Beach Boys star donates funds to Perth ocean charities

The Beach Boys’ founding member Al Jardine loves Perth’s “beautiful beaches” so much he decided to donate signed memorabilia from his recent tour to support fundraising to help protect WA’s coastline. The 83-year-old American musician was in Perth on June 25 when he performed at the Regal Theatre with The Pet Sounds Band featuring the late Brian Wilson’s acclaimed touring musicians as part of their Australian tour. Ahead of the show, Perth-based initiative Talking Foreign Affairs, led by founder Adil Cader, who has interviewed more than 40 world leaders, met with Jardine to discuss awareness around ocean conservation. Mr Cader said the connection was a natural one: Jardine grew up on the California coast, and California and WA are alike as coastline-led regions. “When we found out that he was touring, we reached out to Al Jardine’s team ahead of his Perth show to arrange a collaboration on ocean conservation, and he agreed,” he said. During Jardine’s visit, he stopped at Cottesloe Beach and after being in awe of WA’s coastline, he decided to donate signed memorabilia to local ocean charities in support of fundraising efforts to protect the State’s coast for future generations. The charities set to receive a donation are still being finalised. Jardine said that he had known Cottesloe since his Perth performance with the Beach Boys in 2004. “Cottesloe is a place I have known for many years. We had a memorable concert here back in 2004. Coming back today and spending time there again, I absolutely loved it,” he said last Thursday. “The beach still feels pristine and full of natural beauty. There is a nice sense of calm and clarity you don’t get many places, and you feel lucky just being there. I would hate to see a place like this damaged for future generations and I want people to keep being able to enjoy it the same way I have.” Jardine added that WA’s coastline is “truly special”. “Unfortunately, I could not stay for sunset this time but, boy, you have some magical sunsets with those orange skies,” he said. “I loved spending time at Perth’s beautiful beaches while I’ve toured here. Having grown up by the California coast, I know how precious places like these are.” Jardine, best known as the band’s rhythm guitarist and harmony vocalist, also spoke with Mr Cader in a World Ocean Day interview where he discussed ocean conservation, the decline of the Great Barrier Reef and broader threats to coastlines in the US. The Beach Boys formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961 and are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time, selling more than 100 million records globally. The group’s founding members consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and Jardine. Love and Jardine are the only surviving original members after Dennis drowned in 1983, Carl died of lung cancer in 1998 and Brian died in 2025 after respiratory arrest. Long-time member Bruce Johnston (who joined in 1965) retired from touring with the band this year.