Culture
Al Jardine reflects on Beach Boys’ innovation, Pet Sounds Band, being Ohio’s first Rock Hall inductee
By: Ian Saint
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WARREN, Ohio (WOUB) — The Beach Boys may be the premier group associated with vocal surf rock and California-themed music, but one of the group’s five founding members was born in Lima, Ohio. In 1988, Al Jardine became the first Ohio-born person inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
When WOUB told Jardine that the Rock Hall had confirmed the distinction, he was taken aback: “Wow. Well, I’ll be. What an honor.”
Jardine continued performing with Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ primary songwriter and producer, through Wilson’s final tour in 2023. Jardine now tours with the Pet Sounds Band, composed largely of musicians handpicked by Wilson. The band plays Robins Theatre (160 E. Market St.) on Saturday, followed by Lima’s Pangle Pavilion (128 E. Spring St.) on Sept. 5, two days after Jardine’s 84th birthday.
Jardine spoke with WOUB’s Ian Saint. A transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity, follows.
Ian Saint: Are your parents from Ohio?
Al Jardine: They met in Toledo University’s orchestra. Mom was a violinist, and Dad a clarinetist — first chair, I think.
Ian Saint: I recall your mother was crucial in The Beach Boys’ rise.
Al Jardine: Yeah, we auditioned for her when we had our first single recording ready, because the Wilsons’ parents went on vacation to Mexico and the boys ran out of money. So we had to audition for my mom, to rent the equipment and instruments to make that first recording.
Ian Saint: That was “Surfin’.” You played double bass?
Al Jardine: Yeah. None of us played anything professionally — we knew a little bit, but not enough to get serious. Although it did get serious, because Brian Wilson had a knack for writing really good melodies. We got lucky.
Ian Saint: The Jardine family connection to The Beach Boys continues across generations with the Pet Sounds Band, because it includes your son Matt Jardine. I saw a video of you and Brian performing “Don’t Worry Baby,” where Matt sings Brian’s lead vocal with Brian on piano and harmony.
Al Jardine: Isn’t that funny? Yeah, that’s amazing; I’d forgotten that. I guess Brian didn’t sing it because his range had dropped a bit, and Matt sounds really good.
Ian Saint: The band also includes Rob Bonfiglio, who’s married to Brian’s daughter Carnie Wilson. You’re paying homage to the 1977 album The Beach Boys Love You, including “Roller Skating Child,” which I believe Brian’s daughters inspired. What’s special to you about that album?
Al Jardine: It was really a Brian Wilson solo album. Basically, he needed background singers — so his brothers, Mike Love, and I joined and finished what became a Beach Boys album.
Ian Saint: You sang lead on the album’s single, “Honkin’ Down the Highway.”
Al Jardine: Everybody likes “Honkin’ Down the Highway.” It’s a fun, uplifting, curious little tune with great chord changes — to me, the perfect car song.
Ian Saint: You also sang lead on The Beach Boys’ second No. 1 single, “Help Me, Rhonda.” Watching The Beach Boys documentary, my jaw dropped as the Wilsons’ father lambasted Brian’s production skills between takes.
Al Jardine: Needless to say, it was a difficult evening because those two were vying for leadership. It was a father-son competition: Murry wanted to stay as manager and producer, and Brian didn’t have room for that many chefs in the kitchen. So I had to await the results. It worked out all right, though — we got a hit record out of it. Going No. 1 was a big deal. We were going to go to New York and play it on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” but Brian was afraid of flying and didn’t want to go.
Ian Saint: “Sloop John B” is a Bahamian folk song you brought to The Beach Boys, and it became a huge hit. The story is so fascinating that a documentary is being released.
Al Jardine: Yeah. I brought it to Brian and arranged it for him — I added a few changes from the original — and he did a masterful job producing it. There’s a bit of differentiation between arranging, producing, writing… but he did a great job producing it, and that’s what I commend him for: a really unique way of putting all the pieces together. It came out really well.
Ian Saint: I’m eager to hear your memories of the Rock Hall induction, particularly because The Beach Boys and The Beatles were inducted in the same class, alongside Bob Dylan, The Supremes and Les Paul. You predated Beatlemania, Rubber Soul inspired Brian’s direction for Pet Sounds, then Pet Sounds inspired The Beatles’ direction for Sgt. Pepper’s, etc.
Al Jardine: Two Beatles were there, Ringo and George. John was gone; Paul didn’t make it. Diana Ross didn’t show. Mike Love was upset with those guys not showing up, so he made an issue out of it. He later said he hadn’t meditated and was wound up. I didn’t even give an acceptance speech, because we ran out of time.
Ian Saint: That was early in the Rock Hall’s history. I imagine they learned from that experience.
Al Jardine: Yeah. Actually, my dad should get the award because I think I inherited my voice from my father. Mom gets all the credit for (launching) the band. They’re both very fine Ohioan musicians themselves.
Ian Saint: What are your favorite Beach Boys songs to play today?
Al Jardine: We have two sets: the outdoor themed songs show, intermission, and an indoor show emphasizing The Beach Boys Love You and Pet Sounds, because it’s the 60th anniversary. I keep coming up with ideas, and Brian’s hand-picked band is so good that I don’t have to teach much. Lately, I’ve brought up odd titles off (1978’s) M.I.U. Album — which was hardly distributed, but there’s such great material. I said, “Let’s try ‘Sweet Sunday Kind of Love,’” a song Brian created out of thin air and one of my favorites. It’s a beautiful ballad. “She’s Got Rhythm” is a great uptempo Brian track we do occasionally. We have lots of deep cuts.
Ian Saint: What was your first time performing back home in Lima?
Al Jardine: The Beach Boys did a show in 1991 to celebrate the American House foundation. They gave us a key to the city, and it was a big deal. I still have that key on my wall. I’ll have to bring it back and see if it still fits.