John Stamos told Beach Boys' Mike Love that Brian Wilson died: ‘He didn't say one word' for 2 hours
That's how John Stamos felt having to break it to Mike Love that his Beach Boys bandmate — and cousin Brian Wilson — died at 82 on Wednesday.
The 'Full House' actor, who has been an honorary Beach Boy playing drums and guitar with the band for 40 years, was traveling with Love when he received the heartbreaking news.
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5 'You know, they had 80-plus years together,' John Stamos reflected of Mike Love's reaction to Brian Wilson'sdeath.
Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame
'I was with Mike, I got off the plane, and I got the text,' Stamos, 61, exclusively told The Post on the red carpet of the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday before he enshrined Love at New York's Marriott Marquis.
'I was like, 'Oh boy, I guess I better [tell him].' I said, 'Mike, your cousin passed away,' and his face went blank.'
'And we sat in the car for two and a half hours or so … he didn't say one word,' he continued. 'And I didn't ask him anything, ask him how he was feeling. I knew how he was feeling.'
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Indeed, Stamos — having grown up idolizing the Beach Boys long before he got to know and play with the '60s trailblazers of the California sound — understood the profound loss that frontman Love, 84, was processing about the group's mastermind.
'You know, they had 80-plus years together,' he said. 'They made beautiful music together.'
But Stamos shares in the collective grief that the world is feeling after the death of the 'God Only Knows' giant, one of pop's true visionaries who changed music as we know it.
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5 'I don't know what I did right in some past life or something,' said John Stamos of being an honorary Beach Boy.
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'Without Brian Wilson, life would be a mistake,' he said. 'It's been a big blow to all of us.'
Stamos first played with the Beach Boys four decades ago at the Washington Monument on the Fourth of July in 1985.
'This July 4th will be 40 years of nagging them and stalking them,' he said.
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5 The Beach Boys appeared on the 'Beach Boy Bingo' episode of Season 2 of 'Full House' in 1988.
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But Stamos has been much more than just a stan. He helped introduce the Beach Boys to a new generation by featuring them on his TV sitcoms 'Full House' and 'You Again?' He also appeared in the video for their 1988 No. 1 hit 'Kokomo' and directed the clips for 1992's 'Hot Fun in the Summertime.'
Stamos feels blessed to have 'spent a good amount of time' with Wilson, recalling one special trip to Montreal.
'We were doing some shows in Montreal, I was with them, and Mike couldn't make about five shows,' he said. 'And so Brian came out, and he's the lead singer of the band … and it was great.'
Even more magic happened behind the scenes, though.
5 'I think this is long overdue,' said John Stamos of inducting Beach Boys' Mike Love into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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'We were at Four Seasons in Montreal, and one night he says, 'Let's go find a piano,' ' he said. 'And so we couldn't find one, and we broke in the ballroom. There's a piano in there, and he sat for two and a half hours, and he played any song we requested.'
In fact, Stamos marveled, 'He starts writing a song!'
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While noting that Wilson — who had a history of mental health and substance abuse problems — was 'complicated, obviously' — Stamos shared that he also had 'a wry sense of humor.'
5 Beach Boys Carl Wilson (left), Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson appeared with John Stamos on 'Full House' in 1988.
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Reflecting on inducting Love — who co-wrote Beach Boys classics such as 'I Get Around,' 'California Girls' and 'Good Vibrations' with Wilson — into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Stamos said, 'You know, if you would have told me I'd be here tonight … I don't know what I did right in some past life or something.'
He continued, 'I've had a lot of honors in my life, a lot of good things, but this is maybe the greatest honor of my life, to be able to give this to him tonight. I think this is long overdue, Mike getting into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. '
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And for Stamos, the Beach Boys' music is more necessary than ever six decades — and sixtysomething summers — later.
'Decency is at an all time low, and discord at an all time high,' he said, 'and we've never needed the Beach Boys music more.'
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Drugs and alcohol have led to the demise of too many people. Many people we see end up dead from the process.' 'Saving Brian's life probably necessitated a Eugene Landy who could come in and force him to take control of himself,' Mason continued. 'I think they were the best years of his health, but the worst of his years with Dr. Landy.'
