The 54th annual Grammy Awards took place on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Beach Boys (now reunited with on-again/off-again member Brian Wilson) have never won a Grammy, and they weren't nominees at the 2012 ceremony, but they did do their first Grammy performance at the 2012 ceremony. Here is what they said backstage in the Grammy Awards press room.
THE BEACH BOYS
What was the vibration like on stage at your reunion performance tonight?
Mike Love: It was good. It was a good vibration. I was going to say it was “fun, fun, fun” too.
This was the Beach Boys’ first performance at the Grammys. How do you feel about that?
Love: I would say it’s about time! It’s taken us 50 years to perform at the Grammys. I hope it’s not another 50 before we do it again.
Al Jardine: We’ve been recording for the last week. Brian [Wilson] has written some fantastic songs … I get this kind of feeling that it’s [like] the “Pet Sounds” era, in my bones. So it’s going to be real good.
Was it heartwarming to get the kind of response that you got from the audience tonight?
Brian Wilson: Of course it’s heartwarming. It’s a big event in our lives. What more could you ask for?
Love: We’d been up for a couple Grammy nominations. We’d been nominated, but “Good Vibrations” lost to [the Mamas and the Papas song] “Monday Monday.” And “Kokomo” lost to [the Bobby McFerrin song] “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” So we’re getting tired of losing! I’m glad they finally had us on the show.
Bruce Johnston: You know, we’ve been sitting by the phone waiting for this call.
When you think back on your early days in the music business, what comes to mind for you?
Love: Not getting paid very much. No, the first thing is the thrill and excitement of getting out on stage and hearing your record on the car radio. That was fantastic.
Jardine: The first I remember was going to school with Brian here. We went to college together — junior college. I remember this one statement: “You’ll never make it, so don’t even try.” So my message to everybody is: “Don’t listen to the doubters. And do it.”
The Beach Boys have been through some tough years. What has been the one thing that has kept you motivated to still make music as part of the Beach Boys?
Love: It’s really harmony. That’s always been our cachet. It’s our trademark: harmony. My cousin Brian and I have been singing together ever since we did Everly Brothers songs as kids. It’s not that unnatural. It’s a natural thing for us.
We’re all happy to be here performing together, singing together. It’s really not a stretch. It’s just that we’ve gotten busy doing other things, and we finally focused on getting together for a 50th anniversary.
Wilson: And we’re getting better each year too.
Love: There you go!
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Grammy Awards website
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