Jim Morrison and the Beach Boys

[jabba2]

The book Wild Child by Linda Ashcroft has the excerpt in it.  I believe this was shortly after Light
My Fire made The Doors big.


"I had this thought, you were saying how you had this piece of music - Gershwin rock and roll, I just heard Pet Sounds at a friends house, now, I know your not into all that lush sound, but if you listen to the backbone it sounds to me like Wilson was breaking the rules to great effect. Maybe you dont need someone classicaly trained to get the music out of your head, so much as another genius rule breaker. When Jim didnt say anything.. i said "why dont you call Brian Wilson up?..Jim laughed and snorted and said "Honey, theres noway Brian Wilson will take my call. We arent on the same level of the music business"

Later Morrison said "The guy has a wall of people around him..I cant reach him..the great pang in my heart is you know I bet he would understand what im trying to do. We might have made music history"


Who knows if the chick Jim was talking to was being truthful in the book or not. Theres no way to really know for sure.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I was thinking of the interview - I don't recall where it was - where Hendrix commented on Heroes And Villains with this statement: "Don't much care for the Beach Boys. They remind me of a psychedelic barbershop quartet."

That was taken from a weekly feature  in Melody Maker - I think, UK music press for sure - where a star was played the weeks releases blind and asked for their comments.

[chris.metcalfe]

That was taken from a weekly feature  in Melody Maker - I think, UK music press for sure - where a star was played the weeks releases blind and asked for their comments.

NME I think... and requoted by Nick Kent in the famous Smile article (which got you started!)

I think we just have to accept that Hendrix in 67 was in a very different place to the BBs (different planet, in fact) - and his career had just begun... also there was a fair amount of self-defensiveness relating to his relative non-acceptance in the USA compared to his huge early success in Britain.

[rab2591]

The sound of Wild Honey is all over The Doors.

You do know that The Doors' first album was recorded over a year before Wild Honey?

You be right. Thanks for the correction. For some reason, even though I know the dates the albums were released, in No One Here Gets Out Alive I could've sworn it said that The Doors LP came with a band bio and Jim wrote that he really like the album Wild Honey - thus my confusion.

Well then, visa versa - there's a great deal of Doors sound on Wild Honey.

[smokeythebear]

I'm sticking my chin out a bit calling myself a little of a previous doors expert. As far as i recall he liked the beach boys but i do not think he ever had a serious interest to work with them.  Jim was a crooner and dug Elvis and blues bands. Either way a mutual songwriting quest would most likely ended in a terrible state, Jim was not a nice person to hang around with drunk and he certainly didn't like anyone to tell him what to do.

[The Heartical Don]

How would that collaboration have been titled?

The Beach Doors?

The Door Boys?

At any rate: indeed, persons who aren't interested in psychedelic barbershop have no taste. 

[guitarfool2002]

I thought the "barbershop" quote might have been from a listening room type of interview, so thanks for the clarification! That one quote was his reaction to the Heroes single: it is a definitive statement, but Heroes wasn't exactly a well-received single across the board at the time and his reaction may mirror that of a lot of other folks who didn't catch on to the new sounds on that record. Or maybe he simply didn't care for the Beach Boys! Either way, until we can find more quotes to either support or disprove the notion that Hendrix wasn't a fan, that quote will stand as what it is.

Remember Hendrix also slammed the Monkees in the press, saying something like "Oh God, I hate them!" in an interview. Then he connected with Micky Dolenz at Monterey who invited Jimi to tour with them...that ended in a PR mess but Hendrix got exposure from that tour, may have gotten a radio single and publicity from that tour, and was hanging with the likes of Micky, Peter Tork, and Peter's friend Stephen Stills whom Hendrix had a close friendship with...after saying he hated the band.

[The Heartical Don]

I thought the "barbershop" quote might have been from a listening room type of interview, so thanks for the clarification! That one quote was his reaction to the Heroes single: it is a definitive statement, but Heroes wasn't exactly a well-received single across the board at the time and his reaction may mirror that of a lot of other folks who didn't catch on to the new sounds on that record. Or maybe he simply didn't care for the Beach Boys! Either way, until we can find more quotes to either support or disprove the notion that Hendrix wasn't a fan, that quote will stand as what it is.

Remember Hendrix also slammed the Monkees in the press, saying something like "Oh God, I hate them!" in an interview. Then he connected with Micky Dolenz at Monterey who invited Jimi to tour with them...that ended in a PR mess but Hendrix got exposure from that tour, may have gotten a radio single and publicity from that tour, and was hanging with the likes of Micky, Peter Tork, and Peter's friend Stephen Stills whom Hendrix had a close friendship with...after saying he hated the band.

I guess that he just hated records with no guitar solos in them (see: Occam's Razor)

[Shady]

When Jim didnt say anything.. i said "why dont you call Brian Wilson up?..Jim laughed and snorted and said "Honey, theres noway Brian Wilson will take my call. We arent on the same level of the music business"

Later Morrison said "The guy has a wall of people around him..I cant reach him..the great pang in my heart is you know I bet he would understand what im trying to do. We might have made music history"


Who knows if the chick Jim was talking to was being truthful in the book or not. Theres no way to really know for sure.

I wonder if Brian would have taken his call

[The Heartical Don]

When Jim didnt say anything.. i said "why dont you call Brian Wilson up?..Jim laughed and snorted and said "Honey, theres noway Brian Wilson will take my call. We arent on the same level of the music business"

Later Morrison said "The guy has a wall of people around him..I cant reach him..the great pang in my heart is you know I bet he would understand what im trying to do. We might have made music history"


Who knows if the chick Jim was talking to was being truthful in the book or not. Theres no way to really know for sure.

I wonder if Brian would have taken his call

I feel that he wouldn't. IMHO Morrison had a dark side to his personality, not comparable to Brian's personal problems. I always have believed that Brian sought for the simple things in life, that make one happy. On a number of fronts he did not succeed. But he has nothing of that 'dark prince' personality that Morrison had, that pompous and also pathetic side ("I'm a real poet, me"). Morrison and Wilson wouldn't have matched, but they wouldn't have supplemented each other either.

[jabba2]

When Jim didnt say anything.. i said "why dont you call Brian Wilson up?..Jim laughed and snorted and said "Honey, theres noway Brian Wilson will take my call. We arent on the same level of the music business"

Later Morrison said "The guy has a wall of people around him..I cant reach him..the great pang in my heart is you know I bet he would understand what im trying to do. We might have made music history"
He didnt seem to have a problem recording Manson. I know Dennis was mostly involved in that but Brian was reportedly in the studio working with Manson several times.

Who knows if the chick Jim was talking to was being truthful in the book or not. Theres no way to really know for sure.

I wonder if Brian would have taken his call

I feel that he wouldn't. IMHO Morrison had a dark side to his personality, not comparable to Brian's personal problems. I always have believed that Brian sought for the simple things in life, that make one happy. On a number of fronts he did not succeed. But he has nothing of that 'dark prince' personality that Morrison had, that pompous and also pathetic side ("I'm a real poet, me"). Morrison and Wilson wouldn't have matched, but they wouldn't have supplemented each other either.

[Shady]

When Jim didnt say anything.. i said "why dont you call Brian Wilson up?..Jim laughed and snorted and said "Honey, theres noway Brian Wilson will take my call. We arent on the same level of the music business"

Later Morrison said "The guy has a wall of people around him..I cant reach him..the great pang in my heart is you know I bet he would understand what im trying to do. We might have made music history"


Who knows if the chick Jim was talking to was being truthful in the book or not. Theres no way to really know for sure.

I wonder if Brian would have taken his call

I feel that he wouldn't. IMHO Morrison had a dark side to his personality, not comparable to Brian's personal problems. I always have believed that Brian sought for the simple things in life, that make one happy. On a number of fronts he did not succeed. But he has nothing of that 'dark prince' personality that Morrison had, that pompous and also pathetic side ("I'm a real poet, me"). Morrison and Wilson wouldn't have matched, but they wouldn't have supplemented each other either.

Well said, Jim would have scared Brian 

[bgas]

When Jim didnt say anything.. i said "why dont you call Brian Wilson up?..Jim laughed and snorted and said "Honey, theres noway Brian Wilson will take my call. We arent on the same level of the music business"

Later Morrison said "The guy has a wall of people around him..I cant reach him..the great pang in my heart is you know I bet he would understand what im trying to do. We might have made music history"


Who knows if the chick Jim was talking to was being truthful in the book or not. Theres no way to really know for sure.

I wonder if Brian would have taken his call

I feel that he wouldn't. IMHO Morrison had a dark side to his personality, not comparable to Brian's personal problems. I always have believed that Brian sought for the simple things in life, that make one happy. On a number of fronts he did not succeed. But he has nothing of that 'dark prince' personality that Morrison had, that pompous and also pathetic side ("I'm a real poet, me"). Morrison and Wilson wouldn't have matched, but they wouldn't have supplemented each other either.

Well said, Jim would have scared Brian 

Given all that, then, how do you equate Brian recording Manson in his home studios?
Morrison would seem, at least to me, a little brighter.

[jabba2]

Agree about Manson. I tried to bring that up but it got lost in the above quote. Manson and family were a handful at the Wilson household, but Brian did record with Manson several times. Supposedly even alone, which is frightening itself. Not sure if any of that music has ever surfaced. 

[Jason]

Agree about Manson. I tried to bring that up but it got lost in the above quote. Manson and family were a handful at the Wilson household, but Brian did record with Manson several times. Supposedly even alone, which is frightening itself. Not sure if any of that music has ever surfaced. 

The saying "a cold day in hell" comes to mind.

[bgas]

Agree about Manson. I tried to bring that up but it got lost in the above quote. Manson and family were a handful at the Wilson household, but Brian did record with Manson several times. Supposedly even alone, which is frightening itself. Not sure if any of that music has ever surfaced. 

The saying "a cold day in hell" comes to mind.

This saying seems to be getting used frequently, lately. Does that mean it's warming up?

[The Heartical Don]

Agree about Manson. I tried to bring that up but it got lost in the above quote. Manson and family were a handful at the Wilson household, but Brian did record with Manson several times. Supposedly even alone, which is frightening itself. Not sure if any of that music has ever surfaced. 

The saying "a cold day in hell" comes to mind.

This saying seems to be getting used frequently, lately. Does that mean it's warming up?

Two words: Chinese Democracy.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Agree about Manson. I tried to bring that up but it got lost in the above quote. Manson and family were a handful at the Wilson household, but Brian did record with Manson several times. Supposedly even alone, which is frightening itself. Not sure if any of that music has ever surfaced. 

Not alone... and none of that music has ever surfaced, or ever will if certain people have their way. Charlie recorded some tracks at the home studio - that's a well-known/documented fact.

[bgas]

Agree about Manson. I tried to bring that up but it got lost in the above quote. Manson and family were a handful at the Wilson household, but Brian did record with Manson several times. Supposedly even alone, which is frightening itself. Not sure if any of that music has ever surfaced. 

Not alone... and none of that music has ever surfaced, or ever will if certain people have their way. Charlie recorded some tracks at the home studio - that's a well-known/documented fact.

Yeah, well, I'm not trying to steer this thread down the Manson path; Just sayin Morrison would seem to be bubbling effervescent person compared to Manson. 

[18thofMay]

Morrison was very dark.. the yin to the beach boys yang, he once said he killed a man in the desert. He made a few outrageous claims!

[Mike's Beard]

Both Morrison and Manson loved to hear the sound of their own voices and were obsessed with Indians and the desert. They probably would have hit it right off.

[Smilin Ed H]

"Not alone"

With Carl, right?

[Jason]

Both Morrison and Manson loved to hear the sound of their own voices and were obsessed with Indians and the desert. They probably would have hit it right off.

The difference between Morrison and Manson is that Morrison's personality is MUCH more interesting than Manson's, which is saying a lot because Manson's a total enigma, like Robert Johnson. Jim was very good at romanticizing himself and his personality, and to an extent that shows in the Doors' music and especially in their concert appearances. And I'd say that the three people still alive today who knew him best would agree that Jim was a good man.

[Mike's Beard]

True, but then many who have known Charlie would vouch that he is a good man also.

[Dave in KC]

Really good thread.