Beach Boys Photography

Often considered the greatest American band of all time, the Beach Boys defined the surf-rock sound of the ’60s and beyond. The group’s classic lineup—starring brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and Al Jardine—ruled the radio with the likes of “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “I Get Around,” and “Help Me, Rhonda.”

It was the groundbreaking production techniques on their 1966 masterpiece Pet Sounds, however, that brought them true critical acclaim and commercial success, thanks to singles like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows.” Though the line-up started to shuffle—especially as Brian Wilson became more reclusive following his aborted Smile experiment—the band always maintained a monumental presence on the road.

In 1988, the Beach Boys scored a major comeback on the charts with “Kokomo” and earned even more attention when the surviving members reunited in 2012. In addition to mounting a sold-out tour, the group recorded the extraordinary album That’s Why God Made the Radio, ensuring their timeless sound will never go out of style.