Blondie Chaplin

Blondie Chaplin

Blondie Chaplin is a South African rock singer, guitarist and songwriter from Durban, born in 1951. He first gains international attention in the early 1970s as a member of the Beach Boys, and later works as a long-term backing vocalist and occasional acoustic rhythm guitarist with the Rolling Stones.

Early career and the Flame

Before joining the Beach Boys, Chaplin performs in the South African rock band the Flame with fellow South African musician Ricky Fataar. The Flame are discovered in London by Beach Boy Carl Wilson, who signs them to the Beach Boys’ Brother Records label and produces their self-titled album. The Flame are the only act apart from the Beach Boys to record for Brother Records.

The Beach Boys

Chaplin and Fataar join the Beach Boys when drummer Dennis Wilson is unable to play because of a hand injury. At that point Bruce Johnston has left the group and Brian Wilson’s involvement is very limited, so Chaplin and Fataar become full members rather than backing musicians. Chaplin also works as a co-producer on the Beach Boys’ 1972 album Carl and the Passions - 'So Tough', where he sings lead vocals with Fataar and co-writes “Here She Comes” and “Hold On Dear Brother”. He sings lead on “Sail On, Sailor”, “Leaving This Town” and “Funky Pretty” from the 1973 album Holland. He leaves the Beach Boys in 1973 after a dispute with the band’s management.

Later work

In the late 1980s, Chaplin tours with The Band, taking some of Richard Manuel’s vocal parts and playing guitar. He also appears as a featured player in Gene Clark and Michael Clarke’s group The 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Byrds, and later appears on Jennifer Warnes’ albums The Hunter and The Well. Since the late 1990s, and from the Bridges to Babylon Tour onwards, he works with the Rolling Stones as a backing vocalist and occasional guitar player.

Solo recordings

Chaplin releases three solo albums, including Between Us. He is also known by the name Terence William “Blondie” Chaplin.