Stephen Desper Talks Early 70s Touring.

Hopefully with any political content now removed. An interesting time for the group with a lower profile and smaller venues.

Quote from: Stephen W. Desper on October 30, 2016, 12:59:12 PM

COMMENT

Back then; we had two identical sound systems, each capable of entertaining up to 20,000 people, but usually the crowds were from 5,000 to 10,000. System-one would be setup in city one. The show would start in early afternoon on a weekend. System-two would be setup in city two. We had two sound crews, one for each system, and I would travel with the Beach Boys and mix their show or the last two acts, usually the second act was also a main-line name band. While the Boys were performing in city one, a local band would start the show in city two using system-two. As soon as the show in city one ended, the crew would break down system-one and moved it to city three. Cities in the eastern US are relatively close together so travel time was around two hours. System-one would be moved to city three. Meanwhile as the show in city one would unfold, and the show in city two was in-progress with local bands, the support group (usually a well known group itself) would leave for city two as soon as their part of the show in city one ended. They would arrive at city two about the time the local group had played for an hour, and went right on stage using system-two. Someone from the crew for system-two would mix their set. As soon as the Boys finished in city one, they rushed to city two, arriving about the time the support act was to finish. With enough time to change into performance clothes, they would then go right out on the stage. I would head to the mixing board. Meanwhile the crew of system-one was now in city three setting up for an evening show. The local band would start the evening show in city three with a locally rented sound system allowing the crew to setup the Beach Boy system-two while the show was proceeding. When the show in city two pealed off each act, they would proceed to city three where system-two was now setup and working. Sometimes, the support act would be on stage as the Beach Boys were in route. Depending on traffic their act would be extended if needed to cover for any lateness of the Boys.

We did this for two months. Shows in the western US were limited to two per day because of the travel distances between major cities, but otherwise it was the same leapfrog schedule.

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~SWD

Quote from: Stephen W. Desper on October 30, 2016, 07:44:00 PM

Quote from: Pretty Funky on October 30, 2016, 07:06:36 PM

Probably a silly question but what 2 month period in the 70s was this? I only knew of the multiple 4th of July dates.

COMMENT to Pretty Funky:
That was during the end of Sunflower and the start of production on Surf's Up. Around that time. One tour was around a month and a half, then followed tours of several weeks -- interrupting work on Surf's Up several times. The organization was running low on operating funds, so the tour crammed as many dates into the schedule as humanly possible. From what I understood in speaking with Nick Grillo, their manager back then, the tour was a financial success and this success was able to payoff much debt plus fund operations for some time -- well into Holland -- which, by the way, practically broke the bank. ~swd

Quote from: Stephen W. Desper on October 30, 2016, 08:00:23 PM

Quote from: Custom Machine on October 30, 2016, 07:38:36 PM

Stephen, this does sound rather exhausting. Is that why it went on for only two months? For roughly how much time did the Beach Boys perform, given this tight schedule?

COMMENT to Custom Machine: They did a 45 minute set on the first two shows and an hour on the last show, usually with the support band charming in with the Boys on a couple of songs to finish the show's one or two encores. Standing ovations every time. Ticket prices were cheaper for the earlier shows and higher for the evening venue. By the way, the guitars and ribbon Theremin were carried by each player from show to show. Dennis' drums and Bruce's Hammond organ were duplicated, but obviously not carried from show to show, rather rented at each city. Believe it or not, I had little problems with the sound equipment, usually cable failure was the only culprit. I spent many nights re-soldering cable connectors in my hotel room during those tours. We were all 50 years younger then with energy to burn. Still I look back on the entire time in amazement -- how the hell did we do all that? ~swd

Quote from: Stephen W. Desper on October 30, 2016, 08:26:08 PM

Quote from: Pretty Funky on October 30, 2016, 07:53:56 PM

Thanks for the reply. I think I recall some pictures of an exhausted group in some diner about that period. Perhaps it was that tour.

COMMENT to Pretty Funky: Perhaps it was. Eating was a big problem -- especially in the southern states. Remember, it was a different time. Pre-Beatle or so. No Internet, only three TV networks, and a lot of bias in the south. Everyone had long hair -- like a woman! Oh my! Late at night after a show in some smaller towns -- looking for any open café or restaurant. Here comes a crowd of musicians and roadies, long hair, some beards, funny clothes. "We don't serve people like you here" was the greeting about half the time. or "We are now closed" was another excuse. "You're the Beach who?" Funny how $$money$$ can over-ride bigoted feelings, if necessary. Many times that was the only way we could eat dinner -- at three or four times the normal cost. And up front payment. Sometimes you could only get food to-go, even though there were plenty of empty tables. It was a real problem. I, and I know the Boys, have great understanding and sympathy for anyone who is mis-treated, mal-treated, poorly-treated, or unjustly-treated. I all relates back to those first-hand attempts to get a meal late at nightDiscrimination is a hard pill to swallow.. ~swd

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