The Beach Boys clobber Chicago— Backstage with band expert Mike Eder

Beach Boys expert Mike Eder is interviewed about the group’s sold-out Chicago show during their acclaimed 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour. The Elvis Presley author also offers analysis of “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and loads more. Clockwise from top center — Brian, Al Jardine, Dennis Wilson, Mike, and Carl Wilson are vividly rendered as the late ’70s-era bearded Beach Boys. Sketch by Marcus Oakley

Seventeen shows into their five month, 73-date worldwide 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks of the Beach Boys were consistently winning over kids and the young at heart with trademark harmonies and rock and roll harkening back to a less complicated era when good was good and bad was tucked away out of sight.