Beach Boys performer Bruce Johnston exiting band after 60 years KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYWed, March 4, 2026 at 10:07 PM UTC 0 Bruce Johnston is hanging up his hat after performing with the Beach Boys for six decades. The 83yearold, who took cofounder Brian Wilson's place in the band's live performances starting in 1965, told Rolling Stone in a March 4 statement that he's stepping away to get "serious" about songwriting, but is leaving the door open for performing with the group in the future. "It's time for Part Three of my lengthy musical career!" Johnston said.
Beach Boys performer Bruce Johnston exiting band after 60 years
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYWed, March 4, 2026 at 10:07 PM UTC
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Bruce Johnston is hanging up his hat after performing with the Beach Boys for six decades.
The 83-year-old, who took cofounder Brian Wilson's place in the band's live performances starting in 1965, told Rolling Stone in a March 4 statement that he's stepping away to get "serious" about songwriting, but is leaving the door open for performing with the group in the future.
"It's time for Part Three of my lengthy musical career!" Johnston said. "I can write songs forever, and wait until you hear what's coming!!! As my major talent beyond singing is songwriting, now is the time to get serious again."
Along with writing, Johnston also plans to do more speaking engagements, which would see him leaning on occasional touring member John Stamos for "help designing what I speak about."
Al Jardine, David Marks, Frank Marshall, Brian Wilson, Blondie Chaplin, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston attend the world premiere of the Disney+ documentary "The Beach Boys" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 21, 2024.
"I might even sing 'Disney Girls' & 'I Write The Songs!!'" he wrote. Johnston added, "I am excited to join the Beach Boys for performances on special occasions and will see everyone at The Hollywood Bowl as we celebrate our Nation's 250th Birthday!!"
The band is celebrating the 60th anniversary of "Pet Sounds," as well as the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, in its 2026 tour, which stops at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl on July 2-4.
'This isn't goodbye, it's see you soon,' says Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston
"This isn't goodbye, it's see you soon," Johnston wrote. "I am forever grateful to be a part of the Beach Boys musical legacy."
With Johnston's departure, Mike Love is now the only original member still touring with the California-born band. Brian Wilson died June 11, 2025, while drummer Dennis, the only surfer, despite the group's association with Southern California surfing culture, died after drowning in 1983.
Youngest sibling Carl passed in 1998 after battling lung cancer, and Al Jardine stopped touring with the band that same year, opting to pave his own path. He has been performing tributes to Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys with the Pet Sounds Band.
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Mike Love promises Bruce Johnston's departure is 'not an end'
Love weighed in on Johnston's exit in his own statement to Rolling Stone.
"Bruce Johnson is one of the greatest songwriters, vocalist, and keyboardist of our time. We've had the honor of his performance and participation for many many years with the Beach Boys," he said. "Change is always promised in life, today we find ourselves in a chapter of change, but not an end. Bruce shifts his focus on what he does so well which is songwriting and recording."
"In the very near future," he added, he will be back in the studio with Johnston for a collaboration.
Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love are pictured on Nov. 28, 1968.
"I am very supportive of Bruce and I have every confidence that he will produce great music," he continued. "I am delighted that Bruce will join the band on special occasions and when his schedule permits including The Hollywood Bowl performances celebrating the 250th Birthday of our great nation. I love & respect Bruce Johnston."
Chris Cron, frontman of the Beach Boys tribute act Pet Sounds Live, will replace Johnston on tour.
Bruce Johnston thought he would be 'a Beach Boy for the weekend'
Johnston opened up about his start with the band in their official 2024 autobiography "The Beach Boys."
After filling in with the band for a couple of shows in 1965, Johnston thought he would be "a Beach Boy for the weekend" who borrowed his white pants and striped shirt from Jardine. But the band was immediately impressed with the 22-year-old producer and keyboardist (who would also go on to write Barry Manilow's "I Write the Songs" during a break from the group in the '70s) and after returning to his L.A. home, Johnston received a call from Carl Wilson asking him to continue to tour with the band.
Johnston's falsetto – and his ability to learn bass, which The Beach Boys needed at the time – was another key addition to the band, as Love noted in the book that Johnston was the only member who could hit the high notes at the end of "Fun Fun Fun."
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Johnston leaving Beach Boys after 60 years
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Source: Entertainment
Published: March 4, 2026 at 05:46PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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