California Stealin’: Beach Boys Conquer Elton John’s Wembley Extravaganza
One of the most memorable open-air events of the decade turned into a triumph for the visiting Californian heroes.
“MidSummer Music,” they called it, and it was some event. On June 21, 1975, Elton John headlined a huge, all-day concert at Wembley Stadium for a sellout crowd of 72,000. One of the most memorable open-air events of the decade turned into a triumph for the Beach Boys.
Introduced by BBC radio DJ Johnnie Walker, the proceedings were opened as early as 11.30am on that Saturday morning by British rock outfit Stackridge. They were the first group signed to Elton’s Rocket Records label. The band’s fourth album Extravaganza had been released five months earlier.
Next up, bringing some funky soul to the proceedings, were American R&B favourites Rufus. They were touring their third album Rufusized, featuring the US hit “Once You Get Started.” Joe Walsh was still a solo artist at the time, but was soon to join the Eagles, who followed him onto the Wembley stage. The appearance set up their first UK singles chart entry soon afterwards with “One Of These Nights.” Hinting at the partnership to come, Walsh joined them for a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Carol.”
In the first half of his set, Elton played hits like “Rocket Man,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” and “Bennie and the Jets.” But he then chose to perform the whole of his new album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Released on May 19, it was spending a third week at No.2 in the UK as he played the show. It included the single “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” seen above in a 1982 performance.
Endless summer hits Wembley
But with many of his fans unfamiliar with the songs, Elton was widely perceived to have been amiably upstaged by the second-on-the-bill Beach Boys. They came to London on a wave of nostalgic popularity in the US and brought it across the Atlantic.
With their double disc compilation Endless Summer having topped the American chart the previous autumn and a second retrospective, Spirit Of America, just going gold, the Beach Boys were well and truly back in style, if largely for their 1960s catalog. It didn’t even matter that they hadn’t appeared on the UK album chart for more than two years.
A hit-packed Beach Boys set started with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (seen above in their Live Aid performance ten years hence) and ended with “Fun Fun Fun” some 22 songs later. Check our comments section below for the enthusiastic memories of some of the audience who were there. The California vibes rang out from Wembley Stadium, and the Beach Boys enjoyed one of the high points of their international career.
Listen to the studio versions of the Beach Boys’ set list from the Wembley Stadium show in this uDiscover Music playlist.
Steve Huxley
August 10, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Wow, great detail enabling me to relive my first ever all day concert (aged 17).
Elton did play the whole of his Captain Fantastic album, which was an unusual thing to do. I particularly enjoyed The Bitch is Back which was the final track on the album. The extrovert Ray Cooper was on percussion. Great memories!
John Cooper
January 20, 2016 at 7:42 pm
Elton did play The Bitch is Back but it was not part of the Captain Fantastic album set. That song is on his 1974 album Caribou.
The concert set-list was:
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
Candle in the Wind
The Bitch Is Back
Dixie Lily
Philadelphia Freedom
Chameleon
Bennie and the Jets
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
I Saw Her Standing There
Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Tower of Babel
Bitter Fingers
Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
Better Off Dead
Writing
We All Fall in Love Sometimes
Curtains
Pinball Wizard
Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting
Bob Sherunkle
February 27, 2016 at 12:13 am
Great to see more details. A wonderful day, went with my very good friend Paul (RIP, gone much too soon). I’m afraid it wasn’t just Elton being “upstaged” by the Beach Boys (not to mention the Eagles), for the oldies among us (i.e. the 20 somethings) he was an anti-climax, and I was part of the droves that departed early, leaving Elton to the teenagers.
I’m not sure about the choice of support acts. We weren’t overly impressed with Rufus, and I can’t remember Stackridge at all (we got there late, so they may have been the openers). The fun really started with Joe Walsh.
Life’s been good … so far.
Peter
October 21, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Stackridge were the opening act. The whole day was a great time. I was with a group of friends (6) .
One of the best songs which seems to have fallen off the set list was Daniel. Whilst he was starting the song a plane did fly high over the stadium and I can still see the sun glinting off it’s wings.
The Eagles & The Beach Boys were fabulous. The weather also played its part. It was a lovely day.
I have also just watched some You Tube videos of Mark Knopfler ( with EC playing along on Money For Nothing) and the guy at the back on percussion was Ray Cooper. He was in Elton’s band at Wembley and guess what: he looks exactly the same!
Happy times, & great to remember them!
Regan lewis
March 31, 2016 at 3:21 am
I remember being very dissapointed with Elton John, after the Beachboys got everyone going, singing along, enjoying the day, then Elton John came on and after a few of his more popular numbers he proceeded to play everything from his latest album. I too was one of those that left before he had finished. Just as many others did.
Clint Young
June 16, 2016 at 11:17 pm
That day was the start of a life long obsession with Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. They upstaged everyone on the bill with shear talent, vocal ability and musicianship. They have never been perceived as a cool band, but on that day they were as cool as it gets and that’s without even mentioning Dennis Wilson.
Duncan Bell
June 22, 2016 at 10:19 pm
Aged just 17 and attending my first ‘serious’ concert!! What a fantastic day and such a resounding and thrilling endorsement of my growing appreciation of the Eagles. I agree that the Beach Boys stole the show, but I was there for the Eagles and was not disappointed. Imagine the joy of seeing them play together again post ’94 after “Hell Froze Over”. Since Glenn’s sad departure just my Eagles collection and memories to tide me over….will look out for appearances from them maybe as individuals, but it won’t be quite the same. What does an Eagles Fan do ‘After The Thrill Is Gone’?
David Brew
August 4, 2016 at 8:06 pm
The trouble with all-day shows during the summer is that being hot, I tended to drink beer to cool down. After the Eagles had played I wandered off to visit the Gents and returned to my friends to watch the Beach Boys…. but Elton John came on!!??!! Too much beer meant I took a snooze and missed the entire BB set – which was the main reason for going.
If I rememeber correctly, the coconut matting laid on the grass was not enough protection and there were a lot of complaints later about holding shows there..
Eric Fauser
August 21, 2016 at 12:40 am
A day I’ll never forget. I was big fan of Joe Walsh, The Eagle and Elton John but it was the day that I became enamored with the Beach Boys. I was at the opposite end of the stadium from the stage, the perfect vantage point to see 72,000 people singing and dancing to every Beach Boys song. It was the perfect day.
Steven Leadon
September 4, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Yes, I agree with a lot of the comments. Stackridge performed first in a half empty stadium. The Eagles and the Beach Boys definately upstaged Elton John who I thought was poor. Like many others, I left half way through his set.
kimmi
December 14, 2016 at 4:43 am
Remember it well a great day out Beach boys and the Eagles were great.Elton was good but lost the audience slightly being a bit self indulgent doing all of Captain Fantastic,but Ray Coopers extravagant performance, and the best ever of some one saved my life tonight stayed with me forever so all was not lost with Elton.See all the sets Stackridge were ok,Joe Walsh brilliant as ever,just before he joined the Eagles I believe, and Rufus were ok .The Beach Boys just killed with hit after hit and had the audience rocking and a great sunny day to go with it.Great memories.,
Derek Bates
January 11, 2017 at 9:57 pm
My first all day concert got of to a great start when I scored a lump of Leb Gold that would choke a donkey off two cross-dressers sat behind us (Obviously there for Elton) in exchange for a spare pack of Rizlas I had. One had bought the blow, the other the baccy but neither thought to get papers, with non to be had anywhere in the stadium, I waited for a lull in the argument and just held my spare pack up and waited. My brother & I got severely stoned to great music on a glorious sunny Saturday. All in all a great day out that was just a little soured by Elton’s blatant plugging of his latest album.
Ralph
May 26, 2017 at 4:42 pm
I was at this concert.. great line up..and a red hot day.. remember jeff skunk baxter playing guitar in eltons band.. joe walsh coming on in a packing case as guest of the eagles
Chris
June 21, 2017 at 8:20 am
I also recall Jackson Browne joining the Eagles (on Takin’ It Easy???) Anyway, a great day. Joe Walsh had on a “Have A Shitty Day” t-shirt.
Martin P
July 12, 2017 at 5:42 pm
The first major rock/pop concert I ever went to (in the middle of my ‘O’ levels) and still the greatest. I’d expected The Eagles would be the highlight, and they were excellent, as was Joe Walsh, but The Beach Boys stood above all the rest – Elton John sadly proved a bit anti-climactic, it was like trying to top The Alamo with a George Formby film. Have loved The Beach Boys ever since. Their harmonies, and what I can only describe as the purity of their singing, were astounding. Surf’s Up makes the few hairs left stand up on my neck even now.
One quirky memory: a guy clearly out of his head on something walked to the front, beneath the stage, and climbed into a giant speaker – a bass bin I think – in mid-concert. His head will still be ringing.
paul smith
January 28, 2018 at 10:48 pm
I remember that beautiful sunny day in that huge old stadium. Beach boys sang the songs of summer and from there sixties heyday. The Eagles were good but not fantastic and Elton was okay with stuff we were familiar with until he laboured through most tracks from his new LP Captain Fantastic. The mood completely changed.Why would he do that. However, he became a megastar and the eagles, too. Have been to see the Eagles and Elton John many times since and although they became absolute superstars not one concert has captured the atmosphere of that day prior Captain Fantastic….
Francis.
February 8, 2018 at 8:17 pm
I was there aged 13 with my freind Mick who was 15. We stayed in Peckham with his gran for the weekend. I had just started Cheadle grammar school and was a moody Elton fan due to his early songs. Mick and i got to the front and went around the side of the stage and saw my hero Bernie Taupin chatting with musicians. It was a long blazing hot day with no shade on the centre of the pitch. I was 13 remember and there were girls everywhere around me with their tops off smoking funny baccy. I enjoyed the Eagles and have been a fan ever since. I can’t remember the other acts as we waited for Elton. Then came the Beach Boys, who ? i was 13 yep never heard of ’em but WOW bloody hell were they bloody awesome. I recognised some songs but couldn’t keep still, they were great, this was music WOW. Then finally Elto my hero the man i went to see, imhad hiscearly albums and couldn’t wait. What, brown dirt what ! jeez what a bloody anti climax. If you read this Elton inwant my £3.50 back that i paid for the ticket out of my pocket money. Rock on Beach Boys and Eagles.
CliffoftheDirtyStrangers
February 8, 2018 at 10:10 pm
I was there, still have the t-shirt somewhere. Great day out, I was 16 or 17 beer n gear was the order of the day. I thought Rufus were great, Chaka Kahn was playing drums for a while and was then introduced to sing lead vocals for Rufus if I remember correctly. I’d gone to see Joe Walsh who didn’t disappoint, far from it!
Howard Pitfield
July 12, 2018 at 11:54 pm
19 year old at the time….. Fab gig just before I went to work overseas in Brussels.
Jan lake
September 4, 2019 at 9:00 pm
Yes I was 19 too. Seems like yesterday. Wish we were still there.
Carol Coyne
January 17, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Great comments. I was 18 and thought the whole day awesome. Still have my programme and ticket too and cant believe it was only £3.50! Went to see Elton and The Eagles mostly but The Beach Boys were amazing. Remember the queues for the ladies and often went in the gents where no one was waiting haha. Good times.
lawrence staley
April 8, 2019 at 9:20 pm
Astounding concert.A friend and I left the Northeast at 5am going past RabyCastle where Elton performed brilliantly some 25 years later.Who could have dreamt that on that cloudless summer morn? Darlington to Wembley at 1130 am.We were amazed how compact the stadium seemed.It remains,I think,the finest stadium gig ever due to the lineup and the weather.The Beach Boys were amazingly good and the sound so powerful you had to shout into an ear to be heard.Three days later I bought all the BBoys albums and my ears were still ringing.Elton was far better than some have said.I remember thinking this is out of this world,only to turn around to see I was stood next to Roy Wood.Happy times and cost less than a cup of coffee now
Charlie
June 19, 2019 at 4:11 pm
What a day! Not my first big concert, but my fave big stadium gig. Packed on the matting already mentioned, we all roasted in the sun drinking whatever we’d brought – not everybody had and in those days the concessions were small affairs.
I remember seeing Evil Knevil when I was picking up my tickets for this concert. He was practicing for his show outside the stadium zooming up and down Wembley Way for his May 26 show. A great warm up for a young lad a month before the concert – we heard Evil failed his multi-bus jump and smashed himself up.
Anyway, we were there for them all. Stackridge wasn’t new to us and it was so exciting to be in at the start of Joe Walsh joining the Eagles. Rocky Mountain Way was roarin’!
Yes, like so many, we were really there for the Beach Boys – on a little cassette deck their greatest hits double album was the sound track to a drive round Scotland with a mate the previous summer aged 17 in his dad’s Moggie Minor.
But Elton was the best. What a showman! We’d invested in his LP released a week or two earlier in May and learnt it off by heart! So, for us, the new stuff performed by Elton in his outlandish Cowboy kit blew us away – we stayed to the end.
But loads went early: my last memory of the day is waiting for the tube to get back home and being amazed at how quiet it was.
It hadn’t been quiet at Wembley!
Jan lake
September 4, 2019 at 8:55 pm
What an amazing day. I remember it like yesterday. The beach boys were amazing and elton john had a job following them. So good to hear comments from other people who were there. Would be great to have a reunion. Wonderful.
Peter DM
November 3, 2019 at 2:41 am
A memorable day – very hot & sunny. I arrived with a group of mates & we were there early enough (Stackridge were playing) to get a place only a few rows back from the stage. At that time the Eagles & Joe Walsh were not yet established as “mainstream” acts – it was still cool to like them! I remember being very impressed with funky Rufus & the irrepressible Chaka Khan.
The Beach Boy were retro-fun & their set was very well received. Elton struck a somewhat different note as by that time he had moved away from his cool singer/songwriter status & had become an over-the-top glam pop star – not guaranteed to find favour with a hip 17 year old. Like others, I remember leaving before Elton finished his set.
Keith Bell
November 20, 2019 at 9:40 pm
I was there as member of the security. Security was provided by wasps rfc. What a fantastic day. Beach boys super as were the eagles. Elton John let himself down by playing his new album. Great weather too.
Phil
November 23, 2019 at 1:43 am
This was my first ever concert and I loved it. I remember the beach boys really stole the show. It was such a hot day and every now and then there was a waft of a certain smoke drifting over. Fun times.
Terry Cuthbert-Dickinson
March 31, 2020 at 10:00 pm
I was almost 18. I was staying in halls of residence in Limehouse & went with a group of mates. I remember the day as being roasty, not quite as hot as 76 but getting there. All I had to drink with me was a four pack of Long Life.
It was an amazing day with great performances but towards the end the heat was taking a toll upon us and we left during the last set to seek beer before we completely dehydrated.
I still feel lucky to have been there & I think it only cost a fiver. Happy, music & beer filled student days.
Ian Purdham
April 11, 2021 at 3:50 pm
A stunning day out, every bit as good as reports above suggest. The Beach Boys were simply magnificent…they were arguably at their live performance peak in the early to mid 70’s, with Carl’s vocals, Mike’s showmanship and Dennis’s cool all shimmering on this beautiful late afternoon. Over 40 years on, and still THE best gig I can remember. Check out their set list and marvel!
Ian Purdham
April 11, 2021 at 3:55 pm
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/1975/wembley-stadium-london-england-43d1e7b3.html
Veronica
April 16, 2021 at 7:48 pm
Best concert ever! Will never forget it (still have the programme!). Went with my best friend Beverley. We were 18 and we had a ball!
Greg
May 16, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Being an Elton John fanatic I he was fantastic, had bought the album so new all the songs. Though would have to say that the Beach Boys stole the show and the place rocked when they were on stage. Brilliant day went with a mate who lived just outside London, I had come down from Scarborough. Still got the progra.
Steve Simm
September 24, 2021 at 8:47 am
I was there on that beautiful sunny day and the music was sublime and the atmosphere w@s incredible for me the stand out act was joe Walsh what a a great guitarist .with the sings I haven’t changed and Rocky Mountain way WOW!
Eagles were also great as were the beach boys and good old Elton who was probably at the top of game then .
Love and fond memories from me .
John
January 4, 2022 at 11:28 pm
I was there. What a line up!….. What a day…..! Legends live. Elton… AND the Beach Boys…. AND The Eagles….AND Joe Walsh….. AND Chaka Khan…..Wow!
ChrisS
June 26, 2023 at 9:03 am
My new and I were there with a group of friends. We’ve been to many concerts since but that day had the be concert with the greatest line up ever.
I agree with many posting above who felt that Elton was an anticlimax. The Beachboys really stole the show and everyone was singing their hearts out. I was by then a real Elton fan and already had my copy of Captain Fantastic so I knew all the songs from what is one of his best albums.
Even so, nobody could possibly have topped the Beachboys that day, no even the late great Tina Turner who we saw at her last O2 concert in London in 2009.
Ann and I just watched Elton’s Glastenbury set last night live on TV and it was brilliant. To think that after more than 50 years and at the age of 76 he can still belt them out so well, supported by all the surviving band members from 1975 was fantastic.
Such wonderful memories.
Paul W
July 14, 2023 at 11:31 pm
Wow, how terrific to read all the posts on here! Talk about rolling back the years I can almost feel the heat from the sun of that fantastic day! Like many commenting before me, it was my first “big” concert, I’d been to many packed Wembley football matches but this was something else! I was still 16 about to leave school and just started illegal driving lessons in my Dad’s Mk3 company Cortina! How can it be I’m 65 in a couple of months, it feels like the concert was last week! Went with two older married work colleagues, the Chef and his wife from a restaurant I worked in evenings and weekends. They had introduced me to Elton Johns early albums played during Watneys Party 7 infused wind downs after a late shift and he was the reason for buying a ticket. Like many on here though it was the Beach Boys that stole the show for me, they were superb, closely followed by The Eagles who were just sublime and I became a lifelong fan from that day! Although I’d heard the Captain Fantastic album played entirely on Radio 1 on launch, I didn’t know the lyrics well enough yet and when Elton played the whole album instead of older songs it did disappoint, but the performances of the Beach Boys and Eagles more than made up! In a month or two the Captain Fantastic album soon became a favourite! What a day, thank you all for the memories!
Steve
July 18, 2023 at 12:33 am
“….it only cost 3 fifty….”
A pint cost 33 pence in those days.
So,call it ten pints.
That’s what a ticket cost. Ten pints.
Bob Moulder
September 26, 2023 at 9:57 pm
This is great. This was my first all-day concert and has lived with me. As everyone else has said the Beach Boys arguably stole the show. They had rather fallen out of fashion, and shuffled on stage without any fanfare, but from the opening chords of Wouldn’t it be nice they had the audience on their feet and we all remembered what a truly remarkable band they were – even without Brian.
Elton now had the formidable task of following this. Before hand he’d said playing the whole of a new album wasn’t a good idea, but then proceeded to do just that. The mood in the audience mellowed somewhat, but, to his credit, Elton ramped it up again with a storming climax to his set
Other little things have stuck in my mind, not least Chaka Khan emerging from a box during the Eagles set
Julia
October 4, 2023 at 6:49 am
A very memorable day I was lucky enough to go to with a group of friends. We had packed a very good picnic and rocked the day away . Remember feeling disappointed at Elton John but he had a very hard act to follow with the Beach Boys getting everyone singing and enjoying themselves in the beautiful weather. Went with my new boyfriend and we have now been married 47 years. Great memories of that summer day.
Simon Eastham
January 24, 2024 at 10:50 am
It was the first ‘big’ event I ever went to aged 15. Me and three mates from school went from Chelmsford, Essex – train and tube (those were the days when a group of young teenagers could happily travel miles from home on public transport with no worries!). Enjoyed Elton, but agree it was the Beach Boys and The Eagles that will always stand out. I’ve just secured two tickets to see The Eagles again (just 49 years later!) on their ‘Last Tour’ in Manchester this May – Steely Dan as support!! Soooo happy.
Stuart Roberts
March 8, 2024 at 12:04 am
I was 19 when I went to this concert, main reason being to see Elton. Drove down from the North West on my own, having persuaded my dad to lend me his car, and parked in a side street in Harrow, then got the tube to Wembley. Sat in the stands to the side of the stage, what a great day it was! Had nothing with me to drink but the girl sat next to me very kindly shared a bottle of something with me. Saw all the acts, loved the Eagles, especially when they wheeled on a flight case and Joe Walsh jumped out of it and played a song with them. Was never really a Beach Boy fan, but they blew me away (and everyone else). The day was perfect for their music, it was like a little bit of California in the centre of London.
Loved Elton as well, and I had the Captain Fantastic album and knew all the songs, but it wasn’t the best idea to play the whole album – people got bored, though he finished the night off well, with some of his best songs. I recall Wembley tube station being absolutely packed out after the concert, so I walked along the road till I found the next station along the line, then a long drive home punctuated by a couple of hours kip in the car at the motorway services. Still got the programme safe and sound. Like Simon (comment above) I will also be seeing the Eagles in Manchester in May.
That Wembley concert was just one of those perfect days that you look back on and feel thankful that you were there.