Are the Beach Boys still alive? Meet the surviving members now
From a 1960s garage band to global icons, the Beach Boys reshaped music with their signature California sound. Their songs still echo worldwide. "Are the Beach Boys still alive?” Many still wonder, since the Wilson brothers have passed, leaving Mike Love and Al Jardine to carry on the legacy.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- The Beach Boys were founded in 1961 by brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, with their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine.
- Timeless hits like Good Vibrations, Surfin’ U.S.A., and Wouldn’t It Be Nice made them global legends of the California sound.
- Their legacy was cemented with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1988 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Are the Beach Boys still alive?
In a post published by People, some members of the iconic band are still alive, though only Mike Love and Al Jardine remain from the original five. The Wilson brothers have all sadly passed away, beginning with Dennis in 1983, followed by Carl in 1998, and Brian in June 2025.
When reflecting on the original Beach Boys members, Mike Love highlighted the spirit that kept them together in a 2018 radio interview reported by Closer Weekly. He said:
It’s love. The love of getting together and singing those harmonies, without thinking about any money, and about any fame…. It’s the sheer joy…that is the essential ingredient.
Beach Boys then and now: meet the members
The California rock band, which began in 1961, has seen its lineup shift through decades of fame, loss, and reinvention. Each member, past and present, helped shape the Beach Boys’ legacy:
Brian Wilson
Source: Getty Images
| Full name | Brian Douglas Wilson |
| Date of birth | 20 June 1942 |
| Place of birth | Inglewood, California, USA |
| Date of death | 11 June 2025 |
| Age at death | 82 years old |
| Role | Bassist, keyboards, vocals |
Brian, the oldest Wilson brother, initially guided the rock band as its manager before focusing on studio work in 1964, where he crafted their most innovative sound. He battled addiction and mental illness, surviving a near-fatal overdose in 1982, before passing away in June 2025.
Dennis Wilson
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| Full name | Dennis Carl Wilson |
| Date of birth | 4 December 1944 |
| Place of birth | Inglewood, California, USA |
| Date of death | 28 December 1983 |
| Age at death | 39 years old |
| Role | Drummer, vocals |
The drummer left his mark with songs like Little Bird and his solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. His battles with substance addiction strained the band, and his death by drowning in 1983 was a heartbreaking blow to the band.
Carl Wilson
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| Full name | Carl Dean Wilson |
| Date of birth | 21 December 1946 |
| Place of birth | Hawthorne, California, USA |
| Date of death | 6 February 1998 |
| Age at death | 51 years old |
| Role | Lead guitarist, vocals |
As a teenager, the youngest Wilson brother learned guitar alongside neighbour David Marks and quickly became a steady anchor in the band. His tender vocals on classics like God Only Knows remain unforgettable, but his life was cut short by lung cancer in 1998 at age 51.
Mike Love
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| Full name | Michael Edward Love |
| Date of birth | 15 March 1941 |
| Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Age | 84 years old (as of 2025) |
| Role | Lead vocals |
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Mike Love grew up surrounded by instruments and remains the only constant member since the group’s inception. At 84, he continues to tour under the band’s name, embodying the Beach Boys now for fans around the world.
Al Jardine
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| Full name | Alan Charles Jardine |
| Date of birth | 3 September 1942 |
| Place of birth | Lima, Ohio, USA |
| Age | 83 years old (as of 2025) |
| Role | Rhythm guitarist, vocals |
First heard on Surfin and later leading Help Me, Rhonda, Jardine remained vital on rhythm guitar. After stepping away in 1998, he rejoined the band’s 50th-anniversary tour. Rolling Stone described the rock star as one of the surviving Beach Boys who continue to carry the group’s legacy.
David Marks
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| Full name | David Lee Marks |
| Date of birth | 22 August 1948 |
| Place of birth | Newcastle, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Age | 77 years old (as of 2025) |
| Role | Guitarist, vocals |
At 13, David Marks temporarily replaced Jardine on rhythm guitar in 1962, contributing to the band’s earliest albums. Although he left in 1963, Marks later returned for tours and shared his story in his 2007 memoir, The Lost Beach Boy.
Bruce Johnston
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| Full name | Bruce Johnston |
| Date of birth | 27 June 1942 |
| Place of birth | Peoria, Illinois, USA |
| Age | 83 years old (as of 2025) |
| Role | Keyboards, vocals |
Bruce Johnston joined the group in 1965, debuting on California Girls and later winning a Grammy for I Write the Songs. Though one of the enduring Beach Boys, he briefly left in the ’70s before returning in 1978, where he has remained ever since.
Ricky Fataar
| Full name | Ricky Fataar |
| Date of birth | 5 September 1952 |
| Place of birth | Durban, South Africa |
| Age | 73 years old (as of 2025) |
| Roles | Drums, guitar, vocals |
From Durban, South Africa, Ricky Fataar joined the Beach Boys in 1971, contributing to tracks like Here She Comes. After leaving in 1974, he went on to collaborate widely with top musicians across the industry.
Blondie Chaplin
Source: Getty Images
| Full name | Terrence William "Blondie" Chaplin |
| Date of birth | 7 July 1951 |
| Place of birth | Durban, South Africa |
| Age | 74 years old (as of 2025) |
| Role | Guitar, vocals |
Chaplin began his career at age 12, playing in clubs in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sharing with Vintage Rock, he said:
I remember starting at twelve, doing gigs in Johannesburg, but I was underage in those clubs, so to make sure they didn’t lose their liquor license, I’d come in and they’d hide me near the drummer.
Blondie Chaplin joined the Beach Boys in 1972, adding soul to albums like Holland and voicing Sail On, Sailor. Though he later left, he reunited with Brian Wilson on No Pier Pressure (2015) and toured with him through 2022.
Do any of the original Beach Boys still perform?
Al Jardine still represents the original group. He appears in select shows, and Mike Love tours under the band’s name while performing their classic hits. The vocal leader told the Des Moines Register:
You know what? We’ve never stopped touring. We started in 1961, and by 1962, we had our second record...We’ve been touring since then.
Source: Getty Images
Frequently asked questions
- How many Beach Boys are still alive? The group has six surviving members, including Mike Love and Al Jardine.
- How many Beach Boys have passed away? The iconic band lost three Wilson brothers: Brian, Dennis, and Carl.
- What mental illness did the Beach Boys have? Brian Wilson struggled with schizoaffective disorder and depression during his life.
- Which Beach Boy died recently? Brian Wilson died on June 11 2025, at the age of 82.
Conclusion
Are the Beach Boys still alive? While the Wilson brothers have passed away, surviving members like Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks carry the legacy. They keep the band’s timeless music alive for generations.
READ MORE: Meet the Rat Pack members: The stars behind the iconic musical band
As Briefly.co.za published, the original Rat Pack was formed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, led by Humphrey Bogart. Frank Sinatra took over the leadership after Bogart's death.
The second Rat Pack group starred in films, including Ocean's 11 and Sergeants 3. After Humphrey Bogart's death, most of the Rat Rack members went their separate ways.
Source: Briefly News
