Beach Boys are still getting those good vibrations as they head for Hong Kong
Most of them are in their seventies, but the pop legends are surfing on a massive wave of public affection as they head for Hong Kong
The classic 1960s image of The Beach Boys forming a human pyramid on a stretch of golden sand is probably beyond most members of the band today, but the inventors of California rock demonstrated on the Tokyo leg of their ongoing world tour that they still have plenty of moves.
To mark half a century of making their own distinctive brand of music, the band set out on the 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour - an ambitious series of dates that will see them play the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday - with original members Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine and David Marks.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post shortly before they took to the stage at the baseball stadium of the Chiba Lotte Marines, the band emphasised how much pleasure they were getting out of playing together again after two decades and performing for such appreciative audiences.
The crowd at the stadium of the Chiba Marines baseball team were equally delighted to see the original line-up reunited and combined to provide their own backing vocals to all the band's biggest hits, ranging from Catch A Wave through Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin' Safari and God Only Knows.
And when they hit the first notes of tunes such as California Girls, Good Vibrations, Surfin' USA and Help Me, Rhonda - the entire crowd rose to its feet.
"It's a real thrill for me to be able to work with these guys again as they still sing so well," said 70-year-old Brian Wilson, the man behind many of the band's biggest hits and back on the keyboards.
"We have become friends again and we just want to be able to share our music with people. We have just recorded a new album and I have to say that I like all the sounds on it."