Beach Boys Announce Reunion Tour, New Album in the Works

It’s official – the Beach Boys are gearing up to do it again.

After months of speculation and rumors, the Beach Boys announced Friday that they would release a new studio album and go on a 50-date, 50th Anniversary tour in 2012, beginning with a reunion concert at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival in April.

According to a statement on the iconic California surf band’s website, the lineup will include Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks.

“This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys, and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again,” Wilson, 69, said in a statement.

Wilson added that the group has already recorded several songs for the new album, the first in decades to feature all of the band’s original surviving members,which is set for a 2012 release on Capitol/EMI records.

Capitol/EMI plans to reissue catalog material in addition to the new album, Reuters reported.

Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. In 1962, neighbor David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits on Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing records for the group.

For five decades, America’s first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world’s favorite soundtrack to summer. Since their debut, “America’s Band” has had 36 Top 40 Hits, 56 Hot 100 hits, and sold over 100 million albums worldwide.

Check out the following that the Beach Boys released along with their reunion tour/album announcement:

What is your all-time favorite Beach Boy song? Let us know in the comments below.

via IBTimes