Celebrating 60 Years of Sun, Surf, and "Good Vibrations": The Beach Boys Book

Delve into the vibrant legacy of The Beach Boys with a comprehensive book capturing six decades of sun-kissed melodies, surf culture, and iconic hits like "Good Vibrations." Explore the band's journey through time, celebrating their enduring influence on music and pop culture.

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) -The Beach Boys narrate their journey in a recently published book detailing their evolution from a small garage band established in a Los Angeles suburb during the early 1960s to becoming one of the world's most renowned musical acts. Titled "The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys," this exclusive book includes never-before-seen photographs from recording sessions and numerous concert images. "It's about time we had a comprehensive book... it encompasses many aspects of our past, our growth, and various stages of our career," remarked band member Mike Love during the book's launch event in London.

"This book is our creation... it's authored by The Beach Boys themselves," shared Bruce Johnston, a fellow band member. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Love, Johnston, Brian Wilson, and the late Dennis and Carl Wilson, alongside Al Jardine. Established in 1961 by the Wilson brothers, Love, and Jardine, with Johnston joining in 1965, the group's enduring success is attributed to their focus on positivity, harmony, and the joy of creating music. Love emphasized, "Our music is all about spreading positivity and harmony, and audiences resonate with that."

From iconic pop anthems like "Surfin' U.S.A." to intricate musical compositions such as "Surf's Up," "Heroes and Villains," and "Good Vibrations," The Beach Boys' repertoire reflects Southern California's vibrant youth culture. Yet, their narrative took a somber twist as Brian Wilson, acclaimed as a musical genius by Paul McCartney, grappled with mental health challenges while crafting some of his generation's most captivating harmonies.

In February, following the passing of his wife in January, two longtime associates of Brian Wilson, acting on behalf of his family, petitioned the court to place him under a conservatorship, citing his inability to care for himself. Approved by a judge on Thursday, the petition sought to appoint Wilson's publicist-manager, Jean Sievers, and his business manager, LeeAnn Hard, as co-conservators of his person.

Prior to Thursday's hearing, Bruce Johnston expressed his perspective on Wilson's condition, stating, "I think Brian's doing better than people think ... Brian's such a mystery but Brian's still Brian." Mike Love revealed that he and other band members, including Wilson, gathered last year at Paradise Cove, where The Beach Boys shot their debut album cover. Love recounted how Wilson reminisced about past events, even leading impromptu a cappella performances. Some of these moments are captured in the new documentary, "The Beach Boys," set to premiere on Disney+ on May 24.

Source: Reuters