10 fun facts you might not know about The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys promise plenty of “Fun, Fun, Fun” when they bring their “50 Years of Good Vibrations Tour” to the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex in Indiana on Nov. 16 and to Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh on Nov. 18.
The legendary band from Southern California that has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has received more than 33 Platinum and Gold record awards from the Recording Industry Association of America. Here are some things you may not know about the band.
1. Since lead vocalist and founding member Mike Love wrote the lyrics to The Beach Boys' first hit, “Surfin'” in 1961, many other hit records have followed, including “Surfin' USA,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Wouldn't It Be Nice” and more.
2. The Beach Boys today are led by Love and long-time member Bruce Johnston, along with Jeffrey Foskett, Brian Eichenburger, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill and Scott Totten.
3. Johnston joined the Beach Boys in 1965, replacing Glenn Campbell, who filled in for Brian Wilson when he retired from touring.
4. When the Beach Boys last played Greensburg's Palace Theatre in 2013, Love's son, Christian Love, was performing as singer/guitarist with the band.
5. It was 55 years ago last month, on Oct. 29, 1962, that the Beach Boys released their debut studio album, “Surfin' Safari.”
6. The Beach Boys were a perennial favorite in Pittsburgh in the ‘60s, playing at the former Syria Mosque in Oakland in 1964 and at the former Civic Arena in 1965 as part of the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars.
7. The band earned many honors, including being named the world's top musical group in England's Melody Maker poll in 1966 and band of the year by Rolling Stone magazine in 1975. The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 1988.
8. Brian Wilson hadn't been on stage with the Beach Boys since 1996 when he reunited with the band for its 50th anniversary tour in April 2012, playing at Pittsburgh's Benedum Center in May that year. The tour ended on a sour note four months later due to reported disagreements among band members.
9. When the Beach Boys performed at the Palace Theatre in April 2013, Love said it's hard to figure out why the band is popular even in countries where they don't speak the same language. “Audiences love the beat, our sound, our harmonies — and that we're from America,” he said.
10. When the song “Kokomo” hit No. 1 in November 1988, it gave the Beach Boys the longest span of chart toppers in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. More than 24 years earlier, “I Get Around” had topped the music chart in 1964.
Candy Williams is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.
