The Beach Boys were at their lowest popularity in the late 1960s , and their cultural standing was especially worsened by their public image , which remained incongruous with the " heavier " music of their peers . From 1968 onward , Brian 's songwriting output declined substantially , but the public narrative of " Brian-as-leader " continued . After meeting Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at a UNICEF Variety Gala in Paris , Love , along with other high-profile celebrities such as the Beatles and Donovan traveled to Rishikesh in India during February and March 1968 . The following Beach Boys album '' Friends '' had songs influenced by the Transcendental Meditation taught by the Maharishi . In support of the '' Friends '' album , Love had arranged for the Beach Boys to tour with the Maharishi in the U.S. . Starting on May 3 , 1968 , the tour lasted five shows and was canceled when the Maharishi had to withdraw to fulfill film contracts . Because of disappointing audience numbers and the Maharishi 's withdrawal , twenty-four tour dates were subsequently canceled at a cost estimated at $ 250,000 for the band . '' Friends '' , released on June 24 , peaked at number 126 in the US . A collection of Beach Boys backing tracks , '' Stack-o-Tracks '' , was issued by Capitol in August . The album became the first Beach Boys LP that failed to chart in the US and UK
tour with the Maharishi in the U.S.
The Beach Boys' 1968 US tour with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
The Beach Boys