The Beach Boys

One of the 1960s most successful and influential bands, the Beach Boys became one of the groups that defined American music. Despite a troubled history and the mental problems of their main creative talent Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys remain a rock and roll institution. Formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961 by brothers Brian (vocals / bass/ keyboards / guitar), Carl (vocals / guitar), and Dennis Wilson (drums / vocals), they recruited their cousin Mike Love (vocals) and school friend Al Jardine (guitar / vocals) to form the classic line-up of the Beach Boys. Their distinctive, close harmony vocal style was dubbed ‘the surf sound ‘after their first single, 1961’s “Surfin'.” Jardine left the band in 1962 and was replaced by David Marks, another neighborhood friend, until his return in 1963. While the band released many acclaimed albums, they are best remembered by the general public for their Top 20 hits including “Surfin’ Safari” (1962), “Surfin’ USA” (1963), “Surfer Girl” (1963), “Be True To Your School” (1963), “Fun, Fun, Fun” (1964), “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)” (1964), “California Girls” (1965), and “Sloop John B” (1966). They also scored three chart toppers between 1964 and 1966: “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations.” However, the pressures of writing and touring and his drug intake caused Brian to have a mental breakdown, and he was pulled off the road and replaced by Bruce Johnston. This allowed Brian to spend more time in the studio to work on creating their music. Feeling he had to compete with their ‘rivals’, the Beatles, Brian began experimenting with sounds and arrangements in the studio, culminating in the 1966 album Pet Sounds, which is now referred to as their finest musical statement and one of the best rock albums of all time. The album’s “God Only Knows” is often referred to as their finest ballad. Back in 1966, it was not the hit that Capitol Records were looking for and they never released the proper follow-up album Smile. Instead, those around the band (and the label) pieced together Smiley Smile (1967), which was a musical detour away from commercial pop and subsequent albums – Wild Honey (1967), Friends (1968), 20/20 (1969) and Sunflower (1970) - saw the band drift further from the mainstream. Albums like Surf’s Up (1971), Carl and the Passions – So Tough (1972), and Holland (1973) began to reveal that all the other members were able to create quality music while Brian’s output was diminishing. By 1976, Brian had returned to action full-time with the album 15 Big Ones, which made the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. After the drowning death of Dennis Wilson on December 28, 1983, The Beach Boys made a concerted effort to return to the pop music charts with their self-titled 1985 album. Produced by Steve Levine (Culture Club), the album was slick and included the Top 30 hit “Getcha Back.” The Beach Boys had a surprise number 1 hit in 1988 with “Kokomo,” taken from the soundtrack to the film Cocktail. Several more singles and albums followed and charted, but their hitmaking days seemed to be over. Carl Wilson died from cancer on February 6, 1998). After Carl’s death, the Beach Boys splintered into two different camps: one led by Brian Wilson and the other led by Mike Love. They set aside their differences and recorded and released the album That’s Why God Made the Radio in 2012. After celebrating their 50th anniversary with a tour, Mike Love fired everyone from the band apart from Bruce Johnston and took the Beach Boys name with him. Brian continued to tour with his own band for many years until his death on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82. Mike Love and Bruce Johnston continue to tour as the Beach Boys.