More than two decades after leaving one of the most popular bands in American history to embark on a solo career, Brian Wilson is reuniting with the original members of The Beach Boys for new recordings and a worldwide tour.

Over the past year, there have been plenty of rumors regarding Wilson’s return to the classic rock outfit, of which he was a founder and chief songwriter. Through The Beach Boys official website, Wilson and the rest of the members have now announced their plans for the new album and tour, meant to mark the 50th anniversary of the band’s creation.

In a brief statement on the site, Wilson says: “This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again.” Wilson left the band in 1988, the same year they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, due to ongoing psychological and mental health issues.

The reunited band has apparently already started recording the album, which will include a re-vamped take on their 1968 hit single, “Do It Again.” A 50-date reunion tour will kickoff next year, which will bring the band across the globe and include a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival next April.

This is some pretty welcoming news for not just fans of The Beach Boys, but for anyone who is a fan of classic American rock music. Many fans and music critics have long considered Wilson to be the driving creative force behind the band from Southern California.

The group shot to prominence in the early sixties with songs known for their close vocal harmonies and lyrics about surfing, sleek cars and young romance. While success in the album charts became commonplace for the group, it would be their 11th album which would draw in widespread critical acclaim.

Released in 1966, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds was a passion project for Brian Wilson that featured revolutionary achievements in psychedelic rock with complex uses of vocal harmonies and unorthodox sound effects and instruments. The album would struggle on the pop charts, but in decades since then it has been regarded as one of the most important rock albums of all time.

The same year that Pet Sounds was released, Wilson also composed and produced “Good Vibrations,” a song that is still considered one of the greatest American rock anthems of all time. After the departure of Wilson, it would be much harder to point to any other tracks from The Beach Boys that received such similar grandiose praise.

In 1988, coming off of the heel of Wilson leaving, The Beach Boys released their number one hit “Kokomo.” Despite its commercial success, the song doesn’t enjoy the same critical acclaim as any previous Wilson track and is, shall we say, pretty shallow and vapid. You’re more likely to find the single on lists that rank songs on the opposite spectrum of “Good Vibrations.”

So while The Beach Boys haven’t enjoyed the same amount of musical relevance for many years now, fans can at least expect a fun nostalgia trip next year. And with the return of Brian Wilson, God only knows whether the band can produce groundbreaking and beautiful music once again.