How many Beach Boys is still alive? This is a question asked by many of my friends when I mention that I am writing an occasional article on the lives and work of Ray Jardine and his famous Beach Boys band. The answer is not as clear as I would like for it to be, but there are a number of ways of assessing the popularity of this iconic group. Here are a few things that might help:
This question can best be answered with the aid of a hypothetical example: What are the odds that a boy named Bob will live up to his six-year promise and continue to surf for a living? The answer to this question might not apply if there are no other Beach Boys still alive to make fun of him in the same way that he makes fun of them. But even without that example, the likelihood of a boy continuing to enjoy being a Beach Boy seems pretty slim. It’s possible that there are now so many Beach Boys that any surviving ones who aren’t happy about their lifestyle are too scared to go out and make a living doing what they love.
While I don’t have an answer for how many Beach Boys is still alive today: I do know that the ones who are still in the business are getting older. In the immediate past, most of the surviving members of the Beach Boys didn’t turn 18 until they were in their mid-to late twenties. The average then was around 25 years old.
There are many indicators: of how many Beach Boys are still alive in the world today. For starters, you can look at the popularity of the band. Not long ago, there was a cult movie made about the Beach Boys, called “Come As You Are.” A movie trailer for that movie currently has over two million views.
Another indicator: of how many Beach Boys are still alive is how long some of their fan clubs or remaining members are willing to keep the club open for new members. One of the biggest signs of how many Beach Boys are still alive is that some of their old fans don’t mind getting a bit older to be part of the new generation of Beach Boys. They’re getting along just fine, thank you very much.
How many Beach Boys is still alive? The answer is probably not as many as some people would like it to be. There are many who don’t even know they exist. But, as long as there are young men out there who love the Beach Boys, there will always be a few who know where they live and want to get together for a jam session or a pick up game at their favorite Beach Boys party.