The Beach Boys
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | '''The Beach Boys''' are an [[American rock]] and roll band. One of the biggest rock and roll groups of all time, the Beach Boys recorded thirty-six U.S. [[Top 40]] hits (including four #1 singles) and many best-selling albums. The group has sold the most Top 40 hits of any U.S. rock and roll band, with [[chicago (band)|Chicago]] at a close second place. Performing since 1960, the Beach Boys are America's longest running continuous rock group. They have sold more singles and albums than any other American rock band. | ||
| - | [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3ifrxqw5ldse] The Beach Boys are especially well known for their distinctive [[harmony|vocal harmonies]]. | ||
| - | The act first gained popularity as the musical spokesmen for surfing, girls, and cars, but their chief composer [[Brian Wilson]]'s growing creative ambitions transformed them into a more artistically innovative combo. | + | '''The Beach Boys''' are an American [[Rock music|rock]] band, formed in [[Hawthorne, California]] in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers [[Brian Wilson|Brian]], [[Dennis Wilson|Dennis]] and [[Carl Wilson]], their cousin [[Mike Love]] and friend [[Al Jardine]]. Initially managed by the Wilsons' father [[Murry Wilson|Murry]], the Beach Boys signed with [[Capitol Records]] in 1962. The band's early music gained popularity across the United States for its [[close harmony|close vocal harmonies]] and lyrics reflecting a [[Southern California]] youth culture of surfing, cars and romance. During the early to mid-1960s, Brian Wilson's growing creative ambition and songwriting ability would dominate the group's musical direction. The primarily Wilson-composed ''[[Pet Sounds]]'' album and "[[Good Vibrations]]" single (both released in 1966) featured a complex, intricate and multi-layered sound that represented a departure from the simple [[surf rock]] of the Beach Boys' early years. |
| - | The primary group comprised singer-musician-composer Brian Wilson; his brothers, [[Carl Wilson|Carl]] and [[Dennis Wilson|Dennis]]; their cousin [[Mike Love]], and friend [[Alan Jardine]]. This core quintet, along with [[David Marks (musician)|David Marks]] and [[Bruce Johnston]], were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1988. | + | Starting in 1967, Wilson gradually ceded control to the rest of the band, reducing his input due to [[mental health]] and [[substance abuse]] issues. Though the more democratic incarnation of the Beach Boys recorded a string of albums in various musical styles that garnered international critical success, the group struggled to reclaim their commercial momentum in America, despite the period when they were the primary competitors to [[the Beatles]]. Since the 1980s, much-publicized legal wrangling over royalties, songwriting credits and use of the band's name transpired. Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983 and Carl died of lung cancer in 1998. After Carl's death, many different live configurations of the band fronted by Love and Johnston continued to tour into the 2000s while other members pursued solo projects. For the band's 50th anniversary, they briefly reunited as the Beach Boys for a [[That's Why God Made the Radio|new studio album]], [[The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour|world tour]], and [[Made in California|career-spanning retrospective box set]]. |
| - | Many changes in both musical style and personnel have occurred during their sometimes stormy career, notably Brian Wilson's [[mental illness]], [[drug addiction]], and eventual withdrawal from the group; the deaths of [[Dennis Wilson]] in 1983 and [[Carl Wilson]] in 1998; and continuing legal battles among surviving members of the group. After Carl Wilson's death, founding member Al Jardine was fired by Mike Love. However, Mike Love and [[Bruce Johnston]] leased the rights to the name from [[Brother Records]] and continue to officially tour as The Beach Boys. | ||
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The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Initially managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, the Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in 1962. The band's early music gained popularity across the United States for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a Southern California youth culture of surfing, cars and romance. During the early to mid-1960s, Brian Wilson's growing creative ambition and songwriting ability would dominate the group's musical direction. The primarily Wilson-composed Pet Sounds album and "Good Vibrations" single (both released in 1966) featured a complex, intricate and multi-layered sound that represented a departure from the simple surf rock of the Beach Boys' early years.
Starting in 1967, Wilson gradually ceded control to the rest of the band, reducing his input due to mental health and substance abuse issues. Though the more democratic incarnation of the Beach Boys recorded a string of albums in various musical styles that garnered international critical success, the group struggled to reclaim their commercial momentum in America, despite the period when they were the primary competitors to the Beatles. Since the 1980s, much-publicized legal wrangling over royalties, songwriting credits and use of the band's name transpired. Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983 and Carl died of lung cancer in 1998. After Carl's death, many different live configurations of the band fronted by Love and Johnston continued to tour into the 2000s while other members pursued solo projects. For the band's 50th anniversary, they briefly reunited as the Beach Boys for a new studio album, world tour, and career-spanning retrospective box set.
