GOOD vibrations

Original Beach Boys MIKE LOVE and AL JARDINE on a new documentary charting the US band's rise to stardom, and beyond...

- IAN MACEWAN

THE BEACH BOYS NEW FROM FRIDAY 24 MAY, DISNEY+ FACTUAL

California band The Beach Boys shot to fame in the early 1960s, singing songs about cars, girls and surfing, and went on to record Pet Sounds, one of the most critically acclaimed and innovative albums in rock history.

In the course of six decades, they've ridden the waves of drug problems, family feuds, mental health issues and falling in and out of fashion, not to mention trying to outdo The Beatles! Now, a new feature-length documentary on Disney+ retells their story, with contributions from band members including recording-studio maestro Brian Wilson, his cousin Mike Love and their school friend AI Jardine, along with music business icons such as Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham.

Here, Mike, 83, and Al, 81, give TV Times their take on the project and the lasting appeal of the group's uplifting songs...

What did you think when you heard Disney wanted to make a documentary about The Beach Boys?

MIKE What a phenomenal opportunity at this stage of our career! I'm just honoured and delighted that it's happening. It's a huge blessing.

AL Yes, it's quite an honour. It was our 60th anniversary a little while ago, and it seems to be the right time.

The band's music is still just as popular today, isn't it?