internet, it was the one day a year you could guarantee to meet a horde of like-minded souls (and splash out serious cash on some discs of decidedly dubious origin !)

But... good memories, and we had some killer guests: Marilyn Wilson Rutherford... Fred Vail... Billy Hinsche... David Marks... Tony Asher... Barbara Wilson & Annie Wilson-Karges... Andy Paley... and of course, in 1988, Brian.

Gutted - a very sad end indeed...  :'(

Will there ever be any more?

(Don't know if this is really relevant) It's funny this has been mentioned because I - being one of the younger members here (21) - have recently been thinking to myself how I have never heard any Beach Boys records on vinyl (I guess some of you could never imagine this), and how cool it would be if there was some kind of event where we got a really great audiophile vinyl setup and just listened to some vinyl BBs BW records...especially for instance the recent Sunflower reissue...I'd also love to hear TLOS and BWPS on vinyl...for someone like me (and maybe a few others) there is little to absolutely no prospect of having access to this kind of listening experience.

Rambling over

Sam

I'm always amazed Landy gave the go-ahead to bring Brian to Stomp in 1988. One of the few GOOD decisions he made. AGD, was Brian's performance good/stable?

I think there is a video of it on youtube where he performs Spirit of R'n'R.

Andrew - if it's any consolation, this will be my 35th straight "Celebrate the Newsletter" Convention... still waiting for someone to actually show up...

I meant the 88 performance. I've seen the 1990 performance.

I've heard Brian's performance at the 1988 Stomp! convention through a little birdie who didn't give it to me.

Everyone knows the story by now...there was supposed to be a surprise guest after Tony Rivers played. Tony finished his set and things quieted down for a bit. All of a sudden a few notes on an electric piano could be heard. It sounds like someone is playing Surfer Girl. Then, Surfer Girl begins, and there's a thunderous roar from the crowd when it's revealed that Brian is the surprise guest. Brian was greeted with a standing ovation for a good minute after he played the intro to Surfer Girl. Once it died down he went right back into the song and ran through it nicely although he had a bit of trouble with the high notes. He followed that with Love and Mercy and Night Time. It doesn't seem like a big deal nowadays, but back in 1988, forget about it. Brian performed well that night.

"Strong men weep..."

I remember attending a Beach Boys Fan Convention in Oakland California (of all places)at least 10 years ago.

Wasn't Landy's decision.  ;D

You'll love this... Brian was in London promoting his new solo album, and Stomp got to meet him, do a brief interview. While he was out of the room, Landy was told about the convention that weekend and how great it would be if Brian turned up. He blustered about how busy they were and yes, he'd love to do it but the final decision was up to Brian and he wouldn't want to do it, but I'll ask him anyway, OK ? So, Brian comes back, Landy tells him and Brian goes "sure, love to, no problem". Landy nearly had a siezure... but, to be fair, he turned up on the day, to the second, and Brian did his mini-gig (which, in hindsight, wasn't great -  who cared ?) and stayed for nearly two hours to sign autographs.

Close... we actually pulled the plug - literally - on Tony (who was one of maybe ten people in on the deal) mid-song, pulled the curtains and announced we had a tech hitch which we'd fix as soon as possible. Plonked Brian behind his keyboard, then just opened the curtains, no announcement. Cue 350 people with their eyes on stalks and jaws on the floor... then going batshit crazy for five minutes. Probably the best fan moment of my life. Darian was there that day, but didn't meet Brian - told us later he was "too scared".

ah, sorry thought I knew what I was talking about haha...

Sadly I wasn't there but the video is excellent  ;D

Absolutely brilliant.

They still sell record players Sam, and as you just mentioned, you can still buy vinyl, so what's the problem? You can plunk down 75 bucks for a good used turntable, another 75 for a used amp with speakers and whammo, you get the same listening experience we've all shared. Hardly impossible, you just have to actually want to do it.

Hey man...yeah that is something I plan to do in the future, you're right its not impossible :) ...but the full audiophile experience is still another matter :) ...I guess.