Despite a troubled history and the mental problems of their main creative talent
Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys are an American institution. Formed by Brian, Carl
and Dennis Wilson with friends at Hawthorne High School, their distinctive,
close harmony vocal style was dubbed "surf sound" after their first single
Surfin'. More upbeat surf-related records followed - California Girls was a huge
summer hit - before the Beatles galvanised Brian Wilson into experimenting with
visionary overdubs and complex arrangements, climaxing in the epic Good
Vibrations single - described by Brian Wi...