The latest word from The Beach Boys is that they have cancelled all of their tour dates through the next two months ... put intend to resume their shows in September after a bit of some much-needed "recharging." (Again, all fingers point to Mike Love, the 85 year old leader and frontman as being the only likely candidate in need of recharging. And honestly, if something isn't being done to strengthen his vocals, more postponements and cancellations can be expected.)
Their official statement reads like this:
Playing for you is the highlight of our summer every year — especially as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States while saluting the 60th Anniversary of Pet Sounds. We’ve been having a blast out there, and to keep the good vibrations going strong, we’ll be taking a short break to recharge before getting back on the road in September. All tickets for postponed performances (July 23 through September 3) will be honored following our return in late September. Please contact your local box office for additional information and questions. Thanks for your love — we can’t wait to see you back out there for a September to Remember.
The updated schedule shows the following dates ... including one some ten months away in 2027!
9 / 24 - The Big E – The Big E Arena in West Springfield, MA
9 / 25 - The Sounds of Summer Concert Series in Quakertown, PA
9 / 27 - Alabama Theatre in North Myrtle Beach, SC
10 / 9 - Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, IL
10 / 10 - PNC Pavilion at Riverbend in Cincinnati, OH
10 / 11 - Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN
10 / 19 - Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Grey Eagle Event Centre in Calgary, AB
11 / 11 and 11 / 12 - Walt Disney World Resort, Florida – Epcot, America Gardens Theatre in Orlando, FL
11 / 13 - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Bristol in Bristol, VA
5 / 8 / 27 -River Cree Resort and Casino – Entertainment Centre in Enoch, AB
As explained the other day, most of the venues experiencing cancelled shows this month and next don't have rescheduling dates available to them due to other commitments ... or, in the case of quite a few State Fairs, an alternate solution. (Love also has his mansion currently up for sale ... so I think it's pretty safe to say that we are approaching the end of an era here ... it's really just a matter of HIM personally accepting this fate.) kk
Speaking of Dinosaur Rockers from the '60's, The Rolling Stones debuted at #7 on this week's Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. This makes "Foreign Tongues" their record-breaking 39th Top Ten LP in America. (In contrast, I can honestly say that I don't know if Mick Jagger has ever sounded better! He has definitely whethered the storm better than most vocally. Their new album, along with "Hackney Diamonds" from a couple of years ago, rank right up there with the best LP's The Stones have ever recorded!)
Billboard points out that when The Stones first hit The Top Ten back in December of 1964 with their album "12 x 5," they shared their first Top Ten status with The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, The Supremes, The Beatles and Dean Martin ... not bad company for a brand new band!
To still be right up there sharing space with the hottest acts in pop music 62 years later is really saying something. (Of course, Paul McCartney was just in The Top Ten as well ... and appears as a guest artist on the new Stones LP again!) And Michael Jackson is still in the Top Ten with his 1983 album "Thriller," now in its 727th week on the chart! (kk)
More on Paul below ...
The photo of Paul Face-Timing Ringo - priceless!!
Bravo!
Phil
UPDATE: McCartney's success with his "The Boys Of Dungeon Lane" was short-lived ... after premiering at #5 it fell to #145 the following week (meaning that probably everybody who was going to buy it did so as a preorder) and now, a couple of weeks later, it has already fallen off the chart. That's a shame ... it is easily McCartney's best work in at least 25 years.)
If the new Monkees Comic Book isn’t enough to fill your appetite for all things Monkees during their 60th Anniversary celebration, how about a brand new Monkees coloring book!!!
https://monkeesstore.warnermusic.com/
(more Monkees news below!)
At The Guess Who concert Thursday night, a couple sitting next to me pulled out their phone after asking me who I write for (a question I get every concert) and sat reading Forgotten Hits during the intermission, commenting on what a great site it is, how much they will enjoy sitting and reading it at home, and how come they didn't know about this sooner.
Shelley
Keep spreading the good word, Shelley … and let us know what you thought of the show. (kk)
Timmy sent us this photo, asking the musical question “Guess Who” …
The Great Sax Player Plas Johnson Died July 16, 2026. He Was 94 years Old.
Plas Is Probably Best Known For His Sax Solo On "THE PINK PANTHER THEME." He Was Also A Member Of The Wrecking Crew.
Plas Played Sax On These Hits ---
1956 - "THE GREAT PRETENDER" / PLATTERS
1957 - "MY SPECIAL ANGEL" / BOBBY HELMS
1958 - "THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER" / SHEB WOOLEY
FRANK B.
Tom Cuddy sent us this posting by Gary "U.S." Bonds ...
Another Freddy memory ...
A buddy of mine ran across this cool interview with George Harrison talking about Paul doing the guitar feedback opening on "It’s All Too Much" and good stuff. Then I replied below with a RADIO story of mine that you may or may not have seen from me OR cared to read. :)
https://www.meetthebeatlesforreal.com/2024/03/the-billboard-interview-with-george.html
I have mentioned this before, but I fell in love with It’s All Too Much and Hey Bulldog when Ron Riley at WLS Chicago started playing them as an exclusive in mid-November, 1968. We recorded them more than once around November 13 or so. I know because I made my own radio surveys weekly from 1963-1976 hoping to become a radio station DJ and pretending then to have my own station, KLGR AM and shortly to bill it as STEREO FM thanks to my brother Roger becoming interested in stereo KEYN-FM in Wichita while at college. This "new" stereo thing was great.
We recorded the songs off WLS with this radio and this recorder. I still have the Bell recorder. Attached is a 1-minute segment of Ron's show that night when, like so many past nights, we listened and found a new gem not many would have for months!
Anyway, I put a little paragraph on my survey in November mentioning the exact date my station premiered it (of course, WLS actually) in mid-November. The two songs quickly hit my chart on November 18 (below) at # 23 & 24.
Within a day or two, WLS was forced to stop playing both songs, making us wonder if it WAS a new 45, but sure it would be on their new album. How would it have 22 or 32 (you'll hear Ron mention BOTH amounts) songs? It was exciting to think! A double LP NEVER entered my head, as I’m not sure I'd ever SEEN such a thing. He calls the George song "You're Too Much" and quotes at as a 3:21 time. I once found a bootleg with a 3:21 time version, but it was terrible quality. I think it's basically a fade of the 6-minute version. I certainly got used to it after playing it dozens of times from tape BEFORE its release.
The White Album was released that VERY WEEK in UK and US late November and Rog was quick to buy it. WOW! 2 LPs and photos and lyric booklet inside! It's lucky Rog was employed, as the manufactured retail price was $11.98 and LPs normally sold for $3.98! I found many great songs as well as some I deemed "not so good." I was 12 years old. BUT where were the two WLS exclusive songs? NOT HERE??!!! I was shocked, yet a bit happy we had two unreleased songs still! Two LPs and they could not fit these two great songs in?
The Yellow Submarine LP comes out January 13, 1969 – three months after the WLS airing of the songs that finally can be BOUGHT in stores. It was still an exciting thing. MY chart below from that week had the two songs finally falling out of the top 10 at #16 and 17. Other Yellow Submarine songs would soon be climbing up my charts.
NOW, in retrospect, I can view things a little differently. The Yellow Sub FILM debuted in London in July, 1968, with segments of both "Hey Bulldog" AND "It's All Too Much"!!! The film would debut in the US in November, 1968! SO, WLS could have gleaned BOTH songs from the UK film, maybe. "Too Much" was cut from the US version of the film, so that would not be possible to do from it. Anyway, it's possible that WLS got an acetate from the UK, but maybe took it from the film in some way, considering that in 1968, that was not easy to do -- no DVDs then.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
Some great insight behind the new Peter Asher documentary ...
You HAVE to see this movie! (kk)
We told you about the new Monkees Comic Book volume that is coming in September …
And, (scroll up if you missed it), the new Monkees Coloring Book!
Now, here is the latest, most-updated information about the Monkees Fans Convention running September 4th – September 6th …
|
There has been SO much Monkees news lately, much of it tied into the 60th anniversary of their television shown debut on NBC.
In fact, TVLine, a very popular TV publication, recently ran a list of what THEY have deemed to be The 15 Best NBC TV shows of all time ... and The Pre-Fab Four came in at #5!!!
5. The Monkees
The producers thought they were casting a TV sitcom. Their lasting legacy was that they created a band.
Inspired by the Beatles' movie "A Hard Day's Night," "The Monkees" was a comedy about four young men trying to make it as a band, with surreal musical interludes that would help sell soundtrack albums. Eventually, those albums proved even more popular than the show. Initially, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, and Davy Jones primarily contributed vocals while outside songwriters and musicians created much of the music. The group soon fought for greater creative control and the right to perform its own material, proving it was a real band.
It worked because the four had great chemistry and improv skills. After two seasons, the TV show ended, though it resurfaced numerous times in reruns over the years, notably on MTV, as its musical scenes reminded new viewers of music videos. The band continued, initially breaking up in 1970 but reuniting several times thereafter.
Even John Lennon reportedly admired their comedy, comparing "The Monkees" to the Marx Brothers.
Read More: https://www.tvline.com/2215947/best-nbc-shows-ranked/
LAST CALL: This is your last chance to register for a chance to win a copy of the Micky Dolenz Carole King Tribute CD, "King For A Day." Shoot us an email with KING FOR A DAY in the subject line and you'll be automatically registered to win a copy. (kk)
IF THESE WALLS COULD ROCK
THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LEGENDARY ROCK AND ROLL SANCTUARY THE SUNSET MARQUIS HOTEL
FEATURING BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, RINGO STARR, BILLY BOB THORNTON, SLASH, DAVE GROHL, CYNDI LAUPER AND MANY MORE
By Harvey Kubernik
I’ve been conducting interviews with musicians, authors, and filmmakers at the famed Sunset Marquis Hotel since the early seventies. Author Deepak Chopra and Oscar-winning documentarian D.A. Pennebaker were two of my favorite encounters.
A media announcement describes the documentary ...
For more than 60 years, there has been one place in LA that has served as the home-away-from-home for the biggest names in rock and roll. Tucked just off the Sunset Strip, the Sunset Marquis Hotel became more than a place to stay while on tour. It became a creative sanctuary where songs were written, debauchery was shared, and music history unfolded behind closed doors.
Now, for the first time, that story is being told on screen.
Directed by Tyler Measom (Murder Among Mormons, An Honest Liar ) and Craig A. Williams, If These Walls Could Rock features rare archival footage, vivid animation and candid interviews, the film tells the story of rock n’ roll through the lens of this legendary hotel as shared by the artists who call it home - including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Billy Bob Thornton, Slash, Dave Grohl, Cyndi Lauper, Morrissey, Sheryl Crow, Roger Daltrey, Joe Elliot, Nancy Wilson, Steve Van Zandt and many more.
But beneath the iconic guest list and tales of rock misadventure lies a deeply personal story: the remarkable partnership between founder George Rosenthal and his son Mark, who transformed a modest West Hollywood “motel” into one of the most iconic destinations in music history.
“Within five minutes of walking in the Marquis, you may hear a rock and roll story that sounds completely made up, but come to learn is true,” say directors Measom and Williams. “Still beyond the many amazing musical stories, the father-and-son tale at the heart of the hotel is what truly inspired us to create this film.”
The film opens August 14th at the Landmark Sunset theatre in Los Angeles, accompanied by special post-screening Q&A events with the filmmakers and guests from the film, while launching simultaneously on Apple TV and Amazon.
If These Walls Could Rock was produced by longtime MTV executives Rick Krim, Robert Friedman, and Mike Powers (Bungalow Media+Entertainment) along with Mark Rosenthal, David Thurston, and Alexis Thurston.
(Harvey Kubernik’s Screen Gems: (Pop Music Documentaries and Rock ‘n’ Roll TV Scenes) was published in 2026 by BearManor Media).
Found this one in Rock Cellar ...
A great tribute (and/or parody) of Paul Simon's "Graceland" by Kyle Gordon called "Mr. Jambo."
VERY well done! (kk)
Another great find by Timmy!
Wow! Al's been pretty popular here lately!
And how about this one ...
A completely intact Partridge Family Board Game ... all the pieces in a VG+ box ...
With the game board itself signed by Shirley Jones!!!
We're currently taking offers ...
So if you're interested, drop us a line on this, too, with PF GAME in the subject line.
