Hi Joanne,
And welcome (and best regards to Bobby)

Many thanks for the inside info (nothing really new there, to some of us especially the Jeff bit) However Joe was only (correct me if i'm wrong) on bass in 1980 when indeed Ed was also in the band but only mainly on Guitar ??

Carl preferred Ed on guitar, so I'm sure that was intentional. I think in effort to cut back costs on the band they put Ed back on bass, which of course he excelled at as well. I can't be totally sure of that however.

Just seeing this thread for the first time sorry. I don't know all the answers but maybe a few?
As for Ed Carter being no longer on the road in the mid 90's, it was because he was told the band was going in a "younger direction". 
Most of the backup band didn't leave of their own accord. A couple did yes. Phil Bardowell was one of them. Phil admits he didn't like some of the backstage drama going on at the time to put it in a nicer way.
Mike Kowalski was not on the tours in 74-78. He may have come in for a show or a couple in 78, but then Bobby was with them for most of 78 - 81. Bobby left in 1982 because he fell and injured his back and had to rehab it. Kowalski was in the band full time from that point on until the early 2000's.  Bobby was asked back in June of 1983 and left in February of 1988. He was asked to teach Matt his parts.
Ed Carter left the band temporarily in 1984 when Joe Chemay filled in for him as Ed's wife was due to deliver their second child.
Mike Love was also missing on at least two shows in June of 1983. Kings Island in Cincinatti Ohio, and Blossom Music Theatre in Ohio. Jeff and Al provided the leads on Mike's parts. I was at both of those shows.
Al left a couple times I belive due to he had Tinnitus. I think that was in the early 90's.
Jeff Foskett's statements about his affair leading to the band's wives in total distrust is absolutely true. It caused a lot of problems. Carl was not one to put up with that kind of upheaval. Jeff was acting as road manager for the band at the time as well.
Billy was not with the band in 1982, unless it was a few here and there gigs. He came back in 1983.

That is all I can think of for now. Hope it helps a bit?

Joanne, I'm glad to hear that Bobby is writing a book. I know he's got some great stories.

Welcome to SmileySmile!

Emdeeh, if you want to share any of your photos of Bobby for the book let me know we can work out something for you if you would like? I know you had some really great shots.

Yes, some of the tiny details in the interview were off. But they were off in a totally understandable way. Figueroa seems to be a fully lucid guy whose memory seems fine. None of these guys, either core BB members or backing band guys, remember many if any individual tour dates. Figueroa probably played between 750 and 1,000 shows with the band between 1974 and 87/88. He seems to remember general details (such as the band playing the Japan Jam in 1979).

Seems easy to mistake the Greek and Universal in LA; the band played both venues during that era.

Then he was asked about one random specific show from June or July or whatever of '79, and he was actually pretty close in thinking that was after Japan. I recall Japan was only a few months later in '79.

Nice interview. I wouldn't say it was super forthcoming. I'm not saying anybody else should dictate what he wants to discuss or not discuss, but I'd use the term "diplomatic" rather than "candid" for many of his descriptions. The band was super dysfunctional during much of the era Bobby was in the band. It wasn't just a "family members fight sometimes" sort of situation.

Bobby sounds like a guy much more comfortable telling fun road stories rather than blabbing about all the epic internecine politics of the band. 

I remember Jon Stebbins mentioning that a lot of the backing band guys (understandably considering the litigious nature of the BB world) tend to tell some more hard-edged stories *off the record*.

Don't forget y'all that most of these guys had to sign a Non Disclosure agreement when they were let go or hired. Bobby was one of the very few who didn't have to sign one. So a lot of the guys in the band won't talk because they can't.
Yes his memories get confusing with some of the many shows they played but he remembers quite a bit on individual details. He can remember theatres and sometimes the years but they do sometimes all meld together. He toured mostly on - not off with them for 15 years. Plus you know he was having "fun" so sometimes the details get a bit fuzzy. :-)
Bobby is writing a book. His years with the Beach Boys will be included in there but it won't be a big tell all of the Beach Boys. He will tell more stories about what he remembers and some of the things they did. I know some of the stories and they will be fun to read.
But to be fair, yes Dennis and Mike fought at both venues plus a few others. This was definitely not a one time thing plus all the times the audience didn't see.
Thanks for giving the good reviews though. He read everyone's comments on here.