As The Beach Boys celebrate their 60th year of performing and recording music, it is fitting that we dive back into the archives to search out the images that celebrate their emergence as a force in the youth revolution that swept the world in the sixties. We see, in their earliest photos from 1962, their own youthful exuberance. Carl at 15 years old, Dennis at 17, Brian at 20 and Mike at 21 these boys of summer stepped out of Hawthorne, California and defined a new wave in American music that to this day has legions of fans around the world.

Curated from the vaults of the band, Capitol Records photo archive and the early work of notable photographers such as Guy Webster, Julian Wasser and others we see in these never-before-released editions the band’s evolution in style that reflects the changing times of the decade.

This collection is a peek into a world of unseen moments, historic events, intimate working sessions at home and in the studio, along with the band’s love of fun and their unique journey through the world together. From the innocence of their first commercial photo shoot at Paradise Cove near Malibu, CA with the legendary Ken Veeder (then Head of Photography at Capitol Records) in July 1962, to the worldly Earl Leaf capturing the band on their first trip to Europe, this unique collection has been drawn together from extensive research and assistance from the band and their management team at Brother Records and Iconic Artists Group.

“We are thrilled to debut our Beach Boys fine art photography collection. Having the fortune to work with iconic image makers like Ken Veeder, Guy Webster, Julian Wasser, Earl Leaf and more, we appreciate the celebratory curation developed by our partners for this program which eloquently captures career highlights and intimate moments. Together, these compositions wholeheartedly display the fun-spirited, good vibrations of The Beach Boys.” Said The Beach Boys.

To mark the launch, and this significant anniversary, the band have selected three images from their history and created a very limited co-signed edition of only ten prints for each image. These photos have been signed by Mike Love, Al Jardine, Brian Wilson and Bruce Johnston. The photos are of the band at The Hollywood Bowl headlining the July 3rd, 1965, Summer Spectacular Concert that also featured The Byrds, The Kinks and Sonny & Cher (by Julian Wasser); rehearsing at Columbia Studio A for Good Vibrations (by Guy Webster) and one from the iconic Pet Sounds photo shoot at San Diego Zoo (by George Jerman/Capitol Archive).

The research for this project has been nearly a year in the making and involved countless hours of work. With the collaboration of photographers, their families, archivists, art directors, writers, musicians, sound engineers and many more we have uncovered the stories that accompany these hidden treasures from multiple archives. “It has been an honor and privilege to be given such incredible access to these archives and meet so many wonderful people who have told me the stories of these photographers and the journey of the Beach Boys. The assistance of so many people from across the world has enabled us to create a unique time capsule and insight into this era with one of the most beloved bands in music history.” Said curator Chris Flannery of 1966 Entertainment Americas.

All sales made through The Beach Boys Gallery until the end of 2023 will generate a donation to the Surfrider Foundation. The band have been long time supporters of the Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.