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2024

SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME NOD FOR MIKE LOVE
Mike Love has been nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame once again, in the Performing Songwriters category, for team or individual songwriters. Three finalists will be selected out of the thirteen nominees at the end of December, to be inducted in a New York ceremony 2025. Good luck to Mike — we're rooting for you! (updated 11-13-24)

FUNKO POP! BEACH BOYS

The Beach Boys are being enshrined as Funko POP! collectible figures. The five-pack set contains POP! Brian Wilson, POP! Mike Love, POP! Al Jardine, POP! Carl Wilson, and POP! Dennis Wilson circa Pet Sounds. The vinyl figures range from 3.95-4.15 inches in height. The set is expected to arrive on December 23, 2024, in time for Christmas. More. (updated 11-8-24)

SCOTT TOTTEN, A WIRE CHOIR CHRISTMAS
Former BB supporting band member Scott Totten has released a new solo album, A Wire Choir Christmas, featuring guitar instrumentals of Christmas favorites. The album is available in digital download format or as a signed CD plus digital download from Scott's website. (updated 11-13-24)

NEW BOOK ABOUT BRUCE JOHNSTON
Stephen McParland's newest e-book, A Surfer Boy's Dream Come True: Bruce Johnston from Surfer Boy to Beach Boy, is now available. The book chronicles Bruce's musical career before he joined The Beach Boys. Available for $11.95 US from Payhip.com. (updated 10-25-24)

THE BEACH BOYS' CHRISTMAS ALBUM VINYL REISSUE
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album is being reissued as a limited-edition LP on custom zoetrope vinyl, to celebrate 60 years of the BBs' holiday classic. The LP comes with a bonus 7-inch single of “Little Saint Nick” b/w “Auld Lang Syne,” pressed on translucent ruby red vinyl. The single is also available for standalone purchase in ice blue vinyl. More info. (updated 9-18-24)

THE BEACH BOYS DOCUMENTARY WINS AN EMMY
The sound mixing team for The Beach Boys documentary (Disney+) has won a Creative Arts Emmy Award in the category of “Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program.” Congratulations to Gary A. Rizzo, John Rampey, Sabi Tulok, and Dennis Hamlin for their excellent efforts on behalf of our favorite band! (updated 9-10-24)

NEW AL JARDINE SINGLE, “WISH”
Al Jardine has released a new single, “Wish.” The song, a collaboration with Larry Dvoskin, is available on all streaming platforms, and a portion of the net proceeds from the song will benefit Make-a-Wish America and MusiCares. More info. Read the Rolling Stone story. (updated 9-2-24)

BWPS TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY BOOK
Author David Leaf is currently preparing a new book, SMILE: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Brian Wilson Presents SMILE (BWPS). This history, appreciation, and celebration will be published by Omnibus Books in April 2025. The book presents an oral history of the original Smile project, and BWPS' London premiere and subsequent world tour. The hardbound book will be published by Omnibus Press and is now available for preorders. (updated 7-19-24)

NEW CHRISTIAN LOVE SINGLE
Mike Love's son, Christian Love (Beach Boys Band), has released “Star,” a new single now available on all streaming platforms. (updated 7-30-24)

ALL SUMMER LONG 60TH ANIVERSARY COLOR VINYL RELEASE
A limited-edition reissue of the Beach Boys' 1964 classic concept album All Summer Long is now available. The LP is pressed on sunrise color vinyl and packaged in a high-quality, numbered jacket, using the original album cover art and photos. (7-12-24)

BEACH BOYS DOCUMENTARY AND BOOK UPDATE
A new documentary, The Beach Boys, is streaming on Disney+ starting May 24, 2024. Directed by Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny, the documentary chronicles the first decades of the group's career, using previously unreleased footage and interviews from all nine principal members. Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, and Blondie Chaplin all contributed new interviews, with archival audio from Carl and Dennis Wilson, and new audio from Ricky Fataar. A soundtrack for the documentary was released concurrently on streaming services. Hopefully both of these packages will see eventual release on physical media. Watch the trailer and view a discussion by the film's sound designers.
Six of the surviving Beach Boys (Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, David, and Blondie) reunited for the film's premiere at the TLC Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA on May 21, 2024. Al and Mike took part in a Q&A session with the director before the film played, and many of the BBs' family members and associates were in the audience.
To complement the documentary, a mass-market edition of the BB's official autobiography, The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys, was published on April 2, 2024. (updated 6-24-24)

BEACH BOYS SIRIUS XM CHANNEL RETURNS
Subscription satellite / online radio service Sirius XM has brought their limited-run, full-time channel dedicated to The Beach Boys back for this summer, running from May 8 – June 4, 2024. Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Channel is located at channel 79 and features the BBs' hits and rarities, as well as solo and related material. (updated 5-6-24)

TWO BEACH BOYS SIGNING BOOKS IN THE UK
Mike Love and Bruce Johnston will be signing copies of The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys book at Waterstones Piccadilly bookstore in London, England, UK on May 11, 2024. Tickets to the event include a copy of the book. More info. (updated 4-30-24)

BRIAN WILSON ON NEW GLEN CAMPBELL DUETS ALBUM
Brian Wilson, along with Carole King, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and other artists, has contributed a track on the upcoming release, Glen Campbell Duets — 'Ghost on the Canvas' Sessions. The new album, a tribute to the late Glen Campbell's earlier Ghost on the Canvas album, pairs new recordings from the guest artists in duets with Glen's original vocals from the 2011 sessions. Brian appears on “Strong,” providing his own new track to accompany Glen's original vocals. Listen to “Strong.” The album will be released on April 19, 2024 by Big Machine Records and Surfdog Records. (updated 4-12-24)

SHUT DOWN, VOL. 2 60TH ANIVERSARY COLOR VINYL RELEASE
A limited-edition reissue of the Beach Boys' 1964 classic album Shut Down, Vol. 2 is available March 29, 2024 on blue and white marbled vinyl, in a high-quality, numbered jacket. (3-29-24)

NATIVE TONGUE: NEW ALBUM FEATURING BLONDIE CHAPLIN
Blondie Chaplin is part of a new music project by songwriter Andrew Morse. Recorded in Austin, TX in mid-2020, the album Native Tongue by The Tasty Kings with Blondie Chaplin is now available in digital format. It features vocals by Blondie, as well as musical contributions from Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones bassist), Charlie Sexton, Stephen Barber, Charley Drayton, and the late Ian McLagan. (3-4-24)

BBFC FACEBOOK RESTORED
Notice: BBFC's Facebook page is back up again, thanks to our social media team's restoration efforts. (updated 3-5-24)

BBFC FACEBOOK DOWN
Notice: BBFC's Facebook page is temporarily down. Our social media team is working on getting it restored. (updated 2-27-24)

FRED VAIL'S COWS IN THE PASTURE ALBUM TO BE RELEASED
Fred Vail and Brian Wilson's long-abandoned country music project, Cows in the Pasture, is being completed for a 2025 release. The album was started in 1970, with Brian as producer and Fred as vocalist. Instrumental tracks were recorded at the time, but the project folded before vocals could be added. Nashville's Sam Parker has resurrected Cows with Fred, and Brian Wilson has signed on as executive producer. Brian will also be a guest singer on one track, with more all-star vocalists appearing on the other tracks. T Bone Burnett, James Burton, and Red Rhodes also appear on the album. A documentary on Fred Vail's career is also in the works, for a release next year. More details. (updated 2-13-24)

VERY SAD NEWS: MELINDA LEDBETTER WILSON
Brian Wilson's wife of 28 years, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, passed away on January 30, 2024, at the age of 77. Melinda served as Brian's manager for his solo career. Their early relationship was the subject of the feature film Love & Mercy. Our condolences go out to Brian Wilson, their children, Melinda's family and friends, the Brian Wilson band, and the extended Beach Boys' family. Tributes.
Personal condolence cards and notes may be sent to Brian and his family at: The Wilson Family, c/o Beachwood Entertainment, 2271 Cheremoya Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90068. (updated 2-2-24)

BRIAN WILSON ON NEW GLEN CAMPBELL DUETS ALBUM
Brian Wilson, along with Carole King, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and other artists, has contributed a track on the upcoming release, Glen Campbell Duets — 'Ghost on the Canvas' Sessions. The new album, a tribute to the late Glen Campbell's earlier Ghost on the Canvas album, pairs new recordings from the guest artists in duets with Glen's original vocals from the 2011 sessions. Brian appears on “Strong,” providing his own new track to accompany Glen's original vocals. The album will be released on April 19, 2024 by Big Machine Records and Surfdog Records. (updated 1-28-24)

ENDLESS SUMMER QUARTERLY
Endless Summer Quarterly (ESQ) magazine's Winter 2024 “Brian Wilson Productions – Part One” edition (Issue #148) features a treasure trove of content on Brian Wilson's very active early career producing acts outside The Beach Boys. For the first time ever, interviews with Cheryl Pomroy (Bob and Sheri), Vickie Kocher (Bob & Vickie), Dave Nowlen (The Survivors), Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean), Ginger Blake and Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford (The Honeys), Sharon Marie, Paul Petersen, and the late Glen Campbell are gathered together in a very special two-part collector’s set of ESQs. These two issues will reveal a great deal of significant history and myth busting, as well as have previously unpublished images, collectibles, and handwritten lyrics and notes from Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
The Fall 2024 edition (Issue #147) focuses on Brian Wilson, with a celebration of his 82nd birthday, featuring Carnie Wilson, Stephen Kalinich, Mark London, and Probyn Gregory; archival Love You interviews with Brian, Al Jardine, and album engineer Earle Mankey; the making of the “Ding Dang” logo and artwork, evolution of the song; and more!
The Summer 2024 edition (Issue #146) features extensive coverage of the premiere of the Disney+ documentary The Beach Boys. There are interviews with Mike Love, Al Jardine, and director Frank Marshall; a behind-the-scenes Paradise Cove reunion article written by Perry Cox; The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys book review; and more! This instant collector’s edition is chock full of news and reviews, rare commentary, and interviews.
The Spring 2024 edition (Issue #145) continues the focus on the M.I.U. Album era. ESQ peels back the layers on the formation of LoveSongs Productions by (the late) Ron Altbach, Mike Love, and Charles Lloyd. Interviews with Mike, Ron, Gary Griffin, Jeff Peters, Paul Fauerso, Rod Novak, Ed Tuleja, Michael Andreas, and Mary Anne Haines are included. Al Jardine, Ed Carter, and Rusty Ford add their voices to the conversation, and Ron’s brother, Jerry Altbach, starts everything off with the section introduction. Also included is an interview with film director, Peter Weiner (Marshall), director of the unreleased Making Waves (1977) and Our Team (1978) documentaries.
SUBSCRIPTIONS / SINGLE ISSUES: To subscribe to ESQ online, and receive four, 48-page editions of content on The Beach Boys, go to ESQuarterly.com. Subscription rates are US $35 for 4 issues ($40 for Canada and Mexico; $48 throughout the rest of the world). U.S. funds only. Make checks payable to Endless Summer Quarterly. Send to ESQ at P.O. Box 470315, Charlotte, NC 28247. ESQ also accepts Paypal payments. Visit the ESQ Store at ESQuarterly.com for individual issue purchases.
Current subscribers, as well as new subscribers to ESQ, will be eligible for upcoming collectibles giveaways. To check on your subscription status, email Lee Dempsey. (updated 2-27-24)

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