Beach Boy to bring surf sounds to lu'au

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Sounds like fun, fun, fun for Honolulu Marathoners this year. Brian Wilson, the founding member of the Beach Boys, the California group that put surfing sounds into the Top 10, will perform at the marathon's lu'au Dec. 6 at the Waikiki Shell.

His last Hawai'i appearance was at the Hula Bowl in January 1989, when he sang with the Beach Boys; in recent years, he has been a solo act.

"We wanted to do something special for the 30th anniversary and Brian Wilson is the greatest living figure in American pop music," said Jim Barahal, Honolulu Marathon Association president. "Brian's timeless music of the surf and beach lifestyles strikes a universal chord around the world and has special meaning to those of us lucky enough to live in paradise."

Wilson is said to be making only one other appearance between June and December — a 50th anniversary jubilee for Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace — so his marathon stint is significant.

Wilson has been the force and inspiration behind such landmark Beach Boys hits as "Surfer Girl," "Surfin' USA," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "California Girls," "Don't Worry Baby," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "I Get Around," "Help, Me Rhonda," "Good Vibrations," "Sloop John B," "Barbara Ann," and "Rock and Roll Music."

Barahal said he was inspired to get Wilson for the lu'au after watching a Radio City Music Hall tribute to the Beach Boy last summer on the TNT cable network.

Marathoners will be able to buy one ticket for $12, plus up to two additional tickets at $20 each, above the $10 early registration fee. Other Beach Boys fans may want to run, run, run to the nearest sign-up locale to register for the marathon — the only way in. (Check with your neighborhood running store.)