Beach Boys - Brian Wilson Responds To Mike Love’s Beach Boys Snub

Brian Wilson Responds To Mike Love’s Beach Boys Snub

Brian Wilson and Al Jardine have publicly responded to the news that Mike Love and Bruce Johnston would be continuing to tour without them, using the name The Beach Boys. The band have recently completed a 50th anniversary Beach Boys tour and were promoting their recent album of new material, That’s Why God Made The Radio. Mike Love had already written to the Los Angeles Times explaining his decision to tour with Johnston under the name The Beach Boys – a move which caused outrage with many as some saw it as his was of ‘firing’ his cousin, Brian Wilson. Wilson has long been considered the creative core of The Beach Boys by a huge proportion of the band’s fans.

In his own letter, Wilson said “Normally I wouldn't respond to something like this, but because I love what the 50th has done for the band's image and its legacy, I feel I need to… Recording "That's Why God Made The Radio" was a dream come true, to be able to co-write and produce an album for the boys and have it so well received by fans all over the world was the best!... Now on to the rumors: As far as I know I can't be fired--that wouldn't be cool… What's confusing is that by Mike not wanting or letting Al, David and me tour with the band, it sort of feels like we're being fired.”

Wilson goes on to say that he felt “blindsided” and “disappointed” by the announcement. We’re sure that lots of Beach Boys fans will also be disappointed that what should have been a joyous time for the band has descended into this unsettling situation.