The Beach Boys were supposed to return to the stage October 9 at the Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, Illinois, after gradually canceling all of their dates over the past three months as Mike Love takes time to “recharge” following an unspecific health ailment. But they’ve just pulled that show as well. A Facebook post by the Grossinger Motors Arena says the show has been “cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances,” mirroring the exact language of venues that yanked shows in September.
The group last played a public show July 18 in Valdosta, Georgia, following an uneven few months where Love appeared gaunt and sang in a raspy, diminished voice. “Losing my sister, Maureen, on the first Anniversary of cousin Brian’s death, combined with my ongoing recovery from what started out as bronchitis, followed by COVID, has taken both an emotional and physical toll on me,” Love wrote to fans in June during a European tour marked by rocky performances. “I feel stronger every day physically, but I am heartbroken emotionally.”
A month later, the group postponed all of their shows until late September so that Love had additional time to rest. But when September came, the four planned concerts were cancelled without explanation.
Love and the rest of the touring band, including frequent guest John Stamos, did come back together on October 3 for a private show at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach luxury hotel in Dana Point, California. Few details of that show have come out, but a photo uploaded to the group’s fan forum shows Love seated in a chair onstage.
A representative for the group did not immediately reply to a request for comment. As of now, the group’s upcoming concerts – October 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 11 in Nashville, Tennessee, and October 10 in Calgary, Canada – are still scheduled to take place.
Al Jardine, the only other living member of the original Beach Boys lineup, continues to tour with veteran members of Brian Wilson’s backing group he’s dubbed the Pet Sounds Band. Their next show is October 10 at the Poway Center For The Performing Arts in Poway, California.
