Mike Love’s Heartbreaking Reaction To Brian Wilson’s Death

Mike Love is reflecting on the legacy of his cousin and longtime Beach Boys bandmate, Brian Wilson, who passed away on June 11 at the age of 82. Speaking with The Associated Press, Love shared heartfelt memories. “It’s a tough one,” he said. “Life ends for all of us, but he had a wonderful life in terms of how creative he was, and I had a great time cocreating with him, so we have a lot to be, you know, we have a lot of blessings.”

Honored with a Hall of Fame Induction

Love is being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame—an honor Wilson received back in 2000. The induction ceremony is especially meaningful, and actor-musician John Stamos, a longtime fan and friend of the Beach Boys, will introduce him. Stamos, who has performed with the band on and off for years, said he’ll open the show with a special tribute:

“I cut together a really beautiful video of Mike and Brian doing the song that Brian, Mike wrote called, ‘Brian’s Back.’ And I’d like to show that with his permission at the front of the show. I think it’ll start off, but it’s gonna be very difficult, I would think emotionally to get through it.”

A Lifelong Bond

Love noted how deeply connected he still feels to Brian, even at this major milestone. “It’s in the better late than never category, but I feel my cousin’s presence tonight very strongly,” he said. “You know, we did it together, and so that part’s inseparable, and we always had a great love for each other.”

Together, Love and Wilson co-wrote the Beach Boys’ very first hit, “Surfin’,” in 1961. Though they later had a legal battle over songwriting credits, the bond they shared through music was undeniable.

Good Vibes That Never Fade

John Stamos praised Love’s contribution to the Beach Boys’ legacy:

“This is a songwriter’s songwriter. He painted this cinematic view of California that made the whole world wanna be us because of him. Optimism, positivity, good vibes.”

“Brian was a genius,” Stamos added, “but Mike was a little bit underrated because of … you know, Brian’s big genius.”

For Love, the joy of performing never gets old. “It’s wonderful because you see the audience response and people 60 years after we started are loving our music,” he said. “So it’s a fantastic thing.”