After Brian Wilson's death, who owns the Beach Boys' legacy?
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The Beach Boys in 1966. From left to right: Al Jardine, Mike Love, Dennis Wilson, Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson. AP/SIPA /
The American quintet's two remaining founding members, Mike Love and Al Jardine, continue to perform the band's hits on stage in 2025... but each on their own. Here's some explanation.
Since Brian Wilson's death on Wednesday, June 11, only two Beach Boys founders remain: singer Mike Love, 84, cousin of the Wilson brothers (Dennis drowned in 1983, Carl succumbed to lung cancer in 1998), and second guitarist Al Jardine, 82, a neighbor of the siblings.
Mike Love often clashed with Brian Wilson's musical direction, particularly during the recording of the 1965 album "Pet Sounds" and later during the sessions for "Smile." Some fans felt that Love had torpedoed this "adolescent symphony to God," a more complex and experimental work than his earlier compositions. The early lead singer, however, didn't want to deviate from the trinity of girls, surfing, and cars that had made them successful.
It wasn't always a happy ending between Mike and Brian. Over time, their artistic disputes turned legal. In the early 1990s, Love sued Brian for copyright on 35 songs. Love claimed some of the lyrics to many hits like "California Girls," "I Get Around," and "Help Me Rhonda." He won the case and earned $5 million.
Beach Boys, a brand worth its weight in goldFrom 1974 onwards, with brothers Brian and Dennis Wilson no longer able to perform on stage, Mike Love took over the reins of the group, cultivating a nostalgic streak for better or for worse. He would never let them go, earning the sole right to tour under the Beach Boys name, a brand worth its weight in gold. Brian Wilson, the mastermind, the brilliant composer who went to pot at the end of the 1960s, would have to make do with his surname, a source of frustration.
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Mike Love jealously guards his patch of beach. In 2001, guitarist Al Jardine, who had always supported Brian Wilson's artistic vision, was sued for introducing himself live as " Beach Boys Family & Friends," "Al Jardine, Beach Boy," or "Al Jardine of the Beach Boys." In 2012, the now-silver-haired surfers decided to bury the hatchet and reunite to celebrate their 50th anniversary. But the tour ended on a sour note with the ousting of Brian Wilson and Al Jardine for financial reasons.
Al Jardine hits the road againIn 2025, Mike Love is the only one performing under the Beach Boys license. The band is scheduled to play in the United States in June, before flying to Europe in July, and then returning to American venues in August. It just goes to show that we can still sing about the joys of summer vacations, seasonal romances, and the joys of surfing even after we're over 80.
Brian Wilson is no longer with us, but Mike Love still has a competitor. This summer, 82-year-old Al Jardine is also hitting the road with the former members of Brian Wilson's band under the banner "Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band," a reference to the iconic 1966 album on which most of these musicians played. The faithful Al Jardine has rallied the dormant troops since the former songwriter decided to retire in 2022. The guitarist plans to cover Beach Boys classics, of course, but also rarely heard live '70s tracks like "The Night Was So Young." The band will also perform tracks from Al Jardine's recently released EP "Islands in the Sun." Two competing bands, one legacy. Surfer, choose your side.
