Al Jardine's song is a tribute to Brian and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys: ” We all wish things were like they used to be, especially at our age. “.
A little over 30 years ago, Al Jardine looked out at the Pacific Ocean near his home in Big Sur, California, and thought back to his carefree youth with Brian and Dennis Wilson. I realized how much I missed them ” says Al Jardine, who was touring with the Beach Boys, Mike Love and Carl Wilson at the time. Dennis, of course, had passed away, and Brian was completely out of the loop. I felt very emotional. »
He wrote a draft of a song called “ Wish “, which he put aside until last May, when his longtime partner, Larry Dvoskin, suggested they finally finish it. Together, they created a sweet, nostalgic ode to the Wilson brothers and days gone by.
They recorded it last May with Jardine on vocals and bass, Dvoskin on vocals, piano and synthesizers, and Taylor Simpson on drums. It's available now on all streaming services. It's a good message because right now we all wish things were like they used to be, especially at our age.said Jardine, because our memories are wonderful, our musical memories are intact, and it's just important to finish these beautiful songs that we wrote. »
Jardine hopes the song will appear on a follow-up to his 2010 solo album, A Postcard From Californiawhich featured Neil Young, Glen Campbell, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Brian Wilson, Mike Love and David Marks. “ This song is kind of the appetizer ” explains the musician, who specifies that he will donate part of the proceeds from the single to the Make-A-Wish foundation. I'm actually working on a lot of unfinished tracks that are close to being finished. They come from all walks of life and all areas of my musical endeavors over the years. I'm hoping to release a vinyl for Record Store Day. »
As shown in ” Wish “Jardine is still in excellent vocal shape, especially considering he just turned 82. He attributes much of that to his healthy lifestyle and staying away from drugs and alcohol.” Brian and I were both avid non-smokers. We were activists. When Carl would come into a session with a cigarette, Brian would take it out of his mouth and step on it. And then all of a sudden Brian became a four-pack-a-day smoker, which I still don't understand today. It changed his voice dramatically. But he has other problems that I probably wouldn't understand either. But my voice survived. Maybe it's also because I eat a lot of peanut butter. »
That voice was a powerful tool in Brian Wilson's band for the past two decades. But Wilson hasn't performed since the summer of 2022. He now uses a wheelchair and has been placed under guardianship because he suffers from a ” major neurocognitive disorder “.
Over the past two years, Jardine has performed a series of small solo concerts, but he plans to return to the road with Brian Wilson's band. Brian has agreed to let me use his band name to resurrect Brian's incredible band that we have worked with so wonderfully for the last 20 or 30 years. I look forward to meeting him soon and working out a schedule to do a few benefit shows in Los Angeles, before launching a proper tour early next year. »
” Brian is simply not in a condition to join usJardine explains. But he's a strong person and he has stamina. I wouldn't be surprised if he could do a few shows in the Los Angeles area where we plan to do a tryout. »
He hasn't laid out a setlist yet, but he assumes it will be a mix of Beach Boys hits and lesser-known tracks from the band's forgotten Seventies albums. The Mike Love incarnation of the Beach Boys, meanwhile, focuses almost exclusively on Sixties hits.
” Mike does the 1960s very wellJardine explains. It can be a blessing and a curse, but apparently people still come to see him. People like to hear the same songs, and there's a new generation of fans. And Mike seems to appreciate that. That's the most important thing. But after a while, I found it boring. So now we have the opportunity to express some of the more esoteric things. » (A small list of things « esoteric » that Jardine plans to add to the show include ” The Right Time » from Brian Wilson's 2015 album, No Pier PressureAnd ” Roller Skating Child » from the Beach Boys' 1977 album, Love You).
Jardine and Love haven't toured together since the Beach Boys' reunion tour in 2012, but they spent a lot of time together earlier this year to promote the Disney+ documentary. The Beach Boys. ” Despite the legal issues and everything that's happened over the years, we can still talk. He's a little hard of hearing now. I'm not sure he hears what I'm saying, but we still have that common denominator between us. »
What drives Al Jardine to stay active into his 80s, when he could easily retire and spend the rest of his life lounging on a beach? That's a good question.he replies. Actually, I had some doubts recently because I really don't want to leave my house or my animals. But I sat down and listened to some of our music, and I was motivated again because it's the primary source. It's what got me to where I am today, and it's what kept me alive. I think we can still give our best for another year or two.. »
