Even Brian Wilson’s funeral couldn’t smooth over Al Jardine and Mike Love’s contentious relationship. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Jardine ripped his fellow Beach Boys member for making his speech about himself.
“Mike wanted everybody to know that he wrote every single word of ‘Good Vibrations,’” Jardine said. “I didn’t feel the compassion, let’s put it that way. Mike’s got some serious megalomania problems.”
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Jardine swiped back in his own speech by saying, “Mike, I’ve written some songs with Brian myself. We wrote one called ‘Surfin’ Down the Swanee River.’ It just wasn’t as big as ‘Good Vibrations.’”
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“I was focusing on Brian, and Mike was more focused on Mike,” he added. “I think that is what it boiled down to.”
In another self-indulgent statement, a representative for Love said Jardine’s account was “not true.” They continued: “Mike’s focus has always been on uplifting audiences around the world through the music he helped create with his bandmates and cousin Brian. His commitment has been to preserve and share this great American songbook while providing resources to fellow Beach Boys shareholders, including Al Jardine. In addition, Mike and The Beach Boys have dedicated significant time and support to nonprofit organizations using their platform to give back to communities in need.”
Following Carl Wilson’s death from lung cancer in 1998, Jardine and Love gave up any pretense of co-existing for the sake of The Beach Boys. They tangled in the courts over the rights to perform under the band’s name from 2001 to 2008, with a judge ruling in Love’s favor.
In 2012, however, they reunited with Brian Wilson alongside Bruce Johnston and David Marks for a new album and 50th anniversary tour. This reunion was short-lived, with the group subsequently splintering into Love and Johnston performing under the Beach Boys name and Wilson, Jardine, and Marks touring as a trio.
And when Love’s version of the Beach Boys played a Donald Trump campaign benefit in 2020, Wilson and Jardine strongly distanced themselves from the gig. “We have absolutely nothing to do with the Trump benefit today in Newport Beach. Zero,” they clarified in a statement. “We didn’t even know about it and were very surprised to read about it in the Los Angeles Times.”
Wilson passed away from respiratory arrest this past June. He was laid to rest during a private service on August 6th, 2025.
Editor’s Note: Read Dan Caffrey’s personal essay on Wilson, fatherhood, and how The Beach Boys’ genius will continue to shape the world after his death.
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