What began as a somber farewell to Wilson quickly turned into a renewed clash between former bandmates, drawing attention from fans and media alike, and reminding the public that even legendary music groups are not immune to internal feuds.

The legendary surf-rock band the Beach Boys has once again found itself at the center of controversy following the August 6, 2025, funeral of co-founder Brian Wilson.

Al Jardine, a founding member and longtime collaborator, publicly criticized Mike Love, another key member, over what he described as a self-serving eulogy that failed to honor Wilson’s legacy.

Jardine’s comments, delivered in an interview with Rolling Stone after the funeral, reignited decades-old tensions within the iconic group, highlighting the complex and often fraught relationships that have existed between its members since the 1960s.

The feud centers on Love’s claims of sole authorship over the band’s signature hit, “Good Vibrations.”

“Mike wanted everybody to know that he wrote every single word of ‘Good Vibrations,’” Jardine said. “I didn’t feel the compassion, let’s put it that way. Mike’s got some serious megalomania problems.”

Jardine contrasted his own approach, noting that he focused on celebrating Wilson’s life and contributions, rather than centering the attention on himself. He added, “I was focusing on Brian, and Mike was more focused on Mike. I think that is what it boiled down to.”

During the event following the funeral, Jardine addressed the controversy directly, referencing his own collaborations with Wilson. “Mike, I’ve written some songs with Brian myself.

We wrote one called ‘Surfin’ Down the Swanee River.’ It just wasn’t as big as ‘Good Vibrations,’” he remarked.

These statements underline the ongoing struggle for recognition and credit that has long shadowed the Beach Boys’ history, with contributions frequently disputed between members.

The origin of the Beach Boys stretches back to 1961 in Hawthorne, California, when Brian Wilson, alongside his brothers Carl and Dennis, formed the band. They were later joined by cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine.

Over the decades, the group became one of the most commercially successful acts in music history, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Despite their achievements, internal disputes and creative differences frequently surfaced, particularly between Love and Jardine, leading to legal battles and fractured collaborations.

Jardine also touched on past disputes over touring and band management. “Mike is like P.T. Barnum,” he said.

“He had these incredibly exotic ideas for tours. He was always looking at that next tour. He probably has a tour of Mars planned right now. I was going, ‘Let’s go back to the studio.’ And then he kicked me out of the band. It was pretty s—–.”

Jardine later formed the Beach Boys Family and Friends ensemble with his two sons, Brian Wilson’s daughters, and Cass Elliot’s daughter, which resulted in legal challenges over the use of the Beach Boys name.

“Frankly, they were threatened by me, because my band sounded better than the Beach Boys band,” Jardine explained.

“Mike just came down on me with a s—load of lawyers. And pretty soon I was down about a million bucks. It was pretty devastating financially and emotionally. He showed me no mercy.”

Although a representative for Love later clarified that the lawsuits were technically between Jardine and Brother Records, the Beach Boys’ publishing company, the tension highlighted longstanding issues of control and credit that have haunted the group.

Despite this, the band reunited in 2012 for a highly publicized tour. Jardine reflected on the reunion, saying, “I enjoyed hearing everybody sing again, even Mike. It still had political overtones, believe me, within the band, but it really proved that we could do it again, and have fun doing it.”

However, the harmony was short-lived; Love and fellow member Bruce Johnston opted to continue performing under the Beach Boys name with their handpicked lineup, leaving Jardine and Wilson to pursue other projects.

Brian Wilson’s later years were marked by declining cognitive health, yet he continued to perform with Jardine and Blondie Chaplin in a trio that allowed him to remain active in music until his passing.

Wilson’s death on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82, brought longstanding rivalries into sharp relief, particularly as members gathered to honor his life and legacy.

Observers note that these disputes have frequently emerged in public, with Love and Jardine often exchanging pointed remarks over songwriting credits, touring strategies, and the direction of the band.

The current feud underscores the complexities of band dynamics in groups with decades-long histories. While fans celebrate the Beach Boys’ cultural impact, the internal disagreements provide a window into the challenges of sustaining creative collaboration over time.

Jardine’s remarks at and after the funeral illustrate the enduring emotional and financial stakes involved in recognition and legacy within one of the most influential bands in rock history.

As tributes to Brian Wilson continue to pour in from fellow musicians and fans worldwide, the public feud between Jardine and Love serves as a reminder that personal disputes can linger long after the spotlight fades.

The Beach Boys’ story, marked by both musical innovation and internal strife, remains a compelling narrative of talent, ego, and the often complicated nature of fame in the music industry.

Fans are left reflecting not only on Wilson’s groundbreaking contributions to music but also on the lingering tensions that have shaped the band’s history.

The debate over authorship, recognition, and creative control ensures that the Beach Boys’ legacy is as much about their interpersonal drama as their chart-topping hits.