Even though many of their contemporaries have either retired, considered retiring, or passed away, The Beach Boys remain active, performing approximately 120 shows annually. Fronted by original vocalist Mike Love and long-term multi-instrumentalist Bruce Johnston, this incarnation of the band continues to bring the spirit of Southern California’s sound to fans spanning three generations. This fact is not lost on Love himself.
Experiencing the infectious energy and joy that our music stirs up in people never fails to inspire me. It’s truly heartwarming to witness young ones grooving with their parents, or even grandparents, at our concerts – a testament to the universal appeal of our tunes.” (Movie reviewer)
This weekend, The Beach Boys are back in Long Beach for the first time since nearly 15 years ago when they performed at Harry Bridges Memorial Park. According to Love, the band had played one of its initial shows in the city at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium on New Year’s Eve in 1961.
He reminisces about the first paid performance with the Beach Boys at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, which was for the Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance. We only played three songs and earned $300, but Ike Turner and Kings of Rhythm were also part of that show. During that event, Tina Turner performed a song called ‘I’m Blue’. It was raw and left a profound impact on me.
After countless performances, I can’t help but marvel at the enduring appeal of The Beach Boys. Time and again, their shows are met with an enthusiastic audience ready to relive the classics from their yesteryears. For me, embracing their 1960s fame feels like a responsibility – a chance to propagate their messages of “peace and love” during their concerts.
As he prepared to leave his residence in Lake Tahoe, California, en route to Southern California for the band’s upcoming series of concerts, Love reminisced about the Beach Boys’ nearly 65-year history, expressing gratitude for being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also shared his excitement about performing at Riot Fest, a crowd that differs from the typical Beach Boys audience, and his plans to honor his late cousin Brian Wilson.
How did it feel to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame?
Although it’s late, it was truly an honor to finally be recognized for the significant contributions I made to many iconic Beach Boys hits throughout the years. My recognition is well-deserved, as I wasn’t previously acknowledged for my work on songs like “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Be True to Your School.”
My uncle, who was the original manager of the Beach Boys, failed to credit me for my lyrics contributions. After a disagreement, we dismissed him as our manager in an attempt to rectify the situation. However, he also excluded me from handling the publishing rights, which we were unaware of when we started out in 1961. At that time, we were more focused on creating music and harmonizing than understanding the business aspects. It’s a family tradition that evolved into a successful professional career, thanks to my cousin Brian and I collaborating on songs that continue to be popular today.
Why do the songs still manage to unite people, despite the fact that they often struggle to find common ground on various issues nowadays?
As a music aficionado penning this review, I can attest that “Good Vibrations” is a masterpiece that brilliantly contrasts positivity and negativity. Composed by me in 1966, during the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War and social unrest, it served as an oasis of peace and optimism amidst the chaos.
The song was born from a poem about a girl who cherished nature and embodied the spirit of peace, love, and flower power. The melody for “I’m thinking of good vibrations / She gave me excitations” along with all the lyrics were my creation.
What makes this song truly remarkable is its ability to evoke feelings of joy and well-being in listeners. A psychologist in Sheffield, England even conducted a study on songs that uplift people’s moods, and guess what? “Good Vibrations” topped the list, an astounding accomplishment considering it was released during the same year it climbed to No. 1 in England.
To put this achievement into perspective, The Beach Boys were named the No. 1 group in Great Britain that year, with The Beatles trailing behind at No. 2. This was an incredible milestone for us and showcases the enduring power of music during turbulent times.
That collaboration with artists like Mark McGrath and Dexter Holland from The Offspring suggests that the enduring impact of these songs is significant, as they continue to resonate with musicians who are also well-established in the music industry.
Dexter’s performance on that instrument was simply outstanding! You already know he’s a fantastic singer, but when he decided to perform “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” during our backstage rehearsal at the Oceans Calling Festival in Maryland last September, it was nothing short of incredible. We ran through it just once or twice, and then there we were on stage in front of a crowd of 40,000 people – quite an experience! Mark McGrath is truly a delightful and spirited individual. As we share the same birthday, he’s a bit younger than me (he chuckles about that).
And of course, John Stamos, who inducted you into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He has been a part of our team ever since his character, Blackie, appeared on “General Hospital.” Nowadays, you could say he’s more like an unofficial member of the Beach Boys family.
After Brian’s passing, a video clip of the band performing on “Full House” became popular on Instagram. It brings back memories – a time when both Brian and Carl were still with us, and we had the opportunity to perform together on that show.
John Stamos often emphasizes that we desperately need this music in today’s world due to an overwhelming amount of negativity. I wholeheartedly concur with his sentiment. As I composed, I intentionally highlighted the positive aspects through harmonies, creating a comforting ambiance. The topics occasionally delved into introspection, such as “God Only Knows,” “In My Room,” and “The Warmth of the Sun.” However, the upbeat songs are all about fun, positivity, and spreading good feelings. Our recent tour in Spain was a resounding success, with standing ovations each night. The experience was truly astounding.
It’s quite surprising to witness The Beach Boys performing at Riot Fest, a festival traditionally known for punk music. Have you heard of this event before?
Exciting news! A year ago, we were extended an invitation to perform, but this year, we’re finally making it happen. Our music resonates with a wide range of audiences and demographics, regardless of the format. We’ve thrived in various country festivals, some more than others. Regardless of the festival’s genre, we’ve found success. Last year, we graced the Stagecoach stage, where approximately 70-80,000 people joined us, singing along and dancing with enthusiasm. It was a fantastic experience for us!
× Who are you looking forward to seeing at Riot Fest?
Who is on it other than us?
On that day, you’ll be enjoying performances by Weezer playing their Blue Album, a revamped Sex Pistols, Jack White, Dropkick Murphys, All Time Low, and James.
Back in the day, Weezer performed “California Girls” during a special tribute event broadcast on Easter Sunday. That performance had a lot more guitar work compared to the usual version (laughs). It’d be great if one of them would join us for a song. At such gatherings, you often meet folks you don’t usually cross paths with, and everyone seems to enjoy doing something out of the ordinary.
Do you think the Beach Boys would be considered a punk band, if that was a term, in 1961?
Listening to tunes such as “Surfin’ Safari,” “Catch a Wave,” and “Hawaii,” you’ll notice a lively rhythm. To my mind, these tracks resonate with various music styles.
Does returning to Long Beach, near where you all grew up, carry more weight with the loss of Brian?
Long ago, I composed a song titled “Brian’s Back”. This was back in 1976 when it was included in “15 Big Ones”. In our concerts, we pay tribute to Brian by playing a video of him each night. The audience adores and cherishes this tribute. Although he may be gone, his presence lives on through the music every evening with us.
Do you see the Beach Boys continuing to tour in name after you and Bruce are done?
Here’s a suggestion for paraphrasing:
1. I haven’t had much time to consider that specifically, as we’ve been quite busy focusing on this project recently. Elton John once remarked that “Pet Sounds” would be an album that endures forever, which is a remarkable compliment indeed. As such, the songs from that album could be considered somewhat eternal. So if someone manages to recreate them faithfully for a new recording, then that would certainly be impressive.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that mortality is indeed a concern. In other words, at some point, nature will inevitably assert its control and suggest it’s time for us to depart. But for now, it seems we have a substantial amount of time left to live and enjoy.
What do people misunderstand about your and Brian’s relationship?
To clarify, there’s been some misunderstanding about my feelings towards the “Pet Sounds” album in our early careers, which is incorrect because I was actually involved in naming it and helping Brian bring it to Capitol Records. If you listen to the tracks of “Pet Sounds,” you might wonder how such a masterpiece was created with some of the best musicians from Los Angeles, known as the Wrecking Crew. My cousin Brian did some extraordinary work that will undoubtedly stand the test of time, as Elton John suggests, forever. It’s truly fortunate to have turned a family pastime into a lasting profession.
Is “That’s Why God Made the Radio” the final album by The Beach Boys, or do you still have another one up your sleeves?
Everything is potentially achievable. While we don’t currently have specific ideas or plans, I often ponder such possibilities.
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2025-08-08 20:01