Beach Boys: Bruce Johnston retires from touring after six decades

After more than sixty years of playing with the Beach Boys, Bruce Johnston has announced his retirement from touring.

“The time has come for Part Three of my long musical career!”, explained the singer and keyboardist, who joined the group in 1965, when Brian Wilson decided to concentrate on studio work. Johnston entrusted his statement to the US edition of “Rolling Stone” and said: “I can write songs forever, and wait until you hear what’s coming! Since my main talent, in addition to singing, is songwriting, now is the time to take it seriously again. Furthermore, I am working on developing a new phase of my career dedicated to public speaking – partly inspired by Cary Grant, who long ago made a similar choice after his film career. With a lot of help in designing the content of my speaking engagements from John Stamos, I’ll be doing personal appearances and events. I might even sing ‘Disney Girls’ and ‘I Write the Songs!!’.”

Johnston stressed, however, that he is not calling it quits with the Beach Boys. “I will be thrilled to join the Beach Boys for special occasion performances and will see everyone at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation!,” added Bruce Johnston: “This is not goodbye, it’s goodbye. I will be forever grateful to be part of the Beach Boys’ musical legacy.”