Live Memories (14) - The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion in Hong Kong

Following the previous entry, let's jump ahead in time to 2012. For some reason, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys has passed away. In his obituary, the British newspaper The Times called him "America's Mozart."

I looked up how many times I have written about Brian here. I've covered the documentary film "Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road" (2012), "Love & Mercy" (2014) where Paul Dano played Brian, and The Beach Boys' albums "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album" and "Surf's Up". He was 82 years old. His two younger brothers, Dennis and Carl, passed away at 39 and 51 respectively. Although he struggled with drug addiction, I believe he spent his final years happily with his second wife, Melinda, who passed away last year.

The Wilson brothers, their cousin Mike Love, and Al Jardine formed The Beach Boys in 1961, the year I was born. They produced masterpiece after masterpiece, but from the late 1980s, the band split due to issues surrounding Brian's solo career and his medical treatment, which had been the driving force of the band.

To commemorate their 50th anniversary, they embarked on a world tour in 2012 called "The 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour," which included Brian Wilson, and released the album "That's Why God Made The Radio," which was effectively their first album in 20 years. It was a masterpiece that made me feel like my beloved Beach Boys were back.

It was a tour that was almost a miracle. In any case, Brian loved his home, and during their heyday in the 1960s, he fell ill during a tour and withdrew from concert activities. The other members handled the tours on their own, while Brian focused on composing and producing at home and in the studio.

Although there were periods when he returned, this tour was the first one Brian had participated in since 1982.

The members included original members Brian, Mike Love, and Al Jardine, as well as Bruce Johnston and David Marks, who joined in the 60s. Dennis and Carl, who are no longer with us, also participated via recorded audio.

Mike Love was in the center, giving a performance full of hospitality. Brian sat at the keyboard or piano, focusing on singing and playing, creating a contrast between stillness and motion. The concert included an intermission and was a parade of hit after hit. Of course, new songs were also performed.

Looking at the setlist for the Hong Kong performance, it was a stunning 49 songs. I was very satisfied with the content, which covered the entire history of The Beach Boys.

You can listen to this tour on a

live album. You can also watch various videos of it.Brian Wilson, a genius who left behind so much wonderful music. He must be reuniting in heaven with his wife Melinda and his two younger brothers.

May he rest in peace. R.I.P.