The Beach Boys' co-founder and rhythm guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Al Jardine will tour Australia with The Pet Sounds Band this spring.
The news arrives in the wake of Brian Wilson death last week, with Al determined to honour the music the pair along with The Beach Boys made throughout the 1960s-'70s."Brian Wilson, my friend, my classmate, my football teammate, my Beach Boy bandmate and my brother in spirit, I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were," Jardine says.
"You were a humble giant who always made me laugh and we will celebrate your music forever. Brian, I'll really miss you. . . still I have the warmth of the sun within me tonight."
The tour will travel to Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth this October-November.
The Pet Sounds Band features members of Brian Wilson's acclaimed touring musicians led by Darian Sahanaja of The Wondermints as Music Director and also featuring Al's son Matt Jardine, who sings lead vocals on 'Good Vibrations', 'God Only Knows', 'Don't Worry Baby' and 'Surf's Up'.
Together with Al Jardine, each concert will be a high-octane affair filled with nostalgia as they perform all the hits: 'California Girls', 'Help Me Rhonda' (which Al sung lead vocals on the original), 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', 'Surfin' USA' and 'Good Vibrations'.
Other big hits to be played at concerts include 'I Get Around', 'Sloop John B', and 'Fun, Fun, Fun'. "I've been gathering up the troops – Brian's excellent band," Jardine says. "We're all just dying to get back to work, and we're going to have some fun."
Beyond the classics, the set list includes deep cuts from The Beach Boys' 1970s albums including radio singles and fan favourites. Al has even expanded the 58-second 'Ding Dang' with new verses. "I hope that doesn't offend fans, but it really is hilarious."
After moving to Hawthorne, California, in the mid-1950s, Al met Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson and Mike Love to form The Beach Boys in 1961. As guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, he sang lead on the #1 hits 'Help Me, Rhonda', and 'Cottonfields' as well as album tracks including 'I Know There's An Answer', and 'Peggy Sue'.
Al was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and in 2001 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy.
Tickets on sale from 11am (local time) on 19 June.
The Beach Boys' Al Jardine And The Pet Sounds Band Tour Dates
Thu 23 Oct - Wrest Point Casino (Hobart)Sat 25 Oct - Thebarton Theatre (Adelaide)
Tue 28 Oct - QPAC (Brisbane)
Wed 29 Oct - Hamer Hall (Melbourne)
Fri 31 Oct - Sydney Opera House
Sun 2 Nov - Regal Theatre (Perth)
