It might have felt closer to winter, but The Beach Boys still brought the heat.
Fans bundled in blankets, winter jackets, and gloves flocked to Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, May 25, 2025, for a Memorial Day weekend performance from the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. Despite the chilly spring air, the crowd—spanning generations—was all smiles as the band delivered their signature sun-soaked harmonies.
“This is the most beautiful setting of any place in Detroit to come to a show, in my personal opinion,” said lead vocalist and founding member Mike Love. “It’s nice to be back, and thank you for being here with us.”
Families dotted the hillside lawn, kids swatting beach balls through the air as the nine-piece band launched into a career-spanning setlist packed with hits. Backed by archival video and classic stills projected on the screen behind them, the band passed the mic, taking turns on lead vocals while layering in their timeless harmonies.
Love, the only original member still touring with the group, used the evening to reflect on his band’s six-decade history—often with humor and warmth.
“This song came out in 1963,” he said, introducing Be True to Your School. “It just so happens to be the same year our friend John Stamos was born. We’ve known him for a while—50 years this year. He first played with us in Washington, D.C. That was many moons ago.”
Love also gave a cheeky nod to his nephew, NBA star and champion Kevin Love:
“Because it is called Be True to Your School, I like to give some recognition to a close, personal relative, whose academic achievements were brilliant at UCLA—where he went for one whole complete year—before going to freeze his ass off in Minnesota with the Timberwolves,” Love joked, drawing laughter. A photo of Kevin flashed on screen.
“He got a call from LeBron James to come and play in Cleveland, which he did—and they won a contest while they were there.”
The screen antics continued when college logos sparked a round of playful boos and cheers: Michigan State drew applause, Ohio State earned jeers, and a photo of a Michigan Wolverines cheerleader brought the house down.
That same cheerleader returned later in the show, when the band cheekily swapped the lyrics in California Girls to: “I wish they could all be Michigan girls.”
In one of the evening’s more heartfelt moments, Love spoke about his friendship with the late George Harrison of The Beatles.
“We were invited to Paris in 1967 for a UNICEF benefit concert. When the curtain opened, there was Maharishi (Mahesh Yogi) in the front row, John Lennon on one side, and George Harrison on the other. That’s quite a front row,” Love recalled. “A couple days later, Maharishi taught us transcendental meditation. It’s been a fantastic thing to do over the years.”
“We were in India and had a birthday together in the spring of ’68—(George) on February 25 and me on March 15. Both Pisces. I wrote a song called Pisces Brothers. He was a great artist and a great person. I tried to combine all the things he loved—and we both loved.”
Toward the end of the show, the multigenerational celebration came full circle as a group of kids joined the band on stage to dance during Barbara Ann, filling the amphitheater with even more joy.
The Beach Boys continue their U.S. tour this summer, with select dates in Europe. For more info, visit thebeachboys.com.