John Stamos Says Life Without Brian Wilson ‘Would Be a Mistake’ (Exclusive)

John Stamos grew up “worshipping” the Beach Boys — and he’ll always cherish the fact that he grew up to be a close personal friend of the band.

With the death of co-founder Brian Wilson on June 11, Stamos told PEOPLE that he’s grateful to have shared a bond with the late rocker.

“The Beach Boys are everything to me. And Brian’s passing yesterday was just such a blow,” Stamos said on the carpet at the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction on June 12. “I say without Brian Wilson, life would be a mistake. They have given me so much joy and love, and I’ve been able to spread it to so many people.”

Stamos, who was on hand to induct Wilson’s cousin and fellow Beach Boy Mike Love into the Hall, continued, “When someone comes up to me and says, ‘I got turned on to the Beach Boys because I saw them on Full House’ or something, it’s the greatest joy. It’s my way of giving back to them.”

The actor, 61, has been performing various shows with the Beach Boys since 1985, and the band even made several cameo appearances on his sitcom Full House in the 1980s and early 1990s.

In recalling his favorite memory with Wilson, Stamos pointed to a night the group was touring in Canada, and Wilson stepped in to play a few shows in Love’s absence.

“Brian came out, and he was in great shape. We finished the show, and he wanted to play the piano,” Stamos said. “We were at the Four Seasons in Montreal. And we broke into a ballroom that had a piano. Got the key, opened the piano, and we sat there for about two hours. He sat at the piano and sang and wrote songs. He started writing a song. He’s like, ‘Alright Stamos, you sing rock, roll, and Bruce, you sing this.’ One of my greatest memories ever.”

The If You Would Have Told Me author also shared a tribute to Wilson on Instagram, describing him as a “musical genius” as well as a “gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man.”

“He heard things no one else could hear. He felt things deeper than most of us ever will,” Stamos wrote. “And somehow, he turned all of that into music that wrapped itself around the world and made us all feel less alone.”

Stamos also had praise for Love, 84, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Beach Boys in 1988, and now as a solo artist. He’s responsible for writing the lyrics of hits like “Surfin’ Safari,” “Good Vibrations” and “Fun Fun Fun.”

The actor called Love — who was Wilson’s cousin — his “mentor” and “best friend,” and likened him to something of a combination father and brother figure.

“When I watch him sing his songs and the way it moves people, it’s just so needed,” Stamos said. “I’ve played with him many, many years. The last five years, people just need it. They soak it up…. He has a very playful, childlike quality about him, but he just loves his music and he knows how important it is.”

Love, meanwhile, said it was “really sweet” of Stamos to induct him.

The actor is set to join the Beach Boys for eight dates on their upcoming The Sounds of Summer Tour, which marks his 40th anniversary playing with the band.