Movies

Why did Bruce Johnston leave the Beach Boys?

BBG News

The Beach Boys are frequently mentioned among the top U.S. rock bands of all time. In the 1960s, they went head-to-head with the Beatles, and even today, they symbolize the American Dream in various aspects, some positive and some negative. Interestingly, Bruce Johnston is rarely brought up when discussing the classic lineup of this iconic band.

In 1965, Johnston stepped in for Brian Wilson when he was touring with The Beach Boys. Later on, he became part of their recording group and played an essential role during the period when The Beach Boys were losing commercial popularity. Notably, this was the time when albums like “Sunflower” and “Surf’s Up” were produced, which have since gained cult status among fans. Unfortunately, Johnston departed from the band in 1972, and the reasons behind his departure remained ambiguous initially.

Bruce Johnston exited the band in 1972

At one point, Jack Rieley, who was managing the Beach Boys at that time, asserted that he dismissed Johnston from the group as his style didn’t align with their musical direction. Moreover, he believed that guitarist Blondie Chaplin would add an exciting element to the band. Dennis Wilson, the band’s drummer, echoed this idea in the book titled “The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America’s Greatest Band, On Stage and In the Studio“.

Wilson stated that Bruce Johnston had a knack for songwriting, yet struggled to collaborate effectively within the team context. In his own words, “Musically, our styles didn’t mesh well and we didn’t truly appreciate each other, so one day we both agreed, ‘That’s enough.’ He’s a great individual, but he was composing songs for a solo project. […] We are a band.

Johnston, on the other hand, stated that he left the band himself. During a 1974 interview, the vocalist and lyricist expressed his concerns about the Beach Boys evolving into an oldies group, feeling that it became more challenging to be innovative within the band. He didn’t want to keep singing old songs for the rest of his life, as he was frustrated by being seen as just one of five members – which is how he felt in the Beach Boys.

Johnston rejoined the Beach Boys in 1978

Prior to his return to the group in 1978, Johnston had already put out several solo albums. It’s possible that he harbored doubts about being part of a “retro” band, considering the immense success of the Beach Boys’ compilation album, “Endless Summer,” in 1974. However, since then, he has shown no hesitation in performing their classic hits.

To put it simply, among the Beach Boys, Johnston is one of the two members who has continuously toured with the group since Carl Wilson’s passing. He has been a mainstay in the band alongside lead singer Mike Love and has contributed to every album released by them since 1979’s L.A. (Light Album), including their most recent studio album, That’s Why God Made the Radio, from 2012.

Discussion among fans about Johnston’s allegiance towards Love instead of Wilson, who departed from the band, has been a contentious issue, given that it was Wilson who welcomed Johnston back during the late ’70s. However, it is important to note that Johnston was not included in the Beach Boys lineup for their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 1988. The honor was exclusively bestowed upon founding members.

Read More

2025-03-14 22:00

Previous post ‘Freakier Friday’ Features 2x the Body Swaps as ‘Freaky Friday’
Next post Brawl Stars Controller Tier List (March 2025): All Controller Brawlers, Ranked