Al, Mike and Brian met in court yesterday, apparently hoping to avoid future litigation.

Lawyers for Beach Boys cofounder Mike Love and former bandmate Al Jardine began mediation talks Tuesday hoping to put their lingering legal dispute over use of the band's name behind them.

Joining Jardine and Love in the courtroom for part of the session: band mastermind Brian Wilson, who even joined Jardine at one point for an impromptu a cappella rendition of "Help Me, Rhonda."

The battling Boys, with the aid of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alexander Williams, sat down to avoid a trial and attempt to hash out a settlement to Love's claim that Jardine owes him about $2 million in attorney's fees racked up from previous litigation.

But the negotiations in chambers got off to a bumpy start when Love failed to appear on time, setting off some bad vibrations from the judge.

"What does that mean when someone doesn't show up? That means they think they are more important than everyone else," Williams said angrily.

Love did eventually show and indicated that he was optimistic the parties could work out a compromise.