In so many ways The Beach Boys’ music is directly linked to EARTH DAY. Rooted in the sea, ground, sky (and beyond), the group’s music and harmonies have turned our planet’s air, fields, and sunniest climes into a treasured communal space.
Earth Day, like the group itself, stems from the California coast. On January 28th, 1969, a defective offshore rig leaked oil just six miles from the coast of Santa Barbara. The catastrophe spurred students across the country to begin taking a bold and progressive look at how our skies, fields, and seas were being mistreated, planting the seeds for what became the first Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970.
California’s favorite sons have nearly always had ecology on their minds. Many of The Beach Boys’ most beloved songs reflected the need to explore and protect our planet. Over the decades, the band has created songs celebrating life on Earth – “Back Home,” “Vegetables,” “It’s Natural,” “Big Sur,” “Winter Symphony,” “It’s A Beautiful Day,” and “California Feelin’”; the air “Santa Ana Winds,” “Wind Chimes,” “Country Air,” “Out In The Country,” “At My Window”; and of course, our oceans – “Full Sail,” “Cool Cool Water,” “Summer In Paradise,” “Diamond Head,” “Catch A Wave,” “Don’t Go Near The Water,” and “Pacific Ocean Blues”; not to mention a reverential and loving look at the universe around us all with “Solar System” and “Wake The World.”
Across their 60-plus years, The Beach Boys have always done their part to underscore the beauty of Mother Earth and the importance of tending to her ongoing needs. It was The Beach Boys who reminded us in the 1960’s to “Take a breath of that country air!,” and made us realize a decade later: “The skies are clear - it’s a beautiful day in L.A.!” As always, California holds a special place in the hearts of the band. As Los Angeles begins the road to recovery following the recent wildfires, our thoughts are with everyone affected. As of April 2025, 610 fires have burned 59,176 acres across the cherished Golden State, forever shaping, but never breaking, the spirit of The Beach Boys’ home. Together, we stay strong and look ahead with hope.
Over the decades, The Beach Boys have been avid supporters of The Surfrider Foundation (https://www.surfrider.org/). Founded in 1984, Surfrider is dedicated to, "the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network." Among the organization’s ongoing priorities are: Reducing the impact of plastics in the marine environments that surround us, defending our ocean from challenges threatening the vitality of the ecosystem, and protecting our natural shorelines, along with many more equally serious maritime issues. If you're passionate about protecting the beaches and waters that define life in Los Angeles, consider getting involved. Make a difference—volunteer today: surfrider.org/volunteer
Celebrate this incredible planet with beautiful sounds from California – THE BEACH BOYS.
Happy Earth Day 2025.