Mike Love’s appearance at the most recent Beach Boys show left fans concerned for his wellbeing, with at least one member of the band confirming he felt the same way. The 85-year-old co-founder sat through the entire show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sunday (October 11) and only briefly took part in proceedings.
Love recently confirmed he was suffering with health issues. “Losing my sister, Maureen, on the first anniversary of cousin Brian’s death, combined with my ongoing recovery from what started out as bronchitis, followed by COVID, has taken both an emotional and physical toll on me,” he said in June.
“I feel stronger every day physically, but I am heartbroken emotionally. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else than with our audience. For me, our audience is the medicine, and the music is the cure. Thank you all for your outpouring of love, well wishes, and healing prayers. I am deeply humbled and grateful.”
A number of Beach Boys shows had been canceled in the interim. Before the concert began in the iconic venue, the band’s John Stamos and Love’s son Brian came on stage to prepare the audience for what they were about to see.
“He’s stubborn and he’s steadfast, and he did not want to miss the Ryman,” Brian said of his father. “I mean, for good reason. Look at this place. So we are happy. We’re gonna be positive. We’re gonna sing along.”
Stamos added: “All we have is tonight, really, and I think it’s gonna be very, very special. Mike, he insisted on being here… He’s done over 7,000 live shows. And tonight’ll be 7,422, I think exactly. We love you, and have the greatest night ever.” Love was already seated when the curtains opened, and was seen providing backing vocals and interacting with Stamos to a limited extent. He was helped to leave the stage to a standing ovation at the end.
Before the show, Stamos wrote on social media: “My beloved friend, father figure, musical hero and mentor, Mike Love, is facing serious health challenges. We hope he’ll be doing what he loves for years to come, but we don’t know what the future holds. With that said, we have tonight.”
He continued: “While I always knew there would eventually come a day when things would change, I never really allowed myself to imagine what that day would feel like. I’m not saying tonight is the end. God, I hope it isn’t. But there’s a part of me that wonders if this could be the last time I get to stand behind Mike, play those songs, watch him work an audience, and feel that indescribable magic that happens when those harmonies fill a room.”
The Beach Boys’ next booking is on November 11, at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
