Sunday January 13, 1980
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA-with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez and Santana (7:00 PM Show)
Surrounded by Bay area favorites, the Beach Boys were odd-men out at this fund-raising event organized to aid the people of Cambodia. Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle argued that they gave an uneven performance, though he admitted, “halfway through their set (they) suddenly pounced on ‘Surfer Girl’ and went on a splurge of energy with a handful of favorites, finally reaching a peak with tight harmonies in ‘Good Vibrations.'” Larry Kelp of The Oakland Tribune noted, “Drummer Dennis Wilson is no longer in the group, otherwise their show was business as usual, with the addition of (Joan) Baez when they sang ‘Rock and Roll Music.”
Tuesday January 15, 1980 to Sunday January 20, 1980
Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, NV-with Glenn Super (One show each night, except Friday January 18 and Saturday January 19 when they played two shows a night)
The Beach Boys played their first ever five day residency at Lake Tahoe. Such residencies would become more common for the group as time went on. Carl Wilson, who would leave the band for a year in 1981, later expressed dissatisfaction with these kinds of shows, which he felt was very “un-rock and roll.” He told reporter Colin McEnroe, “The trouble with those places is that you go down to the showroom around 9 each night and you do a real short set because they want to get the crowd out and bring the next group in. It means doing a lot of the old meat and potatoes numbers and you can wind up going through the motions.” However, The San Francisco Examiner reviewed the final show and reported that the Beach Boys sounded ‘spectacular’ and that ‘even after 18 years in the business (they) can bring an audience to its knees (or feet) with a program composed almost exclusively of old hits. The entire audience last Sunday spent the better of the show, standing on chairs and dancing on tables, causing a reported $10,000 worth of damage to the usually more sedate showroom during the sold-out week-long, eight-show run. Producer Bruce Johnston is back performing with the group, adding his falsetto to the trademark Beach Boy vocal sound, and reclusive chief Beach Boy Brian Wilson played piano and sang sparingly, while vocalist Mike Love commuted to work from his new north shore digs.”
Dennis remained suspended from the band, owing to his personal problems. He was still dating Christine McVie and was advertised to appear with her at another Cambodian relief concert in Los Angeles on January 29 but he backed out at the last minute. Dennis often hinted that he wanted to perform with Christine but he never abandoned the safe cocoon of the Beach Boys. It was another tragic what if in the life of Dennis, who was spiraling into an ever-darker black hole.
Friday February 22, 1980
Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN (8:00 PM Show)
Things at last seemed to be back on an even keel as 1980 began. As Carl remarked, "The last two years have been the most important and difficult time of our career. We were at the ultimate crossroads. We had to decide whether what we had been involved in since we were teenagers had lost its meaning. We asked ourselves, and each other, the difficult questions we'd often avoided in the past. We stopped fighting and started talking. In the end, it all came together again. Now as we enter this new decade, we're as excited and committed and dedicated to our music and our ideals as we've ever been." However, considering that he left the band a year later and was very critical of the group at that time, Carl's comments may be somewhat disingenuous. However, the band was certainly in better professional shape than they'd been in awhile.
Many in the Beach Boys inner circle gave Jerry Schilling much of the credit for the renewed harmony. He’d started out as a road manager for the band before becoming Carl's personal manager in 1978. In September 1979 he was appointed over-all group manager, the first time anyone had officially held this title since 1964. Carl argued that the lack of such a figure in the past had been a key problem. "The Beach Boys had suffered through some very unfortunate experiences over the years with a variety of business managers. The result was an atmosphere of mistrust that led to each member hiring his own representatives to preserve and to protect his interests...I can't begin to explain how that whole situation brought us down. It accented every potential difference between us. We lost our ability to separate the business from the music: the arguments from one would carry over to the other." Schilling seemed to resolve this problem. Bobby Figueroa commented, “I think he had a talent for calming every body down, even in the most difficult situations. I think he deserves a lot of credit for keeping things civil.”
After a break spent completing their next album, Keeping the Summer Alive, the group embarked on a ten-day tour. Dennis was MIA but the rest of the group was present, along with Mike Meros, Ed Carter and Bobby Figueroa. 10,000 turned out in Fort Wayne, where the group had not appeared in many years. Connie Trexler of the News Sentinel noted that the Beach Boys "built the concert out of 'California Girls', 'Sloop John B', 'Little Deuce Coupe', 'In My Room', 'Be True To Your School', 'Little Surfer Girl', 'Help Me Rhonda', 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', 'I Get Around' and 'Surfin' USA,' everyone a hit beloved by hundreds if not thousands of individuals in the audience...'Good Timing,' the Beach Boys song animating the airwaves in recent months, was an out of the mainstream offering.'"
Saturday February 23, 1980
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI (8:00 PM Show)
16,000-fans attended this show in the indoor Joe Louis hockey Arena
Sunday February 24, 1980
Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI
The Beach Boys returned to Kalamazoo for the first time since 1975. Tom Thinnes of the Kalamazoo Gazette reported, "The Beach Boys really jacked up the audience with 'Be True To Your School' with Love prancing all over the stage like a frenzied cheerleader trying to pump up the crowd to root for the winning touchdown. …Meanwhile with the audience going absolutely bananas, there's Brian Wilson…calmly playing the piano, a cigarette jutting out of his mouth. He could have been playing 'As Time Goes By' in Humphrey Bogart's joint in Casablanca."
Tuesday February 26, 1980 to Sunday March 2, 1980
Palace Theater, Cleveland, OH-with Glenn Super (One show each night at 8:00 PM Tuesday to Friday and two shows at 7:00 and 10:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday)
The group played an usually intimate six day residency in Cleveland at the tiny Palace Theater, which seated only 2700 and mainly hosted cabaret acts. Anastasia Pantsios of the Cleveland Plains Dealer was troubled by what she saw as the Beach Boys "segue into nightclub act status." She noted that a Vegas comedian (Glenn Super) opened and that they played nothing but oldies, having excised almost all of their 1970s material. However, she correctly noted that the group's new album had not yet been released, so they had nothing to promote. Bruno Bornino of the Cleveland Press was more enthusiastic, gushing, "The Beach Boys not only delivered, but got stronger with each song. By the time the band completed the last song-'Fun, Fun, Fun'-the fans were standing on chairs, climbing on stage and getting crazy....And the Beach Boys do nothing but hits. They don't miss too many either...All in all it was a great night and shouldn't be missed.”
Sunday March 9, 1980
Sunrise Music Theatre, Sunrise, FL
This was a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate George Bush Sr (he was defeated by Ronald Reagan in the primaries but was then picked to be Reagan's VP). Carl Wilson told a reporter they didn’t play the show for political reasons, but instead “It was more of a human thing on our side. He took several hours out of a really busy schedule and came to see us in a city we were playing one Sunday morning. We spent about 3 hours with him, and he’s just a nice fella, a nice man, and we did it on that basis.” Mike and Bruce developed a fondness for Bush and campaigned for him again in 1988.
Wednesday March 19, 1980
Civic Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada-with John Hall
The Beach Boys embarked on a new tour to promote their latest album Keepin' the Summer Alive. It featured contributions from everyone except Dennis, who was absent from the recording sessions. The LP was mainly produced by Bruce Johnston but CBS was intent on marketing it as a return to form and declared Brian had been heavily involved. He went along with the charade, telling one reporter, "Michael and I wrote five songs for the new album…really nice songs I think." The truth was that Brian had gotten hot for three days and then lost interest, forcing the band to raid the vaults to make it look like he was more active. The single "Goin' On" was a new one. But of the other songs Brian was listed as a composer on, “When Girls Get Together” was a Sunflower outtake, while “Santa Ana Winds” was considered for LA (Light Album) and rejected in 1978. The album did feature some workmanlike contributions from Carl, in collaboration with Randy Bachman, including the title song and the C &W inspired, 'Living With a Heartache', but the LP was released to indifference, reaching a disappointing #75.
Add Some Music noted that the band played little new material at these March dates (they only played one song "Goin' On" from the new LP at this show) and expunged concert staples of the past few years like “It's OK” and “Roller Skating Child" in favor of the oldies. Surprisingly, the band's cover of the novelty song “Long Tall Texan,” was back in the set for the first time since the 1960s and Bruce's monster-hit for Barry Manilow "I Write the Songs" continued to be performed. Dennis was again absent (he did not return till the European tour). The band chose not to reveal that he'd been suspended till he "got straight" and instead initially told reporters at the various cities that they visited that he had "missed the flight from Los Angeles" or that he’d “caught the flu.” Backing musicians on this tour consisted of Mike Meros (Keyboards), Bobby Figueroa (Drums) and newcomer Joe Chemay (who replaced Ed Carter on bass).
Thursday March 20, 1980
Civic Center, Hartford, CT-with John Hall (7:30 PM Show)
Almost 14,000 fans attended this show. One amusing moment occurred when Brian announced after Mike’s performance of “Long Tall Texan,” “Now listen, who's better, Mick Jagger or Mike Love?” Before the audience could answer, Mike asked, 'Who's better at songwriting, Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson?' The audience yelled out Brian’s name, as he humbly exclaimed, “McCartney!"
Friday March 21, 1980
Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME-with John Hall (8:00 PM Show)
Problems with microphones caused a significant delay before the Beach Boys part of the show started and the crowd took a long time to warm up. Perhaps due to these problems, Brian abruptly walked offstage after I Get Around (he returned after 10 minutes as if nothing had happened). Doug Warren of the Portland Press Herald reported, "Dennis Wilson, drummer and most active and attractive of the Beach Boys was at home in California with the flu and missed the show. Brian Wilson the musical genius and the band's biggest burden on stage, banged away on his inaudible piano, sang infrequently and smoked constantly. Singer Mike Love, the focal point of the performance, led the band through its paces and shared small talk with the audience. Despite his efforts, the crowed remained calm and in it's seats through much of the show. The vocal harmonies, particularly on 'Good Timin' and 'Little Surfer (Girl),' highlighted the show. The low point came when Bruce Johnston sat down at the piano to do a solo version of his composition 'I Write the Songs,' which was a hit for Barry Manilow. Incredible as it may sound, Manilow's version was superior."
Saturday March 22, 1980
Boston Garden, Boston, MA-with John Hall (8:00 PM Show)
Steve Morse of the Boston Globe praised "the most rewarding local Beach Boys concert in eons" and singled out Bruce for bringing "fresh discipline back into the group" (Bruce commented after the show that "I made the guys cut out a lot of people because they overshadowed the band. I got rid of the horns and a lot of garbage...I became a very discrete axe-murderer."). Morse noted, "The night therefore was an intimate affair. There were no props (no Sloop John B boat at the back of the stage as in past tours) and more importantly, no mental lapses. Part of this was attributable to the tenacity of drummer Bobby Figueroa sitting in place of the petulant, try-hard one song fall asleep the next Dennis Wilson...Brian was onstage almost all evening (versus his shy cameo roles of past visits) and even exclaimed at one point, 'We haven't begun to rock and roll yet. We're just warming up!' Mike Love in a cowboy hat and Casablanca white attire, was his maverick self, handling most of the leads and the self-mocking Amateur Hour stage patter, Johnston checked in with 'I Write the Songs', while even the reserved Al Jardine and Carl Wilson were more animated than custom, dropping to their knees, no less, on Barbara Ann. The institutionalized hits had a recommitted energy plus the Boys dug from the archives a snappy Long Tall Texan and the classically influenced Lady Lynda. Only one song-the Philly glide of Goin On-was done from the new album but Johnston promised five new ones will be worked in as the set evolves." The photo was taken on April 3, when the Boys taped an appearance on NBC TV's Friday show, which aired in June.
Friday April 18, 1980
Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA-with Brewer and Shipley (9:30 PM Show)
Accompanying the group on this tour were Joe Chemay (bass), Bobby Figueroa (drums) and Mike Meros (keyboards). The BBs drum tech Tony Leo chipped in occasionally on extra percussion, such as the tympani at the end of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and Ed Carter was also along, but playing guitar instead of bass. Bruce gave an interview on WIOQ, which broadcast the Philadelphia show, in which he mentioned that Carter had been added as a third guitarist at the request of the record company to beef up their sound. The setlist consisted of California Girls, Sloop John B, Darlin', School Days, In My Room, Do It Again, Little Deuce Coupe, Keepin' the Summer Alive, God Only Knows, Good Timin', Some of Your Love, Surfer Girl, Goin' On, Be True To Your School, Catch a Wave, Living With a Heartache, Lady Lynda, Disney Girls, Long Tall Texan, Help Me Rhonda, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Rock and Roll Music, I Get Around, Surfin USA, Good Vibrations, Barbara Ann and Fun, Fun, Fun. As can be seen, the BBs were now playing five songs from their new album.
Saturday April 19, 1980
Kenan Stadium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC-with Bonnie Raitt and the Atlantic Rhythym Section (1:00 PM) and U.S. Naval Academy Field House, Annapolis, MD-with Brewer and Shipley
The Beach Boys flew to North Carolina for an outdoor appearance at UNC. ABC TV filmed it as part of a segment on the group being produced for 20/20 and brief clips of the group performing their hits, including “Be True To Your School” and “California Girls” appeared in the segment (the photo of Mike is from that show). The group's appearance in Annapolis that night was enthusiastically received. Jack Daniel of the Georgetown Hoya noted, "With the first chords of 'California Girls' all hell broke loose in the U.S. Naval Academy Field House in Annapolis...Aside from a few mellow numbers, the crowd remained on it's feet for the entire show.... Signing off with an encore which included 'Good Vibrations,' 'Barbara Ann,' and 'Fun, Fun, Fun' the Beach Boys reminded their fans that no new wave can take the place of good ol' rock & roll."
Sunday April 20, 1980
Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN-with Brewer and Shipley (8:30 PM Show)
12,000 fans turned out for this concert. Zach Dunkin of the Indianapolis News reported, “The band ripped through 24 tunes before the lights went up… As always the effervescent Love encouraged the music mania with his nonsensical chatter and free movement around the stage with a wireless microphone, while Carl Wilson, Al Jardine and ‘honorary’ Beach Boy Bruce Johnston concentrated more on the vocals…Brian sat at the piano, puffing like a locomotive and played or sang whenever the mood struck him, despite constant encouragement from the rest of the group. It was sad to see the chain-smoking Wilson destroy what was once an incredible set of vocal chords.”
Monday April 21, 1980
Jenison Fieldhouse, Michigan State University-East Lansing, MI –with Brewer and Shipley (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys returned to Michigan State University for the first time since 1974. David Winkelstern of the Lansing State Journal noted "It didn't seem to matter that one of them was missing and another one of them seemed only partially there. Drummer Dennis Wilson was absent from the stage. Brian Wilson...rarely sang and sometimes quit playing altogether. Having someone in the audience throw a corn cob at him in the beginning of their set didn't encourage his stability. But as brother Carl said in reference to Brian's songwriting, 'If it wasn't for him, none of this would be possible.' What there was was an evening of songs so familiar that a slight taste was all the crowd needed to cheer and clap along. Few tunes were offered from the Beach Boys latest album. That suited the folks on the floor and the people up in the balconies just fine."
Tuesday April 22, 1980
Wendler Arena, Saginaw, MI-with Brewer and Shipley (8:00 PM Show)
The group worked several new numbers into their set at their first appearance in Saginaw but a capacity crowd only came alive when they played oldies. Nancy Kuharevicz of the Saginaw News commented, “The Beach Boys are legendary for their surfin' sound, something they perfected about 15 years ago. When they attempt to introduce new material, which deviates from their well-established standard, they sound like museum pieces shallowly imitating themselves. On the other hand, when they're playing old favorites, they don't just capture an audience's attention, they control it." The photo was taken on April 20 in Indianapolis.
Wednesday April 23, 1980
University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH-with Brewer and Shipley (8:00 PM Show)
Thursday April 24, 1980
Kingston Armory, Kingston, PA-with Brewer and Shipley (8:00 PM Show)
A disappointing crowd of only 2,500 showed up at the 5,000-seat Kingston Armory. However, Lance Evans of the Scranton Times-Tribune noted, "The Beach Boys proved beyond a reasonable doubt to anyone in the Kingston audience that they can still get people out of their chairs to stomp their feet and clap their hands to the strains of past monster hits such as Little Deuce Coupe, Be True To Your School, In My Room, I Get Around, Surfin' Safari, Help Me Rhonda...or any of those other musical monuments to the pursuit of an American dream that might be somewhat passe but still remains tunefully appealing." The photo of Brian was taken on April 20.
Friday April 25, 1980
Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY-with Brewer and Shipley (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys played to 12,000 fans in Buffalo, who were treated to 90 minutes of oldies, including “California Girls,” “Sloop John B,” “Darlin’,” “In My Room,” “Good Timin,” “Do It Again,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” a cover of Jan and Dean's “Sidewalk Surfin',” “Be True To Your School,” “Wouldn't It Be Nice,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin' USA,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Barbara Ann.” Jim Bisco of the Buffalo News noted, "There were a few nods to their latest album, Keeping the Summer Alive, as Carl did a couple of the tunes he wrote, including the title track and a country-rocker called 'Livin' With a Heartache.' But you know what got the crowd on its feet. The most memorable image for this reviewer was Love, Jardine, Johnston and brother Carl romantically crooning the innocuous lyrics to 'Surfer Girl' while Brian sat at the piano lighting up another cigarette and yawned. It was a great moment in rock, the stuff legends are made of." Following the show, the group summoned the energy to make an in-store appearance at the Record-Theater on Main St.
Sunday April 27, 1980
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON, Canada-with Brewer and Shipley (8:00 PM Show)
The BBs made their annual visit to Toronto but for the first time in a number of years, they played the smaller Maple Leaf Gardens instead of the CNE. Carl told an interviewer, "We thought it was time to try a new venue...We've changed the show a bit, added some new faces, and brought back a lot of our old vocal harmonies. Toronto won't be disappointed." Paul McGrath of the Globe and Mail noted that for him the appearance was bittersweet: "The good is watching these venerable California harmonizers work on a crowd in a friendly way, bringing them closer and closer to the front of the stage with increasingly stronger doses of rock and roll. The sadness involves Brian Wilson…who is now shunted further and further to the side of the stage as he contributes less and less to the total musical output of the band.”
Monday June 2, 1980
Ekeberghallen, Oslo, Norway
On May 30 the Beach Boys landed in Oslo to launch their first European tour since 1972. No doubt due to promoters' demands, Dennis was back for the first time since November 1979, though he told a Norwegian journalist he almost didn't come due to "personal reasons." Also accompanying the group were managers Jerry Schilling and Jason Raphalian and musicians Joe Chemay (bass), Bobby Figueroa (drums), Tony Leo (extra percussion), Ed Carter (guitar) and Mike Meros (keyboards). Fleetwood Mac was performing in Europe, so Dennis's girlfriend Christine McVie was also around, as were other assorted wives and girlfriends. The group played basically the same set they’d been performing in the States but agreed to add “Cottonfields” which had been a big hit in Europe in 1970.
The group held a press conference at the Hotel Ambassadeur on June 1 (shown in top photo), where they noted that the concert marked their first appearance in Norway. Ticket sales were slow and the show was not a sellout. Norwegian journalist Lars Keilhau reported in the Beach Boys fanzine BB FUN: “It was not their best performance, but being the first date of the European tour, it was not to be expected. Also, the guys played to 2000 people, who-at least at first-did not inspire great playing. Dennis was the one who in a way came to the ‘rescue’. Halfway through the concert, after ‘Long Tall Texan’, he walked to the front of the stage and ‘commanded’ everyone to stand up and come up front. Although it irritated the front row ticket holders, it raised the spirits both on and offstage. From ‘Cottonfields’ onwards the excitement just got bigger and bigger…From now on it was ‘go, man, go’ with ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘I Get Around’ and so on…The rest of the concert was just plain fun. After a perfect version of ‘Good Vibrations’, the group did their hilarious go-go dance during ‘Barbara Ann’. When ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ was over, the Beach Boys had the audience completely on their side.”
Tuesday June 3, 1980
Grona Lund, Stockholm, Sweden
On June 3 the group flew to Stockholm, where they gave another afternoon press conference. Mike was asked if they were still having fun and replied, “For nineteen years the Beach Boys have toured, and we still think it’s fun. Compared to in the beginning, it’s actually even more fun now when we make lots of money even though we play shorter sets.” Brian mostly sat silently but did cough up “Paul McCartney and Elton John” when asked who influenced him. After the conference, the group played an evening concert at Grona Lund.
Gunner Salander of the Svenska Dagbladet had attended their last appearance there in 1967 and reported, “Thirteen years have past since I last saw the Beach Boys, but I can’t... say that there was something particularly different back then. There has of course been some new material, and the most recent is of course rather rocking (As all ancient groups’ new material is this year.) But the highlights are the same as back then, “Good Vibrations”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Be True To Your School” and so on. Sure, the harmonies aren’t as tight as they used to be, but it’s good enough to initiate a certain nostalgic happiness in the old folks who were there when it happened. However, the fly in the ointment is the pathetic appearance of Brian Wilson. At least the several thousand people who stood in front of the right part of the scene could see how Brian mostly sat there smoking, half asleep in his own world instead of playing the piano. At times he played along in the wrong key and sometimes even the wrong song. His brothers tried with no success to wake him up with noise and shouts. It’s a disgrace both to the audience and Brian himself to drag him along on tours as long as he is obviously ill.” Bruce responded to these critiques in an interview with a British reporter, where he noted: "Brian shouldn't be regarded as a freak show. When you see him onstage, you'll see him smoke a lot of cigarettes and not singing a lot of times at the piano. But he enjoys going on tour. It's good therapy."
Wednesday June 4, 1980
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark
The group was greeted enthusiastically in Copenhagen, where they’d last played in 1966. Over 50,000 fans attended the concert at the outdoor Tivoli Gardens. The set list consisted of: “California Girls,” “Sloop John B,” “Darlin,” “School Days,” “In My Room,” “Good Timin',” “Some of Your Love,” “Keepin' the Summer Alive,” “Do It Again,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Catch a Wave,” “Lady Lynda,” “Surfer Girl,” “Cottonfields,” “Heroes and Villains,” “Long Tall Texan,” “Be True To Your School,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” Ebbe Iverson of Berlingske Tidende commented, “The beginning of the concert was a bit tired, and it didn’t help that the great bass sound of the Garden sound system didn’t quite allow any finer nuances to reach out to the Tivoli trees with their colorful pears. But the Beach Boys are one of the eldest still existing acts in pop music, and nostalgia is a strong foundation to build excitement on. The huge crowd sent recurring waves of good vibrations up to the group, which blew away some of the weariness of travel in the music, which consisted of a pleasant mix of new songs and such old hits as “California Girl” and “Barbara Ann”. Those last songs got the loudest cheers from the crowd, since everyone who grew up in the sixties knows them.”
Friday June 6, 1980 and Saturday June 7, 1980
Wembley Arena, London, England, UK-with Chris Rea
The Beach Boys first UK appearances since 1977 brought out the critics. Richard Williams of the London Times noted, “Within 80 minutes they gave us 25 songs, mostly from their golden age in the sixties, yet only towards the end did a partisan crowd display the anticipated fervor, responding wholeheartedly to the surges of ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’ Before that epiphany they were forced to endure the tiresome antics of singer Michael Love and several passages of distinctly substandard harmonies." Beach Boys aficionado Andrew Doe reviewed the shows for the fanzine Add Some Music. He reported that all eyes were on Brian, who frequently missed instrumental and vocal cues, but “It was obvious to all there that if Brian had just stood center stage and done nothing, the crowd would have applauded. Every note, however hoarse, and each half formed gesture were greeted with rapturous applause. The rest of the band willingly accepted their subsidiary roles with good humor, all of which added to the general bonhomie.”
Sunday June 8, 1980
Palais Des Sports, Paris, France
5000 fans attended the Beach Boys' Paris concert, despite shoddy promotion leading up to it. Gerard Hubert reported in the UK Beach Boys fanzine Stomp that "They played and sang with such perfection that I wish they recorded the show. The only false note was a lack of coordination after the Wouldn't It Be Nice break. No one took the lead (they seemed to wait for Carl's voice) but Brian woke up and saved the number!" Hubert commented that "Brian was in great shape and talked with Carl a lot. He played the grand piano and organ on Help Me Rhonda. He left the stage during Cottonfields, Heroes and Villains and Lady Lynda. He sang on Sloop John B and Surfer Girl and sang beautiful harmonies on Good Timin' and shouted on Some of Your Love and Barbara Ann." However, he noted that "Dennis stole the show...He was happy to be in Paris and talked to the audience a lot. He shook hands with Alan after Lady Lynda and thanked him for his beautiful singing (though he left the stage during the song)...He didn't sing a lot but was happy to be there. After Heroes and Villains, he jumped on the grand piano...I wish I took a pic of that moment. Dennis looked wilder than ever!" Hubert commented that the French audience was rather muted and did not sing along when Mike requested, probably because they did not know all the English lyrics but that the show was a big success.
Monday June 9, 1980
Congresgebouw, The Hague, Holland
The group played one show in the Netherlands, where they'd last visited in 1972. It was the second appearance by the group at this venue, which they’d played in 1970. A fan filmed the concert and a video makes the rounds. The Leeuwarder Courant reported: "After a period of lethargy, the surf band the Beach Boys seems to be working at full speed again. For the first time in six years, they visited Holland... for a one-off concert in the Concertgebouw of The Hague. Prior to the concert, people wondered if – after all these years – the group would still play their biggest hits from the first half of the sixties. It wouldn’t be unthinkable that the majority of the setlist would contain songs from their more recent albums. But no, the group neatly finished the almost classical repertoire of surf songs. Singer and guitar player Alan Jardine, member of the group since 1961, tells why: “We give the people exactly what they want. I think that the audience is totally right to expect the old songs from us. That what made us famous. You’re being paid to sing those songs, and so you do that, that’s your job. We can continue this for years. I am a folk singer. I love old songs, songs that are much older than our own songs. The songs are the only thing that will keep on existing if we don’t sing anymore. I love to keep on singing those songs. We reflect a way of living as it was then. We sing about our ideals, that above all is experienced in California...They love to see a group that has been together for twenty years. It is often pointed out that everything is volatile (in the world) and it feels good to know that something remains the same in this world of changes and disappointments.”
The concert in Holland was the last in a series of six concerts in mainland Europe. Germany was passed over, because allegedly they didn’t want to pay enough and didn't believe the Beach Boys could sell out venues as a headliner. Al Jardine told the Courant: “That would do harm to the integrity of the group. They wanted to let us perform after two other groups had performed. We’ve never done that, so we said: “Germans, forget it! You probably missed your biggest chance in ten years. Maybe next time!”
Saturday June 21, 1980
Knebworth Festival, Knebworth, England, UK-with Mike Oldfield, Elkie Brooks, Lindisfarne, the Blues Band and Santana (12:00 PM to 11:00 PM)
The group remained in the UK so they could headline the Knebworth Festival, a massive outdoor event sponsored by Capital Radio, which broadcast it live. About 40,000 music fans camped out in the rain, the majority to see the Beach Boys. The show took place the day after Brian's 38th birthday and a cake was wheeled out so he could blow out the candles. He did little else during the show, but looked striking, having briefly shaved his beard off for the first time since 1974. The full set list consisted of: “California Girls,” “Sloop John B,” “Darlin,” “School Days,” “In My Room,” “Good Timin,” “God Only Knows,” “Be True To Your School,” “Do It Again,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Catch a Wave,” “Cottonfields,” “Heroes and Villains,” “Some of Your Love,” “Keepin’ the Summer Alive,” “Lady Lynda,” “Surfer Girl,” “I Write the Songs,” “Santa Ana Winds,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” Karl Dallas of Melody Maker noted, "The Beach Boys...seemed as if they could have gone on all night and still have the audience, if not all the local burghers, crying for more. Not that they were flawless. Perhaps it was the brotherly burden of having Brian Wilson on stage with them, but the Beach Boys are nothing if their harmonies are less then perfect, and there were times ('In My Room', their fifth number, was where the rot began to set in) when the discords were positively painful. On the other hand, they sailed through the complexities of 'Good Vibrations', the second of four encores, with hardly a note out of place." Drummer Bobby Figueroa commented, “I thought it was a good show but I think we’ve been much, much better. But, considering all the things we were going through, it was pretty good. And it was one of the last times that the original band was together (on film).”
The concert was professionally filmed and recorded but the band clearly felt the tapes were not up to snuff, since they held a session in November 1980 to “sweeten” them. Backing vocals were added to a number of songs and some guitar and keyboard parts were redone before the group shelved the tapes. The video and LP were only released years later when they'd taken on historical importance as a record of the last ever appearance of the original Beach Boys lineup in Europe. However, the night's performances of In My Room, Good Timin', Catch a Wave, Some of Your Love, I Write the Songs, Santa Ana Winds and Wouldn't It Be Nice were not used, allegedly because Dennis appeared inebriated.
Thursday July 3, 1980
Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA-with Le Roux (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys' full lineup took part in this short tour, though in the interval since Knebworth, Dennis had shaved his beard, while Brian had grown his back. Bobby Figueroa, Tony Leo, Ed Carter and Mike Meros also took part in the concerts. Over 7,000 fans turned out in Hampton. Eric Feber of the Virginian Pilot was unimpressed and commented, “If they weren’t so damned legendary they would be playing supper clubs and Holiday inns instead of packing them in at stadiums like they did in Hampton Thursday night…Their new albums don’t sell well and I defy anyone to name a new Beach Boys tune that anyone could recognize or even hum. The group, with their drained leader helplessly looking on, is now nothing more than a hollow impression.” The image of Brian was taken the next day in DC.
Friday July 4, 1980
Washington Monument, Washington D.C. (4:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys had ambitious plans for the Fourth of July. As Mike revealed to the Washington Star, “We wanted to have a worldwide July 4th celebration. We were going to begin the day with a show in Copenhagen, Denmark, then fly to London for another show, then on to Washington for a concert on the mall, then to Southern California for another concert and finish off the night with a show in Hawaii. It would have been billed as a worldwide California surf party.” Logistics and reality put an end to those plans, however, and the group settled for a massive free show in front of the Washington Monument. Over 500,000 people packed the mall. It was the largest crowd the group had ever played for. The concert was broadcast on WRQX radio in D.C. and on WABC in New York. The BBC in London also broadcast it. In addition it was video taped and an edited and heavily “sweetened” version aired on HBO as The Beach Boys in Concert.
The set list consisted of “California Girls,” “Sloop John B,” “Darlin,” “School Days,” “In My Room,” “Good Timin,” “God Only Knows,” “Do It Again,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Catch a Wave,” “Hawaii,” “Santa Ana Winds,” “Some of Your Love,” “Keepin’ the Summer Alive,” “Lady Lynda,” “Cottonfields,” “Heroes and Villains,” “I Write the Songs,” “Surfer Girl,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Be True To Your School,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”
The band arrived in limousines at 2:00 PM and spent two hours milling about backstage. Dennis clearly spent his downtime drinking, as he was in poor shape when an interviewer caught up with him. He seemed lost and dazed, barely able to string his thoughts together. Nevertheless, he attacked the drums with gusto when the band took the stage at 4:00 PM. Charles McCollum of the Washington Star noted, “Playing under a banner reading ‘The Beach Boys: The Spirit of America,’ the band that created surfing music had the crowd roaring and did not lose control of the situation…For the most part the Beach Boys stuck to the music that made them famous-songs like ‘California Girls,’ ‘Surfin’ USA,’ ‘Sloop John B,’ ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’ The soaring harmonies and good cheer created moments that were as purely American as…well the Fourth of July.”
Saturday July 5, 1980
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY (8:00 PM Show)
The photo of Dennis was taken in DC on July 4.
Friday July 25, 1980
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD-with the Tremblers (8:00 PM Show)
The group began a two-week tour with the Tremblers, a new group led by Peter Noone, of Herman and the Hermits fame. They were signed to Bruce’s label Johnston Records and had an LP out called Twice Nightly. Brian was not on the tour. The group put out a statement that he was unable to join them because he was back in the hospital but a roadie revealed to a Michigan reporter, “He’s not in a hospital. He just didn’t feel like coming. And he’s got the money to do anything he wants.” Mike Meros, Ed Carter and Bobby Figueroa rounded out the lineup.
Saturday July 26, 1980
Civic Center, Bismarck, ND-with the Tremblers (8:00 PM Show)
Sunday July 27, 1980
Duluth Arena, Duluth, MN-with the Tremblers (8:00 PM Show)
Rick Shefchick, of the Duluth News-Tribune, declared this a fun show because "The Beach Boys don't condescend to their material. The closing third of the show began with "Help Me Rhonda" and continued through "Be True To Your School," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Rock and Roll Music," "I Get Around," "Surfin' USA," "Good Vibrations," "Barbara Ann," and "Fun, Fun, Fun" all in their full versions. No medleys, no clowning with the lyrics and no indifferent performances. They played their best songs the way they deserve to be played."
Monday July 28, 1980
Met Stadium, Bloomington, MN-with the Trembers (8:00 PM Show)
11,000 fans attended this show. Jon Bream, of the Minneapolis Star commented, “The Beach Boys came to have fun. They weren't bothered by occasional static in the sound system, the flaws in their usually flawless vocal harmonies or the uncustomary dirty edge to Carl Wilson's guitar playing…The fans, of course, came to hear the hits and relive the precious rites of passage moments the songs evoke. And they heard plenty, ranging from 1963's 'Surfin' USA' to 1976's 'Rock and Roll Music.'"
Tuesday July 29, 1980
City Auditorium Arena, Omaha, NB-with the Tremblers (8:00 PM Show)
9,808 fans turned out for this show and Steve Millburg of the Omaha World Herald reported that they “went nuts as soon as the lights were dimmed before the show, and the enthusiasm ebbed very little. The last half hour or so, starting with ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and Dennis Wilson’s order ‘everybody up!’ was bedlam. Practically everyone was standing, clapping and singing along from that point through ‘Be True To Your School,’ ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice,’ ‘Rock and Roll Music,’ ‘I Get Around’ and ‘Surfin’ USA,’ which ended the main set. After a thunderous ovation, Bruce Johnston and Dennis Wilson returned and Wilson sang ‘You Are So Beautiful’ to the crowd. Then everyone came back to sing ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Barbara Ann’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.”
Wednesday July 30, 1980
Five Seasons Center, Cedar Rapids, IA-with the Tremblers (8:00 PM Show)
A crowd of 6,000 turned out to see the Beach Boys at Cedar Rapids. Kurt Rogahn of the Gazette noted, as usual, that the crowd politely applauded the three songs from the new album (Keepin the Summer Alive, School Days and Some of Your Love) but 'really raised the roof with the older songs...The rocking numbers-Little Deuce Coupe, Be True To Your School, I Get Around, Surfin' USA and a couple of others seemed to cross age lines. Up in the seats where most of the older crowd sat, men with just a few grey hairs...danced like teens on the backs of their seats. The real teens were a surging, swaying and bopping mass on the main floor of the auditorium. Young or old, it was a good time."
Thursday July 31,1980
Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis, WI (7:30 PM Show)
A crowd of 12,996 attended this show. Duane Dudek of the Milwaukee Sentinel commented, "The group beckoned eternal adolescence and joyous sunshine with classic pop tunes such as 'In My Room,' 'Little Deuce Coupe,' and 'God Only Knows.'. 'If you don't have the album this is on, maybe your parents do' (Mike) Love said jokingly as the band broke into 'Long Tall Texan,' featuring Bruce Johnston on bass. Later Dennis Wilson, who along with Love, Al Jardine and Carl Wilson formed the group's nucleus, dedicated 'Surfer Girl' to absent bother Brian 'who wrote most of the music you are hearing tonight.'"
Friday August 1 to Sunday August 3, 1980
Pine Knob Music Theater, Clarkston, MI-with the Tremblers (One show each night at 7:30 PM)
The Beach Boys played their now annual residency at Pine Knob outside Detroit. The crowd seemed to have a blast but Kenn Jones of the Oakland Press sounded the alarms: "With the exception of (Mike) Love, the group was simply somnambulant, tired old sailors at the mast, holding on for what it was worth and that wasn't much. That's not to say Love was any ball of fire but he looked like he tried a little. In Catch a Wave he pranced around the stage and bent his wrists into motions of surfing. The crowd loved it. The crowd also loved Dennis Wilson...Perhaps they didn't notice that Wilson wasn't able to play drums and he could barely stand up when introduced. Wilson was for the most part defunct but I guess that's better than brother Brian who didn't show up at all.Baby brother Carl did manage to stick it out throughout the concert, though, as did cousin Love and mainstay Al Jardine."
Carl later depicted this period as the absolute nadir of the band. He told reporter Marc Shapiro in 1983, “We weren’t really taking care of things onstage. We weren’t rehearsing that much and there was just no energy in our live shows at all. There were nights when I’d be onstage and thinking to myself, ‘What the fuck! There’s no mystery or excitement to this anymore.’" It did not help that the best songwriters in the group were both in the midst of personal agonies. Brian missed the tour and it was clear that when Dennis returned to the band he had not used his long layoff to clean up his act. If anything his addictions had grown stronger and his once beautiful face showed strong and disturbing evidence of disintegration. However, even if he was often drunk, Dennis remained the most popular Beach Boy and crowds screamed and applauded his raspy solo on “You Are So Beautiful.” The photo was taken at Poplar Creek on August 4.
Monday August 4 and Tuesday August 5, 1980
Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, IL-with the Tremblers (One show at 8:00 PM each night)
The Beach Boys were one of the first bands to appear at this outdoor facility in the suburbs of Chicago. It would become a regular venue for them in the 1980s. Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune declared that 'the little deuce coupe is running on fumes" and condemned the BBs as "a self-made anachronism, buried helplessly in the sand of their former success" and argued they had nothing relevant to say in the 80s but nonetheless declared the show he saw successful as an "exercise in greatness revisited."
Thursday August 7, 1980
Mississippi River Festival, Edwardsville, IL-with the Tremblers (7:30 PM Show)
The Beach Boys made their semi-annual return to Edwardsville for the Mississippi River Festival. Dick Richmond of the St Louis Post-Dispatch noted Brian’s absence but commented "It's nice to see Brian when he's there, but it really doesn't matter. It's his sound and the vocalists who have recorded hits that now span 19 years. They're still singing 'Surfin' USA,' 'Little Deuce Coupe,' 'In My Room,' 'Fun, Fun, Fun,' 'Help Me Rhonda,' 'God Only Knows,' 'Good Vibrations,' 'Sail On Sailor,' 'Catch a Wave' and others. Most of those were performed Thursday night." The photo was taken at Poplar Creek on Aug 4 or 5.
Friday August 8, 1980
Ionia Free Fair, Ionia, MI-with the Tremblers (Two shows at 6:30 and 9:00 PM)
12,000 fans turned out for these two shows in Ionia (where the BBs played last in 1963). One amusing moment occurred when Bruce announced, before his performance of I Write the Songs, that a couple in the audience had gotten engaged and joked “I hope it works out at least to the combined length of time Mike has been married to all of his wives.” Mary Kramer of the Grand Rapids Press commented that the concerts “were an easygoing nostalgia trip with the Beach Boys planted firmly behind the wheel. They played nothing that hadn’t been recorded before 1970; the people came to hear the oldies and oldies are what they heard…the band worked about two dozen ghostly hits from summers past into a 70-minute set.”
Saturday August 9, 1980
Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY-with the Tremblers
Sunday August 10, 1980
State Fairgrounds Stadium, Louisville, KY-with the Tremblers (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys ended their August tour with a capacity show at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds. Laurice Niemtus of the Louisville Times reported, “The Beach Boys…came to the Fairgrounds Stadium last night and filled it with fun and sun and visions of simpler days. Their special magic showered the crowd with ‘Good Vibrations’ despite the wretched heat and humidity and the potent smells of animals and sweat.” Marc Zakem of the Courier Journal, however, was less enamored with the group and asked, "Is the continued success of the Beach Boys entirely due to nostalgia? If not, why did Al Jardine practically apologize for playing three newer numbers by confessing, 'We don't want to load you down with too much new stuff'? ...In connection with that, if the band is not simply concerned with regurgitating the past, what are its goals? Between Mike Love’s nightclub prancing and Bruce Johnston's cocktail lounge piano it seems apparent that the Beach Boys aren't striving to be the world's greatest rock n roll band. But can any band continue to satisfy and be satisfied simply replaying past hits?" The question was indeed at the heart of a crisis within the group. The commercial failure of Keepin’ the Summer Alive, coming a year after the disastrous LA (Light Album), suggested the public was not interested in anything new that the Beach Boys had to say and the BBs would not release another new album until 1985. They had become an oldies act, stripped of all relevance. Carl Wilson, however, was resistant to this trend and would soon start work on a solo-album at Caribou Ranch.
Friday October 17 to Wednesday October 22, 1980
Cascade Lounge, Caesar's Tahoe, Stateline, NV
After a two month hiatus (during which time Carl Wilson worked on his first solo album in Colorado), the full lineup convened in Nevada for their second Lake Tahoe residency of the year and a TV crew from the syndicated World of People filmed them hanging out in their suite with manager Jerry Schilling and stage manager Jason Raphalian. The backstage footage showed them compiling a list of all the acts that had opened for them, so they could be invited to the upcoming 20th Anniversary show at the Forum (ultimately this idea was scrapped if it was ever seriously entertained-Mike joked on the program, "I don't know if these people are going to be able to come, since we are going to send out the invitations on December 29 and what with Christmas mail!"). The Beach Boys continued to attract a younger crowd than the usual Tahoe acts and extra security was present to make sure people did not dance on tables and rush the showroom stage. Dan Coyro of The Santa Cruz Sentinel noted, "The Beach Boys started out with California Girls and moved quickly through cuts of Sloop John B, In My Room, Good Timin, God Only Knows, Little Deuce Coupe, Catch a Wave and Long Tall Texan. By the time they set into Help Me Rhonda and Be True To Your School the security people had their hands full trying to coax the crowd off the tables and out of the aisles. The hotel ushers finally gave up trying to control the crowd and for the rest of the set, which included Surfer Girl, Barbara Ann, Surfin USA and Fun, Fun, Fun, the elegantly styled lounge looked like a free for all in an old time western."
Friday October 24, 1980
Marriott Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT-with Hi-Fi (7:30 PM Show)
A huge crowd of 16,300 turned up for the Beach Boys appearance at BYU, attesting to their continued popularity in Utah. The group were thrown for a loop when their sound and lighting system got lost en route from Reno, but the show went on as scheduled. Kim Kaatman of the Daily Universe noted, "The energy level of the band tripled as they sensed the enthusiasm of the crowd. After practically every number, lead singer Mike Love thanked the audience for the warm responses and the audience responded with more fervor after each acknowledgement. The result of this complimenting was a unified, excited crowd that stood, sat, sang and clapped on command from the performers. The enthusiasm peaked as the words of 'Help Me Rhonda' filled the Marriott Center. Arms waved in time with the music all around the stage setting the entire Center in motion. The audience was carried back in time despite changes in the Beach Boys."
Saturday October 25, 1980
Adams Field-house, University of Montana, Missoula, MT-with Hi-Fi
The Beach Boys performed for about 6,000 people at the University of Montana, where they'd previously appeared in 1974. John Carson of the Montana Kaimin did not appear to be a Beach Boys enthusiast but noted, "They delivered a crowd pleasing performance to an audience that ranged in age from pre-schoolers to grandparents." The photo was taken the night before in Utah
Sunday October 26, 1980
Metra Arena, Billings, MT-with Hi-Fi
The Beach Boys concluded this short tour with a stop in Billings, which I was not aware of when my book was published. 6,000-fans attended this show. Christene Meyers of the Billings Gazette noted, "While the cavernous Metra demands highly amplified sound setups, the group's blend didn't disappoint the young to middle-aged crowd. For the kids it was a pop-concert of current music. For those past-25, it was a pleasant nostalgic indulgence back to the days of Do You Wanna Dance and Good Vibrations when we swooned, sighed and harmonized to In My Room and Barbara Ann. While perhaps not so delicately mellow as they once were...the group had the audience on its feet and rocking with the California Girls opener and the following Sloop John B. ...Though presented in a whittled down version, Little Deuce Coupe was especially well-done and Surfin USA had the teenagers dancing on the floor."
Friday November 7, 1980
La Crosse Center, La Crosse, WI (8:00 PM Show)
All six Beach Boys were present, along with Ed Carter, Bobby Figueroa and Mike Meros, for the first of several November dates. 7000 people turned out in La Crosse, where the Beach Boys had last appeared in 1964. Geri Parlin, of the La Crosse Tribune, raved, "Each golden oldie brought cheers, clapping, stomping feet and a frenzy of singing voices joining in."
Saturday November 8, 1980
Centennial Hall, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH-with the Barooga Bandits (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys appeared at the University of Toledo for the second year in a row and played before 9,000 fans. Richard Paton, of the Toledo Blade, expressed disappointment that they played nothing from Keeping the Summer Alive but admitted “The list of hits they played was impressive- 'Sloop John B,' 'Little Deuce Coupe,' 'Help Me Rhonda,' 'God Only Knows,' 'Be True To Your School,' 'I Get Around'- the memories kept flooding forth, with no hint that the band was interested in playing, or the audience in hearing, any new material. Brian Wilson the group's guiding light and creative base sat impassively at the piano, looking on as the songs he created ignited the audience.'
Thursday November 13, 1980
Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI-with Off Broadway (8:00 PM Show)
After a four-day break, the BBs returned to the midwest for three more concerts. Genie Campbell of the Wisconsin State Journal noted that the BBs only had to show up and sing an oldie for the crowd to go crazy: "The fans demanded a long playing evening of 'I Get Around, Round, Round, I Get Around' and they got it. Opening appropriately with California Girls followed by Sloop John B, the Beach Boys threw out a nostalgia trip dominated by their golden hits of the 1960s. Seldom did they deviate from their own material; when they did it was to attack another song of the same era -hail, hail Rock and Roll (School Days) and Long Tall Texan. Although a too energetic loud bass (both instrumental and vocal) often drowned out the lyrics to such favorites as Help Me Rhonda, Be True To Your School and Surfin USA, the audience hardly noticed....Interestingly, the last time the Beach Boys appeared at the Dane County Coliseum in July 1978 they spent almost the first half of the show showcasing recent material that was more than rock and roll. This time around, the Beach Boys knew exactly what to deliver. For them, it was undoubtedly an easier show."
Friday November 14, 1980
Hammons Center, SW Missouri State University, Springfield, MO-with Off Broadway (8:00 PM)
5,000 fans turned out for this show in Springfield, where the group played previously in 1977. Susan Lyle of the Southwest Standard reported, “From the beginning the Beach Boys established a rapport with their audience. Both were there to have a good time and both were in attendance to assure the other of attaining that goal. For nearly an hour, the music never stopped. It was as if someone were playing a live greatest hits album of the Beach Boys. The crowd, though they might not have always known the words or the titles, recognized every tune and responded accordingly. The encore was also typical of the Beach Boys crowd-pleasing ways. ‘Good Vibrations’ were felt throughout the student center as the nine member band held out for close to five minutes of ‘we want more’ before going back on stage.”
Saturday November 15, 1980
Lloyd Noble Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK-with Off Broadway (8:00 PM Show)
Diane Hust, of the Oklahoman, was struck by the degree to which the group had aged. She commented, "It's shocking to see a middle-aged Mike Love in a suit crooning about being true to your school, or the Wilson brothers with long hair and wooly beards. But the good vibrations still emanate from the band members, and a tight charged set had even the most inhibited in their seats doing the swim or the twist."
Friday December 12, 1980
Mini Dome, Idaho State University Pocatello, ID with the Professional Band (8:00 PM Show)
After a three week break, the Beach Boys flew to Hawaii, where they taped an appearance on The Mike Douglas Show. The band played a mini concert on the beach for the TV cameras on December 10 (two days after John Lennon was tragically killed). Appropriately they performed their 1963 classic “Hawaii” as well as “California Girls,” “School Days,” “I Get Around”, “Catch a Wave”, “Fun, Fun, Fun”, “Surfin’ USA” and “Help Me Rhonda”. The photo is from that appearance.
3,600 fans turned out for the Idaho show two days later. Jill Small, of the Idaho State Journal, declared the show "Far from boring, and it was made up entirely of old songs...Vocalist Mike Love, with the nasal tone identified with the Beach Boys, was as crazy as ever, stocking footed on the white-carpeted stage. Dennis Wilson played hard driving drums. Carl and Al sang and played guitar through the 20 Beach Boy hits and Brian Wilson accompanied on piano. The only shortcoming to develop in 20 years, except weaker voices, seems to be the missing high pitched, fill in vocals, the 'oo oo's,' I assume used to flow from Brian. They could vaguely be heard, but I wasn't sure if they were coming from the stage or the audience."
Saturday December 13, 1980
Beasley PAC, Washington State University, Pullman, WA (8:00 PM Show)
Sunday December 14, 1980
Hec Edmunson Pavilion, University of Washington, Seattle, WA-with Walter Egan (7:30 PM Show)
7000-fans turned out for the band's annual Seattle area appearance. Patrick MacDonald, of the Seattle Times, in previous reviews, had frequently castigated the band for going through the motions but surprisingly commented that at this show, “For the first time in years, they sang the songs as if they cared. The harmonies were worked out carefully and almost were as crisp and beautiful as the recorded versions. The music wasn’t all left to the backup band, although the three extra musicians (guitar, keyboards, percussion) helped a great deal in filling out the Beach Boys sound." The photo shows Brian being interviewed during the Beach Boys appearance on American Bandstand on December 6, 1980, which aired on December 27. On the show, they played no new music but mimed to a series of their early hits. Dennis, remained mercurial, and he allegedly stormed out rather than play a surf medley. Bobby Figueroa pretended to drum in his place, though they were just playing to their records.
Monday December 15, 1980
Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada-with Jerry Doucette (8:00 PM Show)
Close to 10,000 people turned out for this Vancouver show. The group rewarded them with 75-minutes of greatest hits. However, Tom Harrison of the Province was unimpressed. He noted, "On one hand, there is a stripped down, economically sensible stage presentation whose focus returns to the essential core of a band playing as a band again. The singing has improved immensely over the last couple of coliseum travesties, enhanced by a more suitable sound system that nonetheless was abused terribly. At least Bruce Johnston... was having fun and it was nice to hear Dennis's arch-primitive drumming again. On the other hand, it was Bruce Johnston who wrote the unforgivable, self-congratulatory I Write the Songs (and dedicated to John Lennon); there was an under-current of feeling that this tour is just another mealticket and Dennis fell off his stool during Good Vibrations, which was either an act of typical goofiness, a consequence of fatigue or maybe his own way of protesting the once vital Beach Boys, who've now become beached whales." The photo of Dennis was taken on New Year's Eve at the Forum.
Wednesday December 31, 1980
LA Forum, Inglewood, CA
1981 would be a milestone in the group’s career because it marked their twentieth year in the music business. To celebrate, the city of Los Angeles dedicated a star to the Beach Boys on Hollywood Boulevard on December 30. All the members were present for the afternoon ceremony with the exception of Dennis (though he was present for the concert). To mark the occasion, they played a sold out show on New Year’s Eve at the Forum. Al was dressed in one of his old striped shirts from the 60s and Bruce was convinced to put on his for the encore. They included some numbers they had not played in awhile including "Surfin," "Surfin' Safari," "409," "Shut Down," (with Mike on sax) and "Don't Worry Baby," (with Brian doing a passable but weak lead). For the encore (pictured), Jan and Dean joined them for performances of "Little Old Lady From Pasadena," and "Barbara Ann." The original Honeys (including Brian's ex-wife Marilyn) sang backup vocals for the encore as well. Following the show, the band and invited friends headed to the Berwin Entertainment Center for a private party, held at the bottom of a drained olympic size swimming pool.
