1968

Thursday February 1, 1968

Everett Community College, Everett, WA-with Buffalo Springfield

The Beach Boys had released Wild Honey on December 18. While not a huge seller, it made it to #24 on the album charts in March helped immensely by the success of leadoff single “Darlin’,” a fun rocker by Brian with a soulful lead by Carl.  The song became an instant concert staple. The LP also contained the dynamic title track, the bucolic “Country Air,” Brian’s amusing “I’d Love Just Once To See You,” and the upbeat “Aren’t You Glad.” The Beach Boys often expressed admiration for the LP.  Carl told writer Geoffrey Himes in 1983, “Wild Honey was underrated. It didn’t have the polish and pizzazz, but it brought out all our R&B influences that had always been there but people had overlooked.” The first tour of the year, in promotion of the LP, was a quick and profitable swing through the Pacific Northwest.  The group grossed $60,000 on the four-day tour, including $8,050 at this opening show.  It was a sellout, with tickets priced between $2.00 and $5.00.

Friday February 2, 1968

Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, WA-with Buffalo Springfield and Springfield Rifle (8:00 PM Show)

The unenthusiastic Seattle Times reviewer noted, “The Beach Boys gave generously. The numbers were short and plentiful.  Screams of recognition greeted each opening bar. With the Arena’s amplification system revved up to about 10,000-Decibels, the lyrics were unintelligible to the uninitiated but the Beach Boys faithful following seemed to get every message loud and clear. This listener got it loud, at least.”  Interviewed at the hotel, Carl Wilson was more interested in discussing Maharishi, with whom the Beach Boys had committed to tour in May.  “The main purpose of the tour is the lecture. But wouldn’t it be great if everybody could get turned on in meditation.”  It should be noted that Buffalo Springfield, who would break up in three months, was also on this tour, as photographs that exist amply demonstrate, but for some reason they are not mentioned in any of the advertisements or reviews.

Saturday February 3, 1968

The Agrodome, Vancouver, B.C., Canada-with Buffalo Springfield, the Northwest Company and the City Zoo (8:00 PM Show)

Around 5,100-fans turned out for this concert in Vancouver.  The reviewer noted that the BBs had engaged in some false advertising.  The publicity had advertised that a “full-size orchestra” would accompany the group but in fact the string section consisted of “one additional musician who sometimes played guitar and sometimes a tinkly tambourine.” Most likely this musician was Ron Brown.  The photo may not be from this show but it is from early 1968.

Sunday February 4, 1968

Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR-with Buffalo Springfield (2:00 PM Show)

Capitol Pavilion at St. Martin’s College, Lacey, WA-with Buffalo Springfield, the Lemon Pipers and the Smiling Castle (8:00 PM Show)

The Photograph was taken prior to the evening show at St. Martin’s College.

Monday February 5, 1968

International Ice Palace, Las Vegas, NV

The February 11 Cashbox Magazine says that the Beach Boys “played last week to Las Vegas fans” but the February 11 Las Vegas show listed by Keith Badman in his book was actually a Buffalo Springfield solo show

Friday April 5, 1968

Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (Canceled)

As the Beach Boys completed work on their next LP Friends, plans were underway for a major spring tour of Southern cities, which the group was mostly handling through their own American Productions Company.  Jack Lloyd went to work for American Productions at this time.  His job was to help set up the group set up shows and do advance promotion.  Lloyd recalled the Beach Boys had high hopes for the tour, which was set to begin on April 5 in Tennessee.  They flew to Nashville on April 4, 1968 with Nick Grillo, Dick Duryea, Steve Korthof, Jon Parks and Steve Desper but, as business manager Nick Grillo related to Amusement Business, “Exactly as we boarded the plane for Nashville, we got the news that Dr. King had been shot; when we landed in Nashville the announcement was made that he was dead.”  As a result of Dr. King’s tragic assassination the opening show of the tour in Nashville was abruptly canceled.

When it became clear that the Nashville show would not take place, the touring party flew to Savannah to regroup.  Albert Poland had been hired to do press for the BBs upcoming tour with the Maharishi and the BB spent some of their down time filming a publicity interview for the tour, which could be offered to local TV stations where the band was planning to play. This footage survives.  The photograph shows Carl and Mike sitting with Stephen Stills and Mark Weitz (of the Strawberry Alarm Clock) in Nashville.  Albert Poland is on the far right.

From there the tour experienced an ongoing series of problems.  Due to fear of riots by African Americans, curfews were instituted in a number of Southern cities.  Concerts in North Carolina and Memphis had to be rescheduled to later in the month.  Amusement Business stated that shows in Nashville, TN (Apr 5), Columbia, SC (Apr 7), Atlanta, GA (Apr 11), Macon, GA (Apr 11), Little Rock, AR (Apr 16) and Jonesboro, AR (Apr 17) were canceled.  Racial unrest kept audiences away in droves and a many of the concerts that managed to go on suffered from low attendance.  The tour proved to be a financial drain on the group, who were fronting the money for the dates themselves.  Grillo estimated it cost them at least $350,000 in revenue.

Saturday April 6, 1968

Minges Coliseum, East Carolina College, Greenville, NC-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (1:00 PM Show)

The afternoon-show at East Carolina College took place as scheduled but an evening show in Raleigh was postponed until April 23.  This tour also included Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock.  The Springfield had already decided to call it a day due to inter-group tensions (notably between Neil Young and Stephen Stills) but had grudgingly agreed to stay together until May 5.  Thus, this tour was a bittersweet affair for them and their fans.  Bassist Bruce Palmer had left the Buffalo Springfield by this point and Jim Messina performed in his place.  Rory O'Connor of the Tampa Tribune noted that at the April 13 show two members of Springfield joined the BBs to perform Good Vibrations and also joined them for their encore performance of Johnny B Goode. It's possible this was a part of a regular routine at other shows but reviews don't make it clear.

Sunday April 7, 1968

Clemson University, Clemson, SC-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (2:30 PM Show)

Columbia Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC (Canceled)

The Beach Boys were scheduled to appear in Greensboro, but it was postponed until April 23.  They played an afternoon concert at Clemson, as part of the Junior-Senior weekend festivities.  A concert scheduled for that night in Columbia was canceled.

Monday April 8, 1968

County Hall, Charleston, SC-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (7:00 PM Show)

A Buffalo Springfield fan who attended this show noted online, "Everyone of my friends who attended were there for the Beach Boys, not I, having more taste for Buffalo Springfield as THE BAND to see in concert!...They rocked like I've never seen anyone rock out before!! And they pretty much blew the Beach Boys off the stage that night."  While the Beach Boys would probably disagree with this assessment, they were also fans of the Springfield and often watched their set from the wings rather than sitting in their dressing room.  Neil Young and Dennis became fairly close on these tours and hung around off the road a bit in 1968-1969. Jon Parks was also on this tour and was a fan of the Springfield. He also got to know Neil and commented, "When we started out on the tour, I was sitting next to Neil Young on the plane and we both had our headsets on listening to music. Neil was keeping time, I thought, to some good music, so I nudged him on the shoulder and asked what station he was listening to. He understood and told me he had epilepsy and was having a little spell. We both laughed afterwards, but on tour I noticed he would sometimes turn his back to the audience and his team would rush up on stage and bring him his medicine. He handled it really well and could actually keep playing during his episode. The audience loved the shows, and we became good friends."

Tuesday April 9, 1968

Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (4:30 PM Show)

Sports Stadium, Orlando, FL-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (7:00 PM Show)

Memorial Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (8:00 PM Show)

After a bumpy start, the tour picked up steam with three concerts in Florida.  Steve Desper recalled, “On that tour we were doing two or three shows a day and we had two sound systems and two sound crews and we would leap frog each other.  So, a lot of the time I would be with the Beach Boys and I would just come in and mix and my crew would set it up (at the next venue) and I would be in contact with them over the telephone.”

Keyboardist Daryl Dragon, was ill and did not take part in this tour.  He was replaced by his older brother Doug, who played with the band on three or four tours in 1968-1969.  He recalled, “Daryl taught me all the parts so I could go out with them…I didn’t play with the group that long, but I had some great memories.  Crazy ones, perverted ones, you know the typical rock band thing…it wasn’t all mom and apple pie.  On the other side, I got to learn some really great tunes, like ‘Good Vibrations.’ My favorite was ‘God Only Knows.’ I loved the piano part on that.”  Doug’s younger brother, percussionist Dennis Dragon, also was on the tour.  He remained with the Beach Boys, off and on, through 1972.  Later to achieve fame with his band the Surf Punks, Dennis got his start as a jazz drummer with Blue Note Records.  Daryl Dragon recalled, “Dennis played extra percussion and when Dennis Wilson went a little crazy he’d play drums too.  Dennis Wilson would run off the stage sometimes and throw the sticks at Dennis and say ‘Take it!’”  Dennis Dragon recalled the tour with mixed feelings. “It was INSANE, with sometimes three performances booked in three different places in a day!  Too much!  I watched Neil Young's health decline with multiple bouts of epilepsy due to the stress.  It was not a good tour.”

Wednesday April 10, 1968

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (7:00 PM Show)

5,200 attended of which only 3,500 were actually from the University.  The Council blamed the low-attendance on the race riots and the decision to have the show on a weekday.  Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield had spent part of his youth in Gainesville and was excited to play there. In 2001 he told a reporter, ""I remember what I wore," he says. "I wore a green Pierre Cardin suit, and a paisley scarf as a tie. I was very much the 'British pop star.' Most people didn't know that I was there, and nobody paid any attention, and there was no review. Nobody cared. It was a Beach Boys show."

In an interview backstage, Bruce claimed that he was producing a single for the Buffalo Springfield called ‘Tulsa,’ which he thought would be a big hit.  However, the Springfield had apparently already decided to disband and broke up soon after the tour, so I do not believe the song was ever recorded.

Thursday April 11, 1968

City Auditorium, Macon, GA-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (7:00 PM Show-Canceled)

Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (8:00 PM Show-Canceled)

The Macon show was postponed due to rioting and rescheduled for later in the month.  Ultimately, it was canceled, though the group returned to honor the date in October.  The Atlanta appearance also was canceled and the Beach Boys did not return till April 1969.

Friday April 12, 1968

Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL-with Buffalo Springfield and the Strawberry Alarm Clock (8:00 PM Show)

The photo may not be from this concert but I believe it is from this tour.  By this time, bassist Bruce Palmer of Buffalo Springfield had been deported to Canada and Jim Messina had taken over his role onstage. In Uncut Magazine he recalled, "Neil had a seizure on stage in Jacksonville, Florida, in April 1968. What really saddened me about that night, and I’ll go to my grave with this feeling, was it was the first time I recall that his parents had come over to the United States to see him play. They were in the audience. It was a very hot night and on the way there, Dewey [Martin] had been begging us to stop for something to drink. He finally convinced us to get some Applejack wine. Needless to say, when we rolled out of the limousine I was totally ripped. So I grabbed my bass and went out on stage. When it came to “Good Time Boy”, Dewey got down from his drums, took his shirt off and jumped down into the audience, where he started singing. A very large Southern policeman then came over, grabbed him by the hair of his head, jerked the mike around and said: “The concert’s over.” Around that time, Neil had walked off stage and then had fallen. Everyone was scrambling to get out of there, then I saw him lying there all by himself. My thoughts were, ‘Isn’t anybody going to help? Where is everyone?’ And I remember there was a little tear coming out of the corner of his eye. It really saddened me because I knew his parents were there to see him. So it must have had an effect on him, to have a seizure at that point. And I didn’t see anybody coming to help. It really freaked me out. Then somebody grabbed me and said: “You’ve got to leave!” So he was just left there. To this day I find that memory really sad."

Saturday April 13, 1968

Robart’s Sports Arena, Sarasota, FL-with Buffalo Springfield and Bobby Goldsboro (7:00 PM Show)

Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, FL-with Buffalo Springfield, the Frogs and Bobby Goldsboro (8:30 PM Show)

The Strawberry Alarm Clock was absent from both shows this day and Bobby Goldsboro filled in.  5,000 fans attended the first “big name rock concert” in Sarasota.  Judy Copeland of the Sarasota Journal gushed, “The Beach Boys in person are even more fabulous than the Beach Boys on records.  They held the whole audience spellbound from the first notes of ‘Darlin’ through older numbers such as ‘California Girls’ and ‘Rhonda’ to their latest hit, ‘Friends.’  The old standard, ‘Graduation Day’ was beautifully sung but ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘God Only Knows’ seemed to be the fans’ favorite numbers…Members of the audience who expected a T-shirt and jeans uniform were surprised to see the Beach Boys in white double breasted suits.  The only thing reminiscent of the surfer image was Dennis Wilson in his sandals.”

5,000 fans attended the Tampa show, which started late due to sound system issues. Steve Desper told a reporter, “something happened to the power source for the system and we are running the whole thing on two car batteries.”  The Beach Boys did not go onstage until 10:45 PM.  To make up for the late start, they played for an extra 45 minutes.  Chick Ober of the St. Petersburg Times raved, “They opened their bag and delivered with a fine sense of humor and timing.  The crowd was so receptive at sign-off time that they dug into the burlap for some cool encore bits. Some of their standouts included: ‘You’re So Good To Me,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘Graduation Day,’ ‘God Only Knows,’ ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Go Johnny Go,’ and a medley of favorites.”  Kay Donahue of the Evening Independent called it a “mind blowing night…As the Beach Boys did one after another of their top ten hits-from the recent ‘Darling’ to the earlier sounds of ‘Surfer Girl’-the audience swayed and clapped to the beat.”  According to Donahue, one unnamed Beach Boy (undoubtedly Dennis) sat onstage by himself playing songs on the piano long after the crowd left the venue.

Sunday April 14, 1968

Code 1, Fort Lauderdale, FL- with the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Buffalo Springfield and Bobby Goldsboro (330 PM Show)

Convention Hall, Miami, FL-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Buffalo Springfield, Bobby Goldsboro and the Echoes (8:00 PM Show)

I discovered the afternoon Ft. Lauderdale appearance after the publication of my book.  Jim Moon emailed me and noted, “I Went with 2 girl friends to Miami April 14th 1968 concert. One had a cousin who played in the Strawberry Alarm clock.  Can't remember names. Went back stage after concert to meet him and he invited us to go with them to eat at Wolfie's deli, Miami Beach, with members of other groups at concert, Buffalo Springfield, Bobby Goldsboro, so on. Dennis Wilson invited me and one girl friend to go back to Howard Johnson's Hotel, talked until late mostly about Yogi and religion. Other girlfriend stayed with cousin. 2 AM Dennis calls our parents asking if we could crash. Dennis insisted my friend, girl, sleep in his bed, I took the sofa. He hit on her all night without success, he didn't know she was gay. A night I will never forget.”)

Monday April 15, 1968

Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (7:00 PM Show)

Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX-with the Lavender Hill Express, the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (8:30 PM Show)

Tuesday April 16, 1968

Robinson Auditorium, Little Rock, AR-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (7:30 PM Show-Canceled).

This show was canceled due to the unrest following Martin Luther King's death.  The photo was taken on this tour and shows Bruce and Neil Young

Wednesday April 17, 1968

Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (Canceled)

Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN- with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (Postponed to April 24)

Neither of the planned shows on this day took place. The Jonesboro show was simply canceled, the Memphis show took place on April 24.  The photo was taken by Strawberry Alarm Clock keyboardist Mark Weitz and shows Carl and Bruce on the plane

Thursday April 18, 1968

John M. Parker Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (7:00 PM Show)

Loyola University, New Orleans, LA-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (8:45 PM Show)

The tour headed to Louisiana for two concerts.  Eldridge Roark reviewed the LSU show for the Daily Reveille. He dismissed the group as unhip bubble gum pop and declared, “If it were not for the mass of teeny boppers in the place, the show would have been a complete flop.  The Beach Boys, arriving in their super cool white suits and sneakers, sang in the style that most of the upperclassmen on campus twisted to at their high school prom.  Songs like ‘Help Me Rhonda and ‘Surfer Girl’ were quite popular five years ago, but drew snide comments and yawns from the older element of the crowd.  Of course the twelve year olds completely blew their minds.” David Cutforth of the Baton Rouge Advocate had a different take.  He commented, “The Beach Boys kicked off an impressive 45 minutes with ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and it was immediately apparent a treat was in store.  The help their orchestra gave was welcome in the first selections.  The brass in ‘Darlin’ was out of sight.  Perhaps one of the most complex compositions performed by touring rock groups is ‘Good Vibrations.’  The Beach Boys had all the goods needed to duplicate studio sound on the live stage and they proceeded to do so… The audience was still applauding as they ran out on their way to New Orleans for their next show.”  The photo shows Buffalo Springfield in Loyola.

Friday April 19, 1968

Birmingham City Auditorium, Birmingham, AL-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Buffalo Springfield and Randy’s World (8:30 PM Show)

Gene Butts of the Birmingham News noted that the group “declared that meditation gave them increased energy and they unleashed it all.  Their ability to score in different musical styles was apparent from the first minute.  They played a medley of their original surfing songs and other successes, including the ‘Sloop John B,’ and ‘Good Vibrations.’  Dennis the barefoot drummer leaped down from the bandstand to join the group in their newest release ‘Friends.’” The photo shows Mike Love and Buffalo Springfield bassist Jim Messina

Saturday April 20, 1968

Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, TX-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Buffalo Springfield and Bobby Goldsboro (7:00 PM Show)

Market Hall, Dallas, TX-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Buffalo Springfield, Bobby Goldsboro and the Soul Society (8:30 PM Show)

The group played in both Fort Worth and Dallas despite the two cities close proximity.  According to Cheryl Russell of the Dallas Morning News, “The Beach Boys achieved a clear, choir like harmony with their treatment of ‘Graduation Day’ while their pulsating ‘Good Vibrations’ literally shook the bandstand.  The Beach Boys tide of hits engulfed the young listeners, as they revived memories of ‘Barbara Ann,’ ‘I Get Around,’ ‘California Girl’ and ‘I Want to Go Home (Sloop John B).’”  The photo shows Buffalo Springfield onstage at Dallas but Mike can be seen in the audience in his white suit and hat

Sunday April 21, 1968

Moody Civic Center, Galveston, TX-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (2:30 PM Show)

McDonald Gym, Lamar Technical College, Beaumont, TX-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (4:30 PM Show)

Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield

The Beach Boys tour played three separate Texas shows on this busy day.  Marge Crumbaker of The Houston Post noted that, “To do it, Beach Boys Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson and Al Jardine started their busy day like all others, each swallowing the first of 30 vitamin pills they gulp down every twelve hours. Red ones, green ones, oblong ones, speckled ones, topped off by health foods washed down by juices-apple juice, tomato juice, prune, carrot, celery….’You know what they call us?’ Bruce Johnston asks as the swiftness of the plane’s takeoff pushes him back against the golden fabric of a foam-cushioned seat. ‘They call us ‘God Rocks’, because we’re clean. No narcotics, no drugs, no junk. We don’t even eat candy bars or drink soda pop or any of that junk. We eat health foods, organic foods.’”  The Beach Boys took the stage for the final show of the day in Houston at 10 PM.  They then returned to their hotel room to hear a lecture on TM delivered for their benefit by Helen Olson, a member of the International Transcendental Meditation Society.  Members of the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield also attended. The photo was taken at the third show of this busy day, in Houston.

Monday April 22, 1968

Municipal Coliseum, Lubbock, TX- with Bobby Goldsboro, the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (8:00 PM Show)

The BBs played before 4,500-fans in Buddy Holly's hometown of Lubbock. The Lubbock Avalanche noted, "The white-coated group from California, backed by supplemental musicians, brought six-years plus of stage know-how and constant experiments with new sounds to their presentation and they were just fine...The Beach Boys completely illustrated why they have occupied one of the number one positions in the rock n' roll field. They are 'pros' all the way." Prior to the show-all the acts on the bill signed autographs from 5-7 PM at a place called Robby's.The photo was taken the day before in Houston

Tuesday April 23, 1968

Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC-with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (7:00 PM Show)

Dorton Arena, Raleigh, NC-with Andy Camp, the St. People's Band, the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield (8:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys played two North Carolina shows that had been planned for April 6 and 7 but were postponed by the riots following MLK's death. Al Jardine almost missed these shows. Carl commented to a reporter from the Teen Age Record who interviewed him in Greensboro, "We got on the plane and started to go out on the runway to take off and we realized Alan wasn't on the plane.  We had to go back and pick him up. He looked very funny standing there when we went back."  Asked about the changes in their sound he commented, "I think that Pet Sounds was the first thing we did that was different. Then, of course, there was Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains, which furthered this change. The music is a little more subtle and a little on a different level."

Wednesday April 24, 1968

Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN- with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Buffalo Springfield

5,400 attended this show, the last of the tour, which was originally scheduled for April 17.  The group played “Help Me Rhonda,” “I Get Around,” “Friends,” “Surfer Girl,” “Sloop John B,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Darlin,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Shut Down,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Papa Oom-Mow-Mow,” “Graduation Day,” and “Barbara Ann.”  Dorothy Beith of the Commercial Appeal reported the audience was so enthusiastic that, “after the West Coast group played through a program of old and new favorites like ‘Let’s Be Friends,’ ‘Help Me Rhonda,’ and ‘Surfer Girl’ the crowd kept them on stage more than 15 minutes playing encores.”  Amusingly, the newspaper mistakenly identified Mike as Brian Wilson in the caption for the photograph.

Friday May 3, 1968

Washington Coliseum-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (6:30 PM Show)

Civic Center, Baltimore, MD-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (8:45 PM Show)

After a week’s respite, the Beach Boys embarked on an ill-fated tour with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.  Though all the Beach Boys had become devoted followers, it was Mike Love who was so fascinated by Transcendental Meditation that he flew to Rishikesh, India in February to participate in a meditation retreat with Maharishi, along with the Beatles, Donovan and Mia Farrow.  While in India Mike suggested a tour with Maharishi would help spread his message to more young people.  Mike explained to a reporter, “because the Beach Boys are the top American group, he agreed to tour with us.  He wants to get his message across to American youth…that man was not born to suffer.  Anyhow his meditation will do a lot of good by getting kids away from LSD, pot, booze and speed because you really don’t need it if you understand what the Maharishi is saying.”  The group planned for thirty-five concerts, which would include a Beach Boys performance and a Maharishi lecture.To promote the tour, they made a live appearance on the Tonight Show while in New York on May 2.  That same day a taped appearance on The Les Crane Show also aired.  The photograph may have been taken at one of these tapings, neither of which apparently survives.

The tour proved to be ill fated from the very start.  Maharishi failed to arrive for an important press conference in New York on May 2.  He had flown from India to Istanbul but missed his connecting flight because he was meditating.  He arrived in New York at 4 PM on May 3 and had to be rushed to the first show in Washington, which was only sparsely attended.  According to Charley Impaglia of The Hoya, “whole sections were abandoned and those who actually paid the $5.50 top (price) felt cheated since you could sit where you liked in the one-third full auditorium.”  He noted that audiences missed a great performance as “the five-some strove for absolute fealty to the recording studio sound and succeeded brilliantly.  Even the most rabid detractor would have been forced to concede that their renditions of ‘Darlin,’ ‘Sloop John B,’ and ‘God Only Knows’ were letter perfect.”   2,888 people turned out for the evening show in Baltimore at a venue capable of comfortably seating 11,500.  Hecklers interrupted Maharishi’s lecture repeatedly.  The Beach Boys were not amused and Bruce later disparagingly recalled, “The kids in Baltimore were really vulgar.”

Saturday May 4, 1968

Singer Bowl, Flushing, NY-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (2:00 PM Show-Canceled)

Iona College, New Rochelle, NY-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (4:30 PM Show)

Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (8:30 PM Show)

The early show at the Singer Bowl was canceled at the last minute.  According to Go Magazine, “a threat of rain was given as the reason, but more likely was the fact that few tickets had been sold.”  June Harris reported in New Musical Express, “The Beach Boys arrived some time before the concert and set up their equipment ready to go on stage when the news reached them that Maharishi was still in his New York hotel suite, unwilling to appear before a reported crowd of less than 1,000 people.” The concert at Iona College (where the photo was taken) went on as planned but only brought out about 1,800 students.  The sparse audience enjoyed the group’s set, which included a rare performance of the Friends track “Transcendental Meditation.”  Maharishi’s lecture, however, was less well received.  Go Magazine noted that “as the Maharishi attempted to explain his philosophy of transcendental meditation to the crowd, hecklers demanding the return of the Beach Boys interrupted him.  Other hecklers denounced him as seeking money.  Finally Mike Love…was forced to come onstage and quiet the crowd. Mike said: ‘I would personally appreciate it that, if you don’t want to listen, you would leave.  There are a lot of young people here but you will get older and want to remember the Maharishi.”

About 6,000 people attended the evening show at the 17,162 seat Spectrum, but half of them walked out after the Beach Boys’ set, rather than stay for the Maharishi’s lecture.  Mike Love told the Philadelphia Inquirer that this did not surprise Maharishi.  “He knows it’s going to happen…they aren’t quite ready for meditation.”   Despite the calm demeanors, however, everyone involved on the tour harbored serious doubts about the economic feasibility of continuing.  .  It had become apparent that, as one promoter remarked, “The Guru couldn’t draw flies.”

Sunday May 5, 1968

Bushnell Memorial, Hartford, CT-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (7:00 PM Show)

Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, RI-with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (8:30 PM Show-Canceled)

3,000 fans attended the Hartford show.  The Hartford Times noted, “Backed by their own band and augmented by 17 microphones, the Beach Boys poured out a concert of their most famous hits in the first half of the program.  They were enthusiastically received by an audience of mostly high school students.” However, after the show Maharishi informed the group he was leaving the tour to fulfill a film commitment.  The second show of the night in Rhode Island, where an audience of 3, 500 was already lining up, was abruptly canceled.  The treasurer of the auditorium begged road manager Dick Duryea to bring the Beach Boys anyways, but he told him that it was a package show and the Beach Boys weren’t prepared to play without him.  The group returned to California.

Concerts scheduled for the Boston Garden (May 6), Brandeis University (May 7) New Haven Arena (May 7) Quinnipiac College (May 7), Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo (May 8), Ohio State University (May 9), Syracuse University (May 10), Lemoyne College (May 10), Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland (May 11), University of Chicago (May 12), Capitol Theatre, Madison (May 13), St. Paul’s Arena (May 14), Veteran’s Memorial, Des Moines (May 15), Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City (May 15) and Kiel Auditorium, St Louis (May 16) were all canceled.  Maharishi initially agreed to return for shows at Denver Arena (May 17), Oakland Stadium (May 18), Hollywood Bowl (May 19), Las Vegas (May 19), Stanford University (May 20), Sacramento (May 21), and San Diego (May 21) but these ultimately did not take place either. As many tickets for these cancelled concerts had already been sold, the Beach Boys were forced to issue refunds.  Dick Duryea called the tour “the biggest fiasco of anything I’ve been involved with.  The Maharishi was a nice man but nobody wanted to listen to him.  They came to hear the Beach Boys and when he went on stage and started talking, they all left…they must have lost a quarter of a million dollars on that tour.”

Saturday June 15, 1968

Lagoon, Farmington, Utah (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

A month after the Maharishi fiasco, the Beach Boys headed to Salt Lake City, where they could always rely on attracting a sizable audience.  On the morning after the shows, the group took part in a photo shoot for Fabulous 208 magazine.  Accompanied by writer Cyril Maitland, they took a jeep ride to locations Al Jardine had previously visited and thought would look good in photos.  They posed at an old amusement park and pier, as well as on the shores of the Great Salt Lake.  Mike Love had adopted an 1890’s look, complete with handlebar mustache, while Dennis sported a full beard.  Always a risk taker, Dennis “asked a local inhabitant if there was any quicksand about and was shown where it was and told that it only dragged you to the thighs…this obviously didn’t put him off and he decided to try the feel of the quicksand.”  On their way back to the hotel, the jeep got caught in two feet of mud and the entire group had to help pull it out.  It’s possible that they also filmed the promo film for “Friends” on this trip.

Tuesday July 2, 1968

RKO Orpheum Theatre, Davenport, IA-with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (Two shows at 6:30 and 9:00 PM)

The Beach Boys LP Friends was released on June 16.  It was a democratic record with everyone contributing a song or two.  It’s hard to say whether this was because Brian could not focus enough to complete an album, no longer cared enough, or because the rest of the group were no longer willing to let him have final say.  Dennis, who hitherto had mainly been known as the “sex symbol” of the group, provided two of the most interesting songs.  “Little Bird” and “Be Still” suggested that the Beach Boys might have more than one impressive songwriter named Wilson.  However, the LP bombed. Friends failed to even crack the Top 100.  It was the beginning of a difficult time for the group. Though the group continued to make interesting albums, record sales declined.  It was telling that their biggest commercial success of the year came with a summer single, “Do It Again,” which expressed nostalgia for the recent past.

This sixteen-date tour billed the group with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (Who had hit records that year with ‘Young Girl’ and ‘Lady Willpower’) and the Human Beinz (A Capitol Records act that had a hit with ‘Nobody but Me’). The Beach Boys brought ten extra musicians with them, including a full brass section led by saxophonist Ernie Small.  Percussionist Mike Kowalski and bassist Ed Carter, who would both have long relationships with the group, also were on this tour.  They were hired as a result of Kowalski’s friendship with Bruce Johnston.  Based on Bruce’s recommendation, they auditioned for Carl Wilson at the Moulin Rouge club in Hollywood and were hired on the spot.  Kowalski played extra percussion and took over drums when Dennis came up front to sing.  Carter handled bass duties, freeing up Bruce to play keyboards.  Carter would go on to work countless tours as bassist or guitarist with the Beach Boys over the next thirty years. Future Beach Boys percussionist/drummer Bobby Figueroa commented, “Eddie was Carl’s favorite bass player and he was an even scarier guitarist.  He was just a great musician.”

The group taped some shows on this tour.  However, they used only two tracks (one board and one ambient audience mic) and the sound is somewhat sub-par.  It’s likely that the shows were recorded only for the band’s personal archives, rather than for any live album. Steve Desper, who accompanied them as sound mixer, recalled that it was not unusual for the band to record gigs in this period, though few survive.  “We made a recording every night of the show, listened to it and critiqued it and then usually erased it and made another recording the next night on top of it.  We just used the same tape over and over again.” A number of these shows have since been released on the digital download release, The Beach Boys: On Tour 1968.

Wednesday July 3, 1968

Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, SD-with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz

Thursday July 4, 1968

Majestic Hills Theater, Lake Geneva, WI- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, the Human Beinz  and Geneva Convention

The Beach Boys performed their Fourth of July concert at the now demolished Majestic Hills Theater, a major concert and entertainment venue in the 1960s. They apparently spent the night at Hugh Hefner's brand new Playboy Club on Lake Geneva.

Friday July 5, 1968

Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (8:30 PM Show)

Robb Baker of The Tribune criticized the group for sticking to the “oldies” rather than performing songs from post Pet Sounds albums.  “It’s not that their Top 40 songs are really bad: In fact, for what they attempt, they’re rather good. The distinctive beat, the quick tempo changes, the harmonizing in the upper registry are all effective, but they’re a bit like circus dogs who keep wagging their tails (and making their feeble jokes) long after the crowd has tired of their single trick.”

The Human Beinz, noted for their hit single “Nobody But Me,” opened for the group. I interviewed lead vocalist/guitarist Ting Markulin and he recalled that he and drummer Mike Tatman were asked to find a missing Dennis on Friday afternoon as the Beach Boys suspected that he'd gotten lost in downtown Chicago when he didn’t show for a sound check.  They drove around Chicago in their motor home until they located him. “He wasn’t that hard to spot because he always wore a white suit with no shirt and he was always barefoot.  He recognized us as we were shouting his name and got in the motor home.  He thanked us for finding him and taking him back to the hall.  He invited us to meet at his room after the concert for a little party.  Dennis loved pink champagne in frosted glasses and when we showed up that night, he had cases of pink champagne and a cooler full of frosted glasses.  Well I guess you can imagine how trashed we got.  The worst part was that we had to leave and drive all night while the Beach Boys had their own plane to fly to the next city in the morning.  But we didn’t care because Dennis was a cool guy and a lot of fun.”

Saturday July 6, 1968

Anderson High School Gym, Anderson, IN- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (8:00 PM Show)

Sunday July 7, 1968

Duluth Arena, Duluth, MN- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (7:30 PM Show)

Monday July 8, 1968

Memorial Auditorium, Fargo, ND- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

Between six and seven thousand fans attended these two shows.  Nancy Edmonds was somewhat nonplussed by the group and their 'clean' image.  She commented, "If the...young people in the audiences for the two shows came expecting to hear surfing music they weren't disappointed...If they wanted to see five young men, four of them in head to toe white, shining brightly, backed by nine sidemen, they saw them.  If the audience wanted nice, light, intricate non-involvement music, which overlooked everything but smiles, they got just what they wanted.  The Beach Boys come on stage and play the parts of witty, wholesome, young teen surfers, even now, after six or seven years of super-cleanness and several changes of striped stage shirts.  Apparently life as millionaire Teen Idols hasn't affected them enough to deepen their lyrics or attitudes. They sang their recorded songs about  young love for cars, water and girls with all the good humor and finesse heard on their recordings." These shows were recorded by Steve Desper and the tapes were released in 2018. The set list consisted of: "Help Me, Rhonda", “California Girls", “Sloop John B,” “Surfer Girl,” “Friends", “Little Bird,” “Wouldn't It Be Nice,” “Medley: Surfin' Safari/Fun, Fun, Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin' U.S.A,” “Do It Again", “Wake the World", “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring", “God Only Knows", “Good Vibrations", “Barbara Ann" and “Johnny B. Goode.”

Tuesday July 9, 1968

St. Paul Auditorium Theatre, St. Paul, MN- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

Wednesday July 10, 1968

Waterloo, IA- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz

This was a fill-in date booked by Irving Granz.  The accommodations were less than glamorous considering the group’s dressing room was in a horse stable.  The band recorded the show and it was released on the Beach Boys On Tour 1968

Thursday July 11, 1968

Ice Arena, Des Moines, IA- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz

Friday July 12, 1968

Memorial Hall, Salina, KS- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

The Beach Boys flew to Salina from Des Moines, arriving at 4:00 PM.  They found the sweltering heat of Kansas pretty intense and were dismayed by the lack of air conditioning at the venue.  The Salina Journal noted, “When asked if they’d like to come again, the Beach Boys replied that they’d be happy to come back but it would be in the spring or fall when the weather wasn’t quite so warm.”  They didn’t return till 1981.  Eric Stein Jr. reviewed the concert that night and commented that though he was not a huge admirer of the group, “I really must give them every credit they deserve for superb harmony.  ‘Hearts are Full of Spring’ was sung entirely acapella.  The audience raved about the Beach Boys and the whole show in general.”

Saturday July 13, 1968

Pershing Auditorium, Lincoln, NE- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (8:30 PM Show)

The band taped this show. The set list consisted of: “Darlin”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “California Girls”, “Sloop John B”, “Surfer Girl”, “Friends”, “Little Bird”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, a medley of “Fun Fun Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin’ USA”, “Do It Again”, “Wake the World”, “God Only Knows”, “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring” (the Beach Boys introduced the number as the song they had performed on the Tonight Show), “Good Vibrations”, “Barbara Ann” and “Johnny B. Goode.”

Sunday July 14, 1968

Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz

Monday July 15, 1968

Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM- with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (8:30 PM Show)

3,000 fans attended this show.  Prior to their performance, the Beach Boys gave an interview to Brian Tafoya of The Albuquerque Journal.  The group was asked how its music compared to the records they made three years ago.  They replied, “We dip back into our old songs but we try to write new songs-it’s what’s happening for us.”  Bruce told the reporter, “The audiences of today are listening first then screaming-not like a few years ago.  They used to scream during the whole concert, but now they are listening.”  The group also stated that they expected Brian’s unreleased gem “Can’t Wait Too Long” to be their next single, but this did not happen.

Tuesday July 16, 1968

Exhibition Building, Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix, AZ-with Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, the Human Beinz, Thackeray Rocke and Motion (8:30 PM Show)

The group taped this appearance and it was released on the Beach Boys On Tour 1968

Wednesday July 17, 1968

Convention Hall, San Diego, CA- Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and the Human Beinz (8:00 PM Show)

According to longtime fan Rob Shepherd, “Mike Love seemed far less upbeat than he had been the previous time I had seen the group in concert a year and a half earlier…Carl seemed really exuberant and happy and his positive attitude and obvious joy in singing and playing the music really enhanced the group’s on stage presence…At some point Mike announced that Brian Wilson was in the audience and Brian, sitting in the center of around the 3rd or 4th row, stood up and waved, turning in all directions.  I was disappointed that he didn’t come up on stage for at least a few songs… During the concert, Dennis had a guy standing next to him, watching him on the drum kit…I couldn’t figure out why he was there until Dennis came up to the front of the stage to sing ‘Little Bird.’… He seemed quite wobbly, and the guy who was standing next to him was holding onto Dennis’ arm.  When he got up to the mic, Dennis had this silly grin on his face and looked like he was either really high, totally bombed on alcohol or both…In any event, Dennis did a great job singing ‘Little Bird,’ as well as drumming...  The Beach Boys had a number of backing musicians, including four or five guys on horns who were sitting behind those little bandstand boxes and when it came time for them to play they would stand up.  Back then you would often see such an arrangement in older adult bands such as the musicians on the Lawrence Welk (TV) Show, but it seemed totally uncool to me for a rock band, like something an old geezer like Murry would have suggested.  I thoroughly enjoyed the concert, but found myself quite frustrated that the audience was rather subdued, clapping politely after each song, as opposed to the far more enthusiastic and participatory audience reaction the group had received in prior years.”

Friday August 2, 1968

Ottawa Civic Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Pickle Brothers and 3’s A Crowd (8:30 PM Show)

The group embarked on a three-week tour with the Box Tops and the Pickle Brothers.  Jack Lloyd accompanied them on the Canadian dates, while Dick Duryea handled gigs in the States, with help from Steve Korthof and Jon Parks.  Ed Carter played bass, Dennis Dragon played extra percussion and Doug Dragon played piano/keyboards.  The group rented a customized four engine Viscount Airplane from John Mecom, owner of the New Orleans Saints, to travel to shows.  They flew to major cities and then switched to a car, bus or charter plane to get to that night’s gig.  Carl told an Ottawa reporter, “The Viscount is really our main base of operations and we are always happy to see that big bird waiting for us with its comfortable seats and room to move around.”  The photo shows Al, manager Jack Lloyd and Pickle Brother Ron Prince on the Viscount.

The Beach Boys spoke to reporter Bill Provick after the show and he noted that the group “was enthusiastic about the response given to them by the Ottawa crowd…The Beach Boys stage image has changed somewhat.  Now they wear their hair longer and sport bright satin mod suits. But the quality of sound is still there: if not more so.  Having added a six-man backup orchestra to their show they’ve widened their scope and created a perfect foil for their professionalism.  As Carl Wilson, musical leader of the group, put it, ‘This wasn’t like the last visit here. No mob scenes. But we could have performed to that audience all night!”

Saturday August 3, 1968

Paul Sauve Centre, Montreal, QB, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Pickle Brothers and the Munks (8:30 PM Show)

Wilder Penfield III of the Montreal Star noted that the group came across as “well adjusted affluent good time kids.  Their hair is still short; their dress (aristocratic, knife creased suits of electric white) more couth than ever…The new songs are something quite different…the era of ‘Do You Wanna Dance?’ has been succeeded by the age of ‘When a Man Needs a Woman’ …Saturday’s performance, though, had the advantage of both; the old was generously mixed in with the new, and a medley of ‘Surfin’ Safari,’ ‘Shut Down,’ ‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ and ‘Surfin’ USA’ was enough of a memory bath to work the audience into a revivalist frenzy.”

Sunday August 4, 1968

Lord Beaverbrook Rink, Saint John, NB, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Pickle Brothers and F.J. and the Soul-fingers (8:30 PM Show)

Almost 6,000 fans attended this show.  Teenagers lined up around the block to catch a glimpse of the group.  Many also turned up to see the Box Tops, who were quite popular in Canada.  According to a reviewer, “The screams and noise was deafening when the Beach Boys hit the stage and the audience never wavered in their support for the two groups.”

Monday August 5, 1968

Halifax Forum, Halifax, NS, Canada-with the Box Tops and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

Doug Dragon recalled, “One of the funniest things I remember (on that tour).  Leave it to Dennis Wilson to do this!  He had some young gal up there in Canada…maybe 17 or 18 and he stashed her in the upper cabin stowaway thing to get her over the border.  When we got back to the States, Jack Lloyd just saw red!  He said, ‘get that blonde back to Canada man!’”

Tuesday August 6, 1968

Bangor Auditorium, Bangor, ME-with the Box Tops, the Barracudas, and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM)

Wednesday August 7, 1968

Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, NH-with the Box Tops, the Pickle Brothers, the Spectras and the Vogues

Dick Ray, of the local band the Spectras, recalled that they were invited by the Beach Boys “back to their hotel for a few cold ones after the show.  They stayed at Lamie's Tavern in downtown Hampton, which is about 3 miles inland from the beach.  They said they didn't like the beach atmosphere and didn't want to stay at the beach, which I thought was unusual, given their name.”  Ray related that trumpeter Bob Lassonde ended up hanging out with Dennis that night.  “Dennis wanted to rent a bike and pedal around Hampton Beach.  Dennis put on dark glasses and a hat so he wouldn't be recognized, and they rented a tandem bike.  Dennis was still pretty drunk so Bob had to do the lion's share of the pedaling.  Eventually, some girls recognized Dennis.  They started screaming and running after the bike.  Bob had to pedal like crazy to get out of there because Dennis wasn't much help.  They did manage to elude them.”  The photo shows Dennis with Alex Chilton of the Box Tops

Thursday August 8, 1968

Boy’s Club, Pittsfield, MA-with the Box Tops and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

Friday August 9 to Sunday August 11, 1968

Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ-with the Box Tops and the New Christy Minstrels

Doug Dragon recalled, “We did three gigs on the Steel Pier.  It was great…A very responsive audience.  I had a ball! Those summer tours were always fun.”  Amusement Business listed shows in Reading, PA (August 13), Harrisburg, PA (14), Wheeling, WV (15), and Charleston, WV (16), but none of them took place.  Instead, the group took a five-day break for promotion, including TV appearances on The Mike Douglas Show (where they performed “Do It Again,” “Wake the World” and “Darlin”), The Happening TV Show (miming Do It Again (mimed performance interspersed with clips from Do It Again Surf Shop Video), Wake the World and introducing a clip of the Friends promo video), The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (oddly their last appearance on this show until 1984) and The Dick Cavett Show. The photo shows the Boxtops performing at the Steel Pier during this residency. However, I have yet to find a photo of the BBs at the Steel Pier.

Thursday Aug 15 1968

Bay Theater, Green Bay, WI-with the Box Tops, The Pickle Brothers and Mother Smack (two shows)

The Green-Bay Press Gazette criticized the Beach Boys backing band for playing too loud but noted, "Whenever the band shut up, the "boys" came out at their best. That was the case when Carl Wilson Sang "Surfer Girl" and when the whole bunch sang "Barbara Ann." I was not aware of this show when my book was published.  The BBs taped these shows.

Friday August 16 1968

Clowes Hall, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN-with the Box Tops and the Pickle Brothers (two shows)

The Indianapolis Star reviewer noted, "We were surprised at their lack of professionalism and stage presence. especially for a group of such national stature. Dredging the memory mills, they sang a medley of "oldies but moldies", including 'Shut Down,' 'Little Deuce Coupe' and 'Surfing' USA'. They added a nostalgic 'Wouldn't It Be Nice,' 'Sloop John B' and a sea-drenched 'California Girls.' They had microphone problems which lent a  muffled ocean-roar tone to several of their songs." I was unaware of this show when I wrote my book.  The photo shows Dennis giving an interview backstage.

Saturday August 17, 1968

Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ-with the Box Tops, The Brooklyn Bridge, and the Pickle Brothers (Two shows at 7:30 and 9:45 PM)

Bette Spero of the Asbury Park Press noted, “A fast paced Help Me Rhonda started off the show and set the scene for more ‘surfing sounds.’  The audience gave the Boys a big hand, as it heard the strains of California Girls and enthusiastically took lead singer Mike Love’s invitation to join in and clap hands to the beat.  Sloop John B, one of their earliest hits, showed clear folk-singing harmony but the sound has changed a bit and now there are strains of tambourines in the background. A little slower and lower paced was Surfer Girl and then the Boys picked up the beat again with Wouldn’t It Be Nice.  The night’s marathon number was a real psychedelic sound, Good Vibrations, with sharp, whining strains in the background.  For their finale the Boys threw in a little Chuck Berry for good measure and closed their show with a very fast-paced Johnny B. Goode.”

Sunday August 18, 1968

Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison, WI-with the Box Tops and the Pickle Brothers (7:30 PM Show)

This was a makeup date for fans that bought tickets for the canceled May 13 show with Maharishi.  Only a paltry 1500 people attended.  Perhaps as a result, John Gruber of the Wisconsin State Journal reported that the group played most of their hits in a perfunctory manner without their “usual dash.”  He suggested that they stuck to their older surf songs too much and only seemed to come alive when they played some of their newer numbers, which predictably got less crowd response.  “For a listener, the most notable exceptions were ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Wake the World,’ and ‘God Only Knows,’ songs whose gentle lyrics and winding melodies reflect the ‘new’ Beach Boys.”

Monday August 19, 1968

Winnipeg Auditorium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Surprise Package and the Pickle Brothers

Tuesday August 20, 1968

Exhibition Stadium, Regina, SK, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Surprise Package and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM Show)

Wednesday August 21, 1968

Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Surprise Package and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM Show)

Lydia Dotto of the Edmonton Journal reported that the Beach Boys “competence and professionalism on stage were beyond question.  An especially good sound system (their own, I believe) enabled them to overcome the very considerable acoustics problem at the Edmonton Gardens, which is no small feat… In all, a completely enjoyable show.”  The photo shows Al and Bruce being interviewed that day on a local show.

Thursday August 22, 1968

Stampede Corral, Calgary, Alberta, Canada-with the Box Tops, the Surprise Package and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

Friday August 23, 1968

Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, WA-with the Box Tops, the Surprise Package and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM Show)

Only 4,000 fans turned out for this concert.  Jack Swanson of the Spokesman Review declared that the “five aging millionaires…drew mixed reactions from the half full Coliseum of young fans…They treated their clapping audience to several old favorites, a bit of teen level smut and some new tunes from their latest hit record…Hecklers interrupted the quiet songs with shouts of ‘speak up’ and ‘where’s your razor?’”  Peter Lee of the Pickle Brothers alleged in his recent memoir Leave Em' Laughing that he and Dennis wilson participated in an orgy later that night at the hotel.

Saturday August 24, 1968

Boise High School Auditorium, Boise, ID-with the Box Tops and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM)

This was the last show of the tour. The BBs were supposed to play two shows but ultimately only played one. Bruce was enthusiastic about the tour.  He told Keith Altham of the New Musical Express, “We broke every attendance record in the book! I was beginning to think that with the Cream thing and Jimi Hendrix breaking so big out here, we were dying. But we got unbelievable receptions.”

Saturday, September 7, 1968

Lagoon, Farmington, UT-with the Box Tops (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

Friday September 20 and Saturday September 21, 1968

Hall of Music, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN-with Odetta and Rich Little (Two shows each night at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

The Beach Boys made the first of three appearances at Purdue.  Mike and Bruce (briefly sporting a full beard) were photographed backstage, while giving a brief interview to the student newspaper.  The Exponent reported, “That Mike and Bruce were ‘personable’, that Mike could display irritability but was basically an extremely cool and collected person and that they lean to the left politically was about all that was able to be gleaned in a 10-minute span.”

Friday September 27 and Saturday September 28, 1968

Melodyland Theatre, Anaheim, CA-with Grassroots and Sweetwater (One show on Friday at 8:30 PM and two shows on Saturday at 7:00 and 10:00 PM)

While he did not join them onstage, Brian attended at least one of these concerts and took part in a pre-show event.  He and the other Beach Boys each stood at a different entrance to the circular venue and signed autographs.  One Hawthorne High alumni that came through Brian’s door struck up a conversation with him about their alma mater and was invited to sit in the family section.  Brian spent the entire concert peppering him with questions about the Hawthorne High football team.

David Mark Dashev of the Los Angeles Times reviewed the opening show. He noted, “In spite of the starchy arrangements, their voices never sounded better.  At times their harmonies were quite intricate and there were moments of genuine excitement, as in their rendition of ‘God Only Knows.’  For the most part, however, the performance seemed programmed, with the group wearing the tedium of singing the same songs too many times.”  Alex Del Zoppo, keyboardist of opening act Sweetwater, was greatly impressed by the Beach Boys.  He recalled that the “gig was the first that we had seen where a band took their own P.A. system along, used small amps, mic’d and pumped the instrumental sound through said sound system after being perfectly balanced through their mixing board, along with the exquisite vocal mix.  Of course, with the vocals being so very important to the group, it was almost necessary for them to do it that way…We were just so completely blown away with the vocal mix and indeed, the overall mix (as it sounded exactly like the records, but with even more power, and therefore, excitement).”

Friday October 11, 1968

Fillmore East, New York, NY-with Creedence Clearwater Revival (Two shows at 8:00 and 11:30 PM)

The Beach Boys spent a full week in New York during October 1968.  In addition to performing two concerts, they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 13, singing live versions of “Do It Again” and “Good Vibrations” over pre-recorded backing tracks.  The group also spent three days in a recording studio working on their upcoming 20/20 LP.

The Fillmore booking was controversial from the start.  The Beach Boys and the Turtles were scheduled to appear on the same weekend at the venue owned by Bill Graham.  It led to howls of protest by the intelligentsia who viewed both bands as bubble-gum music and not hip enough to play at the Fillmore.  The Village Voice, the leading underground paper in the city, argued Graham was selling out to gain mass appeal and declared it “the weekend the Fillmore tried out as a whore.” Robert Shelton of the New York Times noted that 1,900 fans were in attendance for the first show.

Russ Bodnar was one of those fans and he recalled, “The highlight was mid-show when Dennis Wilson stepped away from the drums to the spotlight and sang ‘Little Bird’ with the tasty horns and a banjo part (played by Al)…one of my all time favorite live music experiences!”  Other critics, however, were less kind.  Robert Shelton contended that the Beach Boys failed to measure up to their recordings and were overshadowed by opening act Creedence Clearwater Revival.  The Village Voice argued that the group had nothing new to say and disparagingly noted that they received applause “as every old tune was trotted out…Nostalgia alone can’t support even ‘California Girls’ and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice.’  It’s no news that going home again is a bad trip.”  The group was stung by the negative reviews.  Bruce Johnston contended that the reviewers were biased against them.  He told the Hartford Courant, “there was criticism from reviewers, but they were all ‘heavy’ reviewers.  I think they were bugged because we sold out…they were hoping we’d bomb.  I think they thought we were too flashy.  We’re not trying to be ‘in’ with any group…with the hippies or the teens.  We just do what we like and try to do it the best we can.”

Although the group would work with promoter Bill Graham in the future, their relationship got off to a rocky start on this night.  According to Chip Rachlin, who later worked for Graham, the group challenged the Fillmore’s box office sales figures and demanded a stub count, which meant that the Fillmore staff had to spend hours after the show re-counting each ticket stub by hand while a Beach Boys’ representative watched.  Graham angrily swore he’d never book them again, which proved to be an empty threat.

Friday October 18, 1968

Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, TN-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

The Pickle Brothers, and the 1910 Fruitgum Company (who had a top ten hit with '1,2,3 Red Light') supported the group on this tour.  The backup band consisted of Ed Carter, Mike Kowalski and Doug Dragon.    Jack Lloyd acted as road manager with Steve Desper, Jon Parks, and Steve Korthof also along.

Saturday October 19, 1968

Greenville Memorial Auditorium, Greenville, SC-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM Show)

In his 2010 memoir Endless Summer: My Life with the Beach Boys, road manager Jack Lloyd stated that while driving to the hotel, Dennis and some members of their entourage threw stones at an abandoned building on the side of the road, breaking some glass.  When the police were called, Dennis allegedly panicked and swallowed a chunk of hashish that he was carrying, which made him very ill.  The officer that was summoned did not suspect that Dennis had drugs on him but threatened to arrest him for vandalism.  Jack Lloyd managed to talk him out of it and Dennis recovered in time to play the gig!

Sunday October 20, 1968

Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

Jack Lloyd alleged that Dennis was in a “surly” mood when the band went onstage because he had been unable to “finish” his business with a girl that he’d picked up before taking the stage.  According to Jack, Dennis “was practically sleepwalking through the show” so he threw a frisbee at him.  “Pretty soon he was having such a good time, he forgot to sulk and was fine the rest of the concert.”

Tuesday October 22, 1968

Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company, the Pickle Brothers and Tom Dooley and the Lovelights (7:30 PM Show)

Following the Greensboro show, Jack Lloyd, Carl, Dennis and Mike decided to immediately drive the 600 miles to Louisville, so they could spend their day off relaxing.  Jack alleged that he drove over 100-miles per hour to get there fast!

Thursday October 24, 1968

Dobyns-Bennett High School Gym, Kingsport, TN-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

Friday October 25, 1968

Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (7:00 PM Show)  and Salem-Roanoke Civic Center, Salem, VA-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM Show)

The BBs played two concerts on this night. According to Jack Lloyd, Dennis allegedly acquired some drugs prior to the second gig, which caused him to play badly. When he came offstage, Jack read him the riot act.  “I said, ‘Dennis I don’t give a shit what you do after a concert or when we’re not working, but you will never do that to me again!’ He never did, except once, but that was after I resigned and came back to do a few more special dates for them.”

Saturday October 26, 1968

Civic Center, Charleston, WV-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company and the Pickle Brothers (8:30 PM Show)

Following this concert, the group had to travel to Georgia.  They were tired and no one was in the mood to take turns at the wheel for the long drive, so they rented a bus and hired a driver allowing the group to sleep on the way.

Sunday October 27, 1968

Municipal Auditorium, Columbus, GA-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company, Johnny Barfield and the Antique Zoo (2:00 PM Show) and Macon Coliseum, Macon, GA-with the 1910 Fruitgum Company, the Pickle Brothers and ten unnamed bands from Georgia (3:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys played an early afternoon show in Columbus before heading to Macon for the last concert of the tour.  The Macon show was a makeup for the April 11 concert canceled in the wake of Dr. King’s death.  Unfortunately, the Beach Boys, who were supposed to go onstage around 4:30 PM, did not get to the venue until 7:00 PM.  The late arrival angered many young fans and their parents.  Promoter Junior Watts complained to the Macon News that the group ripped him off.  He claimed that he specifically paid them an extra $500 so that they could fly to Macon and make the gig on time, but the group pocketed the money, driving there in a bus instead.  Watts claimed that he lost $2,000 on the show because he had to issue refunds to many people.  The group claimed that flying wouldn’t have gotten them there any sooner and refused to give the promoter back his money.

Saturday November 23, 1968

Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH (Afternoon Show) and Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH-with the Gears, the Grass Roots and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

After a hectic month spent trying to complete their 20/20 album (which would be released in February 1969), the group flew to Columbus to begin a short tour before heading to Europe.  Ed Carter, Mike Kowalski and Daryl Dragon accompanied them.  The Beach Boys played an afternoon benefit at Children’s Hospital, prior to that night’s concert.  A number of charity shows were performed during this period to help Carl’s draft case.  While the Judge had requested that he report for duty at a military hospital, Carl preferred to play benefit shows instead.  Unfortunately, it did not completely please the court and he would find himself back before a judge in 1969.  The Beach Boys allegedly partied that night after the second gig (taking in a performance of Kenny Rogers and the First Edition at the Bistro) and the photo, taken by manager Jack Lloyd, shows a tired Carl early the next morning waiting to go to the airport.

Sunday November 24, 1968

Canton Memorial Auditorium, Canton, OH-with the Grassroots, the Chylds, and the Pickle Brothers (3:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys stopped in Canton for the fourth year in a row.  Sue Scott of the Dover Times Reporter noted, “The crowd came…alive with their opening number, ‘Darling,’ and the audience enthusiasm continued to build through ‘California Girls’ and ‘Sloop John B.’  Carl sang the popular ‘Surfer Girl’ and Al…was featured in ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice.’  A medley of their best-known numbers followed.  ‘Do It Again’ gave the audience an opportunity for hand clapping and then Mike went ‘wild’ on his electric organ during a new dimension in sound, ‘Good Vibrations.’  The concert concluded with a longtime Beach Boy favorite, ‘Barbara Ann.’”

Monday November 25, 1968

Bushnell Memorial, Hartford, CT-with the Grassroots, Damn Yankees and the Pickle Brothers (7:30 PM Show)

Reviewer Barry Gilbert of the Hartford Courant reported the Beach Boys “were better than they’ve been on records or TV for a long time.  Backed by a band from New York City, their singing, which has been their base for years, once again broke through, although they couldn’t quite make the high notes of their older hits.”  The group informed Gilbert backstage that they enjoyed the concert, which included three songs from their upcoming 20/20 album, “Do It Again,” “Bluebirds Over The Mountain,” and “All I Want To Do.” Dennis remarked, however, that “where I sit I can’t see too much of the audience so I don’t have the chance to form any opinion.  There are two speakers aimed back at me so I can hear how things sound and adjust the band accordingly.”

Tuesday November 26, 1968

Stanley Theatre, Jersey City, NJ-with the Grassroots and the Pickle Brothers (8:00 PM Show)

The set list for this show consisted of “Darlin’”, “Sloop John B”, “California Girls”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “I Get Around”, “Do It Again”, “Wake the World”, “Bluebirds Over the Mountain”, “God Only Knows”, “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring”, “Good Vibrations”, “Barbara Ann” and “All I Want to Do.”

Wednesday November 27, 1968

Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA-with the Grassroots, the Pickle Brothers and the Beacon St. Union (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

Paul Kneeland of The Boston Globe reported, “The Beach Boys…were on stage for less than an hour.  But what they did pleased the audience tremendously; every song had been a hit on one of their Capitol records…What they do-and do so well-is interpret in a song, and with such a keen feeling for warmth, the friendship and love that can grow between a boy and a girl; genuine affection might be an even better phrase to sum up what they put across in, for example, ‘Their Hearts Were Full of Spring.’”

Sunday December 1, 1968

London Palladium, London, England-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

The Beach Boys flew to the U.K. on Thursday, November 28 to begin a three-week tour of Europe.  Road managers Dick Duryea, Steve Korthof and Jon Parks and Engineer Steve Desper and his $250,000 sound-system accompanied them.  To further bolster their sound, they also hired a large horn section for the tour.  Ed Carter (bass), Mike Kowalski (percussion) and Daryl Dragon (keyboards) completed the touring group.

The group spent Saturday November 30th rehearsing at BBC studios, where they taped an appearance for the Christmas edition of Top of the Pops.  Later that night, Bruce, Al and Mike visited Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb’s house where they “sang songs and strummed guitars until 4 AM.”   For their English dates, the Beach Boys toured with a traditional U.K. package show, featuring five support acts.  As headliners, they closed the concerts with a set of eleven songs.  The tour kicked off with two sold-out shows at the London Palladium. Lon Goddard of Record Mirror stated, “The Beach Boys put on what may be termed the best stage presentation yet.  Applause was universal as a prelude to every number, and the set included exceptional reproductions of such memorable greats as ‘Sloop John B’, ‘God Only Knows’, ‘California Girls’, ‘Darlin’, ‘Barbara Ann’, and a very fine version of ‘Good Vibrations.’”  Gordon Coxhill of Top Pops was one of the few reporters to sound a slightly sour note, declaring that while “it is unfair to expect perfect stage reproduction of the fantastic sounds the Beach Boys achieve on record…this concert…served as ample proof of the widening gulf between a top group’s studio sound and the attempt to reproduce the same sound live.”

EMI recorded the Palladium shows for a possible album. However, the British Musician’s Union and the American Federation of Musicians failed to reach an agreement, preventing the tapes from being used.  The dispute was eventually settled in time for the Astoria shows on December 8 to be recorded.  The shows performed at the Palladium surfaced on the 2018 release: “The Beach Boys on Tour 1968.”

Monday December 2, 1968

Colston Hall, Bristol, UK-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

The Beach Boys first Bristol appearance was hailed by The Evening Post reviewer as “one big triumph.  The five Californians sounded as healthy as they looked and a packed house gave them one of the noisiest receptions of the year…They sang quite a few of their hits-including Barbara Ann, Good Vibrations, Do It Again and God Only Knows.  The act was dated, cheerful, quite funny and obviously just what the howling audience wanted.”

Wednesday December 4, 1968

City Hall, Sheffield, England-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows at 6:30 and 8:50 PM)

Dennis celebrated his 24th birthday in Sheffield.  Bob Farmer for Disc and Music Echo interviewed him and his fellow Beach Boys backstage at Sheffield City Hall.  Asked to comment on the continual absence of Brian, Mike stated, “He gets too uptight and that doesn’t help when you’re touring.  Brian’s a very sensitive, artistic, musical genius who is paranoid of being in any environment other than in his home and family.  He’s a very domestic kind of person.”  When asked if they had considered cutting back on touring, as the Beatles had, Mike replied, “The thing is, unlike the Beatles, we feel that if we’re in the pop business, we should do the touring because that’s all part of it.  It helps keep you current.”

Thursday December 5, 1968

Odeon, Manchester, England- with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

Friday December 6, 1968

Odeon, Birmingham, England-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

The photo shows the band on November 30, 1968 taping an appearance for the Christmas edition of Top of the Pops on which they mimed to Do It Again. The appearance is apparently lost.

Saturday December 7, 1968

Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

The photo was taken in London probably on the 8th.

Sunday December 8, 1968

Finsbury Park Astoria, London, England-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

EMI recorded these shows and performances were edited together and released in the U.K. for the 1970 release Live in London.  American fans had to wait until 1976 for the release in the states, under the title Beach Boys ’69.  Both shows, as well as soundchecks were released in 2018. The photo was taken the next day, when the BBs were filmed walking along the Thames for Top of the Pops.

Tuesday December 10, 1968

Odeon, Glasgow, Scotland-with Barry Ryan, Bruce Channel, Vanity Fare, Eclection and Sharon Tandy with Fleur De Lys (Two shows)

Friday December 13, 1968

Kongresshalle, Dusseldorf, West Germany-with the Black Cats (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys flew to Munich on December 12 to tape appearances on the ZDF TV shows Star Parade and Musik Fur Junge Leute (aka 4, 3, 2, 1 Hot and Sweet).  Vic Kettle shot behind the scenes footage at the tapings.  On Friday the group performed the first of two German concerts.  Martin Blok of the Rheinische Post was unimpressed by the group’s live sound: “In the Kongresshalle the amps were too loud.  The five stars from the west coast, aided by an eight-man orchestra, followed suit.  They weren’t avant-garde pop-authors but rather darlings spoiled by the audience, getting the applause anyhow.  They played and sang many of their best creations in a clichéd manner, showing their vocal and instrumental abilities from time to time, but mainly affecting the audience with their aggressive rhythm…As long as the instruments on stage were warm the audience was on fire, but as soon as they left the stage, the applause faded away.  Of course, they didn’t come back for an encore and there wasn’t any magic left.”

Saturday December 14, 1968

Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands-with Geebos

The Beach Boys spent the day at the Theater De Brakke Grond recording a mini concert for the NCRV TV show Twien.  They mimed to “Do It Again”, “Friends”, “California Girls”, “Darlin”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “Sloop John B”, “Good Vibrations”, “God Only Knows”, and “Barbara Ann” before a live audience.

The nighttime appearance at the Concertgebouw marked the group’s first Dutch concert.  A reporter from Muziek Express, who heard of their reputation as a weak live act, commented, “Fortunately the Beach Boys realized that a live performance is not just playing a few hits, but must also be worth seeing.  They apparently have worked on their appearance and also the instrumentation has been upgraded to a higher level.  The result: the first concert of the Beach Boys has become one of the finest pop happenings of the year 1968!”

Sunday December 15, 1968

Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, Belgium

The concert in Brussels was televised on Belgian TV. The photo, however, is from the previous day’s television taping of Twien in Amsterdam.

Daryl Dragon was on the tour and recalled, “The only thing I didn’t like about touring in Europe was the cold winter.  I was with the other musicians, a lot of whom were English, and I was stuck with them that whole tour.  And they got an English bus, which wasn’t used to the cold in Europe.  They put it on a ferry and got across the English Channel and we were all on the bus except the Beach Boys, who flew over there and had beautiful limos.  And I have never been so cold in my life.  Every musician got sick, every one of them. I thought they were all going to die from pneumonia.  I spent all my money on a sheepskin coat.  I wrapped myself in that and I stayed warm.”

Monday December 16, 1968

Stadthalle, Bremen, West Germany-with the Black Cats (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys spent the afternoon at the Osterholz television studios recording the first of two appearances on Beat Club.  They mimed to three songs, which were broadcast separately.  “Bluebirds over the Mountain” aired on Dec 31, 1968, “Do It Again” was shown on January 25, 1969 and “California Girls” aired on March 29, 1969.  Although the shows aired in black and white, Vic Kettle filmed color footage of the taping.  He also shot film of Carl walking outside of his hotel, looking at birds.  Footage of the group at an ice skating rink was probably also shot on this day.

The concert that night was well received by 3000 fans, many of who lit sparklers that brightened the venue. Margot Walther of Bremer Nachricten reported, “Dressed in blinding white…the sunny boys from California supremely dominated the show.  Pop music fully developed for a concert.  Vocalists with heavenly self confidence…they succeeded in seducing their fans from far away within little more than thirty minutes…They conjured up ‘Bluebirds Over the Mountains, came with the sensational ‘Pet Sounds’ and passionately interpreted ‘Wake the World.’”  The concert, however, was not without incident.  The Weser Kurier reported, “’Do It Again’ made the female audience scream in a frenzied way, which in turn animated the choirboys on the stage.  Dennis, the drummer of the California skylarks, beat so vehemently on his drums that the calfskin tore apart.”  The Norddeutsche Volkszeitung added that he “furiously threw the pedals of his (snare) drums across the stage (into the audience) and eventually jumped over boxes and bins to complain to the engineer about the instruments lack of quality.  The microphone apparently also wasn’t a match for Mike Love’s needs and requirements, so that it had to be hastily replaced.  It didn’t break the mood.”  Many fans were disappointed by the shortness of the concert.  The group was onstage for little more than a half hour and played no encore.  According to Walther, “Only two fans were completely happy.  They had confiscated drummer Dennis’s drum sticks that had flown with a high curve into the audience.”

Following the Bremen concert, the Beach Boys traveled to Frankfurt on Tuesday December 17 and caught an afternoon flight to Milan to appear on Italian television.  RAI TV News was at the airport to film their arrival.  The group taped appearances for the show Settavocci (Seven Voices) that aired on December 22, 1968 and January 22 1969.  They also attended a cocktail party held in their honor by EMI Italy.

The group was back in London to tape another piece for Top of the Pops on the 18th.  While there, Al and Carl visited Blaises nightclub to see a South African band called the Flame, who’d opened a weeklong engagement on December 15.  Steve Desper recalled, “It was Alan who first saw them and he tried to convince Carl to go back and check them out.  Eventually he convinced Carl to go back the next night to this bar where they were playing and then Carl took the reins from that point on.  He saw the talent and wanted to get them out of Europe and South Africa and over to the states to sign them up.”  Carl spent much of 1969 working to get them visas so they could come to California, where he planned to produce them for Brother Records.