Completist in me feels obliged to mention...

[Rocker]

You know, for years, the date of that picture was thought to have been November 1, 1963. I think it was even documented in a couple of books, and/or magazine articles/CD liner notes. Then further investigation by a researcher (Ian Rusten?) was done and the October '63 date was solidified.  One of my favorite pictures of The Boys.

One of the intriguing things about that photo is that Al is playing a Gibson (SG style Les Paul) which no other photo shows him playing. Also...this is the first known Beach Boys gig following David's Oct. 5th departure from the group. BTW All of Al's prior appearances with the Beach Boys in 1963 had him playing bass, so here's his first known photo on guitar with boys.

Do we know if it was his' (Al's) guitar or if he loaned it from someone else ?

[Lowbacca]

Maybe this thread could be renamed ("Beach Boys gigs at the Hollywood Bowl" or whatever)? This would make future references and searches easier. The current "Completist in me feels obliged to mention..." is not very telling.. maybe Ian himself could do that?

[Jay]

The recent ZinePak says that they last played the HollyWood Bowl in 1967. 

[Rocker]

"A Beach Boys Homecoming At The Hollywood Bowl"

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/05/a-beach-boys-homecoming-at-the-hollywood-bowl.html

[LostArt]

The Hollywood Bowl themselves cant seem to get it straight. Their sanctioned history book sold in their gift shop listed the Beach Boys FIRST appearance there as 1965. The correct year is 1962.

Hmm always thought it was 1963. Guess I was wrong.. 

I only have this picture of said appearance, and Brian looks rather '63-ish to me. Maybe it was in late 1962?

The picture is from their SECOND appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in October 19, 1963. The FIRST appearance was on October 27, 1962. This is fact.

There are some more photos from this concert, mostly of some of the other bands and backstage, on this thread:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=290635

You'll also see a link to another site that has the audio from the concert, but I can't access it while I'm at work, so I don't know if it's the whole shootin' match or just snippets.

Do we know if it was his' (Al's) guitar or if he loaned it from someone else ?

Well, in those photos of the guy from Eddie and the Showmen backstage (one has Carl in the background smoking a cigarette), the guitar looks very similar.

EDIT:  Steve Hoffman was able to contact Brett Brady (of Eddie & The Showmen), who lives in Hawaii now, and he can confirm that Al Jardine was using his Gibson SG Custom on that day back in 1963..:

"yeah... that's my '62 Les Paul SG.. what a "fun fun fun" day!"

[STE]

Thanks!
I had never heard the full gig.  Very interesting to listen to the Jan & Dean and Honeys sets, but also the Surfaris, the Challengers, Duane Eddy and the Fleetwoods (love them!).

[guitarfool2002]

Fascinating, just terrific to hear that. It sounds like some of the bands couldn't handle their endings of songs very well...

[Rocker]

Awesome ! Never heard the whole show ! And Jan & Dean before Jan's accident is always interesting to me