Brian Wilson has had enough. Fans of The Beach Boys are caught in the crossfires since Wilson has spoken out against an upcoming Beach Boys gig, led by former bandmate Mike Love, at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, NV.
The controversial convention was called out by the Humane Society last year for connections to “trophy hunting,” even if it involves animals on the brink of extinction.
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“The SCI convention is a huge gathering of people in the business of buying, selling and auctioning off dead animal parts and opportunities to slay wild animals for fun or bragging rights,” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and president of Humane Society International, in a press statement.
Brian Wilson and fellow BB member Al Jardine take a similar stand on the event, with The Beach Boys’ legend sharing his impassioned feelings on the announcement that Love’s version of the band is set to headline this year’s convention via social media. It’s set for February 5-8, with the band scheduled to close the opening ceremonies. Keynote speaker: Donald Trump Jr.
It has been brought to my attention that on Wednesday February 5, The Beach Boys touring group licensed by Mike Love are headlining at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada…
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) February 3, 2020
This organization supports trophy hunting, which Both Al and I are emphatically opposed to. There’s nothing we can do personally to stop the show, so please join us in signing the petition at https://t.co/vOUtJDq6t2
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) February 3, 2020
The Change.org petition Wilson is now urging fans to sign proposes a boycott of Beach Boys performances until they withdraw from this particular show, and is pointed directly at the band’s manager Elliott Lott:
“We the undersigned pledge to stop buying or downloading all Beach Boys music, going to Beach Boys concerts, and purchasing any Beach Boys merchandise until the Beach Boys withdraw from the SCI Convention and publicly state their opposition to this sick ‘sport’ of killing animals for ‘fun.’ We will call on the Beach Boys’ record label, agent and publicists to disown the Beach Boys, and on members of the public to protest at forthcoming Beach Boys concerts, unless they do so.”
The petition is gaining steam at a rapid clip. Looking to generate 75,000 signatures, it’s already at more than 63,000+ names and counting.
UPDATE:
Mike Love has responded to Brian Wilson’s petition…but not favorably. The show will go on, despite Brian and Al’s best efforts to stop it.
“We look forward to a night of great music in Reno, and, as always, support freedom of thought and expression as a fundamental tenet of our rights as Americans,” Love said in a statement, according to Pitchfork.
