Before the tragic drownings, mental breakdowns, terrible literary decisions, and this insufferable 'piece of baby boomer trash defined the group, this dusty, nondescript corner of earth once contained the ultimate piece of Beach Boys memorabilia: their childhood home. That's right, this prime pocket of Los Angeles land, one that hugs the "gorgeous" Century Freeway in Hawthorne, is where the Wilson bros once ate, did homework and argued about who was going to take the top bunk. And despite the house being long gone, we've been gifted with a lovely monument to commemorate the spectacle.
But before we dive into the landmark itself, let's wrap our brains around the Beach Boys and the incredible impact their music left on the world.
With smooth harmonies and hits like 'Good Vibrations' and 'I Get Around', the bros created a unique and experimental sound that still resonates with audiences today. Gods of California culture, Brian Wilson and co. introduced the world to the 'California Girl' concept-- a universal (but slightly offensive) trope that still sticks to this day-- and taught us all to surf, even if we've never seen an ocean in our life. Also, there's the groundbreaking album 'Pet Sounds', a masterpiece of auditory delight created out of Brian's maddening jealousy over The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper' album. But I've digressed now; let's get back to the monument.
From afar, what looks to be a tiny brick house located in the world's least sexiest location is actually a decent--by plague standards-- tribute to SoCal's favorite threesome.
Large and decorative, seeing the monument in person will illicit the warm feeling that the whoever dedicated the time and energy to construct this behemoth actually gave a damn about the subject at hand. There's some real integrity and care here, the same kind not shared by the goons who created this homage or this.
Commemorative bricks-- which I can only assume came via hefty donations from the wealthier super fans-- make up a majority of the base. And in a surprise to no one, each brick is etched with a generic word of kindness or goofy inspirational quote followed by a very waspy sounding last name.
And who could forget the boys of summer themselves-- engraved in a stone centerpiece and looking quite dapper with their signature surf board in tow. Smiling, well coiffed and without a care in the world, one could easily forget that the Beach Boys were actually incredibly dysfunctional, drug-addled and had deep connections to the left coast's favorite murderous cult leader, Charles Manson. But hey, it was the 60s' and they wrote some pretty rockin' tunes! All is forgiven.
And it wouldn't be an official anything without a plaque to commemorate the occasion.
And I know what you're thinking-- while it might be funny to imagine the Wilson brothers spending their childhood inhaling gas fumes and suffering through the horrific sound of car crashes from the highway on the daily, the area was actually a much different place during their leaner years. You see, this was a time when our beloved, and very attractive, 105 Freeway didn't exist in these parts of the State and the Boys home was actually bulldozed in the 80s to make room for its expansion.
But once you look past the monument, the area's current surroundings leave much to be desired: Charred grass, random garbage, and dead plants make it feel like you're celebrating a wonderful day in BumTown USA than paying homage to one of rock's most beloved acts.
But ya know what, I'm not going to rain on the parade here; this is a pretty solid tribute. Nothing screams SoCal like these lovable scamps and their girl-chasing, surfs up, "California is the greatest place ever" attitude. Come by and soak up those good vibrations. Just bring a gas mask.
