Ian Rusten & Jon Stebbins - 'The Beach Boys In Concert'

Not just a detailed document of the band's live history, but a reference book delivered in a concise and digestible form.

Published by: Backbeat Books

This book was put together by Beach Boys historians and music lovers Ian Rusten and Jon Stebbins. Having read Jon Stebbins' books on Beach Boy drummer and singer Dennis Wilson ('The Real Beach Boy - The Lost Beach Boy'), I was quite aware of his depth of knowledge on the band.

It's an attractive, large hard back, printed on glossy paper complete with anecdotes, rare photos and concert posters, covering every year since 1961 to the 50th anniversary tour of 2012. This is four hundred pages of exhaustive detail. Be warned, this is not for the casual fan looking for a biography on the band. There are plenty of those around, and I would recommend 'Heroes and Villains' by Steven Gaines if that's what you are after.



It is not until we leave the teen years of the bands' history behind and enter the later years of 1967 that the legendary work of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys really emerges. Documenting Brian's retirement from the stage and Bruce Johnstone's arrival to the band, we emerge from the surfing years with a new-found maturity and more soulful musical delivery.
Every support slot, venue and mishap (there are plenty as Dennis Wilson finds his place on and off the stage) and set list is offered here in fine detail. That's not to say it's all facts and figures. There are plenty of quotes from all band members that give a whole new perspective on each decade of their existence.

Not just a detailed document of the band's live history, but a reference book delivered in a concise and digestible form. If you ever wondered why The Beach Boys were called America's band, this book may go a long way to explaining that.

Ray Paul