Beach Boys confirm 50th anniversary reunion

LOVE & MERCY: The good vibrations are once again flowing between Brian Wilson and Mike Love, who have put aside their longstanding issues just in time to team up with third surviving original member Al Jardine on a Beach Boys 50th anniversary reunion, album and tour. Also participating are longtime band member Bruce Johnston and guitarist David Marks, who played on the Beach Boys’ first four albums in ’62-63, and 35 years latter rejoined the group, replacing Carl Wilson, who was engaged in an unsuccessful fight against cancer. Said Brian in this morning’s announcement, "This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again." Mike was more loquacious: "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded 'Do It Again.' Brian and I wrote that song, which went to #1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago. Brian paid me a compliment, saying, 'How can a guy sound that great so many years later?' Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment. It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements. I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks. Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood. It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world. Wouldn't It Be Nice to Do It Again? Absolutely!" (12/16a)