Mike Love bringing the Beach Boys to the Van Wezel on Sunday without the band's creative leader Brian Wilson probably won't bother casual fans, but it comes as a disappointment to die-hard enthusiasts.
Especially ones who witnessed the Beach Boys lineup of living originals recently.
The reunited Beach Boys wowed fans around the world with a 50th anniversary tour that included a superb performance at the Straz Center in Tampa last May.
The previously feuding chief songwriter/pianist/singer Wilson and his cousin, lead singer/lyricist Mike Love, had finally made peace.
Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks joined Love and Wilson, marking the first time the five men had played together in decades.
The tour was going great, with glowing reviews largely focusing on the reemergence of Wilson.
Near the end of the tour, though, in London, Love announced that he and Johnston would continue touring under the Beach Boys name in Love's pre-anniversary edition of the band.
Wilson, Jardine and Marks would no longer be part of the group they brought to prominence.
And, for many of us, that's a shame.
Read this reporter's entire rant about Love touring with a Wilson-less Beach Boys at http://tinyurl.com/byfacll.
Details: 7 p.m. Feb. 17, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. Tickets: Sold out. Information: 941-953-3368 or www.vanwezel.org.
-- Wade Tatangelo
