1966

Saturday, January 1, 1966

Coliseum, Seattle, WA-with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, the Yardbirds, the Beau Brummels, the Vegetables, Alexys and the Mojo Men (8:00 PM Show)

Friday January 7 to Sunday January 23, 1966

Japanese Tour

The Beach Boys embarked on their first tour of Japan.  They left California on January 5 and arrived in Tokyo on January 6, 1966. The group held a press conference that night in which they thanked the Japanese fans for supporting them and expressed their interest in seeing the country for the first time.  Carl’s best friend, Ron Swallow had been their roadie since the early days and had accompanied them on all their tours since 1964 but he decided to pursue other interests at this time and departed the Beach Boys organization. His assistant, the Wilson’s cousin Steve Korthof, now became the Beach Boys main confidante/equipment manager at this time. Thus, Korthof, Roy Hatfield and road manager Dick Duryea accompanied the band to Japan. The set list for the band’s opening concert consisted of: “Fun, Fun, Fun”, “Hawaii”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Surfer Girl”, “Little Honda”, “Papa Ooo-Mow-Mow”, “Monster Mash”, “Instrumental”, “Little Deuce Coupe”, “Barbara Ann”, “California Girls”, “I Get Around”, “Johnny B. Goode”, and “Do You Wanna Dance.”  The setlist did not vary much for the rest of the shows. For the tour a special book was prepared, with song lyrics translated into Japanese. Rather disingenuously, the tour program featured only photos of the band with Brian Wilson.  There were no photos of Bruce Johnston included in any of the publicity materials.  The dates were: January 7th, 1966: Shibuya Koukaido, Tokyo, Japan, January 8, 1966: Nagoya-shi Koukaido, Nagoya, Japan, January 9, 1966: Osaka Sankei Hall, Osaka, Japan, January 10, 1966: Kyoto Kaikan Hall, Kyoto, Japan, January 12, 1966: Kobe Kokusai Kaikan, Kobe, Japan, January 13, 1966: Osaka Sankei Hall, Osaka, Japan, January 14, 1966: Fukuoka Kyuden Taikukan, Fukuoka, Japan, January 15, 1966: Otemachi Sankei Hall, Tokyo, Japan, January 16, 1966: Shinjuku Kousei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan, January 18, 1966: Miyagi Kenmin Kaikan, Sendai, Japan, January 20, 1966: Sumpu Kaikan, Shizuoka, Japan, January 21, 1966: Yokohama Bunka Taikukan, Yokohama, Japan, January 22, 1966: Shinjuku Kousei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan, January 23, 1966: Ota Taikukan, Tokyo, Japan (Day) and Shinjuku Kousei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan (night)

Saturday January 29, 1966

HIC Arena, Honolulu, HI-with Jackie Lee, Lou Christie, the Mop Tops, the Undertakers, Frankie Samuels and the Kinfolk (8:30 PM Show)

Following their Japanese tour, the group split up for five days of relaxation.  Carl, Al and Dennis headed to Hawaii, where they vacationed with Dino Martin and Billy Hinsche. Dennis’s friend from high school, Jon Parks joined the gang in Hawaii and later recalled, “Dennis and I used to ride our dirt bikes all through Beverly Hills with them. Dino took us to an area in Beverly Hills that was being graded for a golf course that Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and their group was making. Great place for our dirt bikes but then they canceled construction.”

Bruce, Mike and Dick Duryea spent time in Hong Kong.  During their stay in the city they went to see a Searchers concert. Bruce told a reporter, “When we walked into the club the announcer recognized us and we had to stand up and take a bow.”  To appease the media, they held a press conference at the Mandarin Hotel on January 25.  Mike and Bruce told a reporter from the China Mail that they loved Hong Kong and hoped to play there one day.   Duryea noted that in less than a month they “had passed through three new years and boy that was something.  We had an American style New Year in the United States, then a Japanese style one in Tokyo. In Hong Kong, we had the tail-end of the Chinese New Year and we liked it.” The Beach Boys regathered in Hawaii for a one-off concert.  Desi Arnaz Jr. was on vacation with his family and joined Dino and Billy for a guest spot during this show.  Following the concert the Beach Boys flew to the States to begin intensive work on Pet Sounds, which Brian had been working on in their absence.

Thursday February 17, 1966

Masonic Temple Auditorium, Davenport, IA-with the T Bones and the Sheep (8:00 PM Show)

While the Beach Boys were touring in Japan, Brian had been hard at work on what many people consider his masterpiece, Pet Sounds.  The record was the result of over five months of planning by Brian, who wrote and arranged all the songs in collaboration with Tony Asher, an advertising executive.  Brian chose to work with Asher rather than frequent collaborator Mike Love because as he explained at the time, “I felt I needed a fresh approach.”  The move was symbolic of Brian’s restless desire to leave behind the type of songs the group had become famous for and towards a new kind of sound.   Brian had been heavily influenced by the Beatles fall 1965 release Rubber Soul.  Brian was struck by the unity of mood conveyed by the record.  Rather than just a collection of songs, the Beatles LP made an artistic statement as a whole.  Songs flowed from one to the next more organically. Brian vowed to make an album like that with the Beach Boys in which each track had a unique vibe and the entire record came together as a concept. Brian used French horns, piccolo trumpets and other non-“rock ‘n’ roll” instruments on Pet Sounds.  On “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” alone, Brian used strings, kettle- drums, accordions and a banjo. Brian was determined to give each track a particular sound and mood all its own. He was particularly pleased with the instrumental track “Let’s Go Away For Awhile.” He told Pete Goodman of Beat Instrumental, “For me it’s the most satisfying piece of music that has yet been released.  I think the chordal changes are very special.  I applied a certain secret set of dynamics through the arrangement.  I believe honestly that the result is exactly what the song says.”

While Brian continued work on the LP, Jack Lloyd, working on behalf of promoter Irving Granz, accompanied the Beach Boys on this short tour.  The group easily sold out the 2,700-seat Masonic Auditorium.  Rita Mueller of the Times-Democrat reported, “The girls went wild when Alan Jardine sang ‘Then I Kissed Her’ and the girls were jumping to their feet when Dennis Wilson sang ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.’…The whole show was gaining momentum, the tempo was wild and the crowd was with it as they went into ‘California Girls’, ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and finally what everyone was waiting for number one on the pop charts, ‘Barbara Ann.’ It is a wild sight to watch over 2,000 people swaying, clapping and cheering all at the same time.”  Police were on hand to insure order after the final number “Do You Wanna Dance” finished and they seemed to have things under control until Dennis opened the curtain again and tossed a drumstick into the crowd.  A small riot broke out as teenagers scrambled to capture the valuable souvenir.

Friday February 18, 1966

KRNT Theater, Des Moines, IA-with the T Bones and the Sheep (8:30 PM Show)

The Des Moines Tribune reported that the BBs created pandemonium in Des Moines: “The KRNT Theater was packed for the Beach Boys performance and 18 policemen were on hand to keep the peace-and the aisles clear.  In fact, the instant the Beach Boys finished performing, the theater’s heavy asbestos fire curtain was lowered to make sure no one tried to reach them with a mad dash to the stage.  Then the singers were whisked through a seldom used side door where a station wagon awaited them.”

Sunday February 20, 1966

Tulsa Assembly Center, Tulsa, OK-with the T-Bones and the Sheep (7:30 PM Show)

The photo is an outtake from the photo-session for the Pet Sounds cover, which were taken ten days earlier (on February 10) in San Diego.

Friday March 4, 1966

State University of Oregon, Corvallis, OR-with Noel Harrison, the Heirs and the Critters (8:00 PM Show)

In the midst of finishing work on Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys flew to Oregon for a short college tour.  In addition to Lynda Jardine, William Morris agent Pete Goldman, road manager Richard Duryea and Roy Hatfield, the group were accompanied by Los Angeles Times reporter Art Seidenbaum who was gathering material for a three-part profile of the band.  He reported that the group flew from Los Angeles to Portland and then rented cars for the drive to Corvallis.  This led to an amusing incident. Dennis started to get behind the wheel of one of the cars and was stopped by manager Dick Duryea, who insisted that the “speed demon” hand the wheel over to someone else.

Saturday March 5, 1966

McArthur Court, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR-with Noel Harrison, the Heirs and the Critters (8:00 PM Show)

Although held at the University, this general admission show attracted many younger fans and a riot broke out.  As the group headed backstage, they encountered a mob waiting in the corridor.  Seidenbaum reported, “Little girls hurled themselves at police lines as if they were rabid dogs…Outside the dressing room kids began throwing stones at the windows…Inside more than 300 young people-most of them high school age-surged, thrashed, kicked, no longer human.  The Beach Boys cringed and changed in the dressing room, staying clear of the windows.  ‘Now you know what it’s like to be a sandwich,’ yelled one.  ‘This is still mild,’ mumbled another.”  Mike laughed it off, telling a University reporter “This is the first college where we got mobbed…we love it…I’ll bet the college kids were amazed though.”

Sunday March 6, 1966

Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, OR-with Noel Harrison, the Heirs and the Critters (3:00 PM Show)

The band spent most of their free time apart on this tour.  Mike preferred to hang out with manager Duryea, while Al spent most of his time offstage skiing with his wife Lynda.  Dennis, described by Seidenbaum as “the farthest out and furthest in Beach Boy,” spent most of his time at the hotel playing gin rummy with the crew.  Carl, though only 19, struck Seidenbaum as the most mature, already earning the reputation he would hold in the years to come “as the anchor on road trips around which the others can rally.” The photo was taken three days later at a photo shoot with Brian at Pacific Ocean Park

Friday March 11, 1966

Public Music Hall, Cleveland, OH-with Mickey and the Cleancuts, Noel Harrison and the Lovin’ Spoonful (8:30 PM Show)

The BBs, accompanied by Dick Duryea, Roy Hatfield and Steve Korthof, opened another tour with the Lovin’ Spoonful, who had a hit with Daydream, Rex Harrison’s son Noel, who had a record on the charts with A Young Girl, and Mickey and the Cleancuts, who had a local hit with Soapy.  This was the first Beach Boys show in Cleveland since November 1964.  Ironically, the town that later became the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had banned rock concerts after some violent incidents.  Cleveland Press teen reporter Judy Prusnek noted that the group “played to a rather subdued capacity teen-aged audience of madras, long hair and flashbulbs.” Prusnek managed to get a backstage interview with a visibly exhausted Dennis Wilson, who apologized for his sleepiness but told her frankly, “When you stand on your feet for 10 hours and holler, then hop a plane to the next show, you’re beat.  But we’ve grown dependent on those screams out there…that’s why we keep going.”

Saturday March 12, 1966

Memorial Hall, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA-with Noel Harrison and the Lovin’ Spoonful (8:15 PM Show)

Aaron Boxer of the Muhlenberg Weekly was clearly not a fan and savaged the sound system and the band, accusing them of performing badly “a collection of songs that made them famous all over California (until California found out they weren’t so cool and shuffled them over to the east).”  The hostile review led one fan to write in to the paper and declare that the group’s “performance on Saturday, after the speakers were moderated a bit, was nothing but entertaining listening for any persons who cared enough to attend.”

Sunday March 13, 1966

Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh- with Noel Harrison, the Lovin’ Spoonful, Harold Betters Quartet and the Fenways (7:30 PM Show)

Tuesday March 15, 1966

Civic Theater, Akron, OH-with Noel Harrison and the Lovin Spoonful (7:30 PM Show)

Ohio fan Joe LaRose attended this show and notes: “I was at the concert, and one detail I remember was that in the middle of the Beach Boys’ set there was some kind of argument and Dennis Wilson threw down his drumsticks and walked off stage.  After a few awkward moments, Mike Love went to the microphone and said “Dennis had to go to the bathroom.” (Which in retrospect was a pretty funny thing to say!). After several minutes Dennis came back on and the concert resumed. Also in attendance was a young Chrissie Hynde (who grew up in Akron), which I know because she mentioned in an interview seeing Dennis Wilson throw down his sticks and walking off stage.)

Wednesday March 16, 1966

Memorial Auditorium, Canton, Ohio-with Noel Harrison and the Lovin’ Spoonful (7:30 PM Show)

A fan complained to the local newspaper that the Beach Boys “were great but the audience was dead. We wanted to clap our hands and scream a little to show the Beach Boys that we really did like them a lot but we didn’t do anything because the police would have been on our backs.” The photo shows Carl talking backstage with Joe Butler of the Lovin’ Spoonful and was probably taken on March 18 at Fordham.

Thursday March 17, 1966

Field House, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH-with Noel Harrison and the Lovin’ Spoonful (8:00 PM Show)

Friday March 18, 1966

Fordham College, Bronx, NY- with Noel Harrison, the Lovin’ Spoonful and the Uncalled For Three (Two Shows at 7:00 and 10:00 PM)

The group’s first college concerts in New York were sellouts.  The opening comedy act, the Uncalled For Three, were added to the bill by the William Morris Agency, but their racy performance upset the Fordham administration and they did not perform at the second show.  The trio was to have a long association with the group.  They soon changed their name to the Pickle Brothers and were briefly signed to Brother Records, with Mike even producing a single for them.  They appeared as a support act with the group at many shows.

Thursday March 31, 1966

Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX-with the Gospel Folk and D.D. and B (8:00 PM Show)

Friday April 1, 1966

Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, TX-with the Lovin’ Spoonful and Chad and Jeremy (8:30 PM Show)

Saturday April 2, 1966

Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, TX-with the Lovin’ Spoonful, Chad and Jeremy and the Elite

The UK duo Chad and Jeremy, who had hits with “Willow Weep For Me” and “Before and After,” opened for the Beach Boys.  Their guitarist was a young musician named James William Guercio.  He later recalled that his friendship with Dennis Wilson developed at this time.   Guercio would become involved in the management of the group in the mid 1970s.

Sunday April 3, 1966

Music Hall, Houston, TX- with the Lovin’ Spoonful, Chad and Jeremy and Neil Ford and the Fanatics (Two Shows at 6:00 and 9:30 PM)

The Beach Boys, dressed in white jeans and black and white striped shirts, performed two sold-out shows in Houston.  Donna Jean Hobdy of The Houston Chronicle noted, “The Beach Boys, minus founder Brian Wilson, cracked the apparently calloused eardrums of a Music Hall full of teenagers (and a few exceptions) twice Sunday with their own special brand of guitar-throbbing and drum-pounding. Most of the frenzied audience was screaming so loudly and frequently, it couldn’t possibly have noticed the group was singing as well…They had all worked up a big sweat by the second verse of Surfin USA, particularly drummer Dennis. By the time they reached the closing Ba-Ba, Barbara Ann, so had the audience.” The photo shows Dennis talking backstage with Joe Butler of the Lovin’ Spoonful and was probably taken on March 18 at Fordham.

Monday April 4, 1966

Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX-with Chad and Jeremy and the Lovin’ Spoonful (7:30 PM Show)

Tuesday April 5, 1966

Palmer Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX-with the Lovin’ Spoonful and Chad and Jeremy (7:30 PM Show)

Wednesday April 6, 1966

Ellis Auditorium, Memphis, TN-with the Lovin’ Spoonful and Chad and Jeremy (8:00 PM Show)

A huge crowd of over 6,300 turned out for the Beach Boys second Memphis show

Thursday April 7, 1966

Civic Auditorium, Jacksonville, FL-with Chad and Jeremy and the Lovin’ Spoonful (Two Shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

The Beach Boys returned to Jacksonville for the second time.  Ann Hyman of the Florida Times Union noted, “The audience went wild with their welcome and the little lightbulbs popped, so many of them and so fast that it was as blinding as a summer storm…The kids were well primed to hear what they sang because they have heard the songs over and over and they love them…’Wish they all could be California girls,’ the Boys sang in that particular way they have that separates them from hundreds of other groups and makes them big and the others obscure.  The longer they sang, the louder the audience yelled, as if by appreciating them enough they could keep them singing forever. They couldn’t keep them singing forever…So the Beach Boys finished the last song and the kids yelled for more but there wasn’t time enough for more of the music and so the kids yelled because they had loved it all. Then it happened. A girl in the front row…leapt out of her seat and scrambled up across the stage and threw her arms around a Beach Boy.  There she was, all this yelling and applauding and all the flashbulbs exploding and for this one glorious moment she had her arms around a Beach Boy.  Then one of the watchful, wooden-faced policemen stepped over and pulled her away from him and that was it….But that glorious instant of contact with the neat, damp, blue striped shirt is hers forever.”

Friday April 8, 1966

Bayfront Center Arena, St Petersburg, FL-with Chad and Jeremy and the Lovin’ Spoonful (8:00 PM Show)       

Over 7, 554 fans turned out for this show, which grossed about $20,000.  The Beach Boys received forty percent of the gross, after taxes.  Fred Wright of the Evening Independent noted, “There was good harmony between instruments and voices with a steady beat and synchronized timing.  They were the hit of the night, though their stage patter and off-color jokes brought laughs from only about one-third of the audience.”

Saturday April 9, 1966

Convention Hall, Miami, FL-with the Lovin’ Spoonful, the Bird-watchers, the Morlocks, and the Dedd (8:30 PM Show)

Despite heavy rain, a full house turned out for this concert sponsored by WQAM.  Junior high student Sharon Trainor reported for the Miami News that “Mike Love was a riot.  Dennis sang two songs.  And Bruce Johnston, who has taken Brian Wilson’s place, sang one song.”

Thursday April 28, 1966

Duke University, Durham, NC (7:00 PM Show)

By the time of this tour, the Beach Boys had completed work on their next album. Pet Sounds was a very personal statement by Brian.  Although Tony Asher wrote many of the lyrics, they were the result of many hours of conversation with Brian and reflected his deep feelings and beliefs.  The brilliant ballad “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” seemed in retrospect an eerie portrait of the problems Brian would face in dealing with his family and obligations, while the heartbreaking album closer “Caroline, No” was tinged with a very real sense of regret.   For many fans, the standout track was “God Only Knows” an absolutely breathtaking ballad with an otherworldly vocal by Carl Wilson, who was finally emerging from his big brother’s shadow and displaying the vocal chops that would make him the envy of many musicians.  When the LP was completed, Brian declared proudly, “It’s the first time that we’ve ever had an album that was completely produced throughout; what I mean is, every cut on it has been treated like a single.” Brian always remained proud of Pet Sounds.  In 1970 he stated “I think we brought a new bag to the Beach Boys with Pet Sounds.  In fact we brought a new synthesis bag to the industry.  I believe it brought a little more thought and care into the album process.  It’s by far our best album.”  The LP was slated to be released in mid-May (DJs began receiving advance copies during this tour).  In the meantime, Beach Boys again hit the road accompanied by Dick Duryea, Roy Hatfield and Steve Korthof.  At this show, they were a replacement for the Motown act the Supremes, who had backed out of the engagement at the last minute.  8,000 people attended this show

Friday April 29, 1966

Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY-with the Lost and the Uncalled For Three

The group’s first appearance at Cornell was marred by the poor sound system.  Indeed, the microphones continually cut out throughout the show.  According to the Daily Sun, “It did give Mike a chance to be gross, knowing the audience couldn’t hear or realize the change in lyrics to ‘I Get Around.’…The song ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,’ borrowed directly from the Beatles without any change in style, made Dennis Wilson standing upfront with his tambourine sound very much like P.J. Proby without the gyrations or the splitting pants.”  The photo was taken by a fan but the show is unknown

Saturday April 30, 1966

Roberts Hall, Boston College, Boston, MA-with The Lost and the Uncalled For Three (4:00 PM Show) and Crane’s Beach, Ipswich, MA-with Bob Newhart, Carolyn Hester, The Brandywine Singers, Noel Harrison, the Lost, the Original Sinners, the Reveliers and the Uncalled For Three

The Beach Boys scheduled two concerts on the same day.  The Crane’s Beach show was part of the spring weekend festivities for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T). The group raced from their afternoon show at Boston College but their driver got lost. They arrived very late and were only onstage for twenty minutes before the show had to be halted due to curfew.  The Beach Boys graciously agreed to play a makeup show for fans, which was hastily scheduled for May 6.

Sunday May 1, 1966

Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Worcester, MA-with the Lost (3:00 PM Show)

Only 1,200 fans showed up at this show, causing anguish for the promoters, who blamed the poor turnout on poor scheduling (a Gene Pitney show had just come through town and Peter and Gordon were playing soon-so fans may have been short of cash and unable to attend).  There was talk of cancelation and the show only went on, an hour late, after last minute negotiations between Richard Duryea and the promoter.  Reporter Jack Tubert of the Worcester Telegram captured the backstage scene: “Dennis the drummer sat in a rehearsal hall toying with the keys of a piano.  Carl sat with a girl and his electric guitar.  Al Jardine, the married one, sat in a corner fiddling with his guitar, ignoring hellos.  Love moped about, looking like Gauguin with ears, behind his full red beard.  Brian was not present, although the youngsters who paid to get in did not know the ‘Chairman of the Board’ was not to appear.”  The photo is from an unknown 1966 show.

Monday May 2, 1966

Mayser Gym, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA-with the Lost and the Uncalled For Three (8:00 PM Show)

According to a student who attended this show, the Beach Boys had a clause in their contract requiring the school to have televisions set up so that the group could take a break during the concert to catch their appearance on the Andy Williams Show, which aired on this night (It had been filmed the previous October).

Tuesday May 3, 1966

Rider University, Lawrence Township, NJ-with the Lost and the Uncalled for Three

This gig was not known to me when I wrote my book.

Steve Gabarick of the Rider News was unimpressed by the Beach Boys, who he accused of putting on a “mediocre” show.  He noted that, “Their current hit ‘The Sloop John B’ and ‘Caroline No’ were poorly done. Mike Love apologized for the songs, saying the group hasn’t done them often. Part of the blame for the unsatisfying evening rests with the inadequate public address system, which failed to carry either musical group’s voices well.  But the larger share of the blame belongs to the Beach Boys, whose flat notes, wrong chords and childish clowning provided the night’s largest disappointment.”

Wednesday May 4, 1966

Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, PA (Canceled)

The Beach Boys traveled to Scranton for this concert, but never actually played.  Instead, they remained ensconced at their hotel.  Road manager Dick Duryea explained to Variety that the promoter had promised to supply twenty police officers, but that only five were at the venue when he went to check.  “We simply could not let the boys go on stage without proper policing.”  The promoter was understandably furious and later sued the group and their management.

Thursday May 5, 1966

Bushnell Memorial, Hartford, CT-with the Lost and the Barry Goldberg Blues Band (8:15 PM Show)

Following this show, a radio DJ interviewed the Beach Boys about their new album Pet Sounds, which had been released while they were on tour. A decent tape of this interview makes the rounds.

Friday May 6th, 1966

Rockwell Cage, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA-with The Lost (4:00 PM Show) and Four Seasons Arena, Walpole, MA-with The Lost and the Barry Goldberg Blues Band

The M.I.T concert was a makeup show for fans that had to leave early during the group’s April 30 appearance at Crane’s Beach.  Following the afternoon concert, the Beach Boys headed to Walpole for another show that night.  The photo was taken on March 9, 1966 in Pacific Ocean Park.

Saturday May 7, 1966

Providence College, Providence, RI-with the Lost and the Uncalled For Three (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys performance at this College was marred by problems with the sound system.  Rock and Roll concerts were a new world for academic institutions and required better P.A. Systems and microphones than they were used to.  Most of these shows were played in gyms and auditoriums with bad acoustics.  College newspaper reviewers into the 1970s frequently mentioned sound system problems.

Sunday May 8, 1966

Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY-with the Lost, the Uncalled For Three and the Belvederes (2 PM Show)

Almost 4,000 people attended this outdoor show.  According to The Vignette, “The Beach Boys set up quickly and went right into their first song, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’ The audience was lively as they went through twenty songs.  These included such Beach Boys hits as ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and ‘Surfin’’; songs made popular by other groups (‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’) and comedy (‘What a Day for a Rainstorm’).”  The last song was a riff on the Lovin’ Spoonful’s song “Daydream.”

Monday May 9, 1966

Carpenter Fieldhouse, University of Delaware, Newark, DE-with The Lost and the Uncalled for Three (8:30 PM)

The Beach Boys’ second appearance in Delaware proved to be stressful.  Following performances by the two opening acts, a half hour delay followed. When the group took the stage, the reason for this delay became apparent.  The University Review noted, “Dennis Wilson, immediately upon reaching the stage, stooped over, obviously being sick, and had to make a quick retreat to the men’s locker room. It was later found out that he had the flu and was taken to a local doctor during the performance.” With Dennis incapacitated, Lee Mason of The Lost was drafted to serve as his replacement-drummer but this proved problematic, as he had not rehearsed with the group at all.

The Review noted, “After a slow start with ‘Little Honda’ and ‘Surfer Girl’ it appeared obvious that the group missed their drummer when Bruce Johnston, the bass player, slipped when he answered the audience cries of ‘we want Denny Wilson’ with a candid ‘so do we!’  Although it was apparent that there was a lot of shuffling around and stalling for time, the group in general seemed to come on stronger as they went along. Some of the highlights from their numerous hit recordings, which they presented were: ‘Sloop John B,’ a current top-seller, ‘Rhonda,’ ‘I Get Around,’ ‘Barbara Ann,’ and ‘Hawaii.’

Tuesday May 10, 1966

Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN-with the Chieftones

In my book I suggested that the Beach Boys first appearance at Notre Dame was in 1971 but this was actually their first campus appearance.

Wednesday May 11, 1966

Ball State University, Muncie, IN-with the Caravans, the Chieftones and the Sir Douglas Quintet (8:00 PM Show)

The group performed in the round at the Men’s Gym at Ball State.  Bonnie Williams of the Muncie Evening Pressreported, “Mike Love proved to be a capable, likable emcee, with a sense of humor…The performance was interspersed with laughter: Dennis complained of having a dry throat, so he was brought a soothing drink, and once, when they were unable to get the speakers to work, their ‘sound man’ came on stage to discover that the speakers were only unplugged.”

Thursday May 12, 1966

Lansing Civic Center, Lansing, MI-with Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Over 5,000 teenagers turned out for the group’s first appearance in Lansing. Mary Perpich of the State Journal reported that “pandemonium” reined.

Friday May 13, 1966

Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN-with the Chieftones and the Sir Douglas Quintet 

The Beach Boys returned to Fort Wayne, where they had played in 1964.  Dell Ford of The Journal Gazette complained that the show was somewhat dull compared to the "Where the Action Is" revue that had passed through the town two weeks before. He noted that, "The kids at the Beach Boys show sat passively (almost) through the first half, which starred the Chieftones and Sir Douglas, and one almost began to wonder if some sort of miracle had taken place in two weeks time.  They, meaning mainly the girls, let out a whoop now and then but the Coliseum seemed almost too quiet. Then came the second half and the BBs themselves and suddenly you knew the miracle remains somewhere in the great beyond. They, meaning mainly the girls, screamed...I believe the Beach Boys sang 'Lady From Pasadena,' 'Surfin USA,' 'Surfer Girl,' 'Hide Your Love Away,' and 'Then I Kissed Her,' to name a few."

Saturday May 14, 1966

Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI-with the Chieftones and the Sir Douglas Quintet (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys performed in gray and white striped shirts before an audience of 5,000 teenagers.  According to Peggy Murrell’s of the Milwaukee Journal, “The Boys put their young audience in a receptive mood with several of their more recent hits-‘Sloop John B,’ ‘Barbara Ann’ and ‘California Girls.’ Brian Wilson, the group’s original bass guitarist, was not present…His replacement was Bruce Johnston, an impishly handsome redhead, whom Love presented to the audience about midway through the performance. They then proceeded to provoke a bit of pandemonium with a series of old favorites such as ‘Fun, Fun, Fun,’ ‘Surfin’ USA,’ ‘Little Old Lady from Pasadena,’ and ‘Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow.’ ‘I Get Around,’ and ‘Do You Wanna Dance’ concluded the performance and got the biggest ovations.” The photo shows the BBs with opening act the Chieftones and may have been taken at this show.

Tuesday June 7, 1966

Greenville Memorial Coliseum, Greenville, SC-with the Nomads and Harry Deal and the Galaxies (8:00 PM Show)

The Greenville News reviewer criticized the group’s performance. They noted, “They just didn’t communicate.  They didn’t look at the audience like most singers popular with teens do. They just looked down at the floor or up at the ceiling, never out at us.” They also commented, “The song that brought the biggest response was Dennis Wilson’s solo ‘Do You Wanna a Dance.’”

Wednesday June 8, 1966

Civic Coliseum, Knoxville-with the Plesbians, the Krustations, the Echoes and King Kent (8:00 PM show)

5000-fans attended this show.  The Beach Boys were late in arriving and a forty-five- minute break took place between the performance of the last opening act and the group’s performance.  Frank Weirich of the Knoxville Sentinel noted, “The Beach Boys played most of their top tunes, including ‘Help Me Rhonda,’ ‘Go Granny Go’ (Clearly Little Old Lady From Pasadena), and ‘Barbara Ann’ but drummer Denny Wilson stole the show when he tossed his errant mike from the drum stand down onto the stage.” The reviewer was not a rock music fan and even predicted that “rock and roll was on the way out”.

Friday June 10, 1966

Sound Blast 66, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY- with Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, the McCoys, the Cowsills, Jerry Butler, the Guess Who, the Byrds and the Marvelettes (7:30 PM Show)

Although Yankee Stadium had a concert seating capacity of 75,000 people, only 9,000 attended this show due to heavy rain. Joe Cohen of Variety theorized that teens might also have been saving their money for the upcoming Beatles show at Shea Stadium. Richard Goldstein of The Village Voice noted that the Beach Boys emerged from the pitcher’s bullpen in an armored van because they feared a riot might break out but “the anticipated riot of screaming fans never materialized, because the truck seemed miles away from the nearest female groupie and males were distracted by the (go-go) dancers…But all went well-and dull-as the group careened through Surfer Girl, California Girls and Sloop John B.  they finished with Barbara Ann, waved goodbye in the general direction of the floodlights and climbed into the armored van to be whisked away.”

Saturday June 11, 1966

New Haven Arena, CT (8:30 PM Show)

Friday June 24, 1966

“Summer Spectacular” at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA-with the Lovin’ Spoonful, Chad and Jeremy, Percy Sledge, the Outsiders, the Leaves, the Sir Douglas Quintet, the Sunrays, Neil Diamond, the Byrds and the Jefferson Airplane (8:00 PM Show)

Irving Granz and his assistant Jack Lloyd produced this event attended by 15,000 fans.  According to Lloyd, Murry Wilson was in attendance to support his new protégés the Sunrays and begged Lloyd to give the band a prime spot on the bill.  Lloyd informed him that he would have to go and ask the Beach Boys, who apparently consented.  According to the Oakland Tribune, “The combination of screams and over amplified guitars” made it impossible to hear much of the performers.

Saturday June 25, 1966

“Summer Spectacular,” Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA- with Love, Percy Sledge, Captain Beefheart, the Outsiders, Neil Diamond, the Leaves, Chad and Jeremy, the Byrds, the Lovin’ Spoonful and the New Motown Sound.

Irving Granz produced this concert.  He paid $9,000 to rent the venue and charged an average of $4.00 for each of the roughly 17,000 seats, grossing about $68,000 in ticket sales.  Of this then princely sum, the Beach Boys only received $4,000, while a number of the other acts made less than $1000.  Although Brian had played with the group at the Bowl the previous year, he did not come out of retirement for this appearance.  However, he attended the show and was photographed backstage for KRLA Beat.  It was probably just as well that he didn’t play, since according to Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times, “the vocals were completely lost in a distorted blah of rhythm guitars and percussion.”

Friday July 1, 1966

Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV-with the Association and the Sir Douglas Quintet (8:30 PM Show)

Saturday July 2, 1966

County Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA- with the Association and the Sir Douglas Quintet (8:30 PM Show)

Sunday July 3, 1966

Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, CA-with the Association and the Sir Douglas Quintet (8:15 PM Show)

The set list for this concert included “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Shutdown,” “Surfin’ USA,” “California Girls,” “Papa–Oom-Mow-Mow,” and “Little Old Lady from Pasadena.”  According to Spencer Mastick of The Fresno Bee, Dennis stole the show as far as the fans were concerned.  “’Surfer Girl’ was allowed to be heard with a dreamy beat and warm, quiet harmonies, until drummer Dennis Wilson began a solo.  At this point, the screaming was about as loud as human ears can stand.  Dennis again turned on the crowd again with ‘Do You Wanna Dance?’ ‘Papa-Ooom-Mow-Mow’ was thumping good rhythmically but seemed rather meaningless musically… The program included another Dennis solo in the glare of the blue spotlight and flashbulbs.  The closing tune was ‘Hide Your Love Away,’ an old Beatles song.”

Monday July 4, 1966

Community Concourse Arena, San Diego, CA-with the Association and the Sir Douglas Quintet (8:00 PM Show)

Steve Vivona of the San Diego Evening Tribune criticized the group for their conservative set list.  Despite the fact that Pet Sounds had been released months earlier, they only played one song (“Sloop John B”) from it.  Vivona noted, “Instead it was a rehash of their ‘golden goodies’-‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ ‘Hawaii,’ ‘Barbara Ann,’ and a half a dozen others, all performed in a listless manner…The main ingredient lacking in the quintet is an attitude of professionalism; no matter how successful, they need to prove themselves again and again to back up the high demands of their salary.”

Saturday July 16 to Monday July 18, 1966

Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, IL-with the Chieftones and Yesterday’s Children (One show on Saturday at 8:30 PM and one show on Sunday and one show on Monday at 7:30 PM)

The Beach Boys again took to the road for the first leg of their summer tour, promoting Pet Sounds.  Dick Duryea and Roy Hatfield accompanied them, as well as Steve Korthof.  I am not sure exactly when Hatfield left their employ but this may have been his last tour with the group, as his name is not mentioned in any future reporting on the group.  Markie Benet of the Chicago Sun Times noted, "The Beach Boys, in red and white striped shirts with drums to match, played to an Arie Crown Theater full of pretty, blonde, teenagers. The leading purveyors of the smooth beat called surfing music, the Beach Boys blend of old hits and new contenders drew applause but few shrieks...But the Beach Boys are changing with the times too. Although they played such anachronisms as Sloop John B, a hangover from the days when folk music was first being popularized, their version of the Beatles 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' elicited audience participation in the chorus.  The Boys sharply creased white jeans were augmented with beards, caps and sandals but their gyrations remained sedate.  They have made an effort to divide attributes evenly among the group. Mike, the emcee, is the extrovert; Brian, who wasn't there, is the mastermind, and so on.  Denny is billed as what all drummers since Ringo Starr apparently want to be, the crowd delighting personality. His is the group's most mellifluous voice!"

Wednesday July 20, 1966

Willow Lake, Warren, OH-with the Rogues and Sherry and the Scepters

This show was discovered after the publication of my book The Beach Boys in Concert.

Thursday July 21, 1966

Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY-with the Lovin’ Spoonful, the Rogues and Stan and the Ravens (8:00 PM Show)

Virginia Dell of the Buffalo Courier reported, “The five rather appealing young men from California have their own style. It is a western style, with a surfing flavor and it’s based on a good, solid beat….Favorites such as ‘Barbara Ann,’ ‘California Girls,’ ‘Sloop John B,’ ‘Do You Wanna Dance,’ ‘I Get Around’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun,’ were enthusiastically greeted by 6,200 fans…And then there was the song that has become a by-word even to people who would be appalled if they realized it derived from rock, ‘The Little Old Lady From Pasadena.’ Percussion man Dennis Wilson sang a Beatles’ favorite, ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.’

Friday July 22, 1966

War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, NY-with Carmen and the Vikings and the Monterays (8:30 PM Show)

About 4,500 fans attended this show.  According to Peter Bell of the Syracuse Herald Journal, “Sparked by the constant mimicry of bearded and bereted Mike Love, the famous five were most impressive not for their songs, which sound as good on records, but for their stage professionalism and the heroic efforts of drummer Denny Wilson…With their seven guitars and Wilson in his own world…on the drums, the Beach Boys pounded an admiring audience with the staples (‘Little Old Lady From Pasadena,’  ‘California Girls,’ etc) and left them swinging in their seats.”

Saturday July 23, 1966

Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ-with Jessie Colin Young and the Youngbloods and the Loves (Two shows at 7:30 and 9:45 PM)

Linda Deutsch of the Asbury Park Press was more impressed by opening act Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods than by the Beach Boys.  She commented, “The disappointing thing was that they didn’t know how to put on a show.  For a group which has traveled around the world and been cutting hit records for almost five years, their act lacks any sign of polish or professionalism. They sang their hit songs, and the audience responded in a kind of stimulus-response pattern, squealing at the songs which they recognized…. The insulting part-insulting to that audience of nice kids who had paid to see them-was that the Beach Boys did not even try to entertain. They stood there singing; they never even attempted to speak to the audience or set up any rapport with them.”

Sunday July 24, 1966

Iona College, New Rochelle, NY-with Chain Reaction (8:30 PM)

A local group called Chain Reaction opened this show whose vocalist, Steven Tallarico, later changed his name to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame.  They’d won a “battle of the bands” contest allowing a local group the privilege of opening for the Beach Boys. The photo shows the Beach Boys backstage with “Miss American Teenager 1964” Barbara Heimann, a local girl who performed at the show.

Thursday July 28, 1966

Boys Club, Pittsfield, MA-with the Ruins (8:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys, dressed in red and white striped shirts and white jeans, took the stage at 9:50 PM, forty-five minutes after the local opening act the Ruins finished their set.  The delay was caused by technical difficulties with the equipment.  Pat Francis of the Berkshire Eagle commented that despite the delays the audience seemed to enjoy themselves though some were disappointed at the shortness of the Beach Boys’ set, which clocked in at a brisk 45 minutes.  Francis noted that the group played all their hits but that his own favorite song performed was “God Only Knows”, which the group announced that they were playing for the first time ever on stage.  “While the boys sang it, there wasn’t one sound in the auditorium.  In fact during most of the concert there wasn’t much noise.  Screams from the girls came mostly when Mike announced what song they would sing next…His between songs patter is enough to make you hope that the group members are all related, as the stories say, some of his jokes could only be buffeted between family.”

Friday July 29, 1966

Virginia Beach High School Stadium, Virginia Beach, VA-with the Wild Kingdom and Bill Deal and the Rhondels

6, 500 fans attended this concert experiencing a thirty-minute delay due to issues with the sound system which the Beach Boys were renting for $1000 a day.The Virginia Pilot reviewer noted that, “The Beach Boys, dressed on stage in white pants and red and white striped shirts, joked mercilessly at each other. Mike Love told the stadium audience, ‘We have a lot of fun murdering each other.’” The photo was taken at Asbury Park on July 23.

Saturday July 30, 1966

Atlantic City Convention Hall, Atlantic City, NJ-with the Youngbloods (9:00 PM show)

The photo of Dennis playing piano backstage was taken by Bill Yerkes that day.  Thomas Ooomen of the Press of Atlantic City noted, "Dressed in broad striped red and white shirts and white trousers, the Boys reflected the polish  and confidence of their success.…The sound the Beach Boys make is dominated by an insistent beat that punctuates with authority the melody of their songs…Possibly their best number of the evening was Sloop John B-but this is something that could be confirmed by the voice vote from the audience.  They were just as loud in their acclamation for Graduation Day-a song the Beach Boys dedicated to the nation’s high school dropouts.”

Tuesday August 9, 1966

Auditorium Arena, Denver, CO-with the Benze Cyrque, the Moonrakers, King Louie and the Laymen and the Astronauts

In Denver, the group performed before 6,000 fans.  For this tour, Mike was clean shaven for the last time until 1982. Despite an admitted aversion to pop music, Thomas MacCluskey of the Rocky Mountain News was won over by the group.  He reported, “The Beach Boys shone in their ballads, both musically and performance wise.  In nearly all their tunes the harmonic progressions are interesting.  Also their sound is unique among the rock groups due to their use of 4-part vocal harmony.” However, he complained that the Beach Boys “were somewhat unprofessional between tunes because of excessive tuning of and fiddling with their instruments.  Their spokesman, Mike Love, was quite unfunny.”

Wednesday August 10, 1966:

Civic Auditorium Arena, Omaha, NE-with the Rumbles

The group played a brief set of twelve songs for 6,856 people in Omaha.  Frank Merwald of the Omaha World Herald noted that they sang “for forty minutes to the delight of everyone there.  A few of their songs: ‘I Get Around,’ ‘Surfer Girl,’ ‘Little Honda,’ ‘California Girls,’ and ‘So Good To Me.’ They finished the concert with the audience pleasing ‘Barbara Ann.’ Screams of applause reached every corner of the City Auditorium.”

Thursday August 11, 1966

Memorial Auditorium, Fargo, ND-with the Uglies and the Little People (8:30 PM show)

Over 1, 500 fans turned up at Hector airport to greet the Beach Boys when they arrived in Fargo.  Later that night, they played for 4,500 fans.  The set list consisted of: “Do You Wanna Dance,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Surfer Girl,” “Surfin’ USA,” “God Only Knows,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Barbara Ann,” “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Sloop John B,” “You’re So Good To Me,” and “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.”

Friday August 12, 1966

Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL-with Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs (8:00 PM Show)

The group played to a huge audience of over 18,000 people.  Unfortunately, the Fair hired just six policemen to handle security and chaos reigned.  Much of the talk backstage was about the Beatles, who had started their last U.S. tour in Chicago on the same day.  Asked if they were jealous of the success of the Fab Four, Al commented, “Sure, we envy them. Why not? Everybody would like to be the biggest.  But I’m glad we’re not.  It will be different then because unfortunately I think we’re going to be as big as they are-at least in Europe and Asia-once we go on our tour in October.”   John Lennon was under pressure at the time due to his comments that “The Beatles were bigger than Jesus!” Asked about the controversy, Bruce called it “Unfortunate”, but Dennis roared “I thought it was stupid.  I heard about it and I laughed myself silly. We are going to get together with them soon. I like them.”

In fact, Mike and Bruce decided to visit the Beatles that night and booked a charter flight to Chicago, where the Beatles were staying.  They arrived at 1 AM and hightailed it to the Astor Hotel.  Bruce told Debby Hutson of the State Journal Register the next day, “They were ASLEEP when we got there!  They don’t know how to party at all.  It must have been the seventh day for them, all they wanted to do was rest.”  Nonetheless, the two BBs visited with the Fab Four until 8 AM and then dozed on the return flight to Springfield to join the rest of the group.

Saturday August 13, 1966

Duluth Arena, Duluth, MN

7,189 fans attended this show at the new Duluth Arena.  Jack Lloyd noted that after this concert he took the Beach Boys to eat at a restaurant with live music and a dance floor.  The musicians were just about to pack up their gear when Dennis, Bruce and Carl asked if they could jam a bit.  For the next hour or so, patrons at the eatery were treated to an impromptu show.

Sunday August 14, 1966

Fort William Gardens, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada-with the Bonnvilles and Bobby Kris & the Imperials (8:00 PM Show)

Although Thunder Bay promoters had tried to book the Beach Boys in 1965, this show marked the group’s first and only appearance in the area until the 1980s.  The 3,000 fans that attended were extremely enthusiastic.  The Finnish-language Canadan Uutiset reported, “When the Beach Boys stepped onto the stage they received a tremendous ovation.  The audience was excited and teenagers were screaming…when ‘Help Me Rhonda’ blasted, nobody would stay still.  The young audience were stomping their feet and clapping their hands to the rhythm of the music…The Beach Boys faces were gleaming and they looked like they enjoyed performing their songs that created such ecstasy.”

Prior to the show, Bruce spoke to a fan named Liisa, who worked for a local paper catering to the Finnish community in Thunder Bay.  Bruce asked her to “tell all the Finlanders best regards because we like the Finnish people.  We are planning to go to Finland next November to play a concert.”  When the Beach Boys were called onstage, Bruce graciously invited the reporter to visit his hotel room later that night and even did a follow up phone interview the next day, shortly before flying to Minot.  One amusing exchange came when the reporter asked Bruce to respond to John Lennon’s controversial comments that “the Beatles were bigger than Jesus.” Bruce answered, “The Beatles said it that way.  We say this…we are not as well known as even Moses.”

Monday August 15, 1966

Municipal Auditorium, Minot, ND-with Chad and Jeremy, the Sunrays and the Embermen Five (8:00 PM Show)

Tuesday August 16, 1966

Stampede Corral, Calgary, AB, Canada-with Chad and Jeremy and the Sunrays (8:15 PM Show)

Bill Miller of the Calgary Herald noted, “The Beach Boys 38-minute stint on stage featured a good balance of fast music, slow music, instrumental parts and vocals. From a slow-moving religious ‘God Only Knows’, the tempo shifted quickly to a rousing ‘Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow.’ The featured stars of the show, clad in neat, clean, striped shirts and tailored white pants were clearly a contrast with the slovenly appearance of other well-known rock and roll groups.”

Wednesday August 17, 1966

Memorial Arena, Victoria, BC, Canada-with Chad and Jeremy and the Sunrays

4,044 fans attended this show. Bob Donahue of the Victoria Daily Times called the group “difficult to appreciate because their sounds were largely unintelligible and their voices weak.”

Thursday August 18, 1966

Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, B.C., Canada-with Chad and Jeremy and the Sunrays (Two Shows at 6:00 and 8:30 PM)

The Beach Boys third appearance in Vancouver attracted a large "well-behaved" crowd. Teenager Jane Wolverton reviewed the show for The Province and noted, "A previously unreceptive audience responded to the Beach Boys with screams that continued sporadically to the end. Drummer Dennis Wilson displayed an outstanding talent at the drums but at times seemed to overpower the singers.  The Beach Boys attempts at humor were weak compared to the wit of Jeremy and Chad, who had the supporting slot...Loudest applause for the Beach Boys was for their recent hit, God Only Knows." Jack Lloyd recalled that this Vancouver date was memorable for him because, “the money from all the tour book sales was stolen from my briefcase, which I had placed in the manager’s office for safe keeping.”

Friday August 19, 1966

Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, WA-with Chad and Jeremy and the Sunrays (8:30 PM Show)

Saturday August 20, 1966

Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR-with the Tempests, the Live Five and the Tweedy Brothers

Dressed in red and white striped shirts, the Beach Boy played before 5,500 screaming fans.  Charlie Hannah of The Oregonian showed little interest in the proceedings but admitted, “yelps of delight came from the listeners on hearing the latest recorded hit ‘Surfer Girl’ plus other Beach Boys’ favorites.”

Friday and Saturday September 9 and 10, 1966

Lagoon, Farmington, UT (One show at 9:00 PM on Friday and one show at 7:00 PM on Saturday)

Thursday September 29, 1966

Tully Gym, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL (8:00 PM Show)

By this time, Brian was hard at work on the next Beach Boys album, which he titled Smile.  Although Brian liked Tony Asher’s lyrics, he wanted something more poetic for Smile.  He was determined to make an artistic statement and wanted the lyrics to match the music.  As Brian stated at the time, “Popular music…has to expand and has to gain more widespread respect as a result of someone making an art out of that kind of music.” He was aware that many people in the industry still didn’t take him seriously.  As writer Jules Siegel pointed out, “Among the hip people he was still on trial, and the question discussed earnestly among the recognized authorities on what is and what is not hip, was whether or not Brian Wilson was hip, semi-hip or square.” Brian understood what was at stake and was determined to show everyone in the industry that the Beach Boys were very definitely not square.  As his collaborator, he settled on one of the hippest figures in the Los Angeles music scene, Van Dyke Parks, a Southerner with a slightly eccentric sensibility who had written songs for Paul Revere and the Raiders and other acts.   By the late summer of 1966 the two were meeting at Brian’s house to compose songs at his piano, which he had placed in a sandbox, so that he could feel the sand under his feet and imagine he was at the beach.  They quickly wrote a number of tunes, including “Wonderful,” “Heroes and Villains,” and “Surfs Up.”   The songs that Brian and Van Dyke wrote were poetic, complex and unlike anything recorded by the Beach Boys before.  Brian believed that they would transform the pop music world.

Meanwhile, the Beach Boys performed before an estimated 4,000 people in Florida.  Prior to the show, the group gave an interview to Ronnie Stock of the Tallahassee Democrat.  Asked about the strain of touring, Dennis replied, “It gets tiring, but this is the first time we’ve ever come to Tallahassee… and we’re enjoying it.”  Responding to a comment from Bruce that teenagers needed a good education, Carl replied, “An education though…is not all received from books alone.  We have learned a lot working with hundreds of people throughout the years.  This kind of education, how to work with people, how to handle people-personal contact-has helped us learn a lot about people themselves.” Asked about the future, Bruce optimistically stated referring to Smile, “We have another album coming…it should be ready in December.”

Friday September 30, 1966

Alabama State Coliseum, Montgomery, AL-with Peter & Gordon, Lou Christie, The Happenings, The Hollies, Ian Whitcomb, The Count Five and The Rocking Gibralters (8:00 PM Show)

Saturday October 1, 1966

“WVOK Fall Shower of Stars” Municipal Auditorium, Birmingham, AL-with Peter & Gordon, Lou Christie, The Happenings, The Hollies, Ian Whitcomb and The Count Five (Three shows at 2:00, 6:00 and 9:00 PM)

Gene Butts of the Birmingham News reported that despite the impressive roster of stars, “it was the Beach Boys whom everyone had come to hear, and they obliged in high style with their repertoire of past and present hits. With this group the sound, not the song, is what really counts with their fans.  In a way it’s a pity.  Much of the words and music of their original compositions are very good.  Their fame, however, rests on their ‘Surfing sound’.”

]Following these shows, the Beach Boys flew to L.A. to begin vocal sessions for Smile.  They also took time out to tape a promo film for the soon to be released single “Good Vibrations.” Brian directed the clip, which depicted group members sleeping in a fire station and hastily waking, getting dressed, sliding down a pole and jumping in a fire truck.  In addition, they were seen harmonizing with a shirtless Brian on the street.  As, the Beach Boys flew to the Midwest to play concerts on October 21 and then headed on to Europe, the film was clearly shot at an earlier date in October.  The band also taped a TV appearance on the syndicated show Boss City, hosted by DJ Sam Riddle to premiere “Good Vibrations.”  It aired while the band was in Europe, but was taped at some point in mid-October.  The Turtles also appeared on the show.

Friday October 21, 1966

Jenison Field House, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI (8:00 PM Show)

In the midst of recording Pet Sounds, Brian had come up with a strange, new tune called “Good Vibrations.” Although he knew he was on to something good, Brian wasn’t satisfied and left it off the album. Once Pet Sounds was completed, however, he returned to the song and worked on it, off and on, for six months.  In the production of “Good Vibrations,” Brian hit upon a new way of recording, which he also would use for the next Beach Boys album.  Rather than create a single instrumental backing track at one session, he would create short, seemingly unrelated, snatches of music and then piece them together at a later date.   Brian recorded sections of the track at multiple studios. He believed each studio had a unique sound that added to a record.  Capitol did not understand this at all and Brian met with great resistance over the mounting costs. Brian kept coming up with new ideas and was continually experimenting with all kinds of instruments, including an electro-Theremin.   This instrument, which Brian had first used on “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times,” created the high pitched, eerie, alien sound on the record.  Brian, himself, was particularly proud of the use of the cello on the record.  He later boasted that “It was the first utilization of a cello in rock & roll music to that extent-using it as an upfront instrument, as a rock instrument.”

With “Good Vibrations” ready for release, the Beach Boys felt quite confident as they stopped in Michigan for the first of three warm up concerts before flying on to Europe for their second tour.  They were accompanied by Dick Duryea and Steve Korthof. The band premiered Good Vibrations at these shows. The group, dressed, for the first time, in blue checked cowboy shirts, however, faced some controversy at this show.  Some students picketed outside the venue because the group “undermined the cultural advancement of America.”  Mike made fun of the protesters the following night in Ann Arbor, declaring “Right! We don’t even know how to spell that!”

Saturday October 22, 1966

Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, with the Standells (Two shows at 6:00 and 8:00 PM)

The Beach Boys were scheduled to depart for Europe after these shows. They had made their first performances of Good Vibrations the night before but Brian wanted to make sure they knew the number well before they went to Europe.  He flew to Michigan, with friend Michael Vosse, to rehearse the group and to record the Ann Arbor shows for a possible live album. Lorraine Alterman noted, “I watched Brian dashing around the auditorium to check the sound system, jumping on stage to stick his ear next to an amp to find a buzz and listening hard to the sounds to suggest improvements.”  He played Alterman some songs on the piano that he planned to include on the Smile LP, which the Beach Boys were working on diligently and was than planned for a January release. He called the songs “little musicals” and “Children’s songs” and told Alterman, “Smile is going to be a very good album.  This will be better than Pet Sounds. It will have more thought lyrically in it.  It’s my first big lyrics endeavor and it will be something different.”

Mike Love was especially nervous because he was given the task of playing the electro-theremin necessary to recreate the sound of the single. The set list for the first show consisted of “Help Me Rhonda”, “I Get Around”, “Surfin Safari/Fun Fun Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin’ USA” (Medley), “Surfer Girl”, “Papa Oom Mow Mow”, “You’re So Good To Me”, “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (Sung by Dennis), “California Girls”, “Sloop John B”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “God Only Knows”, “Good Vibrations”, “Graduation Day” and “Barbara Ann.” The second show was basically the same, but with one surprise twist.  According to local fan Bill Freedman, “They announced that the show was being recorded for a live album and we should all cheer enthusiastically.  When Brian came out at the end for a curtain call, it was absolutely surreal…A great, great memory.”  Brian was dragged onstage and strapped on a bass for the encore of “Johnny B. Goode.”

Following the concert, the group returned to their hotel for a good night’s sleep before flying to New York and then Europe.  Brian grabbed a plane back to L.A. where he arranged to have all his friends, including Danny Hutton, Dean Torrence and Van Dyke Parks meet him at the airport to pose for a famous photograph.  It is reproduced in the booklet that accompanies the 2011 release The Smile Sessions.

Tuesday October 25, 1966

Paris Olympia, Paris, France-with Michel Polnareff, Casey Jones and the Coco Briavel Quartet (8:00 PM Show)

The group arrived in Paris on October 24 to begin their second visit to Europe. Manager Dick Duryea accompanied them. He carried a stopwatch with him and noted, "We've had to time some shows to the minute and they're much sharper that way."  Steve Korthof was also on this tour.  The BBs spent Monday sightseeing, despite freezing weather, before performing a sold out show the next day at the Olympia.  Surprisingly the group allowed Murry Wilson to accompany them to Paris.  When the Beach Boys skipped a 6:30 PM rehearsal and photo op, it was Murry who entertained the assembled media.  Many of the press gathering were journalists from the U.K. where “Good Vibrations” was a current smash hit and the Beach Boys popularity was peaking.

Disc & Music Echo dispatched writer Wendy Varnals to Paris to get a peek at the group before their imminent U.K. arrival.  She wrote, “I have no doubt that many bets were being made to see whether The Beach Boys can reproduce onstage their highly complicated but knockout new release, the product of many months in the recording studio in Los Angeles.  I think they can-very successfully.  It is their vocal strength that is The Beach Boys. On stage they have no act.  Mike Love does a little clowning around when he introduces the numbers, but on the whole it’s just a case of standing up and singing-beautifully.”  Loekie de Bruin described the Paris concert for the Dutch readers of Hitweek, who were disappointed that the band would not be coming to Holland on the tour.  De Bruin reported that, “during the complex, more recent hits, Brian’s absence was more noticeable.   Bruce can’t replace that fantastic talent.  ‘God Only Knows’ and ‘Good Vibrations’ were both very good, but still…it did not appear totally clearly, even though Mike Love used that electronic device, the Theramin.  But then again, one can always hear those songs on the turntable.  For the rest the boys were fantastic.” The next day the Beach Boys taped two French television appearances, before traveling to Germany.

Thursday October 27, 1966:

Friedrich Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, West Germany-with Peter & Gordon, Graham Bonney, Ambros Seelos and The Lords

Although the group visited Germany in 1964 to make promotional appearances, this was their first concert in the country.  Mike told Keith Altham, “Germany was fantastic.  They really believe in security precautions out there.  When we arrived at the airport there were about 300 police to meet us-we just walked into the lobby threw up our hands and surrendered! The people were real nice.”

Friday October 28, 1966

Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg, West Germany-with Peter & Gordon, Graham Bonney, The Lords and the Beat-Hoven (Two shows at 5:30 and 9:00 PM)

Hamburg fans stormed a train transporting the Beach Boys from Frankfurt and had to be dispersed by the police.  As a result of the wildness of the teenagers, over 500 German police surrounded the stage during the show.  The group performed in matching checkered shirts.  After years of playing to audiences composed mainly of screaming teenage girls, the group was surprised at the predominantly male audiences they attracted at these German shows.

Saturday October 29, 1966

Gruga-Halle, Essen, West Germany-with Peter & Gordon, Graham Bonney, The Lords and Ambros Seelos

Over 9,000 enthusiastic fans attended this show.  German security police were out in force and a number of fans that tried to rush the stage were ejected.  According to the Munsterischer Stadtanzeiger, “the high spirits were systematically dampened by the watchful security men.  As soon as it became too lively in one corner, security led the colorfully dressed Beat-boys and Beat-girls out of the hall.  Only a handful of fanatics managed to get to the stage and get an autograph.”

Opening act Graham Bonney became friendly with the group and penned a short article about them for the German magazine Bravo.  The Beach Boys informed him that while they were on tour, their wives were staying together at one house in LA for companionship.  Bonney noted that Carl was so devoted to new wife Annie Hinsche that while in Germany he rang up expensive phone bills calling her.  “In Essen he talked with his Annie for more than an hour.  This happened every evening.  During the day he belonged to the fans.  In the evening he was only thinking of Annie.”  Bonney noted Dennis was completely the opposite to his brother and never spoke with his wife Carol.  He commented that it wasn’t necessary because, “she knows me and I know her.”

Sunday October 30, 1966

Halle Munsterland, Munster, West Germany-with Peter & Gordon, Graham Bonney, The Lords and Ambros Seeelos (Two shows at 3:00 and 7:00 PM)

The Beach Boys played two capacity shows in Munster. The Munsterischer Stadtanzeiger commented that at recent concerts in Germany the audience had destroyed all the seats and that “if that’s the standard then the performance of the American beat band the Beach Boys in the Munsterland-Halle was a total flop. The behavior of thousands of beat followers made the evening a loud but peaceful event for the promoter, the security people and the police.”

After these shows, the tour group boarded an overnight train through the picturesque snow covered Alps to Austria.  Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon remarked, “The Beach Boys were knocked out.  They didn’t go mad like tourists, but the scene was like one huge Christmas card and they just couldn’t resist taking pictures.” Carl, Al, and Dennis stayed up late playing poker with the duo.

Monday October 31, 1966

Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria-with Peter & Gordon, Graham Bonney, The Lords and Ambros Seelos (Two shows)

The Arbeiter Zeitung reported that the afternoon show attracted just 3,000 fans, but the evening show was a sell out and police had to patrol the venue to prevent riots.   Bruce Johnston was amazed by the loudness of the Vienna fans.  He remarked to writer Alan Freeman, “It seems crazy that when they come into the hall they make so much noise that they can’t hear what they’ve paid to listen to.”

Tuesday November 1, 1966

Circus Krone, Munich, Germany-with Peter & Gordon, Graham Bonney, The Lords and Ambros Seelos

Thursday November 3, 1966

Falkoner Centret, Frederiksberg, Denmark-with the Red Squares, the Defenders and the Scarlets (Two Shows at 7:00 and 10:00 PM)

The group visited Denmark in 1964 to sightsee, but these were the first concerts there. The Berlingske Tidendenoted that the audience “began humming along with the known songs; and the (security) guards themselves, standing in great numbers along the sides of the hall, were seen swinging along.  The Beach Boys’ repertoire was known numbers, which it felt good to hear from the creators themselves.  It was an opportunity to once again note that the group really is musical and well sounding, which has made them the American answer to the Beatles.”

Friday November 4, 1966

Koncerthuset, Stockholm, Sweden-with the Red Squares and the Swede Singers (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

This was the Beach Boys second appearance at this venue, where they had played in 1964.  The audience at the 7:00 PM show was reportedly disappointed by the band’s inability to duplicate their recorded sound live, but the Svenska Dagbladet argued that the Beach Boys “made a much more powerful and playful impression than the records which often fascinate just by being so artificial and clean…With Brian Wilson a safe distance away one almost got the impression that the other Beach Boys decided to live a little and take a somewhat easier and fresher approach to it all.  At least the Friday concert sounded less Brian Wilson then the records.”  Lars Weck of the Dagens Nyheter commented, “the group went over well in the Koncerthuset with good balance from a splendid sound system. My impression from the European premier that Dennis Wilson is kind of a mediocre drummer, however, was reinforced.  Their half hour long show was mostly dedicated to their greatest hits, which sound wise are better on record, but haven’t been much tampered with otherwise.  In ‘Barbara Ann’ the atmosphere of spontaneity was somewhat lowered…but the set overall was rousing.”

Saturday November 5, 1966:

Konserthallen, Liseberg, Gothenberg, Sweden (Two shows at 6:00 and 9:00 PM)

Sunday November 6, 1966

Finsbury Park Astoria, London, England-with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two Shows at 6:00 and 8:30 PM)

The real focus of the Beach Boys 1966 tour was undoubtedly their dates in the UK, where a huge buzz had been building about them.  Bruce Johnston had flown there in May to preview the Pet Sounds LP for the UK music world’s movers and shakers, including Lennon and McCartney.  The word quickly went forth that the Beach Boys were now “cool.” In addition, their publicist Derek Taylor had made sure to keep the British music magazines full of stories on the Beach Boys. Despite this, the group was still taken aback at the level of attention directed at them on this tour. When the Beach Boys arrived in London they encountered a scene resembling Beatlemania.  Over a thousand fans were at the airport to greet them, along with reporters and photographers from all the UK music papers.  On top of that, filmmaker Peter Whitehead was on hand to film them for the TV show, Top of the Pops (Whitehead ultimately used the footage to make a documentary narrated by Marianne Faithful).  The Beach Boys 1966 UK tour was, quite simply, the event of the year.

The Beach Boys were aware that the stakes were high for the first show of their highly anticipated U.K. tour.  Adding to the pressure, London’s “movers and shakers” were at the Astoria, including Beatles manager Brian Epstein, TV host Cathy McGowan and musician John Walker who in earlier days had been Carl and David’s guitar teacher.  The group’s English trial by fire was a success with most fans and critics.  Record Mirror stated “It’s unlikely anyone who goes to see the Beach Boys will be disappointed with their stage sound…If there was any complex backing sound lost, it was more than made up for by excitement and a professional stage presence, especially by Mike Love.  Surprisingly enough the group excelled on what one might think would be the hardest sounds to reproduce.  ‘Good Vibrations’ was sensational, and so was Carl’s atmospheric ‘God Only Knows’.”  Chris Welch declared in Melody Maker, “Any doubts about the Beach Boys ability on stage were completely dispelled and all those who have said ‘the Beach Boys are no good live, only on record’ had better keep quiet from now on.”  Only Ray Coleman, of Disc & Music Echo, sounded a slightly sour note.  “They just about made it.  Carl Wilson’s sweet voice braved ‘God Only Knows,’ and it sounded pretty authentic.  ‘Good Vibrations’ was less successful.  But then, nobody expected them to sound as good ‘live’ as on record.  And this was where they fell down:  …It isn’t enough for five imageless Americans to stand up and sing.  They made no attempt to project personality, unless it lay in their fresh California-sun outfits of blue and white striped shirts and pure white trousers…The question now is: Would it have been any different if Brian Wilson had been with them?”

Tuesday November 8, 1966

Granada Theatre, Tooting, London, UK-with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:10 PM)

The group did not play shows on Monday.  Instead, Peter Whitehead filmed them, driving to EMI House, in Manchester Square, in two Mini-Moke cars. There they posed with two attractive women for photographers, before holding a press conference inside.  Following the conference, a cocktail party was held for specially invited guests, including Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham.  Dennis was particularly impressed by Oldham’s Rolls Royce and spent much of the tour working to acquire one.

Wednesday November 9, 1966

Leicester DeMontfort Hall, Leicester, UK-with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 6:35 and 8:50 PM)

The Derby Evening Telegraph reviewed this show and noted, "Kicking off with Help Me Rhonda, they glided through a list of numbers such as I Get Around, Barbara Ann, Sloop John B, California Girls, God Only Knows and their latest record, Good Vibrations.  With excellent work on lead guitar by Carl Wilson-his brother Dennis plays drums and elder brother Brian writes, produces and sings on records-and beautiful singing by all, it is easy to see why the group are second only to the Beatles in the pop world." Al Jardine was quite impressed with the reception the group received and noted that he greatly preferred “the smaller auditoriums over here where everyone can see and hear and where we can communicate much more closely and with more reality than in America, where there may be, say, 20,000 auditoriums or baseball fields.”

Thursday November 10, 1966

Odeon Theatre, Leeds, UK –with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 6:00 and 8:30 PM)

British audiences pleasantly surprised Bruce Johnston.  He told Alan Freeman that the Beach Boys “expected screamers and a groupie look, but everybody had more of what we’d call in the States a college look.  I think it’s wild that over here audiences today want to listen, whereas when we were in Germany, I don’t think anybody ever heard us.  It was just one big, endless scream, scream, scream.”

Friday November 11, 1966

Odeon Theatre, Manchester, UK Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 6:15 and 8:45 PM)

Fan hysteria for the Beach Boys in England was at an all-time high and the group was forced to plan their entrance and exit from each venue to avoid being mobbed.  Roger Easterby, who handled publicity for tour promoter Arthur Howes, recalled that prior to this show, “The others had gone on ahead, but Mike was finishing a meal at the hotel and we had to think of a way of getting him into the theatre and in fact what we did... there was a news seller down the road…we borrowed his cloth cap…we put a muffler around Mike, put this cloth cap on him and we walked in with the crowd.  We walked down the center aisle and we used the exit under the stage.”  The Manchester Evening News review noted, "The Beach Boys came, sang and conquered with their sparkling sound, vibrant music and coherent songs. There was not the usual fan hysteria to the degree one usually associates with pop concerts: their is a music one is compelled to sit tight and listen to. They sang Good Vibrations their current hit, Sloop John B and God Only Knows and Barbara Ann. Mike Love, the bearded one, loose-limbed and laconically friendly, made a superb job of this on lead vocal. And the fans clamored for more. Dennis Wilson, the drummer, stepped away from his rostrum to sing 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away', accompanying himself on tambourine.  If there was a faint disappointment at their failure at times to recreate fully their sound on record, it was compensated by the exuberance and the clean approach."

Saturday November 12, 1966

Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales, UK –with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 6:15 and 8:50 PM)

Before the first show, Carl accidently put his right hand through a plate glass window cutting his arm.  In-between the first and second shows, he visited a local hospital accompanied by Dennis to receive a few stitches.  Driving through town, he noted facetiously to a reporter “So this is Cardiff.  Well at least I saw a bit of the city this time.”

Sunday November 13, 1966

Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham, UK-with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 5:40 and 8:00 PM)

Monday November 14, 1966

Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK-with Lulu, David & Jonathan, Sounds Incorporated, the Golden Brass and Jerry Stevens (Two shows at 6:45 and 9:00 PM)

The Beach Boys concluded their UK tour with two shows at the Hammersmith Odeon.  The Kensington and Chelsea News reporter noted that, unlike many crazed UK concerts, "The audience came to listen, except for the mini-skirted and trousered young moddies who rushed the stage towards the end of the set and clambered all over Dennis Wilson and the others....The thought in everybody's mind, of course, was whether the Beach Boys could audibly be as good as their records. They aren't naturally but neither are the Beatles.  They are essentially a group that makes a noise that is so carefully calculated that precise balance of sound is a must...If the concert did anything, it assured us that the Beach Boys, Carl in particular, can sing.  It also showed us that they can put over their material pretty well. They just stand still on stage...and sing.  Mike Love, complete with beard and cap, fools around slightly but the rest of the group seems more concerned with the songs.  The real surprise was Good Vibrations, which came over really well. The oscillator bit added a lot, though it might have been used a bit more judiciously. For an encore there was a superb Wouldn't It Be Nice, which would have gone down better if it hadn't seemed that the encore was almost compulsory." Prior to these shows, Peter Whitehead filmed Al and Dennis shopping on Portobello Road.  Whitehead also filmed the group onstage at the Hammersmith Odeon.  Some of the film was used to create a promo for “Sloop John B.”  The footage was later edited into a silent DVD release called The Beach Boys in Europe.

Wednesday November 16, 1966

Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, RI-with the Ascots and Chad and Jeremy (7:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys had little time to savor their success in the UK.  They flew back to the states to begin yet another tour, without even stopping at home to unpack. Steve Gilkenson of the Providence Journal declared that the group had “improved considerably since their last visit to Providence. They sing a little better and don’t abuse their instruments as much.  The healthy program of a dozen numbers included the pulsating ‘I Get Around’, ‘Surfer Girl,’ one of their flashier, more sedate numbers and the catchy ‘Sloop John B,’ which tells of wind, sea and shifty mastheads.”

Thursday November 17, 1966

Bushnell Memorial, Hartford, CT-with Chad and Jeremy (7:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys state of exhaustion was evident to a reporter from the Hartford Courant who tried to interview them backstage.  Carl, joined on the tour by wife Annie, and Bruce hid out, while “Mike Love, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine did manage the interview, although they didn’t answer the questions with much more than a word or two.”

Friday November 18, 1966

Indianapolis Coliseum, Indianapolis, IN-with Chad and Jeremy, the Dawn Five and the Boys Next Door (8 PM Show)

Over 12,000 rowdy teen-agers attended this show and problems quickly developed. The Beach Boys had barely begun their set when all the house lights had to be switched on because members of the audience were busy smashing wooden chairs in the box seat sections.  According to Variety, “Repeated threats to stop the show did no good.  They only heightened the reaction of the kids.  Before long the stage was well crowded with members of the audience.  Somebody was swinging a guitar wildly.  Police, station personnel and Coliseum workers sought to protect the performers…At long last, sponsors decided to terminate the show despite the number of Beach Boys’ ditties left unsung and chair slats left un-slung.”

Saturday November 19, 1966

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ-with Chad and Jeremy (2:30 Show) and St John’s University, New York, NY-with Chad and Jeremy (8:30 PM Show)

The afternoon concert at Fairleigh Dickinson for homecoming weekend grossed $9,700. The photo is from the show at Fairleigh Dickinson. The St. John’s show later that evening grossed $32,000.  The reviewer for the St. John’s Torch noted, “As entertainers their style is sheer Americana -that unique combination of flippancy, ham, condescension and sincerity which in past decades has permitted us to love Al Jolson and George M Cohan…As a result the distracting antics of Mike Love are simultaneously very funny and slightly aggravating. And although something about their red and white striped shirts just smacks of an overt commercialism, the audience honestly must admit to itself that only has it been humming along with them but that it knows all the words.”

Sunday November 20, 1966

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON, Canada-with the Last Words, the Ugly Ducklings and Chad and Jeremy (7:30 PM Show)

Only 7,500 fans turned out for this show and the crowd was notably subdued.  According to Joan Fox of the Toronto Globe, “The audience in the half empty Maple Leaf Gardens was enthusiastic for all the Beach Boys’ hits, but it was as though the teeny-boppers in their white stockings and lank hair had come out to pay their respects to the group rather than to have an experience.”

Monday November 21, 1966

Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Kitchener, ON, Canada-with Chad and Jeremy and the Thanes (8:00 PM Show)

For unknown reasons, the Beach Boys flew to New York after the Toronto show on Sunday night. On Monday they flew back to Toronto and then drove to Kitchener. A disappointing crowd of 2,800 showed up for this show. The Beach Boys ran onstage and launched into ‘Fun, Fun, Fun, followed by ‘I Get Around.’ Margaret Anne More of the North Bay Nugget noted that “Mike Love was the emcee and he brought down the house with his antics and of course his very well publicized red beard. The group also sang Graduation Day…California Girls, Barbara Ann, Sloop John B, Little Deuce Coupe, In My Room, Don’t Worry Baby and Good Vibrations. Everything went well except with Good Vibrations. Apparently, they weren’t harmonizing properly and Denny and Mike were yelling back and forth to see what was wrong. Mind you it is a very hard song to sing, especially at a concert where they don’t have half the equipment they need. After the show they signed autographs.”

Tuesday November 22, 1966

South Hill Gym, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY-with Chad and Jeremy (8:15 PM Show)

En route to this show, the BBs stopped in Trumansburg to say hello to Robert Moog, whose firm had created a melsinar used by Mike during Good Vibrations at live shows.

Wednesday November 23, 1966

Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, MD-with Tommy Van and the Echoes, the Minus Four and Chad and Jeremy (8:00 PM Show)

This was the last show of the tour and the band returned home for intensive work on Smile. However, when the group returned to LA and Brian played them the  tracks completed so far there was tension, especially between Mike Love and Van Dyke Parks.  Mike prided himself on writing songs that their audience could relate to and he believed that many fans would have trouble with the lyrics. He interrogated Parks about the meaning of many of the songs.   Mike told Ken Sharp in 1992, “I thought his lyrics were alliterate prose, which is great if you appreciated his prose and his alliteration.  He’s brilliant.  But as far as translating to mid-American commercial appeal, I don’t think so.” Sessions became progressively more fraught and Brian seemed to lose his confidence.  The album was to be given to Capitol in January 1967 but it became clear Brian needed more time. Still, whatever misgivings the Beach Boys had about Smile they still had faith in Brian.  After all, signs of his success were all around them. Not only did they have the number one single in the country “Good Vibrations,” but Capitol’s collection of their earlier hits, Best of the Beach Boys climbed to #8 on the Billboard LP charts as well.  UK fans gave them one more surprise that December when they voted them the number one group in the world.  A stunned Al Jardine had to sit down when he heard the news, while Bruce Johnston wandered around in a daze mumbling, “Wow! I just can’t believe we’re that popular.”

Tuesday December 27, 1966

Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA-with the Royal Guardsmen, the Sopwith Camel, the Wailers, Don and the Goodtimes, the Emergency Exit and the Standells (8:00 PM Show)

The lineup for this show included The Sopwith Camel, one of the first San Francisco bands to have a hit with “Hello, Hello,” the Wailers, a garage band from Tacoma famous for “Tall Cool One”, and the Royal Guardsmen, who had a hit with “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron.”  The Beach Boys took the stage at 11 PM. Bill Oien of Teen Beat commented, "The wait was worth it because the BBs were tremendous.  They are certainly professional and it is probably this professionality and their casualness that have given them an enduring quality that many groups lack,  In their 40-minutes onstage they manage to sing about 20-songs, resorting only three times to songs that they hadn't made hits. This is greatness and that is what they were-great."

Wednesday December 28, 1966

Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA-with the Jefferson Airplane, the Seeds, Sopwith Camel, Music Machine and the Royal Guardsmen (8:15 PM Show)

The Beach Boys played a well-received show but they were somewhat overshadowed by hometown favorites the Jefferson Airplane.  The San Francisco music scene was just beginning to attract notoriety but the San Francisco Examiner reviewer Philip Elwood was already spreading the notion that the Beach Boys were slick singers of “pop-rock banalities”, while suggesting that the Jefferson Airplane were a more sophisticated and adult musical combo.  The founding of Rolling Stone Magazine in San Francisco in 1967 would help cement this notion in the public psyche to the detriment of the Beach Boys reputation.  Elwood noted, “Padding their thirty minutes with childish irrelevancies, the candy-cane jacketed Southern Californians drew the night’s only protracted screams from the 6000-customers. ‘California Girls’ and ‘Good Vibrations’ were especially zestful and ‘God Only Knows’ was frightful in its pseudo-sanctity.”