On This Day in 1961, a Legendary Rock Band Played Their First-Ever Paid Gig
- - On This Day in 1961, a Legendary Rock Band Played Their First-Ever Paid Gig
Devon ForwardDecember 31, 2025 at 11:50 PM
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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
On Dec. 31, 1961, a new era of music started when The Beach Boys, a new band on the scene, made their big debut with their first-ever paid performance.
On their first night with their new name, The Beach Boys, members Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Carl, Dennis, and Brian Wilson, performed at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium for the Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance.
Love recalled the special night in an interview with the Los Angeles Times earlier this year, saying, "We played three songs and got $300, but also on that show was Ike Turner and Kings of Rhythm. We got to hear Tina Turner sing this song called ‘I’m Blue.’ It was primordial and blew my mind.”
Along with the artists mentioned by Love, the band The Rivingtons also performed that night. As for Ike & Tina Turner, they only released their debut single, "A Fool in Love," the year before, although it was an instant hit.
The Beach Boys' first single, "Surfin'," also only came out the month before, but with the NYE performance, they officially kick-started their career.
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In 1962, The Beach Boys flourished. In the summer, they released the single "Surfin' Safari," their first hit, with their debut album of the same name coming out months later. It was also the year that the group signed its historic deal with Capitol Records.
Related: Beach Boys’ Mike Love Pens Emotional Message to Late Member Jeffrey Foskett 2 Years After His Death
Long Beach Still Holds Significance for The Beach Boys
In August 2025, only a couple of months after Brian's death at the age of 82, The Beach Boys performed in Long Beach, Calif., the same town where they first hit the stage under the iconic band name. The band was also formed in Hawthorne, a town not far from Long Beach, where the members grew up.
Love spoke about what the performance meant to the band after Brian's death while talking to the Los Angeles Times, saying, "Well, we have a tribute song called 'Brian’s Back' that I wrote many, many years ago. So, back when that was released (in 1976 as part of 15 Big Ones), we did a video tribute to Brian that we play every night at our concerts, which people love and appreciate."
"He may have passed on, but he’s always with us every night in the music," Love declared.
Related: How a Beach Boys Legend’s Career Was Revived by Two Club Dates 25 Years Ago
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
