Alan Charles Jardine was born September 3, 1942, in a city called Lima, Ohio to Donald and Virginia Loxley Jardine. Thank goodness his family moved to Hawthorne, California otherwise most of us would have no clue who Al Jardine is. That is unless you were one of his dental patients. See, Al met Brian Wilson on the football field on November 7, 1957. It wasn't exactly "meeting". Brian Wilson was the quarterback. And he told the guys to "pitch out left" and he flipped right. Well, Al was smashed between two guys somehow and broke his femur. Now, Al says he doesn't think about that much. According to Brian though, Al brings it up everytime he wants a favor.
But that's history now. In a sense, Al Jardine started the Beach Boys. Kind of stretching it, but..! Al had heard Brian and Carl playand was impressed with them. Al told Brian they should form a band. So, Al and Brian with two other jocks that they knew were singing together in the nurse's office, but they didn't quite blend that well. But then, a miracle happened! Brian's parents(Murry and Audree) went to Mexico and left their sons (Brian, Dennis, and Carl in order of age) $100 for food money. Now, you give 3 young boys $100 and do you honestly think they're going to spend it on food? No. But I bet you wouldn't guess they'd spend it on instruments! They did! Now, Dennis wasn't in the band at the time. He wasn't into music like the other guys yet, couldn't play anything and was yet to develop a voice. But he told them,"Hey you guys out to write a song about surfing!" So, Brian, the Beach Boys' mastermind, got to work. When his parents came back the boys had recorded Surfin'.
That was to become their first hit. It went to number 75 on Billboard. That's how Al saw it stopping though. He quit the Beach Boys and went for a "promising" career. Dentist. Can you blame him though? Not many bands get that lucky..but, as the world was soon to find out the Beach Boys were Talented with a capitol T! It also helped that they had a genius and were a boy band. Which girls loved. However, after a year and half Brian called Al up and asked him to come back. David Marks was taking his place. The Beach Boys, when Al came back, had Surfin' Safari, 409, Surfin' U.S.A., Shut Down, Little Deuce Coupe, Surfer Girl, Be True To Your School, and In My Room under their belt. Al saw it going places. He came back and I bet they're glad! For all of those who don't pay much attention to Al allow me to point out 4 major contributions. Help Me, Rhonda went to number one in the U.S. And Then I Kissed Her, Lady Lynda, and Cottonfields were in the top 10 in other countries outside the U.S. What does that have to do with Al? Al sang lead on all of those, wrote one, and was the reason they recorded another. Another thing most people over look-- Sloop John B. A big hit for the Beach Boys. Yes, Brian Wilson was the one who did the arranging, and an *excellent* job he did, but Al was the one who came up with the idea to do it. So, he did a lot more than just stand on the side of the stage with Carl Wilson, whom would become the second most important Beach Boys after Brian. But Al is often overlooked. Why? He was the most normal. The most innocent.
Now into the life of Al Jardine a little more. Al's first wife was Lynda Sperry. They were married February 4, 1964. Lynda and Al had two sons- Matthew Alan born December 9, 1966, who was to become a vital part of The Beach Boys on stage in later years. And Adam Christian born October 22, 1970. Both would be a part of Al's self-formed band The Beach Boys Family & Friends. There is a very lovely song written about Al's first wife, titled Lady Lynda(It's a personal favorite). Al and Lynda divorced in 1983. Which turned out to be a sad year indeed for The Beach Boys, with the loss of Dennis Wilson. However, The Beach Boys with Al kept going. And Al married Mary Ann Helmandollar on March 24 of 1983. Al and Mary Ann had two twins on May 8 of 1986, named Andrew Neal(Neal being Al's brother's name)and Robbie born in Scottsdale, AZ. And in 1988--triumph! 'Kokomo' went to number 1. Their first number one since 'Good Vibrations'. The Beach Boys were "cool" again, for a period of time.
Then in 1998, tradegy struck again. Carl Wilson, the backbone and glue of the band, died of cancer at age 51. There wasn't a fan, friend, or family of his who wasn't hurt and devasted. People who never met the man cried for weeks on end. This death, this tradegy, did much damage to what we call "The Beach Boys". With all Wilsons gone, two deaths and one persuing a solo career and reconstructing his life, Al quickly realized "The Beach Boys" as we knew it were gone. He had realized that earlier too. He knew it when they became, what many call, the "Traveling Juke Box Show". Even people who had respected them starting making fun of always playing the oldies. Now, I don't know exactly why Mike and Bruce decided to get rid of Al. Al was a main reason to go to shows, I think. With his unique voice and his attitude. Al knew an audience should stand and dance when time was right, and sit and be awed at the right time too. Al knew exactly what to do when he was no longer part of the modern Beach Boys. He went out on his own with an idea! He called up some of the best to help him: Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson, Owen Elliot, his talented sons Matt and Adam, and the old Beach Boys' band! Indeed, this was a good lineup! Their debut was on the Regis & Kathie Lee Show. And I was very impressed. That's why I was so shocked when different people who went to their shows demanded money back saying "It's not the real Beach Boys! I paid money to see the REAL Beach Boys!" Any *real* Beach Boys fan would know there isn't a Beach Boys anymore. You can pay to see "The Beach Boys" which has one original member, which makes it no more of The Beach Boys than Al's. I'm not saying either is better or worse, just stating facts. If you can..go see Al's show and give it an honest chance! And if you just think "it's not the Beach Boys", you're right! It's not! I'm asking you to go and say "MAN! This is just like The Beach Boys!", because it won't happen! Don't go expecting The Beach Boys..go expecting to hear wonderful reincarnations of classic Beach Boy hits and some lesser known favorites. It's not The Beach Boys, we'll never have that again, but it's got the same spirit and gives you the same feeling. And if you get that out of Mike's band, good! I went to see Mike's show myself..and you know what? I don't regret it! I went saying,"There is NO way I'm going to enjoy this...I mean, it's not what it's labeled." It's labeled The Beach Boys, and it's not. But it is a good show. That's Beach Boy Spirit!
Now, I know I left out LOTS to the Alan Jardine/Beach Boy biography. I'll tell you some places on another site where you can find more Al/BB/BBF&F info. both online and in books, magazines, videos, ect. Also, you can check out the Al Jardine Discography.
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