Mike won the right in court years a few years back when he and Al split on a tour and he sued to use the Beach Boys name.
That's not entirely correct. Mike bought the license from BRI (Brother Records Industries), a company that is owned by himself, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and the estate of Carl Wilson. They all (or at least a majority of the four of them) agreed on selling Mike that license. After Al was kicked out of the Beach Boys live band, he started performing live with his own band, which he called The Beach Boys Family & Friends. That was a breach of contract, since he wasn't allowed to use the Beach Boys' name, because Mike had, and still has, the sole right to do that. That's what that court case was about.
Now would you say John Stamos and Billy Hinske are Beach Boys, uuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
No, because they aren't official Beach Boys and never were. There are nine people who can, or at one time could, call themselves official members of The Beach Boys and those people are Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, David Marks, Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar. I do recall though that Billy Hinsche was at one time offered a full membership, but he turned it down.
I guess it would be like Paul going out on tour with out any of the other Beatles (Living or not), under the name The Beatles.
How about the Stones with just Mick or just "Keef" touring. Its B.S.!
I know it's BS, but that's just how it is. Mike got BRI's blessing when he bought the license, so there's nothing that anyone can do about it now.
So do you have anyone in mind for the MOST HATED LIST?
I'll think about it...