1966 Beach Boys

The Beach Boys came to Paris to start their European concert tour on October 25, 1966.  My friend Yves and I decided to try to find their hotel.  It didn't take long.  I don't remember now which one it was, probably either the Plaza Athenee or the Ritz.

Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love

We stayed around the lobby.  Since I spoke American, it was easy enough to convince the hotel staff that I was connected to them in some way.  My mother taught me a lot.  Finally, a young American male came out of the elevator and I recognized him immediately.  

It was Bruce Johnson.  He was a cousin of the Wilsons and only joined the band on tour so he could play some of the instruments.  I went up to him and said something inane like "Hi Bruce!"  He gave me a big smile and said "You're American?"  When I confirmed that, he said "Great!  Can you come with me?  I'm going to record stores to see if they have our Pet Sounds album".  I grabbed Yves (who was dumbfounded) and said that we would be glad to!  

Arcades des Champs Elyees

He called to a limousine and we piled in.  We went to the Lido Record Store, which was in Les Arcades des Champs Elysées.  I went there all the time, and in fact had drawn a portrait of Brian Jones that hung in their window for a couple of months.  Bruce went to the front and asked if they had any Beach Boys albums.  No one recognized him.  This happened at four or five different record stores around the Champs Elysees.  They had the albums, but no one recognized him.  He was crushed.

Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love
Bruce Johnson, Dennis Wilson

When we got back to the hotel, the others (except Brian) were in the lobby.  Bruce introduced Yves and me to Carl, Mike, and Dennis. Of course, Dennis was my favorite.  Bruce told them how handy it was to have me around since none of them spoke French.  They were heading to the concert hall, the Olympia, and invited Yves and me to go along.  We did, of course.  They did a sound check for their concert that night.  Yves was beside himself.  We went to the concert but couldn't get backstage that night, which didn't bother us too much, because Dennis had told us to come back to the hotel the next day.

Mike Love, Al Jardine,
Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson

Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston,
Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love

The next morning, we went back to the hotel and as requested, called their room to let them know we were there.  They came down with their suitcases, etc., headed to Germany for their next concert.  I was wearing my favorite red felt coat that had a hood and silver clips down the front.  Dennis decided he liked it and asked if he could try it on.  I took pictures of him wearing it, and a lot of pictures of all the others sitting on their suitcases, etc.  Yves took some of me with all of them, and vice versa.  

Then Dennis asked if I would do him a favor.  The previous year, he had met a German girl who was going to meet him at Orly Airport and go to Germany with them.  Was there any way I could ride with her and then act as an interpreter?  She spoke German and French and I spoke French and English.  I said of course I could.

A little while later, a sporty little car pulled up and out stepped a very pretty and stylish girl with platinum hair.  I can't remember her name, but it was obvious she and Dennis were close.  I explained my mission to her and she was fine with it.  The Beach Boys got into their limo and I got into her car, leaving poor Yves standing on the sidewalk.  

The thing that impressed me most about this girl was that she had a record player in the car, a turntable that slid in and out.  I had never seen such a thing.  She was really nice, and told me how she had met Dennis when they were on tour last year and had been waiting for them to come back to Europe.

When we got to Orly, of course there were tons of fans there.  The girl and I went to the First Class Lounge and found the Beach Boys.  That's the only time I ever saw Brian.  

It was an interesting experience.  Dennis had his arms around this girl and would murmur something to ME.  I would translate it and murmur it to HER, and so on.  Bizarre, but fun.  We all three got a kick out of it, to say nothing of the others.  Then Dennis turned to me and said, "Could you come to Germany with us?"  I was speechless.  Of course I wanted to say YES!  Travel with the Beach Boys?  But I knew there was no way.  I was still living with my parents.  My dad would have had Interpol after me.  It broke my heart to say no.

I stayed at Orly and watched their plane leave.  As with the Moody Blues, a few people asked me who I was.  "No one", I said, "I am no one, je ne suis personne" but they didn't believe me. 

Years later in 1983, when I heard Dennis had died, it was personal.  I remembered how much fun he was, how much he laughed, and how sweet he was.  But I wasn't surprised.

They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. It won't last forever, either. But the memories will 

... Dennis Wilson