School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Mike Love

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Mike Love is the singer and lyricist of The Beach Boys, born in 1941 in Los Angeles. He founded the group with his cousins Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Love sang in a nasal baritone on most recordings and was usually the frontman on stage.

Music and breakthrough

Together with Brian Wilson he wrote fifteen songs that reached the American top 40, among them Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around, California Girls and Good Vibrations. His lyrics were mostly about surfing, cars and falling in love, and so shaped the sunny image of California for which the band became known. Kokomo (1988), which Love co-wrote, became the group's only number 1 hit without any input from Brian Wilson. That same year The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Influence

In 1968 Love travelled to Rishikesh in India to learn Transcendental Meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at the same time as the Beatles. In 1971 he became a teacher of the technique himself. According to Love, he helped Paul McCartney there with the lyrics of Back in the U.S.S.R. In the 1990s he brought a lawsuit against Brian Wilson and was eventually recognised as co-writer of 35 songs. After the death of Carl Wilson in 1998 he was the only one granted the right to tour as The Beach Boys.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen in Good Vibrations to the low, nasal voice of Mike Love in the verses. Notice how it gives way to the chorus with its high voices and the humming, swooping sound of the electro-theremin.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists