Beach Boys' Mike Love reveals Dennis and Carl Wilson bought heroin before infamous 1978 Aussie show
The Beach Boys singer Mike Love has revealed the reason behind one of the band’s most infamous blunders, four decades after it took place.
During an interview with Sunday Night, the 77-year-old American star opened up about the poor performance they delivered during their 1978 Australian tour, where fans demanded their money back.
The band were forced to apologise after the show, with Carl Wilson stating that he had consumed two Mai Tais before the concert.
“What happened was I did not feel well yesterday,” he said at the time. “I had a Valium and I had two Mai Tais without having a meal.”
However, Mike has revealed that the terrible performance had a much more scandalous cause.
“Dennis [Wilson] and Carl [Wilson] bought heroin. Having those guys buy heroin while we're on tour in Australia, it wasn't my cup of tea honestly, so I was mortified by that,” Mike said.
“I think that was not a great thing for The Beach Boys to be involved with. I think our music and our way of life and what we always promoted is positivity and harmony. It didn't fit,” he said.
Dennis died in 1983 following a battle with drug and alcohol addiction, and Carl passed away from lung cancer in 1998.
In the interview, band-member Brian Wilson revealed that he still grieves over the loss of his brothers.
“It was very difficult, very very difficult. I still to this day mourn their death.”
Now, the band is promoting their new album which sees 16 of their hits reimagined by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
“I always knew the vocal arrangements I did back in the 1960s would lend themselves perfectly for a symphony,” Brian said in a statement.
“I am both proud and humbled by what they have created using our songs.”
The new album will include reimagined tracks of 1963’s Fun, Fun, Fun and 1988’s Kokomo.