The Beach Boys Return to the Stage, but Singer Mike Love Is Very Ill
After months of canceled shows and health worries, Mike Love finally appeared in concert — seated in a chair the whole night.
The Beach Boys performed their first public concert in more than three months on Saturday night in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show took place at PNC Pavilion and was a big moment for fans who had been worried about lead singer Mike Love. Love has been dealing with health problems for months, causing the band to cancel many shows. He made it to the stage, but had to sit in a chair for the entire performance.
Before the music started, actor John Stamos — a longtime friend of the band — walked out and spoke to the crowd. He told fans that Love had been struggling with health issues and had already canceled several shows. Even so, Love refused to sit this one out. Stamos then helped Love walk slowly to the stage and helped him sit down in a chair.
Love stayed in that chair for the whole concert. The band opened with their classic song 'Do It Again,' but guitarist Brian Eichenberger sang the lead instead of Love. Mike's son Christian Love then sang 'Surfin' Safari,' another song his father usually handles. Throughout the night, different band members took turns singing lead vocals, while Mike Love sometimes joined in on background vocals.
The band has not shared many details about what is wrong with Love. But back in June, Love explained to fans why he had looked so thin and weak during a tour in Europe. He said he was grieving the death of his sister, Maureen, which came on the anniversary of his cousin Brian Wilson's death. He also said he had been sick with bronchitis that turned into COVID-19.
Love pushed through more shows after that, including three nights at the famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. But then the band canceled all of their remaining shows through the month of September. They told fans they were taking a short break to recharge, and promised to be back for what they called a 'September to Remember.'
When September arrived, the venues started telling fans the shows were canceled 'due to circumstances beyond our control.' The band said nothing at all to explain what was happening. They did play a private, invite-only show on October 3 at a luxury hotel in Dana Point, California, where videos showed Love again performing while seated in a chair.
Looking ahead, the Beach Boys are set to perform Sunday night at the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. After that, they have no shows planned until November 13 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. They would finish the year two days later in Bristol, Virginia — if those shows are not canceled.
While Mike Love performs in Nashville, former bandmate Al Jardine will be playing a separate concert about 2,000 miles away in Cerritos, California. Jardine is one of the last surviving members of the Beach Boys' original lineup. His show will include several well-known Beach Boys musicians, and guitarist Bruce Johnston — who left Mike Love's group in February after about sixty years — will be among them. Jardine summed up his excitement simply: 'It's gonna be quite a show!'
"He would not miss tonight. We sort of said 'stay home,' but he was like, 'No, I'm going to Cincinnati.'"
Comprehension quiz preview
1. Where did the Beach Boys perform their first public show in more than three months?
2. What does the word 'venues' mean as used in this article?
3. Why did Mike Love say he looked thin and weak during his European tour in June?