Beach Boys Veteran Leaves the Road After 6 Decades
The Beach Boys, from left, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston, and Al Jardine pose for a portrait in London in November 1966. (AP Photo/Frank Tewksbury, File)
Bruce Johnston has decided that 61 years on the road is enough—at least for now. The longtime Beach Boys member, who joined the band in 1965 when Brian Wilson stopped touring, is stepping away from the group’s live lineup after an estimated 6,000 shows, leaving Mike Love as the sole classic-era member on tour, according to Rolling Stone.
Johnston, 83, said he’s entering “Part Three” of his career, focusing on songwriting and launching a speaking-tour project inspired in part by Cary Grant, with help from John Stamos. He emphasized that this “isn’t goodbye” and that he’ll still appear for select shows.
The musician, who wrote Beach Boys songs like “Disney Girls” and co-wrote Barry Manilow’s hit “I Write the Songs,” played his final full concert with the band in January. His live role will be filled by Chris Cron, frontman of the tribute act Pet Sounds Live. Love praised Johnston as “one of the greats” and said he looks forward to continuing collaborations in the studio.
Johnston is set to rejoin the band for a July 4th weekend run at the Hollywood Bowl, celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday. The Beach Boys will also mark the 60th anniversary of their iconic album Pet Sounds, USA Today reports.
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