A member of one of the greatest rock bands in history is now in the spotlight at the age of 83.<\/p>\n
Al Jardine<\/a> is, of course, a founding member of the Beach Boys,<\/a> but for most of the band\u2019s six-plus decades, he didn\u2019t get the same public attention as leader Brian Wilson<\/a> or singer Mike Love.<\/a><\/p>\n That has changed since Wilson\u2019s death earlier this year at the age of 82 because Jardine, who toured with Wilson frequently for the last 20 years, is now leading Wilson\u2019s Pet Sounds Band.<\/p>\n As a result, Jardine admits his public profile is higher than it\u2019s ever been, but the attention started even before Wilson\u2019s death in June.<\/p>\n \u201cRolling Stone<\/a> promoting how I revived Brian\u2019s band raised a lot of awareness,\u201d Jardine told HuffPost. <\/p>\n Jardine is currently touring with the Pet Sounds Band, which performs hits like \u201cFun, Fun, Fun\u201d and \u201cI Get Around,\u201d while emphasizing the complex harmonies and orchestrations Wilson pioneered with songs such as \u201cGood Vibrations\u201d and \u201cGod Only Knows.\u201d<\/p>\n He says it\u2019s a \u201cwhole different animal\u201d from the Beach Boys touring group led by Love and Bruce Johnston, which focuses on the band\u2019s biggest hits and surf songs.<\/p>\n \u2033[The Pet Sounds Band] can do all the parts. Excellent musicians,\u201d Jardine said, adding that he thinks they are able to reproduce the band\u2019s trademark sound more accurately than the current Beach Boys touring band.<\/p>\n Considering that the Pet Sounds Band is made up of great musicians who are also huge Beach Boys fans, the members have convinced Jardine to include deep cuts from lesser-known albums.<\/p>\n The current tour features songs from the 1977 \u201cLove You\u201d album, which had never been performed live. Since the album was mostly a solo project by Brian Wilson, who made heavy use of synths in the recordings, the band had to make some adjustments. <\/p>\n \u201cWe added bass and guitars, and even choreography on one song that is dedicated to Johnny Carson,\u201d Jardine said.<\/p>\n Besides performing shows all over the world, Jardine is still releasing music, such as his new EP, \u201cIslands In The Sun,\u201d<\/a> which includes guest performances by Johnston, Neil Young and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Although the original Beach Boys were made up of three brothers \u2015 Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson \u2015 along with cousin Mike Love and Jardine, who was a friend of Brian\u2019s, the band has had its share of feuds over the decades.<\/p>\n Except for a 50th anniversary tour in 2012, Jardine stopped touring as a Beach Boy in 1998, preferring to tour on his own or supporting Wilson.<\/p>\n But Jardine is still a co-owner of the Beach Boys\u2019 rights. And while another reunion with the surviving members probably isn\u2019t in the cards, he does see possibilities for the next generation. <\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, it\u2019s too early for that,\u201d he laughed sardonically. \u201cBut why not have the siblings get together to perform?\u201d<\/p>\n Jardine\u2019s son, Matt, sings Brian\u2019s parts in the Pet Sounds Band, while Love\u2019s son, Christian, sings with his dad in the Beach Boys touring band.<\/p>\n In addition, Brian Wilson\u2019s daughters, Carnie and Wendy, have sung with the Pet Sounds Band when not performing with Wilson Phillips.<\/a> Adding to the family connection, Carnie\u2019s husband, Rob Bonfiglio, plays guitar in the Pet Sounds Band. <\/p>\n