(This is a few years prior to their monumental insurgence in the UK when pop music was still in its infancy.)

It suddenly hit me right between the eyes. I was confronted by Paul Anka on the TV singing live and in the great outdoors. I was 14 years’ old and lots of things were happening- the advent of our first tele, the approach of puberty, and regular pocket-money.

Paul Anka was crooning to me from the other side of the planet and he was singing about his girl Diana. Of course I had to spend my remuneration straightaway, returning home as soon as possible with my treasured vinyl.

I had to bow and scrape to my sister who was far from happy, given that I had accidentally sat on her recent Elvis record only the previous week which had been shattered into myriad pieces as a consequence. I was still considered to be filth as a result but eventually she acquiesced on the basis I was not to touch any of her records and that furthermore she would only allow usage provided she was in eyeshot of myself at all times. (Yeah, OK!)

Back to Diana! I never looked back after that- I was hooked, and I submerged myself in music, musical statistics, and data.

A further landmark was a new show on a Friday evening called ‘Ready Steady Go!’ hosted by Keith Fordyce, he being the linkman. The show emerged around 1963 with the snappy slogan ‘THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE!’

It was more relaxed and informal than previous shows, mainly because pop stars, (as they were then), were singing live in the studio and after the performance, mingling with the populous.

There were regular appearances from the likes of the late, great, Dusty Springfield, the Animals, the Kinks etc., who would drop in for a chat with the host and sing live, unlike today’s contemporaries who are divorced from the masses and who would baulk with having to sing live-for goodness sake!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was on one of these occasions, when the Rolling Stones were singing live, and Mick Jagger produced a record which he had purloined from the States called “I Get Around”. Inevitably of course it was sung by the Beach Boys!

Its verve, its energy, its freshness, instantly hit me for six. Everything post, was irrelevant- indeed it was almost a different dimension. In fact thinking about it, it was very much along the lines of the hallowed Phil Spector, with a cacophony of guitars, keyboards, and drums - and predictably a studio powerhouse to blow your mind! Everything hung together courtesy of Brian Wilson, he being the guru of the outfit. In essence it was a family, with 4 fraternity members together, and with the addition of Alan Jardine or Bruce Johnston.

They were the biggest thing Stateside in the sixties & early seventies and nobody could ever match them for their harmonies. The Beach Boys were supreme world-wide, bar The Beatles, who always seemed to have their noses in front, but to be fair their styles were like chalk and cheese, so it was never going to be an equal contest in any regard.

Once John Lennon was so tragically gunned down, the whole world stopped turning. In an instant he achieved iconic status in line with that of J F Kennedy and Princess Diana. Ironically, all three attained immortality, whereas the rest of mankind seemed to have diminished in the opposite direction.

Time moves on, and in musical terms the Beach Boys continued to circle the globe. But the world of ‘showbiz’ is an unnatural phenomenon. Being without roots is never a positive stance when you are moving on from week to week, nor without a regular family presence, or the need for regular amounts of adulation, It’s no easy balancing act.

They have had to confront their own demons over the years, behind the scenes. They have imploded on more than one occasion (see above), creating a surfeit of splinter groups due to infighting and intolerance.

Brian Wilson though has probably suffered more than anyone in the band mainly down to his addiction to drugs. He has struggled to make inroads over many years, and continues to do so. The good thing is that the band continues to fill concert halls all around the world.

Well done Brian, your myriad fans still love you! You still get around!

Phil Seddon is a Lancashire Wrinkly and is a product of the many Baby Boomers after the 1945 world war - a time of enlightenment and free expression. Phil's predominantly influenced by the Beatles but loves most music, modern & traditional. He was in a folk band some time many decades ago. He song writes, sings, plays a little guitar and piano and is careering ever closer to the big 60. He sleeps a lot. Still crazy after all these years! (courtesy of Paul Simon).

© 2007 Laura Hird All rights reserved.