The Beach Boys reveal they had two 'different groups' in the 60s
They joined Richard Allinson on Greatest Hits Radio
Last updated 13th Sep 2024
Greatest Hits Radio's Richard Allinson caught up with founding member of The Beach Boys Mike Love, and long-standing member Bruce Johnston, in the week that the band's new documentary on Disney+ has been released.
Speaking to Richard, the duo spoke about the creation of the band, and how Bruce saw them rise to fame, while working for Columbia Records, eventually becoming a full-time member of the band a few years later.
"It (Columbia Records job) kind of inadvertently prepared me to kind of accidentally spend three days in the band," explained Bruce.
"I thought that was a one-shot, as I replaced Glen Campbell, replacing Brian (Wilson). But I was kind of ready, and I was a sponge once Carl (Wilson) started showing me the vocal parts. I learned how to play all the songs on bass, and I kind of fit in, and then right after that Brian asked me to come to the studio because he had all these tracks prepared."
Mike also revealed how due to the amount of songs they were expected to release, there were essentially two Beach Boys groups, one touring, while they other wrote their songs. He explained: "We didn't even anticipate that we would be working on an album every month of every year.
"And that lead to Brian wanting to retire from the touring group, so he could spend time doing the production, the writing, arrangement and composing of the songs and stuff. And working with the best musicians in Hollywood.
"They called them the wrecking crew, to do the tracks, while Bruce and I were out there on tour... touring. So there were effectively two different groups"
Bruce added: "This sped the process up now, because Brian didn't have to wait for the guys to come home to be (on) the track, you know he could get going the wrecking crew, the most incredible musicians ever, and they could read (music), and Brian could write parts out, so he could do it faster. It wasn't about the speed, it was probably just Brian excited about getting it done.
"Then we came home, these tracks are prepared, it was fantastic!"
Throughout their seven decades in the music business, The Beach Boys have had many iconic hits such as, 'I Get Around', 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and 'Good Vibrations', and they are still touring today.
The band are currently touring the US, and gave a long list of songs fans can expect them to perform. "'Surfin' Safari', 'Surfin' USA', 'I Get Around', 'Fun, Fun Fun', 'California Girls'," Mike said, before adding: "'Be True To Your School', 'In My Room', 'Surfer Girl'..."
When were The Beach Boys on Greatest Hits Radio?
The Beach Boys joined Richard Allinson on Greatest Hits Radio on Sunday 26th May at 4pm, you can listen again through the app or on this website.
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