By Eleni P. Austin

This year marks 65 years since The Beach Boys formed back in 1961. Barely out of high school, Brian Wilson formed the band with his brothers, Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and fellow Hawthorne High School pal, Al Jardine. Something of a musical savant, Brian managed to synthesize intricate, Four Freshman-like harmonies with infectious, Chuck Berry-fied melodies and instrumentation. The puzzle pieces came together when Dennis suggested their lyrics reflect the SoCal culture of Surf, sand and Hot Rods.

The five-piece when on to record seminal hits like “Surfin’ Safari,” “I Get Around,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Catch A Wave” and “Help Me Rhonda.” There were also introspective numbers like “In My Room” and “The Warmth Of The Sun,” as well as ambitious, game-changing songs like “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.”

Sadly, the Wilson brothers have all transitioned to another astral plane. Dennis in 1983, Carl in 1998 and Brian, last June. Mike and Al are the only ones left from the original five-piece. Mike, who owns the Beach Boys name, is off on his own trip. That leaves Al Jardine to keep Brian’s vision of The Beach Boys alive. Preceding his untimely death, Al had performed with Brian and his crackerjack band, The Pet Sounds Band, which includes musical director Darian Sahanaja (keys, vibraphone), Matt Jardine (lead vocals and percussion), Rob Bonfiglio (guitar, vocals), Gary Griffin (keys, piano), Jim Laspesa (drums, percussion), Bob Lizik (bass), Paul Von Mertens (horns and woodwinds), Debbie Shair (keys) and Michael D’ Amico (drums, percussion). The aggregate is set to touch down in the desert on June 6, 2026, to perform at the historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. Al Jardine graciously agreed to answer a few burning questions.

ELENI: Your family moved to Southern California just in time for your teen years. What were your first impressions of the Golden State?

AL: We actually moved to San Francisco first, and I saw everything that was magical like the Golden Gate Bridge with the fog rolling in, the Haight Ashbury and Buena Vista Park. It was a picture postcard. Then we moved to Southern California and that was an entirely different experience. I had to go to a new school and make new friends and one of them happened to be Brian Wilson.

ELENI: It’s common knowledge that Brian’s earliest musical inspirations came from George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue” and the harmonies of The Four Freshmen. Do you remember the artists that originally sparked your interest in music?

AL: Bill Haley And The Comets! He had the best Rock N’ Roll band, but before The Comets, he had The Saddlemen and he brought steel guitars and Country players into The Comets. I love “Rock Around The Clock” and “Rock This Joint.” Bill Haley was the first big Rock Star, even before Elvis Presley. There was just something very energetic and happy about his music that I like a lot.

ELENI: For the last couple of decades, you have played alongside Brian and his band. With his passing last June, you have stepped in , effectively becoming their front-man. How is that going?

AL: It’s going great because Brian never let me tell stories. He always just wanted to get on to the next song! If I started on something, he’d cut me off with some brief remark—he didn’t even want to tell stories! That’s the really fun part of our shows, telling the stories of how we made records together.

ELENI: What is your favorite era of Beach Boys music?

AL: I love the ‘70s, especially the Holland album, that’s where we really got to be experimental and tried different things. And now, we’re playing songs from The Beach Boys Love You album from ’77, which was Brian’s favorite. We just released a new box set called WE Gotta Groove. I also produced my first Beach Boys album, the M.I.U. Album, I ’78. We’ve been playing “She’s Got Rhythm” and “Sweet Sunday Kinda Love,” from that one.

ELENI: Of course, for better or worse, for the last 65 years, The Beach Boys music has meant plenty of sand and surf. You will be playing a show here in Palm Springs. Have you spent much time in the desert?

AL: I’ve been to Palm Springs several times with several bands (The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and now The Pet Sounds Band), and I have a lot of memories. I love desert sunsets.

ELENI: What can the fans expect at your upcoming show at the Plaza Theatre?

AL: All of the classic hits from The Beach Boys, including Pet Sounds and The Beach Boys Love You album, that’s all a part of the show and we have a lot of fun onstage! The Pet Sounds Band, hand-picked by Brian Wilson is incredible!

ELENI: What inspires you these days, be it books, television, music or film?

AL: My spiritual leader, Lars Muhl, a Danish mystic has a series of books and DVDs out that I highly recommend. His latest book is The True And The Eternal. He is truly the light within the human heart.

————————————————————–

Beach Boy Al Jardine And The Pet Sounds Band: Performing The Music Of Brian Wilson And The Beach Boys, June 6, 2026. Show at 7:00pm. 128 S. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs Tickets available at palmspringsplazatheatre.com.