Al Jardine didn’t hold back when Rolling Stone asked him about Mike Love’s October 11th Beach Boys show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Watching the footage, Jardine said, left him“shocked and depressed,”and he admitted he had to shake himself out of it just to perform his own show in Cerritos, California the same night. Love, 85, stayed seated for much of the Ryman set and told the audience he’s been going through health issues“for quite a while.”
The health concerns aren’t a surprise to everyone in the band’s orbit. John Stamos, a longtime Beach Boys collaborator, wrote a letter saying Love is facing“serious health challenges”but insists on being onstage. Earlier this summer, the group paused a six-week tour so Love could recharge. Still on the schedule: November 11th at Epcot and November 13th in Bristol, Virginia.
What’s really landed with fans is how Jardine framed it. He said Love“doesn’t know what else to do,”and described him as trapped. It’s a raw look at a decades-long relationship between two founding members who’ve had plenty of legal fights but clearly still care about each other. Do you think the Beach Boys should wrap up their remaining tour dates, or is the stage exactly where Mike Love wants to be?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.