...but if I hurt you, I'd make wine from your tears..
INXS
Michael Hutchence
Lead Singer
1960-1997
When I nostalgically think back to the 1980s and 1990s there are few bands that epitomize that time more than INXS which was an Australian band. INXS's often upbeat fleeting rock ballads remain haunting and ephemeral to this day in the strangest of ways...
Michael Hutchence was the lead singer of who reminded me of Jim Morrison from THE DOORS, not only because of their common long wavy hair, or amazing singing style, or great looks, but because they both died young. Michael Hutchence is pictured below on a train posting for the camera and notice he is wearing a Rolex Submariner.
Michael Hutchence is pictured below with Jimmy Barnes who was a songwriter for INXS and notice Barnes is wearing his Rolex Day-Date.
Below we see one of INXS' last live concerts before Michael Hutchence passed away.
The Moody Blues produced some of the most iconicly timeless haunting music back in the later 1960s, and continued making pop-culture hits up through the 1980s. The Moody Blues created hit after hit that could be referred to as anthems including "Your Wildest Dreams", "Tuesday Afternoon", "The Story In Your Eyes", "Isn't It Strange", "I Know You're Out There Somewhere", "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" and "Nights in White Satin." Many of these epic songs were written by Justin Hayward who is pictured below wearing his Rolex Datejust Oyster Perpetual.
John Lodge who is also one of the founding members of The Moody Blues is pictured below next to Justin Hayward and he is rocking his two-tone Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet. Both John and Justin wear Rolex Datejust models.
A Brilliant Musical Career With Rolex Keeping His Time
Eric Clapton has enjoyed an amazing musical career. He is the only three-time Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee, as a solo artist, as well as a member of the Yardbirds, as well as Cream. Eric Clapton is arguably one of the most influential and successful guitarists of all time.
Eric Clapton is a vintage Rolex collector as well as being a Rolex Ambassador. In the photo above and below we see Eric Clapton sporting his Paul Newman Rolex Daytona on a Fatstrap, the exact way Paul Newman wore his. Just for frame of reference, I thought I would share this photo of Paul Newman wearing his trademark Exotic Dial Daytona on a Fatstrap. If you compare the photo above and below you see that Eric Clapton's Paul Newman Daytona is absolutely true to form.
Rolex Coolness: Eric Clapton
Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date Ad
Rolex Coolness: Eric Clapton
50th Anniversary Rolex GV Milgauss
Clapton Sporting a Rolex Submariner
Clapton Sporting a Rolex GMT-Master
Riding With The King
Eric Clapton is pictured below withB.B. King. Eric is wearing his Submariner and B.B. King is wearing his trademark yellow gold Rolex President which is not visible in this picture. B.B. Kings Rolex President is as much a part of his kit as his guitar–Lucille.
Speaking of Eric Clapton and B.B. King, here they are pictured above with John Mayer, and they are all wearing Rolex watches. B.B. King, Eric Clapton and John Mayer are considered to be the greatest guitarist of their respective generations.
Of course when B.B. King played his trademark Gibson Lucille (Model ES 355) he wore his trademark Yellow Gold Rolex Day-Date President.
In this photo Clapton is also wearing a Day Date and John Mayer is wearing one of his vintage Rolex Explorer II watches with the orange hand.
Eric's Great Buddy
Talk about a Mentor and Protege...Blues guitar legend Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton at a Crossroads Charity event. Crossroads is Eric Clapton's charity organization.
Buddy Guy is one of the greatest Blues and Rock guitarist that ever lived. If it was not for Buddy Guy's early innovation on the guitar playing style on the guitar there never would have been a Hendrix.
Buddy does not just play the guitar, he completely dominates it like I have NEVER seen anybody else do.
Eric Clapton's Rolex Watches At Auction
Eric Clapton was one of the first celebrities to get into collection vintage Rolex watches. Over the years he has auctioned many of them and donated the benefits to his charity foundation. This Stainless Steel Rolex Daytona set a world watch auction record a few years ago by selling for $505,000.
The watch is considered to be very rare because it has an "Albino" dial.
Eric Clapton's Albino Daytona
Eric Clapton once owned this Extremely Rare Rolex watch dubbed "The Yachtmaster Daytona which was a Prototype Rolex and was never offered to the public. It is fascinating to see how Rolex experimented with the nautical theme in the 60s and early 70s be creating a 39MM Yachtmaster. Of course, Rolex did not bring the current Yachtmaster to market until decades later.
Eric Clapton's Rolex Yacht-Master prototype sold at a Christie's Auction in 2003 for $125,000, and Eric Clapton donated the proceeds to his Crossroads Foundation. His Rolex Yacht-Master is picture below and appears courtesy of Christie's Auction House.
Here is another photo of Eric Clapton's Rolex Yacht-Master Prototype Reference 6239/6242. There are only 3 known examples of the Rolex Yacht-Master Prototype. The first is this one that was owned by Eric Clapton. The second one is owned by John Goldberger, and the last one is owned by Rolex and kept in their private collection and it has a special bezel [Reference 6542].
This is the first time I recall writing back-to-back obituaries, one day after another, which is a bummer, but at the same time a celebration of amazing career achievements. I am sad to report, Heavy Metal pioneer and musician, Ozzy Osbourne has stepped back into eternity.
Ozzy was a big Rolex fan and had an amazing collection of Rolex models, including his Rolex President as we see pictured above on his wrist, and he poses with fellow rocker, Vince Neil back in 1984, as well as his custom Explorer II model seen below on his wrist that features a black PVD coating with a Purple dial.
Ozzy is pictured below with his pal, Sir Jackie Stewart, who is the longest running Rolex Ambassador.
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and a solo artist who redefined heavy metal, passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76.
His family announced his death in a heartfelt statement:
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
The news comes just weeks after Osbourne’s triumphant final performance at the “Back to the Beginning” concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5, 2025, where he reunited with Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for a historic farewell.
Born on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, Osbourne grew up in a working-class family, the fourth of six children. His early life was marked by hardship—undiagnosed dyslexia, ADHD, and a stint in prison for burglary shaped a rebellious spirit that would later fuel his music. Inspired by The Beatles in 1963, Osbourne pursued a career in music, placing an ad that read “Ozzy Zig Needs Gig,” which led to the formation of Black Sabbath in 1968 with Iommi, Butler, and Ward.
Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut in 1970, followed by Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971), laid the foundation for heavy metal. Osbourne’s urgent, high-pitched vocals, paired with Iommi’s detuned riffs and Butler’s occult-inspired lyrics, created a sound that was raw, heavy, and revolutionary. Hits like “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “Paranoid” became anthems, with Paranoid topping the UK charts and cementing the band’s influence.
The Prince of Darkness
Rocking Rolex
The title "Prince of Darkness" is a bit of a misleading misnomer, as Ozzy was really more the "Prince of Light. "Decades ago, Ozzy Osbourne was captured in a striking photo, boldly sporting his iconic Rolex President, its gold gleam catching the light as he embodied his signature menacing aura—a look that defined his stage persona. With his wild shaved head, intense gaze, and dark, theatrical vibe, he was the quintessential Prince of Darkness, radiating a chilling intensity that thrilled fans. Yet, beneath this gruff, intimidating exterior, Ozzy was a surprising contrast: a warm, affectionate soul, more akin to a cuddly, super-friendly pussycat.
His sharp wit, playful humor and ultra-charismatic personality often shone through, as if he were stumbling through life in a chaotic, laugh-out-loud Benny Hill skit, charming everyone around him with his unexpected warmth and irreverent presence.
Personally, I find it to be fascinating that Ozzy tried to look fierce and scary, but at the same time chose to rock his yellow gold Rolex President as status symbol to communicate his success.
Osbourne’s stage presence—wild, unpredictable, and often controversial—earned him the moniker “Prince of Darkness.” A notorious 1982 incident in Des Moines, where he bit the head off a real bat (mistaking it for a prop), became rock legend.
Fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, Osbourne reinvented himself as a solo artist under the guidance of Sharon Arden, whom he married in 1982. His debut album, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), featuring guitarist Randy Rhoads, went quadruple-platinum, driven by the iconic “Crazy Train.” Follow-up albums like Diary of a Madman (1981) and No More Tears (1991) solidified his solo legacy, with 13 studio albums and over 100 million records sold across his career.
In the 1990s, Osbourne and Sharon launched Ozzfest, a traveling festival that became a cultural juggernaut, showcasing bands like Slipknot, Tool, and Linkin Park. In 2002, Osbourne reached a new audience through The Osbournes, an MTV reality show that revealed a comedic, chaotic family life with Sharon, Kelly, and Jack. The Emmy-winning series became a blueprint for celebrity-driven reality TV. I was a huge fan of The Osbournes and felt like I really got to know Ozzy and Sharon, Jack and Kelly, and they felt like family, and their show was soooo, soooo funny, fun and heartwarming.
Despite health challenges, including a 2003 ATV accident and a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019, Osbourne remained a force. His final concert at Villa Park, performed seated on a bat-adorned throne due to mobility issues, was a star-studded tribute featuring Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and more. “I am Iron Man: go fucking crazy!” he told the 42,000 fans, a moment that captured his enduring spirit.
Osbourne’s influence transcended music. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice—once with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024. Tributes poured in from peers like Metallica, Aerosmith, and Gene Simmons, who called him a “universally beloved” singularity. Black Sabbath’s simple tribute on X read: “Ozzy Forever.”
Osbourne’s connection to Rolex Magazine reflects his larger-than-life persona. Known for his love of bold, luxurious style, he often sported a Rolex Submariner Date, as well as many Rolex President and Daytona models, their rugged elegance mirroring his gritty yet iconic presence. The watches, like Osbourne, were a symbol of durability and timeless rebellion, a fitting companion for a man who lived life on his own terms.
Ozzy Osbourne leaves behind Sharon, their children Kelly, Jack, and Aimee, and three children from his first marriage to Thelma Riley. His legacy as a pioneer of heavy metal, a reality TV trailblazer, and a cultural icon endures. As he once told Rolling Stone, his obituary would likely begin, “Ozzy Osbourne, the man who bit the head off a bat, died.” Yet, it’s his heart, grit, and music that will echo forever. Rest in peace, Ozzy—you belong to the ages.
The 9 Lives of Ozzy
Like Father, Unlike Son
Ozzy's youngest son Jack, is interviewed with his father on the Howard Stern show, as seen below when he was a little boy.
In this next video we see Jack interviewing his father, Ozzy, which is extremely interesting.
Live Performances
And so, as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could, but it's too late
Ozzy had an amazing stage presence and was just as charismatic on stage as off. This first version of Black Sabbath performing Paranoid was shot in Belgium in 1970, and really captures Ozzy's talent and essence.
The ONLY other band I can think of that rocket this hard, from this same era is Led Zeppelin. Now that I think about it, the parallels between Black Sabbath are pretty strong in that they both were from the UK, and formed around the same time in 1968, and both rocked pretty hard. Both bands, had 4 members, with one lead singer, one guitarist, one bass player and one drummer, and they looked similar.
It's fascinating to notice when Ozzy Osbourne speaks on camera, his thick Birmingham accent shines through, but when he sings, like so many British vocalists, he sounds distinctly American!?!! This intriguing quirk of vocal performance occurs as singing stretches out vowels and focuses on melody, smoothing out regional accents into something much more similar to American English. Drawing from American-rooted genres like rock and blues, singers like Ozzy, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and even Led Zeppelin naturally adopt these vocal styles, making their music feel much more universal and accessible to fans worldwide.
I've included this second version of Ozzy Osbourne performing his Black Sabbath classic, Paranoid, recorded 15 years later, showcasing how his singing style and vocal delivery have evolved. It's striking how it almost feels like a different singer and a reimagined song, and notice he is performing with his original Black Sabbath band member at Live Aid in 1985.
The passing of Brian Wilson at the age of 82 marks the end of an extraordinary life, one that gifted the world with timeless melodies and a sound that captured the spirit of a generation. As we reflect on his journey, there’s a poignant weight in writing about someone whose wrist bore the quiet tick of a Rolex—a reminder that time, relentless and impartial, moves us all toward the same horizon. Yet, this is no mere elegy. This is a celebration of a man whose music wove joy, longing, and wonder into the fabric of millions of lives, leaving an indelible legacy that will resonate for generations.
Brian Wilson, the creative heart of The Beach Boys, was more than a musician—he was a sonic architect. Born in Inglewood, California, his genius emerged early, blending intricate harmonies, innovative production, and an almost spiritual connection to the human experience. From the sun-soaked optimism of “Surfin’ USA” to the introspective brilliance of Pet Sounds, Wilson redefined what pop music could be. His work transcended the 1960s, influencing artists across genres and earning him a place among the greatest songwriters of all time.
His masterpiece, Pet Sounds (1966), remains a cornerstone of modern music, its lush arrangements and emotional depth heralded as a precursor to the concept album. Songs like “God Only Knows” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” are not just hits, but hymns of the human condition, their beauty undimmed by time. The ambitious, unfinished SMiLE project, later completed in 2004, showcased his fearless creativity, even as personal struggles tested his spirit.
Wilson’s life was not without shadows. He faced mental health challenges, family tensions, and the pressures of fame, yet his resilience shone through. His later years brought a triumphant return, with solo work, collaborations, and a rediscovery of his genius by new audiences. He performed with a childlike joy, his voice and vision still capable of moving hearts.
As we bid farewell to Brian Wilson, we are reminded that while time claims us all, the art we create can defy it. His music—those radiant harmonies, those waves of sound that feel like California sunlight—remains a gift to the world. Brian has stepped back into eternity, but his songs are here, eternal and alive, inviting us to listen, to feel, and to celebrate a life that made ours brighter much brighter and spiritually uplifting!!!
Preface
Beach Boys member, David Marks, once said Beach Boys music is the kind of upbeat music you want to listen to when you are driving down the coast, on a beautiful sunny day, in a convertible with the top down. The Beach Boys classics really are an Endless Summer. I was born in San Francisco, California, and ever since I was a small child, I remember enjoying listening to the Beach Boys. I was deeply influenced by their music, and when I was in my early to middle teens I was really into the whole California Surfing lifestyle, and I was also a pretty hardcore skateboarder on the streets of San Francisco, as well as skating at the Winchester Skate Park down in Campbell, California which is south of San Francisco, near San Jose. The photo below of me was taken back in 1980, when I was 14 years old, catching some great air, popping out of the Washboard on my Powell-Peralta, Bones Brigade, Mike McGill Skateboard. For years, skating for me was a way of life, then when I turned 16 I got a car, a Macintosh computer, and a Rolex Submariner, and Skateboarding took a backseat.
I also spent time hanging out in Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Malibu and in Southern California in general. So much of my personal identity is based in this California Surfer lifestyle. Wearing Vans, Surf Trunks, Hang Ten T-Shirts, Flip Flops, cut off jeans, boogie boarding, surfing, skating, were all a part of my idyllic California childhood.
Throughout my life, I recall making observations about the Beach Boys, and in particular, more than anything, enjoying their music, kind of like the Beatles, or the Rolling Stones.
The strange thing, is that if you asked me before I wrote this article, if I could name all the Beatles, it would have been a piece of cake: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Star, and George Harrsion. The Rolling Stones? Sure, I can name all the band members of the top of my head: Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Kieth (Keef) Richards, and, Charlie Watts.
Now if you asked me before I wrote this article, how many Beach Boys I could name, my answer would be ZERO, which is bizarre as I know so many of their songs, just like I do with the Beatles and Stones. So when I first began writing this article, it was because I noticed when I watched the Beach Boys perform at the Grammy's in 2012, I noticed the lead singer (Mike love) was wearing a Rolex, even though I had no idea what his name was, and if I met him in person today, I would have no idea who he was.
To make a long story short, and this is a really long and beautiful story I wrote, after I discovered that all the original Beach Boys wear Rolex watches, it really engaged and inspired me to learn and share much, much more, not so much because they wore Rolex watches, but when I started discovering and sharing music videos of their early performances, I became enamored, and in my typical OCD style, I wanted to learn and share everything I could about them, particularly because the deeper I dug, the more fascinated I became.
Even figuring out and trying to remember who the original band members were was challenging and confusing at first, which you can see be comparing the photo above with the photo below, and this was due to the fact they changed their looks so much, and The Beatlesand Stones did not have that much turn over in their history, but the Beach Boys certainly did, which only added to the confusion. I mean one minute they are all clean-cut, clean-shaven, white matching striped shirt, then not so many years later, they all have beards and long hear, and are all completely different with their wardrobe choices...
As I studied the Beach Boys history, I learned so many wonderful things about them, and I also learned a great deal about the many tragedies they experienced. Now that I feel like I got a grip on the Beach Boys, I am inspired to dig even deeper, so I have a feeling I will continue updating this story many times in the future, and yes, now I can name all the 5 original Beach Boys off the top of my head: Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, as well as Bruce Johnston who joined the band in 1965, and David Marks who was an early member and left the band after he recorded the first five albums with the Beach Boys. I also learned that much of the Beach Boys band originality stemmed not so much from the band, but from what the public wanted them to be, and even the Beach Boys themselves bought into perpetuating this myth.
...Rolex Super-Coolness... The Beach Boys More Than 60 Years Of Making Magical Music With Rolex Keeping Their Time
What do the Beach Boys and Rolex have in common? The are both highly iconic and timeless. The Beach Boys are one of the most incredibly successful bands in history, with their unmistakably unique and iconic California Surf Rock Sound, comprised of fast-moving surf guitar, and amazing close vocal harmonies have become an indelible piece of American culture.
The Beach Boys hold the record today for delivering more Top-40 American hits, than any other band in history, which has resulted in them having sold over 100 Million "Endless Summer" records during the past half-century. Some people refer to the Beach Boys as the American equivalent of the Beatles, or The Rolling Stones, but maybe it is the other way around. Maybe, the Beatles were the British equivalent of the Beach Boys?
The Beach Boys Band was formed in Southern California in 1961, and their amazing song harmonies are famous around the world with music listeners of all ages, from young children to people in their eighties. Today, at least four of the Beach Boys wear Rolex watches, which are every bit as timeless and classic as the amazing music they have shared with the world ever the past half-century! This photo above and below show Beach Boys Founder, Brain Wilson in recent photos wearing his Rolex Submariner. Brian Wilson also wears a yellow gold Rolex Daytona (not pictured). Brian Wilson is and extremely talented singer, songwriter, producer and musician. Chazz Palminteri once referred to Brian Wilson as being TheMozart of Pop, the Orsen Wells of Rock, and The Geroge Gershwin of his generation. This story, as you will learn, much later, is in many ways about Brian's amazing life journey, which recently and finally brought him back to where he began, in a Get Back To Where You Once Belonged, kind of way.
The Beach Boys were founded in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, and consisted of five original group members. Three of the original band members were brothers named, Brian (pictured above and below), Dennis, and Carl Wilson. The fourth Beach Boys member was a cousin of the Wilson brothers and his name was Mike Love. The fifth member of the band was named Al Jardine. There have been many changes to the membership of the Beach Boys over the last 52 years, but three of the original members are still in the band. This includes Brian Wilson (pictured above), Al Jardine (pictured below) and Mike Love (three photos down this page), and as you see in the photos in this story, all three founding members of the Beach Boys wear Rolex watches. Original Beach Boys drummer, Dennis Wilson died in a drowning accident in 1983, and his brother Carl Wilson passed away in 1998. In this next photo below, we see original Beach Boys guitarist, Al Jardine also rockin' a yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date.
In this next recent photo below we see Beach Boys, Bruce Johnston and Mike Love and and Bruce is wearing his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date. Bruce Johnston joined the beach boys on April 9, 1965, and he replaced Glen Campbell, who had been playing bass and singing Brian Wilson's vocals, while the Beach Boys traveled on the road. The first Beach Boys song Bruce sang on was "California Girls". So Bruce has been with the Beach Boys for 47 years. Bruce is also a famous songwriter, and wrote the megabit song performed by Barry Manilow, entitled "I Write The Songs".
In this next photo we see original Beach Boys founding member Mike Love, wearing his yellow gold Rolex Daytona.
In this next photo taken at the 2012 Grammy Awards, we see Beach Boys lead singer, Mike Love sporting his yellow gold Rolex Daytona.
Beach Boys Grammy Tribute 2012 Grammy Awards Performance
The Beach Boy reunited for the first time with all the remaining original band members in over 20 years and played their first gig at the 2012 Grammy Awards, which ironically was the first time they ever played the Grammys—in their 50 years history. The 2012 Grammy Awards featured an AMAZING Tribute To The Beach Boys, which began with Adam Levine and Maroon 5, then went to Foster The People, then the Beach Boys joined in. Adam Levine, the lead singer for Maroon 5 is pictured below as he opens up the Beach Boys tribute set, and notice he is sporting a vintage, 1970s stainless steel Rolex Daytona with the exotic white Paul Newman Dial, which is super cool!
The Beach Boys Mike Love came-in with the Beach Boys in the third song, and in the three following photos you can see Mike Love and Adam Levine sporting their Rolex Daytona sport watches. The irony, of course, is that Mike Love, who is much older than Adam Levine, is wearing a modern Rolex Daytona, and Adam Levine is wearing an old-school vintage Rolex Daytona.
The Beach Boys Live in 1964 & 1965
America's psychosis at the time rubbed off on British youth as well, and all of this culminated in the "Flower Power" movement of the late 1960s, in places like the San Francisco Haight Ashbury in 1968 during The Summer Of Love, and this movement really kind of peaked in 1969 at Woodstock.
The next video below is of a song recorded in 1964 by the Beach Boys, and it is one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. I couldn't find a live performance video of the original recording, so I am sharing this one. What a song!!!
Annette Funicello
1965
We can see the Beach Boys in the video below with, America's Sweetheart who was the Queen Of Surf Movies, Annette Funicello, as they play the opening set for the Walt Disney Movie, The Monkey's Uncle. Hey, Hey, we're the Monkees, and we don't Monkey around...Oops, right idea, wrong band ;-)
California Girls
1965
California Girls was originally released on the Beach Boys ninth album, entitled, Summer Days. It was written by Brian Wilson while he was tripping on LSD. Brian Wilson later said that California Girls was the Beach Boys Anthem, and in 1985 David Lee Roth made it another huge success when he covered it.
Good Vibrations
1966
Good Vibrations was released by the Beach Boys as a single in October of 1966. Good Vibrations was the first Beach Boys song to top the British charts. It was originally recorded as part of the Smile album sessions which were not released at the time.
Pet Sounds
1966
Pet Sounds was the name of an album released by the Beach Boys in mid 1966 which represented a radical departure from their classic California Surf sound.
Pet Sounds was the Beach Boys eleventh studio album, and it is considered to be on of the most significant and influential records in the history of popular music. Fellow Beach Boy, Glenn Campbell sat in and played some of the guitar on Pet Sounds.
The Beatles and The Beach Boys
Joint Inspiration
In a bizarre twist of fate, Brian Wilson was so inspired by the Beatles album, Rubber Soul, he said, "When I heard Rubber Soul, I was so blown away, I said to myself 'I want to make an album just like that.'" So Brian Wilson sat down and wrote "God Only Knows", almost as a response, which appeared on The Beach Boys album, Pet Sounds, and thus, the friendly rivalry between The Beach Boys and The Beatles began. Paul McCarntey, once said "The Beach Boys song, God Only Knows, is the greatest song ever written."
The Beatles heard Pet Sounds and were equally blown away, so John Lennon called up Brian Wilson on the phone and said, "Pet Sounds is the best thing I have ever heard!" The Beatles were so inspired by Pet Sounds, the Beatles incorporated many elements into their next album, Sergant Peppers, which was released in 1967.
Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston, told a story about how when he was in London, hanging out with The Who's drummer, Keith Moon, Keith introduced Bruce to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and Bruce shared a recording of Pet Sounds with them, which was the first time Lennon and McCarney had ever heard it.
Lennon and McCartney were so blown away with the Beach Boys song Wouldn't It Be Nice, they incorporated elements of it into their song Here, There And Everywhere into the Beatles Revolver Album which was released in 1966. Brain Wilson responded to Sergeant Pepper, by writing the Beach Boys album simply named, Smile, which was not released until close to 40 years later.
In this next two videos, we ironically see Rolling Stones, Ron Wood, interviewing the Beatles Paul McCartney, about the influence that Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys had on the him and The Beatles.
God Only Knows What I Would Be Without You
Brian Wilson & Paul McCartney
Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney first met in 1967 in Los Angeles, and ended up jamming all night together on guitars with some friends, and have been pals ever since. When they speak about each other, they always speak with absolute reverence for one another, and both of them are top singer/songwriter/musicians that collectively defined the same generation of Rock n' Roll.
Beach Boys Endless Summer
Greatest Hits from 1962 to 1966
When I was a kid, growing up in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Beach Boy Compilation Album, named Endless Summer was all the rage. It was basically a greatest hits album of all their pre-Pet Sounds songs recorded between 1962 and 1966. Looking at this album cover brings back some serious deja vu memories for me.
Do It Again
1967
The Beach Boys came out with a big hit in 1967 called Do It Again, which you can see below. It is a great upbeat song. Do It Again is an interesting song and in may ways it represents one side of the divided camp that divided the Beach Boys a the time. Specifically, there were two camps at the time, heading opposite directions.
In the first camp, are the three Wilson brother, who according to Beach Boys singer and saxophone player, Mike Love, were really into drinking and drugs, and the Wilson brothers wanted to get away from the traditional upbeat "Endless Summer" California surf music lyrics, and wanted to experiment with lyrics, which Mike though made no sense, and would have a bad effect on record sales. Ironically, Brian Wilson had been working on his masterpiece album named, Smile at the time, and it was not released because their record company thought it would no be commercially successful.
The video below represents, the other camp in the Beach Boys which consisted of Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston, who were not into drugs, and thought the sound of the Beach Boys should remain consistent with their early hits.
When you watch the video above, from a fashion perspective, it is really amazing how much different the Beach Boys clothing and haircuts changed from only two years earlier in 1965, where they were still clean cut. In particular, it is incredible how much different Mike Love looks from only two years ago. He looks almost like a completely different person. The mid to late 1960s were a time of great change for American youth, both in terms of fashion and drugs.
Spiritual High
1968
Beach Boys singer, Mike Love was not into drugs and drinking like the Wilson Brothers. In February, 1968 Mike Love went with the Beatles to join the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to study Transcendental Meditation on his idyllic mountain retreat in Rishekesh, India. Picture below we see Paul McCartney, with Donovan, Mia Farrow, George Harrison, Maharishi, Mike Love, and John Lennon.
While in India, The Beatles wrote, Dear Prudence, Back In The USSR, Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, and Honey Pie. George Harrison wrote "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at the same time.
Back In The USSR was a homage to the Beach Boys song, California Girls, and supposedly Mike Love worked on the Back In The USSR lyrics with The Beatles. The title Back In The USSR pays homage to Chuck Berry's Back In The U.S.A, and the chorus while the background vocals are a tribute to to the Beach Boys California Girls song. Mike Love said that in order to make Back In The USSR sound more like California Girls, he suggested to Paul McCartney to "talk about the girls all around Russia, the Ukraine, and Georgia" in the song lyrics. Mike Love continued "I was at the breakfast table when Paul McCartney came down with his acoustic guitar playing Back In The USSR. I said 'You ought to put something in about all the girls around Russia', and he did."
In 1984, in a Playboy interview, Paul McCartney talked about his inspiration for Back In The USSR and said, "I wrote that as a kind of Beach Boys parody. And "Back in the USA" was a Chuck Berry song, so it kinda took off from there. I just liked the idea of Georgia girls and talking about places like the Ukraine as if they were California, you know? It was also hands across the water, which I'm still conscious of. 'Cause they like us out there, even though the bosses in the Kremlin may not. The kids from there do. And that to me is very important for the future of the race."
Beach Boys lead singer, Mike Love is pictured above and below in India with John Lennon.
Beach Boys lead singer, Mike Love is pictured pictured below in India with George Harrison of the Beatles. Mike Love is still an avid practitioner of Transcendental Meditation (TM) today.
Below is another photo of Beach Boys singer, Mike Love is hanging out with George Harrison of the Beatles.
This next recent photo shows Mike Love with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Beach Boys Jamming with Chicago
1974
This next video features the Beach Boys in 1974 singing backup harmony for Chicago in their famous song named Wishing You Were Here. This song is so hauntingly beautiful, and it is so unusual since it has the distinct Beach Boy harmony style, put forth in a unique way. Think about it, this would be like the Rolling Stones collaborating with the Beatles on a song. This song is just amazing!!!
The Three Beach Boys featured with Chicago in this video are all original Beach Boy members; Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Carl Wilson, seemingly disguised behind their thick beards. (They almost look like ZZ Top!?!? ;-)
It is also fascinating to note how absolutely almost unrecognizable the three Beach Boys look with their heavy beards and matching nautical outfits. In other words, when I think about the Beach Boys, I typically think of a bung of clean-cut young guys without any visible facial hair. If I saw this video, and didn't know any better, I would think the Beach Boys were just some funky member of the Chicago band.
The song Wishing You Were Here begins with Chicago band member Terry Kath beginning the song with lead vocals with Peter Cetera playing lead guitar. Peter Cetera then begins singing the song's bridge in the model of the song, and his entry and guitar are amazing!!!
Wishing You Were Here was written by Peter Cetera, and it appeared on their album named Chicago VII, which as recorded in 1974. The Beach Boy were recording at Caribou Ranch, where they ran into Peter Cetera, who asked them to join Chicago in the song. The video above was recorded on Dick Clarks New Years Eve show in 1974. I remember this song from my childhood, so when I listen to it, it totally deja vu's me out, but I must ad that when I watch this video today, it completely blows my mind, with how amazing it is. Just mind-boggling great!!!
Let's Go Surfing
With the Blues Brother in 1976
The Beach Boys history is one of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Brian Wilson, who was the head of the band in the early years grew reclusive in the late 1960 and got really into drugs, and for over a year lived in his bed in Bel Air, California. This next video from 1976, shows the Blues Brothers coming to get Brian Wilson out of bed, and at the end of the video, you see the Beach Boys singing Surfing USA, during the height of the funkadelic 1970s. The Blues Brothers are always hilarious! Brian Wilson, ironically, was kind of the anti-Beach Boy, in the sense he was never into surfing.
Knebworth, England
1980
This next video is the last video I am aware of that feature all of the original Beach Boys playing together. On stage we see all three of the Wilson brothers, Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, as well as Mike Love, and Al Jardine. We also see Bruce Johnston on stage.
...Vintage Rolex Super-Coolness...
Single-Red Submariner Surf Ad
Rolex Submariner [Reference 1680]
Speaking of the Beach Boys and California Surfing, the following vintage Rolex ad his has got to be one of the coolest vintage Rolex Submariner magazine ads I have ever seen!!! Rolex mentions in the ad how they sponsored the International Professional Surfing organization and would award the winner of the IPS tournament with a Rolex Submariner Date model. The ISP was the original world governing entity that oversaw professional surfing from 1976 to 1982. It later merged into the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), which is the governing body today. What is cooler than Rolex and Surfing!?!?!
Let's go surfing now
Everybody's learning how
Come on and safari with me!
For some reason, whenever I think about beaches and surfing, I think of the Rolex Submariner. Last year,I was surfing on Waikiki beach, which is the home of the original Beach Boys, and I was wearing my LV Submariner when I was surfing.
Ronald Reagan
1983
This Beach Boys are pictured below hanging out with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady, Nancy Reagan in 1983.
The Reagan's were huge Beach Boys fans, as you can see in the introduction to the video below.
This Beach Boys were also big fans of President Reagan, and his wife Nancy, as we witness in the Ronald Reagan Love tribute sung a cappella by the Beach Boys in 1985.
Live Aid
1985
This next video shows Brian Wilson appearing again live with the Beach Boys, for the first time since the Pet Sounds days. This video was shot at Live Aid in 1985, and you will notice that Brian Wilson lost over a hundred pounds, and go in great shape.
Brian recorded and performed several more time after Live Aid, with the Beach Boys. The last time he Brian Wilson performed live with Beach Boys was around 30 years ago. As a matter of fact, he finally rejoined them for their 50 Anniversary, as you can witness in the Grammy Tribute Video located toward the top of this story, as well as in the videos near the end of this story.
Kokomo
1988
This next video probably of the Beach Boys Song Kokomo, was probably their last major commercial hit, and it was recorded in 1988. Kokomo is an actual place, located in the Florida Keys on an island owned by Sandals Royal Caribbean vacation resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Kokomo is an island resort on Islamorda, which is located around 25 miles south of Key Largo, Florida. The Song Kokomo was written by John Philipps from The Mamas and Pappas for the Beach Boys, and it was based upon a prior visit there.
SMILE The Legendary Smile Sessions
In 2011 the Beach Boys finally completed their SMILE album, which they started in 1966 and 1967. Nobody ever expected the Beach Boys to ever complete this album, but then in 2011 The Beach Boys took the world by surprise and released the finished SMILE album.
The Beach Boys 50 The Anniversary Celebration & Concert 2012
It has been said, that good things endure, and the Beach Boys sound just as good today as they did in the early 1960s, and you can see them perform below in their 50th Anniversary Concert Video.
In the above photo we see (pictured from left to right) Bruce Johnston, who joined the Beach Boys in 1965, along with original Beach Boys, who started the band in 1961, Al Jardine, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and David Marks. David Marks was a founding member of the Beach Boys and first played drums with the Beach Boys in 1962, and was a neighbor of the Wilson Family. He left the Beach Boys in 1963, and later returned. He was 13 when he joined the Beach Boys, and played rhythm guitar of the first four albums.
The 50th Anniversary Beach Boys Concert seen below is amazing and at least three of the Beach Boys are wearing yellow gold Rolex watches!
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.
