The Beach Boys’ frontman Mike Love fondly recalls a when his now 15-year old daughter came home from elementary school one day with exciting news. Her class had just voted the Beach Boys’ classic song “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” as its favorite song.
“It was pretty remarkable,” said Love. “To them it was new, almost like it just came out but it had come out about 40 years before. [It’s heartening] when different generations reach a certain age and become aware of our music.”
| ONSTAGE |
| The Beach Boys |
| » When: 3 p.m. Sunday |
| » Where: Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Art, Filene Center, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna |
| » Info: $25 to $38; 1-877-WOLFTRAP; wolftrap.org |
For Love, who wrote the group’s first hit “Surfin,’ and co-wrote with his cousin and group co-founder Brian Wilson such classics as “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” and “Good Vibrations,” the music’s magic never fades. That’s evident in his continuing songwriting, including the 1988 hit “Kokomo” that he co-wrote, and also the concerts he captains.
“The Beach Boys’ music is so complex, especially in terms of harmonies, it’s not the type of music you can do on automatic pilot,” he said. “You have to be engaged and focused mentally to create those songs on the level to which we aspire. We try to be perfect in the replication of the songs and you really have to be engaged to do that. Audience involvement is what really gives the [shows the] spontaneity and there is a tremendous amount of audience response to our shows.”
Not to mention the band’s recordings. The single and album sales of the Beach Boys make the group the No. 1 selling American band of all time, according to Billboard.
So it’s little wonder that fans gobbled up recent news reports that Love and Wilson might team up for special projects.
Love confirmed the various reports that he and Wilson are discussing co-writing and recording together as a way to celebrate the band’s upcoming golden anniversary. There is also discussion underway to perform together perhaps with special guests including original Beach Boy guitarist Al Jardine.
For now, though, Love is focused on touring.
“I know people are talking about a new [anniversary] album and tour now, but nothing is set in stone right now,” he said. “A live concert is our favorite thing to do. We love the spontaneity of the fans, so many people of so many ages get into Beach Boys’ music. We want the whole family to come out to Wolf Trap and have a really great time, a cool time. We really appreciate our fans. They are what make the whole thing come alive.”
