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Mike Love (far left) and Bruce Johnston (far right) performing as the Beach Boys in 2014

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. Since then, the band has undergone many variations in composition, with representation by fill-ins onstage. As of 2019, the only principal members included in the Beach Boys' touring band are co-founder Mike Love and 1965 addition Bruce Johnston.

In 1998, Love sought authorization through the Beach Boys' corporation, Brother Records Inc. (BRI) to tour as "The Beach Boys" and secured the necessary license. Even though Brian Wilson and Al Jardine have not performed with Love and Johnston's band since their one-off 2012 reunion tour, they remain a part of BRI.[citation needed]

1961–1964: Early years

The Beach Boys' original lineup performing in 1964

The group's instrumental combo initially involved Brian Wilson on bass guitar and keyboards, Carl Wilson on guitar, and Dennis Wilson on drums.[1] Nine months after forming a proper group with their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, the Beach Boys acquired national success, and demand for their personal appearance skyrocketed. Biographer James Murphy said, "By most contemporary accounts, they were not a very good live band when they started. ... The Beach Boys learned to play as a band in front of live audiences", but noted that they eventually became "one of the best and enduring live bands".[2]

In March 1962, Jardine was replaced by rhythm guitarist/vocalist David Marks. Jardine returned in spring 1963 so Brian could make fewer touring appearances. Issues between Marks, his parents, and manager/the Wilsons' father Murry led Marks to quit in October 1963, forcing Brian to appear full-time on the road again and Jardine to switch to rhythm guitar.

1964's Beach Boys Concert was their first live album featuring all 5 original members their only number one album in the US, and the first live album that ever topped pop music record charts,[3] maintaining its position for four weeks during a sixty-two-week chart stay, and becoming a gold seller.[citation needed]

1965–1998: Carl Wilson era

From 1965 to 1998, Carl Wilson was the live band's musical director

1960s–1970s

See also: The Beach Boys' 1968 US tour with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

By the end of 1964, the stress of road travel, composing, producing and maintaining a high level of creativity became too much for Brian. On December 23, while on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston, he suffered a panic attack only hours after performing with the Beach Boys on the musical variety series Shindig!.[4] In January 1965, he announced his withdrawal from touring to concentrate entirely on songwriting and record production. For the rest of 1964 and into 1965, Glen Campbell served as Wilson's temporary replacement in concert, until his own career success pulled him from the group in April 1965.[5] Bruce Johnston was asked to locate a replacement for Campbell; having failed to find one, Johnston himself became a full-time member of the band on May 19, 1965, first replacing Brian on the road and later contributing in the studio, beginning with the vocal sessions for "California Girls" on June 4, 1965.[6][7]

Carl subsequently became the musical director of the band onstage; contracts at that time stipulated that promoters hire "Carl Wilson plus four other musicians".[8] Throughout 1965, Brian still performed live with the Beach Boys, but only on justified occasions.[7] Shortly after completing the recording of the imminent Smiley Smile (1967), the band scheduled two performances in Hawaii for a prospective live album, Lei'd in Hawaii, that would be released on their new record label, Brother Records. Difficulties arose around this time. Johnston refused to travel for the reason that "it had all got too weird."[9] To alleviate this, Brian was persuaded into making the trip. Ultimately, the band performed too poorly for the material to be released, and the recording allegedly suffered technical problems that could not be fixed in the studio.[10] Brian would not go on another tour with the group until 1976, as part of the "Brian's Back!" campaign.[citation needed]

In late 1967, the group toured for the first time with outside musicians adding to the lineup of two guitars, bass, drums, and the occasional organ accompaniment: keyboardist Daryl Dragon and bassist Ron Brown. They eventually replaced Ron Brown with bassist/guitarist Ed Carter, also adding a percussionist.[11] For a tour of Europe in late 1968, the band used a horn section. The touring band expanded during the late 1960s and early 1970s, with multiple percussionists, including Mike Kowalski, and keyboardists, including Billy Hinsche and Carli Munoz, rotated through the touring band at this time.

In 1972, the group added two official members for the first time since Johnston's arrival in 1965: guitarist Blondie Chaplin and drummer Ricky Fataar. Chaplin departed in late 1973, with his role as bassist on the road taken by James Guercio, who was also the manager for the band Chicago. In 1974 they added a new percussionist Bobby Figueroa who replaced Mike Kowalski.

In 1976, Brian returned to the touring group as a keyboardist to promote the Brian's Back 'campaign' and the album 15 Big Ones and to serve as the treatment for part of his first term of service under Eugene Landy. For much of 1978, Brian served mostly as the band's bassist on the road, with then-bassist Ed Carter shifting to guitar. Also they recorded their 2nd live album featuring all 5 original band members at Anaheim stadium on July 3, 1976 which portions of the concert were based on thebiographical concert film The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations tour.

1980s–1990s

In April 1979, The Beach Boys made a recording of their first live album of a historic concert featuring all 6 band members Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston along with 5 supporting musicians, Ed Carter on lead and bass guitar, Bobby Figueroa on drums and percussion, Mike Meros on organ, synthesizer, and piano, and Carli Munoz on keyboards and was recorded on April 25 at the Roanoke Civic center in Roanoke Virginia and was left unfinished and was unreleased, then on May 1979, they made their 2nd recording of another historic concert featuring all 6 band members and this was recorded at Buffalo Auditorium in Buffalo New York and same musicians as the concert on May 16, then one week later, Dennis was suspended from the touring band, he was absent from many concerts but them he returned in June 1980 for the 1980 tour of Europe, with percussionist Bobby Figueroa moving to drums in his absence. From mid-1979 until June 1980 and Bobby was on drums for parts of every show, on July 4, 1979 they made their 3rd recording of a live album in clarkston Michigan which featured only 5 original members, then on March 9, 1980 they played at Fort Lauderdale, Florida doing a fundraiser for a republican campaign for George bush and that was the 4th unreleased live album, on June 2 they played at Oslo Norway and it marked Dennis Wilson’s return to the group and it was the 5th unreleased live album, on June 3 they played at the grona Lund in shocklom Sweden and made their 6th unreleased live album on June 6 and 7th 1980 they recorded their 7th live album featuring all 6 original band members and Carli Munoz was gone after the 4th of July 1979 show but the supporting musicians were Ed Carter on lead guitar, and Rhythm guitar, Joe Chemay on bass, Bobby Figueroa on percussion and drums for 5 songs, and Mike Meros on organ, keyboards, synthesizer, and piano,and then they performed at knebworth in June 21 which was the day before and prior to the concert they sang happy birthday to Brian. This was the 8th live album and the first historic live album featuring all 6 band members to be released and it was tilted Good Timin’: Live at Knebworth England 1980. This is what happened for the rest of 1980, on July 4 they played at the Washington Mall and it's was a rare concert of Featuring all 6 original members playing together and it was the 9th live album. the band themselves provided the majority of the instrumentation in their concerts, only augmented by keyboardist Mike Meros, Figueroa, and Carter. The band was joined by bassist/vocalist Joe Chemay for a tour of Europe in 1980, during which Carter played guitar for the entire set. Bobby Figueroa left in 1981 and returned in July 1983.[12]

In 1981, Carl quit the live group because of unhappiness with the band's nostalgia format and lackluster live performances, subsequently pursuing a solo career.[13] He returned in May 1982 – after approximately 14 months of being away – on the condition that the group reconsider their rehearsal and touring policies and refrain from "Las Vegas-type" engagements.[14] His place on guitar on the road was taken by longtime touring bassist/guitarist Ed Carter. Simultaneously, Adrian Baker joined as a touring vocalist and rhythm guitarist, to handle many of Brian's former vocals, especially his famous falsetto vocals. Carter's role as bassist was taken by Ernie Knapp. Carter left the touring band in late 1981 after suffering a hernia, with his place on lead guitar being taken by Jeff Foskett. Then Ed Carter returned in June 1982. When Carl had returned in May 1982, he overhauled the touring band, firing Knapp and rehiring Hinsche and Carter, among other personnel moves.[11][15] Baker departed later that year, with Foskett taking his falsetto vocals.

In late 1982, Brian departed from the touring band to undergo a second term of care under Eugene Landy and then Brian returned in May 1983 making semi-regular appearances through 1990 but has made full apprearences for some shows in 1983. for the rest of 1983 Supporting musicians at the concerts were Ed Carter on bass, Billy Hinsche on rhythm guitar, bass, and vocals, Mike Kowaski on drums, and Jeff Foskett on vocals and lead guitar, then Interior secretary James G. Watt banned The Beach Boys from Performing on the Washington mall on July 4 because they attracted the wrong element, then on July 4 they made their 11th recording of their live album featuring all 6 original band members and same backup musicans as the whitehouse performance and concert and Bobby Figueroa returned that time and Al's son Matt Jardine was at that show and Dennis Wilson and Mike Kowaski we’re both and drums and Bobby Figueroa was on percussion, then on July 31 they played in Houston Texas recording their 12gh unreleased live album, then on August 3 they made the recording of their 13th unreleased live album featuring 6 band members same supporting musicians as the 4th of July concert but Matt was not at that concert and it was the last filmed and recorded live album that was unreleased featuring all 6 band members and will be released very soon and Same with the 3 other concerts, the knebworth 1980 concert is released and portions of both the Costa Mesa concert and July 4, 1983 concerts were used for the biographical musical film “The Beach Boys: An American Band” which came out in 1985, Then just 4 months later, Dennis died in December 1983, with his role as road drummer taken by touring percussionist Mike Kowalski. Jardine's son Matt joined the touring band in 1988 as a percussionist, with Figueroa leaving by that summer.[16] In 1990, Foskett left the band, with Baker returning. By 1992, Matt Jardine replaced Baker as the falsetto vocalist. By 1996, Carter and Hinsche were replaced by bassist Chris Farmer and keyboardist Tim Bonhomme.[15]

In 1997, Phil Bardowell joined as a rhythm guitarist.[16] Also in 1997, Carl was diagnosed with cancer;[16] he performed for several months while his condition started to deteriorate. Bardowell briefly moved to lead guitar before former guitarist David Marks rejoined the band and took Carl's spot on the road, while Farmer took Carl's role as musical director. Love, Johnston, Marks, Glen Campbell, Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean, and John Stamos (who had been a semi-regular guest in the touring band since the 1980s and continues to do so) performed at a pre-show for the 1998 Super Bowl, as "A Tribute to The Beach Boys" featuring the aforementioned members. Carl Wilson died on February 6, 1998.

1998–present: Post-band split

2000s

After Carl died in 1998, the remaining members splintered. Following one final performance on May 9 as a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society in Detroit, Love, Johnston, and Marks continued to tour together, initially as "America's Band", but following several cancelled bookings under that name, Love sought authorization through Brother Records Inc. (BRI) to tour as "The Beach Boys" and secured the necessary license.[citation needed] Since 1999, Love is obligated to continue touring in order to maintain revenue flow to BRI. At the time, Wilson was also offered the license, but declined.[17]

Jardine fought for the right to tour under the moniker "The Beach Boys Family & Friends" but was denied from using the name in any promotional or band name manner. During this time, Jardine's group included his sons Matt and Adam, Brian Wilson's daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, Cass Elliot's daughter Owen, former touring bassist Ed Carter, former touring percussionist/drummer Bobby Figueroa. Jardine's group briefly included Daryl Dragon, who had formerly toured and recorded with The Beach Boys. Jardine formed a later group, also featuring former Beach Boys touring members, called the Endless Summer Band, one of the few names he was allowed to use as a result of the 1998-1999 lawsuits.

During the legal struggle, Matt Jardine left Love and Johnston's "The Beach Boys" touring group and was replaced by a returning Adrian Baker. Marks left the group in July 1999 because of his health, with Bardowell moving back to lead guitar in Marks' absence. In July 2001, longtime keyboardist Mike Meros was fired and replaced by John Cowsill, drummer for the 1960s family band The Cowsills.[12][18] At the same time, Bardowell left the touring band and was replaced by Scott Totten.[12] In 2004, Baker was replaced by former Papa Doo Run Run member Randell Kirsch. Love's son Christian joined as a second rhythm guitarist in 2006. Longtime drummer Mike Kowaski was fired in 2007, with Cowsill moving to drums in his absence. Chris Farmer was fired in 2007, with Kirsch moving to bass and Totten taking his role as musical director.

In 2008, Marks toured with the group briefly for a tour of Europe. Otherwise, the lineup remained until 2012.[16]

2010s

See also: The 50th Reunion Tour

Al Jardine appeared at two one-off shows in 2011 as a test for a possible future reunion.[19] At the end of 2011, Wilson, Love, Jardine, Marks, and Johnston reunited for a new album and tour, using various members from Wilson's band, including former Beach Boys touring vocalist/guitarist Jeff Foskett and Paul Von Mertens, who was the first woodwind player in the band since 1978, plus Totten and Cowsill from Love and Johnston's touring band. However, Love took the option to end the tour later in the year, and continued touring with Johnston and his pre-reunion touring band. Jardine and Marks ultimately appeared with Wilson's band in 2013, with Jardine remaining into 2014.

Jardine and Marks appeared at a one-off show in 2014, the Ella Awards where Love was honored as a singer. Love and Johnston's touring band was joined by Marks for several dates in 2014 and 2015, including a show in Jones Beach, California on July 5, 2014, where promoters had asked Jardine to appear. Ultimately, this plan fell through, with Jardine continuing to join Wilson, with whom he has toured since 2013. Foskett rejoined the touring band in 2014, with Love's son departing at the same time.[20] Shortly afterward, Kirsch was replaced by former Four Freshmen vocalist Brian Eichenberger. In 2016, saxophonist/flutist Randy Leago was added, marking the first time since 1978, with the exception of Paul Von Mertens during the 2012 reunion tour, that the touring band included a woodwind player. Eichenberger left the touring band in 2018; Kirsch was a substitute before Eichenberger was replaced by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons bassist Keith Hubacher. Christian Love rejoined the touring band in 2018 as a second rhythm guitarist. Jeff Foskett would leave the band in 2019 due to undergoing throat surgery and would be replaced by Brian Eichenberger. Foskett has made occasional appearances with the band throughout 2019.

Touring members

See also: The Beach Boys lineups

The following only pertains to the Beach Boys' touring band.

Current

  • Mike Love – vocals, tambourine, saxophone (1961–present)
  • Bruce Johnston – vocals, keyboards, bass, guitar, percussion (1965–72, 1978–present)
  • Tim Bonhomme – keyboards (1995–present; hiatus in 2012)
  • Scott Totten – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass, ukulele, percussion (2000–present)
  • John Cowsill – vocals, drums, keyboards, percussion, rhythm guitar (2000–present)
  • Christian Love – vocals, rhythm guitar (2006–14, 2018–present; hiatus in 2012)
  • Brian Eichenberger – vocals, rhythm guitar, bass (2015–17, 2019-present)
  • Randy Leago – saxophones, flutes, harmonicas, percussion (2016–present)
  • Keith Hubacher – bass (2018–present)

Former

  • Brian Wilson – vocals, bass, piano, organ, keyboards[21]
  • Carl Wilson – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, bass
  • Dennis Wilson – vocals, drums, keyboards
  • Al Jardine – vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, lead guitar, banjo, piano, electronic drums
  • David Marks – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
  • Glen Campbell – vocals, bass
  • Ron Brown – bass, percussion
  • Daryl Dragon – keyboards, vibraphone
  • Mike Kowalski – percussion, drums, Moog synthesizer, additional lead guitar
  • Bobby Torres – percussion
  • Joel Peskin – woodwinds
  • Toni Tennille – keyboards
  • Charles Lloyd – woodwinds
  • Blondie Chaplin – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass
  • Ricky Fataar – vocals, drums, percussion, rhythm guitar, pedal steel guitar, flute
  • Bobby Figueroa – vocals, percussion, drums, electric piano, electronic drums
  • Adrian Baker – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Jeff Foskett – vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, mandolin, percussion[22][23] (1981–90, 2012, 2014–19; mostly inactive 2018–19 because of throat surgery and vocal issues)
  • Matt Jardine – vocals, percussion
  • Richie Cannata – woodwinds, keyboard, percussion
  • Phil Bardowell – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
  • Chris Farmer – vocals, bass
  • Probyn Gregory – guitar, electro-theremin, bass, trombone, trumpet
  • Nicky Walusko – guitar
  • Scott Bennett – keyboards, vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Darian Sahanaja – vocals, keyboards, vibraphone, percussion
  • Nelson Bragg – percussion
  • Paul von Mertens – saxophones, flutes, harmonicas
  • Mike D'Amico – bass, drums
  • Billy Hinsche – vocals, keyboards, organ, synthesizer, percussion, rhythm guitar, bass
  • Dennis Dragon – percussion
  • Doug Dragon – piano, organ
  • Robert Kenyatta – percussion[24]
  • Joe Chemay – bass, percussion
  • James Guercio – bass
  • Carli Munoz – keyboards, percussion
  • Ed Carter – bass, lead and rhythm guitar, synth bass, percussion, harmony and backing vocals[25]
  • Gary Griffin – keyboards
  • Mike Meros – keyboards, organ, synthesizer
  • Ernie Knapp – bass, rhythm guitar
  • Luther Coffee – bass
  • Putter Smith – bass
  • Randell Kirsch – vocals, rhythm guitar, bass

Timeline

Discography

Main article: The Beach Boys discography
Further information: The Beach Boys bootleg recordings

Live albums

References

Citations

  1. ^ Zager 2011, pp. 215–216.
  2. ^ Sharp, Ken (November 6, 2015). "Catch A Wave: A Chat with Beach Boys Author James B. Murphy". Rock Cellar Magazine.
  3. ^ Moskowitz 2015, p. 42.
  4. ^ Sanchez 2014, pp. 63–64.
  5. ^ Glen Campbell at AllMusic. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ Bruce Johnston at AllMusic. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "GIGS65". Esquarterly.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  8. ^ Jarnow, Jesse (October 12, 2015). "Carl Only Knows: A New Biography of the Man Legally Known as the Beach Boys". Pitchfork.
  9. ^ Doe, Andrew Grayham. "Unreleased Albums". Bellagio 10452. Endless Summer Quarterly. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  10. ^ Jarnow, Jesse (July 1, 2017). "1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow". Pitchfork.
  11. ^ a b http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,25543.0.html
  12. ^ a b c http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,19617
  13. ^ Schinder 2007, p. 124.
  14. ^ Badman 2004, p. 373.
  15. ^ a b http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,25543.25.html
  16. ^ a b c d http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,25543.75.html
  17. ^ Love 2016, pp. 391, 403, 416.
  18. ^ http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,23188.25.html
  19. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7xwvOT865c
  20. ^ "Rolling Stone – Beach Boys Play Tour – Jeff replaces Christian Love". Smileysmile.net. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  21. ^ http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,17419.msg443456.html#msg443456
  22. ^ http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,18195.msg473114.html#msg473114
  23. ^ https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8544409/jeffrey-foskett-premieres-voices
  24. ^ http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,6679.msg107326.html#msg107326
  25. ^ http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,17768.msg457524.html#msg457524

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Stebbins, Jon; Rusten, Ian (2013). The Beach Boys in Concert!: The Complete History of America's Band On Tour and Onstage. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1617134562.
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