Now we jump ahead 2 years and I'm playing in Pasadena at the Crystal Closet. I get a phone call on one of the breaks. It was my friend, Carli Munoz telling me that he was in the Beach Boys touring band and Dennis Wilson was looking for someone to play percussion and drums. I figured, what the heck. So the next day, I go to Brother Studio and there's a gang of drummers there all wanting this gig, BIG TIME! I am asked to go set up and wait for the guys who were going 

Bobby Figueroa with Dennis Wilson.

Calsaga: How long were you a member of the Beach Boys touring band? Was Dennis Wilson an influence on your drumming style?

Bobby: I began playing with the Beach Boys in April 1974. I played straight through until about 1990. During that time, I became pretty close to Dennis. We hit it off almost immediately. We were both singing drummers and we were partners in crime. I have to say, without a doubt that he had a profound influenza...I mean influence on my drumming and my life (he would think that was funny). You see, I was use to playing in a more loose style and he showed me how to play more powerfully and straighter. Anyone who ever saw him play knows just how hard a hitter he was and yet he was subtle. This blew my mind! He use to tell people that I was his teacher. Maybe so, but it certainly can be said that at the same time he was showing me his best. He was, after all, a wonderful musician. All this made for a great and fun relationship! I knew technical things about drumming. Where as, he was a caveman; full of heart and feel. We sort of knew that the mixture of our two schools of thought was extremely important and connected us in a very special way. Does that make any sense? It did, and still does to me. You see, he was my friend and teacher.

Calsaga: What is your most memorable experience from performing and/or touring with the Beach Boys?

Bobby: There have been so many wonderful experiences and I have met so many great people while performing with this band. It's hard to say which is more memorable. I can, however tell about one experience that sticks out in my mind. Maybe because it was early on in my career and it really made me feel like I had found a home. It was, I think, in the summer of 1975 when I got my first taste of big time rock and roll. I mean, I was excited just to be there with all that history and legends and I knew there were big fans there. So, here's the show. We're at Wembly Stadium with "Rufus (with Shaka Kann), " who I was a big fan of at the time, "The Eagles" who were at the top of their game, "Elton John" (HUGE!) and of course "The (MIGHTY) Beach Boys." Oh yes...and about 100 thousand fans! Now at this point, I had never seen a show of this magnitude, let alone, be part of it. You can't imagine what it felt like in the green room backstage with everyone and taking in this event. For once, I felt a little nervous and excited beyond belief! Three bands had already played which left just us and the headliner...the now, Sir Elton John. Our road manager sticks his head in and hollers...Showtime! We were making our way to the stage when Carl Wilson taps me on the shoulder and says, "You know that falsetto part at the end of "Surf's Up?" Being well versed by this time I said, "Yeah, sure!" He then said to me, "Great! Sing it!" Oddly enough, this really had a settling effect on me at the time. Now we're taking the stage and I'm looking out at this huge gathering of people and I feel great! We settled in to the show. Well, the ovations were huge as Wembly erupted that day. Mind you, all the groups were magnificent, but for me, it was an all time high! The music was more powerful beyond belief...and I was there...and I was home.

Calsaga: Could you describe, or share a fond memory of each of the Beach Boys?

Bobby: I'll share with you a fond memory I have of the Beach Boys. Not individually, but collectively. That is to say everyone was there. We were on the road in New Orleans. It was my Birthday and the guys threw a dinner for me on our night off. We went to Broussards Restaurant in the French Quarter and ordered up a huge meal. We had shrimp, soft shell crab, blackened red fish, you name it! We topped it off with cherries jubilee. It was a Cajun feast! Everyone had a wonderful time. We were touring, we were happy and everyone was getting along just fine. Carl, Mike, Al, Bruce, Billy, Mike Meros, Ed Carter, Mike Kowalski, Jeff Foskett, Jeff Peters the entire entourage. It was great! Afterwards, Billy, Carl, Gina and I went careening around the French Quarter till all hours. I remember we stopped into this one establishment and Carl decided to call our dear friend, Ricci Martin. That phone call was hysterical! We laughed so hard the place thought we were nuts! All the Beach Boys, the band and the extended family were, and still are, very special people to me. They've always treated me and my family with respect and kindness...ALWAYS. It's a good thing to remember.

Calsaga: I also believe you played on some Beach Boys sessions, specifically Dennis' "Pacific Ocean Blue" album. What do you remember from those sessions? What songs did you play on?

Bobby: I participated on some recordings with Dennis Wilson. The sessions were exciting and a lot of fun. For "Pacific Ocean Blue" I did a drum track for a song called "Dreamer." It's a great song and one of my favorites for spiritual reasons. Just read the lyrics. You'll see what I mean. I believe the late, great James Jamerson of Motown fame played bass on that track. You can imagine what a thrill it was for me. There was another track we did around the same time that ended up on the Beach Boys "LA Light Album" called, "Love Surrounds Me." I also was invited to do some harmonies for LA Light by the guys as well. There were other tracks that we did that I'm not sure were ever released. Getting a call from the guys, then recording, was always a wonderful experience for me...as you can well imagine.