It seems as though the Beach Boys will not be playing with the original lineup. Last week, it was revealed that Beach Boy’s Mike Love had kicked out the band’s original members: Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks. Wilson is also Love’s cousin. Love did not ask them to continue touring this fall and Wilson stated that he was “disappointed” and is confused by Love’s decision.
Soon after, Love wrote and published an article in the Los Angeles Times clarifying why he is continuing to tour with a different band for contractual and monetary reasons. He also stated:
I would never fire Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. I love Brian Wilson.
In response, Wilson has taken to Los Angeles Times as well to discuss his side of the story. He says:
As far as I know I can’t be fired –that wouldn’t be cool. The negativity surrounding all the comments bummed me out. 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 did not know about Love’s Los Angeles Times piece prior to its release and was blindsided by the event:
I was completely blindsided by his press release. I had no idea that it was coming out, since it was crafted by Mike’s personal PR firm without my knowledge or approval. No one in my camp would have approved it or the timing… I’m disappointed that Mike would now say that the release was done at the request of my representative… We hadn’t even discussed as a band what we were going to do with all the offers that were coming in for more 50th shows.
He also continues to talk about his relationship with Mike:
While I appreciate the nice cool things Mike said about me in his letter, and I do and always will love him as my cousin and bandmate, at the same time I’m still left wondering why he doesn’t want to continue this great trip we’re on. Al and I want to keep going because we believe we owe it to the music. That’s it in a nutshell, all these conversations need to be between the shareholders, and I welcome Mike to call me.
Read more about this story at Pitchfork.
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