Summary
The Beach Boysdocumentary on Disney Plus gave a great overview of the legendary band’s acclaimed career, but there was much more about the group’s members that it did not cover. As one of the most iconic bands ever, the bandmates have been part of countless projects together and as solo artists since they first formed in 1961. Not every member was with the group throughout their entire history, as some had just a brief stint, others sadly passed away, and a few no longer tour with the band but remain official members.
With hits like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?” “I Get Around,” and “God Only Knows,” the best songs by The Beach Boys were among the greatest ever composed. Following the release ofPet Soundsin 1966, The Beach Boys rivaled even The Beatles regarding creativity and long-lasting influence.The Beach Boysdocumentary painted a sunny picture of the group’s history and shied away from many of the more complex and controversial aspects of the band. WhileThe Beach Boyshad some shocking reveals,it did not address everything that happened to the The Beach Boys' members.
9Ricky Fataar
Member of The Beach Boys between 1971 and 1974
The Beach Boysdocumentarybriefly exploredRicky Fataar’s tenure in the band from 1971 to 1974but did not address his acclaimed drumming career outside of his work with the group. Fataar joined The Beach Boys after founding member Dennis suffered a hand accident and toured with them for several years. Fataar’s first appearance on a Beach Boys record came with the release ofCarl and the Passions – “So Tough”in 1972. However, his time in the band was short-lived, and by 1974, he had moved on, although Fataar did appear on two tracks from the 1976 album15 Big Ones.
While Fataar will always be remembered for his time with The Beach Boys, he was also notable for his role infictional bandmockumentaryThe Rutles - All You Need Is Cash, which spoofed the legacy of The Beatles in 1978. Fataar has been Bonnie Rait’s drummer for the past 35 years and has played on albums with everybody from Elton John to Boz Scaggs. Fataar’s Beach Boys association didn’t end in 1974, as he was also credited on Dennis Wilson’s solo recordPacific Ocean Blues, where he played drums and tambourine on the track “Holy Man.”
8Blondie Chaplin
Member of The Beach Boys between 1972 - 1973
Blondie Chaplin joined The Beach Boys around the same time as Ricky Fataar, as the duo had previously worked together in the South African rock band The Flames. Contributing guitar, bass, and vocals to the group, Chaplin, along with Fataar, brought a funkier energy into The Beach Boys' surf-based style that can be heard on the albumsCarl and the Passions – “So Tough”andHolland. OnHolland, Chaplin sang lead vocals on the popular track “Sail On, Sailor,” one of the few Beach Boys songs that did not feature lead vocals from either Mike Love, Brian Wilson, or Carl Wilson.
After Chaplin’s time with The Beach Boys ended in 1973, he pursued a solo career and released a self-titled record in 1977. Chaplin did not follow up on his debut solo record until the release ofBetween Usin 2006. In the years between,Chaplin contributed to records by the Rolling Stones and Rick Danko from The Band. Chaplin has remained an active musician to this day and has carved out an important legacy in the history of rock ‘n’ roll music.
7David Marks
Member of The Beach Boys from 1962 - 1963
The Beach Boys guitarist David Marks joined the group as Al Jardine’s replacement when he briefly left the band in 1962 and played on their first four albums. Although Marks was there since the first record, since he did not play on their debut single “Surfin,” music historians did not count him as a founding member of The Beach Boys. While Marks left the group for personal reasons in 1963, he reunited with them several times for reunions and anniversary tours.
After leaving The Beach Boys for the first time, Marks played music throughout the 1960s with groups like the psychedelic act The Moon. Marks has released several records as a solo artist, includingWorks Tapesfrom 1992,Something Funny Goin' Onfrom 2003, andI Think About You Oftenfrom 2006.Marks has remained relatively inactive since he last performed with The Beach Boys in 2015, and in that same year, he contributed to Brian Wilson’s solo albumNo Pier Pressure.
6Al Jardine
Member of The Beach Boys since 1961
The Beach Boys co-founder and rhythm guitarist Al Jardine was an essential member who sang lead vocals on the classic track “Help Me, Rhonda.” Jardine also suggested the band cover the folk standard “Sloop John B,” one of the most famous songs from The Beach Boy’s iconic albumPet Sounds. This proved that although leading members like Brian Wilson overshadow much of the conversation around the group, the contribution of members like Jardine cannot be understated.
Following Carl Wilson’s death in 1998, Jardine left the touring Beach Boys and pursued a career as a solo artist, eventually releasing an album titledA Postcard from Californiain 2010. Jardine rejoined The Beach Boys for live performances celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2012 and contributed to the albumThat’s Why God Made the Radiothat same year. AlthoughJardine does not play with the current touring version of The Beach Boys, he’s still considered a group member to this day.
5Bruce Johnston
Member of The Beach Boys since 1965
In 1965, Brian Wilson, the main creative force behind The Beach Boys, resigned from regular touring and was focused primarily on songwriting and production duties for the group. This was when Bruce Johnston stepped in as bassist and went on to play on acclaimed records like Pet Sounds. By the early 1970s, Johnston was a well-established member of The Beach Boys and wrote perhaps his most significant contribution to the band’s repertoire, “Disney Girls (1957)” from the albumSurfs Up.
In 1972, Johnson left The Beach Boys to pursue a solo career and released the albumGoing Publicin 1977. However, Johnson rejoined the band in 1978 and has remained a member ever since. Along with Mike Love,Johnson continues to tour with The Beach Boys. Johnson also contributed significantly to the production of Beach Boys albums and was credited as the sole producer of their 1980 recordKeepin' the Summer Alive.
4Carl Wilson (1948 - 1998)
Member of The Beach Boys from 1961 to 1998
As the youngest of three Wilson brothers, Carl was the lead guitarist of The Beach Boys from since they were founded in 1961 until he died in 1998. Although the eldest brother, Brian, was the initial band leader, following his mental health struggles and reclusiveness throughout the 1970s, Carl stepped in as the de facto leader of The Beach Boys. As the lead singer of iconic tracks like “God Only Knows,” Carl’s incredible vocal range was an important part of the band’s appeal.
Although Carl never left The Beach Boys, during a particularly disordered period for the band in the early 1980s, he attempted to launch a solo career and released two albums, neither of which made much of an impact. In 1997,Carl was diagnosed with lung cancer, although he continued to tour with the band while undergoing treatment. Sadly, in 1998, Carl passed away, and in 2000, his final album, a collaborative work calledLike a Brotherwas released.
3Dennis Wilson (1944 - 1983)
Member of The Beach Boys from 1961 to 1983
Dennis Wilson was the middle brother of his bandmates Brian and Carl and served as The Beach Boys drummer from their formation in 1961 until his tragic death in 1983. With a distinctive baritone voice, Dennis added a deep emotional range to many of The Beach Boys' songs. With a hell-raising lifestyle and as the only Beach Boy who surfed, Dennis struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life, and in 1983, he tragically drowned at 39.
The Beach Boys documentary trackedDennis’ connection with Charles Manson, and following the Manson Family murders in 1969, he carried immense guilt for introducing him into The Beach Boys world and the wider entertainment industry. Dennis pursued a solo career during the 1970s and released an album titledPacific Ocean Bluein 1977. The sessions for Dennis’ unfinished second solo album,Bambu,were eventually released in 2017.
2Mike Love
Mike Love is a founding member of The Beach Boys and a cousin of Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, who, along with Bruce Johnson, has remained a touring band member. Love has consistently sung with The Beach Boys since the beginning and often collaborated with Brian, contributing lyrics for iconic songs like “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” and “Good Vibrations.” Following the death of Carl in 1998, Love gained the exclusive license to tour under The Beach Boys' name and at times found himself embroiled in legal disputes with other members surrounding the use of the name (viaMercury News.)
AlthoughThe Beach Boysdocumentary did not delve into the behind-the-scenes controversies and complexities of The Beach Boys, Love has remained a controversial figure among music lovers due to his conflict and disputes with the rest of the group. However, despite these difficulties, all the founding members reunited for a 50th anniversary tour in 2012. This marked the last time that Love and Brian played together. Outside The Beach Boys, Love also pursued a solo career, withLove’s most recent album being 2023’sMike Love Not War.
1Brian Wilson
The primary songwriter and original leader of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson was one of the most acclaimed musicians of all time, whose songs have ranked among the greatest compositions in pop and rock music history. As one of the most innovative singer-songwriters of the 20th century, Brian pushed the boundaries of popular culture as his high production values and complex orchestrations solidified his reputation as a true legend within the industry. With an acclaimed career with The Beach Boys and as a solo artist,Brian’s influence has been felt in everything from pop to punk or emo to indie.
However, alongside Brian’s incredible talent, he also struggled with lifelong mental health issues and, over the decades, went through intense periods of reclusiveness and drug addiction. Brian made several comebacks over the years, and his life story was dramatized in therock biopicLove & Mercy. Sadly, in February 2024, it was announced that Brian has dementia (viaThe Guardian.) Wilson played his last concert in 2022 and his daughter Carnie stated on theBeach Boys Talkpodcast that he was unlikely to tour again.
The Beach Boys
Cast
A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music and created the harmonious sound that personified the California Dream.
