Hitlist: Beach boy survivors
By DJ M on June 29th, 2008
In Brian Wilson/B. Boys
TIMES ONLINE "Half deaf, slightly mad but still rocking, the Beach Boy Brian Wilson will be wowing the crowds at the Albert Hall on Tuesday. But what of his old California bandmates?
Carl and Dennis Wilson
Brian’s brothers were American icons from the start. Lead guitarist Carl was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war and died of cancer in 1998, outliving his drumming/Charles Manson-befriending sibling Dennis by 15 years.
Mike Love
The man who gave us the big bass vocals in Good Vibrations was a Beach Boys original too and at 67 is one of just two members of the band to use its name when he performs live.
Bruce Johnston
Love’s cohort when the modern Beach Boys take the stage was a relatively late starter in the band, making his debut on California Girls. He made a packet penning Barry Manilow’s smash hit I Write the Songs.
David Marks
The “forgotten” Beach Boy lived across the street from Brian Wilson as a nipper and was drafted in at 14. His tenure was short-lived, but he remains friendly with the band and was even offered the chance to rejoin in 1971.
Blondie Chaplin
This South African singer/guitarist was a member of the band in the early 1970s, but has more recently provided backing vocals for Mick Jagger when the Stones play live."