some vibrations

Mike Love Gets Into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, 25 Years After Brian Wilson

Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images (Scott Dudelson, John Lamparski)

Somewhere, John Stamos is picking out the good pomade and getting to work on an induction speech. Mike Love, a co-founder and lead vocalist for the Beach Boys, is among this year’s fun, fun, fun honorees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Love’s induction, which comes exactly 25 years after his bandmate Brian Wilson was bestowed with the award, is due to having “enriched the lives of billions of listeners over the world” with his songwriting catalogue. The other honorees for the 2025 class are George Clinton; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons for their work in the Doobie Brothers; Ashley Gorley; Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; and Tony Macaulay. While not, say, as ingenious as Wilson’s culture-shifting musical output — he was famously the only man who challenged the Beatles — Love collaborated with Wilson on oodles of defining Beach Boys bangers in the ’60s, which include “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” and “Help Me, Rhonda.” (The masterwork known as “Kokomo” followed in the ’80s.) Love still actively tours with his own iteration of the Beach Boys after allegedly firing Wilson in 2012, which has caused further friction with Wilson due to his bandmate’s politicized choice of gigs. Sir, that’s the very anthesis of your last name. Bring the nicest vibrations only.

Mike Love Finally Gets Into the Songwriters Hall of Fame