Mike Love And The Beach Boys
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | Share
Del.icio.us
Not much has changed since The Beach Boys appeared on the cover of MidWeek in 2006. At that time, the band that has made summer a yearlong international holiday was in town for a fundraiser to benefit the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
Since then, The Beach Boys have continued to do what they have always done - perform in front of enthusiastic fans in more countries than most can name. The benefit concert was one of many the group has taken part in over the years. It was also a night singer Mike Love remembers fondly.
“That was very cool. It was basically sold out. It was a beautiful night and great night for music. It was the perfect setting.”
The band is back again for a show Feb. 13 at Blaisdell Center before heading to Waikoloa and all points on the globe. In addition to shows across the U.S., the band is scheduled to perform in Sweden, Ireland and likely Spain and the Canary Islands. When Love spoke with MidWeek, he was in Manila, en route to Australia. And inquiries from promoters in Israel and South Africa could mean even more time on the road - and Love would have it no other way.
When history’s longest surfin’ safari began, it was impossible for the group to imagine the success it was about to have.
“When you are 20, 21 years old and you are just starting out and getting heard on the radio, you don’t think that far ahead. We were just thinking about what songs can we make up that speak to the virtues of our lives in Southern California. We weren’t Nostradamus when we started out,” says Love with a laugh.
The Beach Boys’ concert to support Polynesian cultural history was not an isolated event. For years the group has performed for any number of charities, from an orphanage in Hong Kong to children’s hospitals in the U.S. Following the earthquake in Haiti, Love’s foundation made a $50,000 donation to the Red Cross.
“We do a lot more for health and human needs rather than the environmental,” he says, “although we are very keenly disposed to do things for the environment. The Surfrider Foundation (of which he is a board - so to speak - member) is all about that, keeping the water pure and protecting the ocean, especially when it comes to protecting surf spots.”
Next year marks The Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary. Love didn’t say how they are going to celebrate the historic occasion, but he is hoping it will include his cousin and former songwriting partner Brian Wilson. If Brian does drop by, it will be a celebration worthy of this Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame band.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS Comments (0) |
Most Recent Comment(s):
