Bruce Johnston, a six-decade member of the Beach Boys live band, announced that he will be leaving the group.
Johnston, 82, told Rolling Stone that “It's time for part three of my long musical career! I can write songs forever and wait until I hear what's next! Since my greatest talent beyond singing is songwriting, now is the time to get serious again.”
Mike Love of the Beach Boys also said in a statement that “Bruce Johnston is one of the greatest songwriters, vocalists and keyboardists of our time. We have had the honor of his performance and involvement for many years with the Beach Boys. Change is always promised in life; today we find ourselves in a chapter of change, but not an ending.”
Johnston originally joined the group in 1965, replacing leader Brian Wilson as live vocalist and earning a vocal credit on “California Girls.” He left the band in 1972 to pursue solo work and wrote Barry Manilow's hit “I Write The Songs.”
Johnston returned to the Beach Boys in 1978 and continued to tour as the only member other than Love from the band's original era. He also wrote several songs for the group, including “Disney Girls (1957),” “Deirdre,” and “Tears in the Morning.” Johnston will be replaced by Chris Cron, lead singer of Beach Boys tribute band Pet Sounds Live.
Following Wilson's death last year, Beach Boys fans still have several opportunities to hear the catalog live. The Beach Boys' full-length edition of Love will play three nights at the Hollywood Bowl over the Fourth of July weekend (which Johnston said he'll be attending). Founding member Al Jardine is touring with Brian Wilson's former backing ensemble, now called Pet Sounds Band, with a performance centered around the 1977 LP “The Beach Boys Love You.”
