Wouldn't it be nice if bands we loved always got along?
Fans of rock history know that even the most balanced groups barely last a few years together before splintering off into solo project or breaking up entirely.
The Beach Boys were a group riddled with drama and led by an oft-misunderstood genius named Brian Wilson, who on this day in 1998 realized as the principle songwriter and architect of the legendary band's sound, maybe some people would be interested in hearing him play those hits without the other boys.
1997-1998 were tough years for the Wilsons, Brian's youngest brother, Carl, died in February of lung cancer. A few months before that their mother Audree died.
Perhaps sensing that storm, while not seeing eye to eye with the Beach Boys, Brian and his wife bought a second house in the Chicago suburbs of St. Charles where he could get away from Los Angeles and write songs.
The collaboration between the iconic songwriter and his co-writer at the time, a former professional wrestler, did not produce the type of material fans were hoping for, but it did lead to one thing that would stick with Wilson during the second chapter of his life: the love of performing and touring as a solo artist.
In '98 to support what would be his third solo album, Imagination, Wilson did a plethora of interviews and participated in the documentary named after the album that contained love from peers like Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton.
At its center was this first solo concert right there in St. Charles.
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Solo in this case does not mean alone.
Wilson was joined on stage with some pretty heavy hitters in his band including Christopher Cross, Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, and Bruce Johnston from the Beach Boys.
They only played six songs that night, three classics from the Beach Boys and three live debuts off imagination.
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The most touching was easily "Lay Down Burden," which he wrote for Carl, the lead guitar playing brother with a voice of an angel who sang lead on "God Only Knows" and "Good Vibrations." Brian said of the members of the large family, Carl was the one who always nice to everyone.
After the show Brian told the Chicago Tribune he was upset his singing voice wasn't as great as he had hoped, but once he got on the road the wrinkles were ironed out.
The last song they live debuted that night in the Illinois suburbs was "South American," a song Wilson co-wrote with none other than Jimmy Buffett. The men recorded it in Buffett's Key West studio.
"It sounded so cool, like old Pet Sounds stuff," Buffett said of Wilson's hook they built the song from.
Pet Sounds was always the standard by which great rock albums was compared. Shockingly it was the 10th record Brian wrote and he was just 23 when it was completed.
The success of that first solo show which lead to that first solo tour inspired Brian to continue to go it alone as much as he wanted.
For several years he put together ensembles and performed Pet Sounds as well as Smile as a solo act and audiences flocked to hear the craftsman of those tunes, harmonies, and good vibrations perform them unfettered.
On May 21, a new documentary of the Beach Boys will hit IMAX screens and be streamed on Disney+.
Participating theaters in the US include the following:
AMC Lincoln Square, NY
Regal Houston Marq*E, Houston
AMC Northpark, Dallas
AMC Boston Commons, Boston
AMC Metreon, San Francisco
AMC Tyson’s Corner, Washington DC
AMC Thoroughbred, Nashville
AMC Highlands, Denver
Regal City North, Chicago
AMC Mission Valley, San Diego
AMC Woodlands Square, Oldsmar, FL
AMC Rolling Hills, Torrance, CA
