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Dec 30 1961-The BBs appeared on the Pacific Ocean Park Dance Party on KHJ TV hosted by Bob Eubanks. While this was sometimes held at Pacific Ocean Park, other venues were also used and it’s possible that this show was taped on this occasion at the Olive Recreation Center in Burbank as the BBs first fan-club president Jodi Gabel recalls seeing the band on this date for the first time at that venue. The next day the BBs played at the Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach-allegedly with Ike and Tina Turner, the Carlos Brothers and the Rivingtons. Sadly I have never seen one scrap of info on this show, other then the memories of the BBs. It was not advertised or mentioned in any newspapers at all-though this does not mean it didn’t take place-many rock shows at this time were ignored by the more staid newspapers, which often employed critics and writers with little appreciation for rock and roll. Dec 27 and 28 1962-the BBs appeared at the Surf Fair in Santa Monica. On New Year’s Eve they allegedly played in Santa Cruz, but I have never found any evidence of this appearance.
Jan 2 1963-The BBs recorded the song “Punch Line” at Western and then played a concert somewhere in California (the date is recorded in Jo Ann Marks’ diary). Dec 27, 28 1963-The BBs, with Al now back in the lineup, performed at the Terrace in Salt Lake City. On Dec 31 1963-they apparently played a New Year’s Eve Dance at the Cinnamon Cinder in San Bernardino (According to Fred Vail). The next day Fred accompanied the BBs to the studio to hear them record the track for Fun, Fun, Fun and The Warmth of the Sun. On January 2, 1964 Brian produced the track for She Rides With Me for Scott Peterson. The vocals were recorded on Jan 6 apparently without Brian.
Dec 27, 1964-The BBs played the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, NE with Glen Campbell, appearing at his second concert as a Beach Boy. Two guitars were stolen from their car after the show-as mentioned by Carl in the Bull Session with the Big Daddy. On Dec 28 the BBs appeared at the KRNT Theater in Des Moines and then in Indianapolis, IN on Dec 29 and Louisville, KY on December 30- with Lonnie Mack, The Monarchs and The Newbeats. Jay and the Americans were also scheduled but Jay Black had a car accident and they did not appear. On New Year’s Eve the BBs were in Charlotte, NC. On January 1 1965 they made their first app in Greensboro, NC and then played Virginia Beach (January 2) and the Mosque in Richmond, VA on January 3, 1965.
Dec 29 1965-the BBs overdubbed vocals and guitar onto the track for Sloop John B at Western. That night they played the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos with the T-Bones and Mitch Ryder. A reviewer called them “absolutely fab” and noted that Brian wasn’t there because of a cold. Apparently, the BBs still were not telling everyone that Bruce was a permanent replacement on the road. The next night they were in Oakland and Bernie Hughes of the Oakland Tribune reported, “The Boys did ‘Surfing U.S.A,’ ‘Little Honda,’ ‘California Girls,’ ‘Surfer Girl’ and their newest hit, ‘Barbara Ann.’ The screamers in the audience went wildest during Dennis Wilson’s ‘Hide Your Love Away,’ in which he imitated Beatle John Lennon-and those who know about these things claim he does it perfectly.” On December 31, 1965 the BBs appeared in Tacoma, WA-with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Yardbirds (with Jeff Beck), The Beau Brummels, The Vegetables, Alexys and The Mojo Men. Sounds like a cool and varied show. The same bill played the Seattle Coliseum on New Year’s Day 1966.
Dec 27, 1966-Brian was at Columbia working on Cabinessence (Vocals- Who Ran the Iron Horse Section), Heroes and Villains (taking a stab at the lead Vocal but the tape is lost) and recording vocals for Wonderful. The BBs were in Seattle to appear with Don & the Goodtimers, The Emergency Exit, the Wailers, Sopwith Camel, the Royal Guardsmen and the Standells. The reviewer noted, “The Beach Boys, a freshly scrubbed group that exudes a good deal of healthy vigor, fell three minutes short of keeping the promise that they would play for 45 minutes. Still they played enough of their hits that the audience was surely satisfied.” Dec 28 1966-Brian was again at Columbia to work on Heroes and Villains, but the tape is lost. The other BBs were in San Francisco to appear with Jefferson Airplane, The Seeds, Sopwith Camel, Music Machine and the Royal Guardsmen. The BBs were in hostile territory, as the SF Examiner reviewer clearly favored the “hip” Bay-area Airplane. He noted, “The Airplane’s imaginative hard-rock instrumental patterns made the affected boogie-woogie type syncopations of the Beach Boys embarrassingly elementary by comparison: it’s like matching the Count Basie Band with Ernie Heckscher.” Jan 3 1967- the BBs were all at Columbia Studios to work on Heroes and Villains (track and Vocals-including the “Do a Lot” section)
Dec 28 1969-Carl spent time producing the Flame album: working on the tracks “Lady” and “Get Your Mind Made Up”. Jan 2, 1970- Brian worked on an untitled song.
Dec 29, 1973 The BBs played at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, CA. Steve Cooper of the Sun-Telegram called the concert near flawless and singled out Carl for special praise noting that he “was superb throughout the night and deserved the appreciative response for his solo on ‘Caroline No.’ Bathed in a light blue spotlight, he tamed a rocking audience with his fragile love song.” The next night the BBs were in San Diego with Joe Walsh and the reviewer ironically noted, “Dennis Wilson appears to be the only ‘Straight’ Beach Boy left. Both Carl Wilson and Al Jardine would be more at home in a country and western band and Mike Love looks like part of a hare-krishna act!” The BBs played a New Year’s Eve show in Long Beach, filmed by Ed Roach for posterity. Dennis played the show, swigging from a champagne bottle, with Mike decked out in a pink suit.
Dec 27, 1974-The BBs played the Forum in Los Angeles with Honk. Harvey Kubernik of Melody Maker noted, “The harmonies are still excellent and as the years go by, the music is getting tighter and better. All of the eras of the group’s existence were touched upon in the two-hour set…The concert ended with ‘Good Vibrations,’ possibly one of rock’s finest songs. The crowd wouldn’t leave. Then came the opening notes of ‘California Girls,’ with ‘In My Room,’ and a song of desperation, ‘Help Me Rhonda,’ then ‘Barbara Ann,’ and to close ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’” The next night the BBs were back in San Bernardino and then appeared in Long Beach on December 29, where they opened with I Can Hear Music and Little Deuce Coupe. The Independent noted that, “Mike Love coaxed the audience to its feet with the 1968 chart-buster Do It Again and no one noticed that the harmony was flat… Despite the sad harmonics and so-so musicianship, they gave the crowd a good time. And that’s what entertainment is all about.” Jan 3 1975-the BBs flew to Hawaii, where they appeared the next day at HIC Arena in Honolulu.
Dec 27 1976-The BBs played the Sports Arena in San Diego with Brian. The reviewer noted that Brian “showed no reticence last night. A vision in black velvet, rhinestones and red tassels, he presided at the grand, inserted his patented falsetto whine when appropriate and even too center stage, guitared for two lead vocals (with moderate success). The crowd was adoring.” Dec 31 1976-The BBs played the LA Forum-including Brian. David Leaf reviewed this show in Pet Sounds. Jan 1 1977-Al recorded his vocal for Honking Down the Highway. Dec 26 1977-the BBs again played in San Diego with Brian. The reviewer noted, “When the band…broke into oldies but goodies like ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘I Get Around’, ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘Surfin’ USA’ it was clear that they still knew how to pace a show and involve a crowd. Acoustics, sound system and flagging voices be damned.” The next night the BBs played the LA Forum. The LA Times reviewer damned “the inconsequential music that marked time between the high points of the Forum show”, in other words all the new music! But he noted that “Mike Love was in good form and (Brian) Wilson’s rough, plaintive voice is regaining authority as he moves away from that comeback croak.” The BBs hit the Cow Palace in San Francisco on Dec 28, 1977.
Dec 1978-January 1979-The BBs worked on LA Light album with Bruce at various studios in and around LA. Dec 79-Jan 80-the BBs worked on Keepin the Summer Alive at various studios in and around LA. Dec 30 1980-The BBs received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and gave interviews to the assembled media. Dennis stayed away. Dec 31 1980-the BBs played the LA Forum-with guests Jan and Dean and the Honeys. It was a celebratory evening but some fans complained that the BBs ended the show at 11:15 rather then playing till the New Year-they probably were intent on getting to the private party that followed the show.
Dec 24 1981-The BBs kicked off their infamous residency at the Sun City Super Bowl in South Africa-with Lulu (with Brian and Dennis but minus Carl. This was the first tour with Jeff Foskett, who replaced Ed Carter on guitar. Mike offered no apologies. He crassly commented, “It’s nice money. The U.N. can go screw themselves. They never buy tickets to Beach Boys concerts.” Peter Feldman of the Johannesburg Star reported, "The group did an adroit job but sadly the members had nothing new to offer in the field of experimentation. There were no clever interludes to break this surfin’ safari, nor did they bother to unveil any new facets to the Beach Boys of the 80s.”
Dec 27, 1982-Jan 2, 1983-The BBs played at Harrah’s Tahoe, Stateline, NV-with Carol Leifer-Brian had just returned to Landy’s care and was in Hawaii. Circa Dec 24 1983- Beach Boys record vocals for East Meets West-their duet with the Four Seasons- probably in NY. Dec 1983-Mike Love in the UK appears on the Pebble Mill at One TV Show-promoting his single “Jingle Bell Rock”. He also appeared on a Dutch TV show that month.
Dec 28 1983 was of course the death of Dennis and for some fans the end of the Beach Boys…. His funeral followed on Dec 31-in Inglewood, CA.
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