Brian Wilson asks fans to boycott Mike Love and the Beach Boys
Brian Wilson took to social media to voice his concern over an upcoming Beach Boys gig.
But it’s not just any gig. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act — which Wilson helped make a household name in the ’60s — is scheduled to play for an organization that supports big game hunting.
“It has been brought to my attention that on Wednesday February 5, The Beach Boys touring group licensed by Mike Love are headlining at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada,” Wilson tweeted. “This organization supports trophy hunting, which Both Al (Jardine) and I are emphatically opposed to.”
Jardine and Wilson are both original members of the Beach Boys, but they don’t tour with the band anymore. Instead, they play shows as part of Brian Wilson’s own solo band.
As such, Wilson says “there’s nothing we can do personally to stop the show.”
He then directs fans to join them in signing a petition to stop the show at https://www.change.org/p/beach-boys-stop-supporting-trophy-hunting.
It has been brought to my attention that on Wednesday February 5, The Beach Boys touring group licensed by Mike Love are headlining at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada…
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) February 3, 2020
This organization supports trophy hunting, which Both Al and I are emphatically opposed to. There’s nothing we can do personally to stop the show, so please join us in signing the petition at https://t.co/vOUtJDq6t2
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) February 3, 2020
Click on the link and you’ll find several statements addressing the Safari Club International, including: “The Safari Club International convention is the world’s biggest wildlife killing market – a staggering 870 companies will be selling trophy hunting holidays and wildlife body parts including animal heads this year.”
You’ll also find a line that plays off the lyrics to a Beach Boys classic: “Wouldn’t it be nice if all the Beach Boys stayed away from those who kill for fun?”
Finally, there is the petition itself, which reads:
“Dear Beach Boys Manager Elliott Lott,
We the undersigned pledge to stop buying or downloading all Beach Boys music, going to Beach Boys concerts, and purchasing any Beach Boys merchandise until the Beach Boys withdraw from the SCI Convention and publicly state their opposition to this sick ‘sport’ of killing animals for ‘fun’.
We will call on the Beach Boys’ record label, agent and publicists to disown the Beach Boys, and on members of the public to protest at forthcoming Beach Boys concerts, unless they do so.”
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