Brian Wilson and Al Jardine 'have nothing to do with' Beach Boys' benefit concert for Donald Trump

Mike Love now tours as the Beach Boys
Getty Images
Luke O'Reilly19 October 2020

Brian Wilson and Al Jardine have distanced themselves from a Beach Boys performance at a Donald Trump fundraiser.

Mike Love, currently lead singer of the group, performed at the event in California on Sunday, with a touring edition of the group, to raise money for the US President's campaign.

Tickets cost between $2,800 (£2,163) and $150,000 (£115,000).

But both Wilson and Jardine have insisted they had "absolutely nothing" to do with the Trump benefit.

From left, Carl Wilson (1946 - 1998), Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine (front), Dennis Wilson (1944 - 1983) and Mike Love
Getty Images

"We have absolutely nothing to do with the Trump benefit today in Newport Beach. Zero," they told Variety.

"We didn't even know about it and were very surprised to read about it in the Los Angeles Times."

The trio have not played together since a 50th anniversary tour in 2012.

Mr Love has expressed support for the president in the past. He told Uncut magazine in 2017 that the president's inauguration was a "moving experience".

"We did attend the inauguration. That was a moving experience," he said.

Brian Wilson
AFP via Getty Images

"I understand there are so many factions and fractious things going on – the chips will fall where they may.

"But Donald Trump has never been anything but kind to us. We have known him for many a year. We've performed at some of his venues at fundraisers and so on."

This is not the first time the band have been divided over Love's support for Mr Trump.

In February, Wilson and Jardine signed a petition after Love performed as the headline act for the the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada, where Mr Trump was the keynote speaker.

Mr Wilson said at the time: "This organisation supports trophy hunting, which both Al and I are emphatically opposed to.

"There's nothing we can do personally to stop the show, so please join us in signing the petition."

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