Bad vibrations: Beach Boys refund
By JENNIFER BARRS of The Tampa Tribune
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TAMPA - Officials agree to refund ticket costs to concertgoers who hoped
to
see more of the real Beach Boys.
Nobody posted a storm warning for this surfin' safari.
But after a barrage of complaints about the boys from the beach, Florida
Strawberry Festival officials announced Monday they would refund, upon
request, tickets to Sunday's Beach Boys Family & Friends concerts.
Officials were already taking names Sunday from concertgoers who wanted
money
back. Some complained they were misled by publicity, including the
concert
ticket, printed with the words ``Beach Boys.'' Others expressed
disappointment, specifically in the early show, which Beach Boys Family
&
Friends manager Richard Duryea agreed was ``unprepared'' and technically
poor.
The band featured only one of the original Beach Boys quintet, Al Jardine,
who
sang lead vocals on the hit ``Help Me, Rhonda.'' The remaining 11 musicians
were relatives or associates of the legendary California group. They
included
Wendy and Carnie Wilson, daughters of Beach Boys' original Brian Wilson,
as
well as Jardine's sons, Matt and Adam.
That wasn't enough for fans such as Wayne Hay, 46. ``I left after 30
minutes
because I couldn't take it anymore. It was a sham.''
Hay wasn't the only one surprised by the lineup. Festival associate
director
Mike Sparkman said ``we were embarrassed'' that staff did not know
the group
was not the original Beach Boys - or at least, more of them.
``We didn't realize there are two or three different groups performing
as the
Beach Boys,'' Sparkman said.
Duryea disagreed, saying festival organizers knew within days of signing
a
contract who the group would include and how it should be advertised.
The group that uses the name The Beach Boys will perform March 28 in
Clearwater's Coachman Park. This nine- man band features vocalist Mike
Love,
keyboardist Bruce Johnston and guitarist David Marks.
For refunds, send tickets, name and address to The Florida Strawberry
Festival, P.O. Drawer 1869, Plant City FL 33564-1869.
Reporter Sean Ledig contributed to this report. Jennifer Barrs can be
reached
at (813) 259-7832 or jbarrs@tampatrib.com