Beach Boys Front Man Fires Founding Members

Posted: Sep 26 2012

HOLLYWOOD – The once world famous Beach Boys band got together again for a world tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary, only to be split up on stage.

During the world tour, Brian Wilson and two other founding members of the band were told they were being replaced.

The Beach Boys, left to right: Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, Brian Wilson, David Marks and Al Jardine. Photo Credit: REUTERS

Brian Wilson put years of bickering behind him to rejoin the band. The Beach Boys even recorded ‘That’s Why God Made The Radio’ for the special event; their first album together in 20 years.

But early on during the tour, 70 year old Wilson couldn’t believe what he was hearing when his cousin Mike Love, told him and two others of the band that the Beach Boys would continue the tour but without them.

Bruce Johnston, who joined the Beach Boys in 1965 would stay with the band but not Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks. The trio is being replaced by ‘session musicians’.

Wilson who had hoped to record another rock ‘n roll album with the band told CNN: “I am disappointed and I can’t understand why he (Mike Love) doesn’t want to tour with Al, David and me. We were just having so much fun. But when push comes to shove, we are the original Beach Boys.”

Jardine (70), guitarist and singer, has set up a Facebook campaign to get Mike Love to change his mind.

Mike Love acquired the legal rights to the name ‘Beach Boys’ after spending many hours back and forth in court, fighting other members over the band’s name.