New Video: Carl explains his behavior. Press Conference, Perth 1978

[William Bowe]

I've lived most of my life in Perth and while I was only six-and-a-half in April 1978, I clearly remember scandalised talk that the Beach Boys had performed while drunk. My brothers and I owned a best-of and liked the BBs, but not to the extent that them coming to Perth was any kind of event for us. I was a bit disappointed at the onset of my full-blown fandom a decade later to read in Stephen Gaines' Heroes and Villains that all this happened in Melbourne. This turned out to be wrong of course - although Carl's performance in Melbourne was quite bad enough. My brother tells me Molly Meldrum blasted the group on Countdown (apologies to baffled non-antipodean readers here), which would have been one of a tiny number of cases of him offering an opinion on anything that wasn't completely fawning. I'm sure this would have been on the basis of the Melbourne show, which was shown on television besides (hence the footage on YouTube, if it's still there).

Question for the historians: what date would this press conference have been, and when did he cop his black eye from Rocky Pamplin?

[William Bowe]

has all this anti-smoking stuff that even took over France reached Down Under yet?)

Just slightly. This is what cigarette packets are required to look like by law in Australia. Whenever I go to Europe, I'm always amazed at how relaxed attitudes are to smoking there.

If you'll pardon me for going off topic ...

[Lowbacca]

Question for the historians: what date would this press conference have been [...]?

March 15th or 16th? In the documentary the partiular Perth gig is referred to as "last night's concert".

[Ed Roach]

I know that there is a chance that Carl might have seen film of himself from the show and it scared him straight...

They most definitely saw the video quickly; Carl in particular.
Back in the 70's, when they were doing 2 shows a night in 2 different cities, the main reason they had me shooting video was so it could be reviewed on the plane on the way to the next gig.  While there were moments of bliss that various members of the group wanted to re-experience, invariably it would be Carl, queueing up mistakes for them to view.

[William Bowe]

Bellagio Road says the Perth incident was March 14.

http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/1978.html

It also reminds us that Carl "keeled over" at one point in the show. Someone pointed out earlier on that on the recording Carl appears to forget the entirety of the second verse of Darlin' - my instinct on hearing it was that he was on the ground at that time.

[Lowbacca]

I know that there is a chance that Carl might have seen film of himself from the show and it scared him straight...

They most definitely saw the video quickly; Carl in particular.
Back in the 70's, when they were doing 2 shows a night in 2 different cities, the main reason they had me shooting video was so it could be reviewed on the plane on the way to the next gig.  While there were moments of bliss that various members of the group wanted to re-experience, invariably it would be Carl, queueing up ,mistakes for them to view.

Thank you for providing insight like that.  

Bellagio Road says the Perth incident was March 14.

http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/1978.html

Press conference was likely on the 15th, then.

[William Bowe]

I see the tour chronology was covered pretty thoroughly here - though nothing on the date of the fracas with Rocky Pamplin. I guess what I'm wondering here is whether Carl hadn't yet received his "black eye" at the time of the press conference, or if perhaps the incident was less dramatic than some have painted it.

[Ian]

Black eye was received on March 8 1978 following first show in Melbourne.  It took place at meeting with David Frost (head of Paradine-the promoters).  I have talked to musicians in the band who say he had a black eye the next day and had to be heavily made up because March 9 show was being filmed.

[William Bowe]

Thanks for that, Ian.

It took place at meeting with David Frost (head of Paradine-the promoters). 

He of Frost/Nixon fame, no less. According to Stephen Gaines' account, as the meeting wound up with Carl laying unconscious, Stanley Love had the presence of mind to tell Frost: "It was a pleasure meeting you. I enjoyed all your Nixon interviews."

[Mikie]

Please forgive my ignorance. Carl got the black eye from falling down on the stage or Rocky punching him? And I don't have the Gaines book in front of me - why exactly did Rocky punch Carl again - what provoked it?

[William Bowe]

Rocky punching him. Gaines' book is on Google Books, so you can read the relevant bit here, from page 310 to 314 - with the no doubt maddening exception of page 312.

[SMiLE Brian]

I can't believe the BBs employed Rocky as long as they did. This guy f***ed up the Wilson family in so many ways. I wish Brian had for once used his huge frame to kick Rocky's ass.

[William Bowe]

Not all huge frames are built for ass kickin', SB.

[SMiLE Brian]

Not all huge frames are built for ass kickin', SB.

Well Rocky beat up Dennis and Carl along with cheating with Brian's wife.

[Lowbacca]

Not all huge frames are built for ass kickin', SB.

Well Rocky beat up Dennis and Carl along with cheating with Brian's wife.

... which doesn't change Brian's personality.

[SMiLE Brian]

Not all huge frames are built for ass kickin', SB.

Well Rocky beat up Dennis and Carl along with cheating with Brian's wife.

... which doesn't change Brian's personality.

Definitely, its just crazy the three put up with him for so long. I guess I get too wound up when I think of Rocky.

[Mikie]

Thanks, William!

[I. Spaceman]

  I guess I get too wound up when I think of Rocky.

Especially when you look at his Playgirl photo spread.

[SMiLE Brian]

  I guess I get too wound up when I think of Rocky.

Especially when you look at his Playgirl photo spread.

Not sure why Steven Gaines had to put those pictures in his book instead of more BBs pictures.

[William Bowe]

In fairness, the Pamplin pic does illustrate a narrative point (i.e. that Marilyn not unreasonably wanted to hit that rather than Brian) in a way a band pic wouldn't have.

[The 4th Wilson Bro.]

Well, at least he apologized and was pretty open about it. Lots of other stars would brush it off, say nothing, or make excuses.

Yes, and the fact that he apologized for his behavior is "Classic Carl."  The man, even at a time when family problems had caused his life to spiral out of control, had more integrity than you'd see from most superstar types.  I, too, am glad that Carl got his life back on track so soon after the Australian tour.  I just regret that he never got the chance to return the favor to Rocky Pamplin.  But, of course, the eye-for-an-eye mentality would have been so unlike Carl.