Beach Boys Pre-Sale tickets on Sale

The Beatles and the Beach Boys are, without a doubt, my two favorite recording artists of all-time. 1 and 1A. A few moments ago, I purchased tickets to the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour at Pine Knob (what us ol' folks call "DTE Music Theater"). I have attended some 50 Beach Boys, Brian Wilson solo and Carl Wilson solo shows combined. As Ray Davies sang in "Rock N Roll Fantasy" I have seen them "high and seen them low." I have seen outstanding early 70's shows where Carl would sit at a keyboard and sing "Caroline No." I got to see a show in 1979 with what I would consider the entire classic Beach Boys lineup. Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love and early Brian Wilson stand-in Bruce Johnston who became, due to his long-time contributions to the band, an integral part of the Beach Boys sound. I have seen them perform shows were they appeared to "phone-in" their performance. One disastrous show in particular stands out. At a show in the early 80's at the Michigan State Fair, Brian was so out-of-it, it did not appear that he even knew where he was. 

The Reunion tour lineup will feature Brian, Mike, Al and Bruce along with short-time original Beach Boy (and sometime Al Jardine replacement) David Marks. I personally would love to see the lineup filled out with mid-70's members Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin (who memorably sang lead on "Sail On Sailor.") but as the band that Blondie tours with and sings back up for, the Rolling Stones sang, "You Can't Always Get What You Want." 

I will, of course, very much miss irreplaceable voices Carl and Dennis Wilson, but the combination of these classic Beach Boys, fronting the crack Brian Wilson band, should make for a fine show! Brian Wilson solo shows of the last 10 years, fronting a big band that features key former Beach Boys sideman Jeff Foskett, and LA's Wondermints were "can't-miss" musical events. While I did happen to see the Mike Love-Bruce Johnston licensed "Beach Boys", and found them to be enjoyable, they did not hold a candle to Brian's solo shows. 

Here's a little taste of some classic live Beach Boys to show you what these guys were capable of in their prime.