“This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon”

The Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston has departed the touring band after over six decades, but has confirmed that he will still be writing music.

The singer joined the group back in 1965 after frontman Brian Wilson stepped away from touring duties. He has been a part of the group for 61 years, and is estimated to have performed around 6,000 live shows.

He shared news of his departure from the touring group in a new statement with Rolling Stone, sharing that there is no bad blood between him and any of the other members, he is just ready to kick off “Part Three of my lengthy musical career”.

“I can write songs forever and wait until you hear what’s coming! As my major talent beyond singing is songwriting, now is the time to get serious again,” he added, also sharing that he is want to continue “developing a speaking-engagement chapter of my career — inspired in part by Cary Grant, who long ago made a similar move after his movie career”.

Johnston went on to reassure fans that he will be “doing appearances and events of my own”, and is still “excited to join the Beach Boys for performances on special occasions”. One of the special occasions he has in mind is the show at The Hollywood Bowl, which will “celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday”.

Concluding his statement, he wrote: “This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon. I am forever grateful to be a part of the Beach Boys musical legacy.”

His departure from the live touring band leaves Mike Love as the last member from the classic-era to be hitting the road still. Love shared a statement with Rolling Stone about Johnston’s departure from playing live too.

“Bruce Johnston is one of the greatest songwriters, vocalists, and keyboardists of our time. We’ve had the honour of his performance and participation for many many years with the Beach Boys,” he said.

“Change is always promised in life, today we find ourselves in a chapter of change, but not an end. Bruce shifts his focus on what he does so well which is songwriting and recording. I personally look forward to collaborating in the studio with Bruce in the very near future,” he added.

“I am very supportive of Bruce and I have every confidence that he will produce great music. I am delighted that Bruce will join the band on special occasions and when his schedule permits including The Hollywood Bowl performances celebrating the 250th Birthday of our great nation. I love and respect Bruce Johnston.”

As well as touring with the band for six decades, Johnston also wrote Beach Boys tracks including ‘Tears In The Morning’, ‘Dierdre’, and ‘Disney Girls’. He left the line-up temporarily in the early ‘70s to focus on other projects, and rejoined the line-up in 1978.

He last played with the band as they took to the stage for their latest shows in January. Taking on his role in the touring band will be Chris Cron, who is the singer in tribute act, Pet Sounds Live.

Shows continue on March 22 with a show in Florida, and other dates on the itinerary include the aforementioned Hollywood Bowl slot on the weekend of July 4, and more shows in August. Visit here for tickets and more information.

In other Beach Boys news, in January the band shared that they would be releasing their lost experimental album ‘Adult/Child’ after almost 50 years.

This summer, they will also play a huge open-air show in London to celebrate 60 years of ‘Pet Sounds’.

Iconic frontman Brian Wilson died last June, aged 82. In an obituary, NME celebrated the singer as a “culture-defining innovator who represented pop music’s awakening”, adding that his death saw him “leaving behind a legacy of pop symphonies”.