While the Beach Boys recently released a new album and is on the road once again with its 50th Anniversary tour, the grown children of the band members are also hitting the stage with tribute performances to their fathers.
The kids include frontman Brian Wilson’s daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson; the late Carl Wilson’s son, Justyn Wilson; the late Dennis Wilson’s son, Carl B. Wilson; Adam Jardine’s sons Matt and Adam Jardine; and Mike Love’s children Christian and Ambha Love.
The original idea of the “offspring” band was posed by Justyn Wilson’s brother, Jonah, a real estate agent and former road manager for the group, Wilson Phillips (a trio consisting of Carnie, Wendy, and Chynna Phillips, daughter of John and Michelle Philips, from The Mamas and the Papas). Jonah first mentioned the thought to Justyn in January, inspired by the talk of a Beach Boys 50th Anniversary tour, Ventura County Star reported. In February, as they watched the Beach Boys perform at this year’s Grammy Awards, the brothers discussed the idea again.
That same night, Matt Jardine’s wife Susie also suggested that the sons and daughters get together, and Justyn took action. He told Carnie about the idea, she passed the word along to Wendy and Matt, and soon, eight of the kids were on board, along with Billy Hinsche, Carl Wilson’s brother-in-law, who had previously toured with the Beach Boys.
The California Saga was born.
Justyn told Ventura County Star in May about his thinking behind the project. “I gave it some thought and some meditation and prayer and a few days later it started to kind of take shape in my head how it could work, how we could do some of the more obscure songs and B-side material.”
The group rehearsed through May, trying to configure their voices to blend and create a sound similar to that of the Beach Boys.
The California Saga opened for Beach Boys twice in June and is set to perform at L.A.’s Grammy Museum on Tuesday, in addition to more future appearances.
