Original Beach Boys stop suing each other to record new album

Mike Love, Brian Wilson, and Al Jardine spent the past quarter-century filing lawsuits against one another — over back royalties, libel, song credits, and image misappropriation — so a reunion seemed inconceivable. But today the surviving Beach Boys, who also include Bruce Johnston and guitarist David Marks, surprised the music world by announcing a new album and worldwide tour for their fiftieth anniversary. (Brian's brothers Dennis and Carl died in 1983 and 1998 respectively.) This could either be incredible, like Johnny Cash's final records, or even cheesier and more legacy-ruining than "Kokomo" and those Full House cameos.

"This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys," Wilson said in a statement. (Never mind the "boys" are now seventy-year-old men.) Love, always modest, added: "Brian paid me a compliment saying, 'How can a guy sound that great so many years later?'" Actually, the video clip below doesn't sound terrible, which is probably a relief to fans eager to shell out approximately $7,000 for tickets.

The tour will commence at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The new album will be produced by Wilson, who oversaw 1966's masterpiece Pet Sounds, and executive produced by Love, who oversaw 1998's... uh... The Beach Boys Salute NASCAR.

No word on whether Uncle Jesse will make an appearance.