As The Beach Boys hit the road this summer, ETonline is highlighting the California rockers' ascension into mainstream pop.
The Beach Boys are celebrating 50 years of one of the greatest summer anthems of all time, Fun, Fun, Fun, with an exciting new tour that will take them across North America and Europe through the fall. As the band hits the road this summer, ETonline is highlighting the California rockers' ascension into mainstream pop and the influence of California surf culture on their signature sound.
The Beach Boys' long and storied career includes 36 U.S. Top 40 hits, 100 million albums sold worldwide and a 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. The cornerstone of their many hits include Good Vibrations, the indelible pop tune that made them famous, which back in 1967 was almost too progressive for fans at the time.
"Well, it meant something very original and different," lead singer Brian Wilson explained to ET in 2011. "I'm proud as hell. I'm very proud that people would like my music."
In 2012, the band celebrated 50 years in the music industry and commemorated the milestone at the Grammy Awards that year sharing the stage with Maroon 5 and Foster The People in a special tribute.
"It was a very, very big moment in our lives. It was wonderful to see all the talent out there and appreciating our stuff. We appreciate theirs," Mike Love said of the performance.
Like The Beach Boys, Maroon 5 and Foster The People formed out of California and have been proudly repping their home state ever since.
Maroon 5 front man, Adam Levine recalled the band's first recording session in Hollywood, telling ET, "It was overwhelming because we were like, 'Oh god, we get to record ourselves.' It was so fun."
Watch the video to learn more about The Beach Boys and their influence on other California rockers like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N' Roses and No Doubt.
To catch them this summer on the Fun, Fun, Fun Tour click here.