Brian Wilson feels totally blindsided after being fired by The Beach Boys.
Brian Wilson was fired from The Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary reunion tour as it wraps up in London this week. Many people say that the band is pretty much falling apart, and there’s been some feuds in the group during the tour. But all bands have their arguments, right?
The problem stems from Mike Love, who now controls the rights to the group’s name. It was his decision to send home original members Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks. Fans are appalled at the notion and a boycott might be on the way. Wilson, 70, is responsible for writing most of the band’s early singles and albums and tells CNN that he’s very upset with the decision.
“I’m disappointed and can’t understand why he doesn’t want to tour with Al, David and me,” Wilson said. “We are out there having so much fun. After all, we are the real Beach Boys.”
The announcement came just after the group celebrated the opening of an exhibit dedicated to their five decade career at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
Love will be touring as the Beach Boys with Bruce Johnson and a back-up band that may or may not include Uncle Jesse.
This shocking announcement came after the reunited members had recorded their first studio album in 20 years, featuring entirely original music.
Already a fan letter of protest has been started to reunite the original members on tour which Al Jardine, 71, has linked to through his Twitter account.
Addressed to Mike Love, the petition reads:
“In order to preserve the validity of ‘The Beach Boys’ as a whole, and not as a ‘money saving, stripped down version’ that only contains 1 original member, and 1 member that joined in 1965, we ask you to re-instate the 3 other members to the touring group for your final years performing.”