A member of one of the greatest rock bands in history is now in the spotlight at the age of 83.
Al Jardine is, of course, a founding member of the Beach Boys, but for most of the band’s six-plus decades, he didn’t get the same public attention as leader Brian Wilson or singer Mike Love.
That has changed since Wilson’s death earlier this year at the age of 82 because Jardine, who toured with Wilson frequently for the last 20 years, is now leading Wilson’s Pet Sounds Band.
As a result, Jardine admits his public profile is higher than it’s ever been, but the attention started even before Wilson’s death in June.
“Rolling Stone promoting how I revived Brian’s band raised a lot of awareness,” Jardine told HuffPost.
Jardine is currently touring with the Pet Sounds Band, which performs hits like “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “I Get Around,” while emphasizing the complex harmonies and orchestrations Wilson pioneered with songs such as “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.”
He says it’s a “whole different animal” from the Beach Boys touring group led by Love and Bruce Johnston, which focuses on the band’s biggest hits and surf songs.
″[The Pet Sounds Band] can do all the parts. Excellent musicians,” Jardine said, adding that he thinks they are able to reproduce the band’s trademark sound more accurately than the current Beach Boys touring band.
Considering that the Pet Sounds Band is made up of great musicians who are also huge Beach Boys fans, the members have convinced Jardine to include deep cuts from lesser-known albums.
The current tour features songs from the 1977 “Love You” album, which had never been performed live. Since the album was mostly a solo project by Brian Wilson, who made heavy use of synths in the recordings, the band had to make some adjustments.
“We added bass and guitars, and even choreography on one song that is dedicated to Johnny Carson,” Jardine said.
Besides performing shows all over the world, Jardine is still releasing music, such as his new EP, “Islands In The Sun,” which includes guest performances by Johnston, Neil Young and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Although the original Beach Boys were made up of three brothers ― Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson ― along with cousin Mike Love and Jardine, who was a friend of Brian’s, the band has had its share of feuds over the decades.
Except for a 50th anniversary tour in 2012, Jardine stopped touring as a Beach Boy in 1998, preferring to tour on his own or supporting Wilson.
But Jardine is still a co-owner of the Beach Boys’ rights. And while another reunion with the surviving members probably isn’t in the cards, he does see possibilities for the next generation.
“Honestly, it’s too early for that,” he laughed sardonically. “But why not have the siblings get together to perform?”
Jardine’s son, Matt, sings Brian’s parts in the Pet Sounds Band, while Love’s son, Christian, sings with his dad in the Beach Boys touring band.
In addition, Brian Wilson’s daughters, Carnie and Wendy, have sung with the Pet Sounds Band when not performing with Wilson Phillips. Adding to the family connection, Carnie’s husband, Rob Bonfiglio, plays guitar in the Pet Sounds Band.
Their daughter, Lola, also has dreams of a singing career and tried out for “American Idol” earlier this year.
But while Jardine would be happy to keep the Beach Boys music alive for future generations, he’s not as enthusiastic about putting the band’s story on film.
Although Brian Wilson’s struggle with mental illness was depicted in the 2014 film “Love And Mercy,” Jardine isn’t sure the band’s story would work à la the four-part Beatles biopic series currently being planned by director Sam Mendes.
“I think we were kinda boring,” he confessed. “All we did was record.”
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