Beach Boys Reunion: how would you plan it?

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Something classy, with Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce and David on a brief tour of big name places like Madison Square Garden, with a few of the shows featuring Ricky and Blondie?

Have the tour devoted to Carl and Dennis and have it feature songs they wrote and sang upon?

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Frankly, I wouldn't.  Can only do more damage. Nothing good can come of it.

[Mitchell]

What if they all forgive and forget and go out on a high note? Say... that from Surf's Up, a-ho ho!

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

I don't feel too strong about David Marks. I understand that he was an original, but he wasn't there for hardly any of the brilliance which keeps me listening.

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

But for a reunion tour i'd definatly want it to be a proceeds to charity tour. Those guys could do with losing some money anyway, they have enough.

Secondly, it should be a thorough representation of every aspect of their career.

[Jonas]

I'd love to see a Friends-Holland era reunion. With all the guys, sans David Marks (H&V has a great point).

Ill give you guys a setlist too if you want

[Surfer Joe]

I'd love to see them all reconciled personally, but artistically and professionally, I just don't see the point.  Maybe just record a new version of "Friends", pose for a happy picture, and send it out with the ESQ.

[Rocker]

I don't like the idea of a full re-union, 'cause I believe the Beach Boys are dead since Carl went on.
But I would like to see all members (Brian, Al, Mike, Bruce, David, Ricky, Blondie) together and sing just a few "chords, like we used to". So, I think it would be a nice idea to get them together and just harmonize a little. No big concerts or that stuff.  Probably it would be enough to have Brian, Al, Mike and Bruce do that. Three original members and a long-time member/associate.... 

[Aegir]

Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, Blondie, and Ricky makes for a full band with all the instruments covered; if not Blondie and/or Ricky, then David Marks and Mike Kowalski can replace them.

No one is writing new music, anyway, though; even Brian just reaches into his back-catalogue for his solo albums.

Come to think of it, Brian should just make his backing band into Beach Boys and then everything'll be dandy.

[Sheriff John Stone]

The Beach Boys 2006

Brian Wilson      - keyboards, vocals
Mike Love          - lead vocals
Al Jardine           - rythym guitar, vocals
Bruce Johnston  - keyboards, vocals
David Marks       - lead guitar, vocals

That's the easy part - those 5 guys. What I would then like to see is Melinda Wilson (representing the Brian faction) and Mike Love (representing The Beach Boys band over the last 20+ years) sit down and work out some kind of backing band. That could get very interesting! Actually, I think that is ultimately what will doom any kind of tour - determining who you bring along and who you don't. The possibilities are endless: Jeff & Darian, Blondie & Rikki, Matt Jardine, Ed Carter, Michael Meros, Adrian Baker, Mike Kowalski, et al...

[Jonas]

Let me take it to the next step...

Brian Wilson - Keyboard, vocals
Mike Love     - Lead Vocals, the monkey dance
Al Jardine      - Guitar, vocals
Bruce Johnston - keyboards, bass, vocals
Blondie Chaplin - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Ricky Faatar      - Drums

Wondermints as the backing band.

Like I said, sans David Marks...he was around for a few years, Im sure hes a good guy...but its not necessary.

Here's the setlist for my show:

Friends 2006

Meant For You (Friends)
Wouldn't It Be Nice (Pet Sounds)
This Whole World (Sunflower)
-Quick Dedication to Carl-
Long Promised Road (Surf's Up)
Be Here In the Morning (Friends)
Here She Comes (Carl & The Passions: So Tough)
Sail On Sailor (Holland)
Funky Pretty (Holland)
Honkin Down the Highway (Love You)
Heroes & Villians (Smiley Smile)

-Intermission-

Never Learn Not to Love (20/20)
-Quick Dedication to Dennis-
Forever (Sunflower)
Hold On Dear Brother (Carl & The Passions: So Tough)
Deirdre (Sunflower)
Vegetables (Smiley Smile version / Acapella)
All This is That (Carl & The Passions: So Tough)
God Only Knows (Pet Sounds)
Friends (Friends)

-Encore-
Help me, Rhonda!
California Girls
Surf's Up (Surf's Up)
Celebrate The News
You're Welcome (SMiLE)

I know, it'll never happen. But a boy can dream. 

[Rocker]

The Beach Boys 2006

Brian Wilson      - keyboards, vocals
Mike Love          - lead vocals
Al Jardine           - rythym guitar, vocals
Bruce Johnston  - keyboards, vocals
David Marks       - lead guitar, vocals

That's another point I wouldn't like for a reunion. I don't wanna hear Mike singing the lead. His voice is too bad. Brian's is okay, but I'd love to hear Al as the lead singer

[Jonas]

Definitely, All of Carl parts would goto either Al or Blondie for my 2006 Friends tour. Mike would only have the lead in Meant For You and the monkey dance. Anyway, with the right amount of auto tune, I'm sure theres still hope for Mike.

[mike thornton]

there's a better than good chance this will happen and I do think it would be the brian, mike, alan, bruce, and david lineup. if there is a backing band, my guess would be mike and bruce's touring group. i'd be very surprised if ricky and blondie would even be invited. i'm sure all the fb's (ie; minus chuck and the principals) on the board could figure out the whys of this vast scenario rather quickly. 

it would be a hits show with brian doing love and mercy, if any of his solo material at all. any obscurities would be limited to songs like hushabye or others from the early 90's shows.

[Sheriff John Stone]

there's a better than good chance this will happen

Cya, I suppose I'm with Amosario as far as "dreaming" about a reunion. Not that I disagree with you, but why do you think there's a better than good chance this will happen? I will say if there's enough $$$$$ thrown their way, the odds get much better!

Also, I suppose if there are enough of those Live 8's or Katrina-like concerts down the road (God forbid), I could see The Beach Boys reforming for a one-off appearance a la Pink Floyd last year. If that did happen, then the fun (meaning speculation - album, tour?) would really begin... 

[Mark H.]

For the love of God....why?  At the most, Mike and Al make an appearance with Brian and his band.  Brian's band sounds more like the Beach Boys than the Beach Boys did.....vocals excluded.

[Ron]

I would like to see the guys get together and record a couple of new songs.  I think rerecording old material would be hokey because they already did it right the first time.  They wouldn't even have to be in the same room.  Have Brian write some music.  Have Mike write some lyrics.  Have all of the remaining Beach Boys contribute vocals, do a couple songs like that, original, brand new productions.  There is absolutely no excuse for why these legendary acts like this can't still write original stuff, if they could do it then, they can do it now.  The constant retreading of old material just gets so old.  I'm not a big rolling stones fan but at least they're still out recording new material. 

A Beach Boys live performance would suck and I don't really see anyway you could pull it off admirably.  I guess I could see some kind of jam somewhere where Paul Schaffer has a band together or something and the remaining bb's stumble on stage to do their best through a version of "Surfer Girl" or something, but live I don't see anyway they could do anything worthwhile.  Too many arguments about who's band plays, what they sing, blah blah blah.  I guess if they did something Acapella, they could pull it off and that might be kind of touching.  There's really no venue though for a 1 off thing like that, and a full concert would be entirely out of the question, in my opinion.  Mike and Brian's style of performing is just way to vastly different at this point. 

[shelter]

Mike, Al and Bruce should just join Brian's band for a couple of shows. That would be the best (and safest) way to do a reunion.

[Surfer Joe]

Instead of music, they should just take the next Brian and Mike civil trial on the road.  Sell tickets as "Cassius Love vs. Sonny Wilson 2006" and hold court in a different city every day, at a local theatre or venue. Of course, they'd have to seat a jury that's willing to tour, and they might have to confine it all to Ninth Circuit states to keep the Judge's rulings in force.

[Sir Rob]

I'd just go along to this site:

http://www.grabow.biz/Contemporary/BrianWilson.htm

and triple book them for my own birthday party.  They're all in there: Brian, Al, Mike and Bruce.  I could even have Bob Dylan along as a special guest star!

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Ron, since the BB producer of the 80s and 90s, Terry Melcher, is no longer with us, and since the Boys haven't been open to letting Brian produce a BB song for a while, who do you think should produce those songs?

[The Shift]

Blimey you chaps, this is one of those "shall I take my medicine and get better, or not swallow it cos it tastes bloody awful!" questions.

Anyway, assuming it happens, Ricky and Blondie have got to be there to represent Carl's good taste, at least.

Bruce can also still handle a lead. Mike Love however has always grated except when he's been hitting the bass notes. David Marks, well he could guest on a few tracks or be part of the backing band?

But wouldn't Foskett's nose be put out of joint by all those other frontmen?

I suspect we're all dreaming for an ideal that never even was, let alone could ever be.

Studiowise they'd have to do something incredibly bloomin' good - better than Radiohead, U2, Macca, Arctic Monkeys or whatever -  as there's a lot of credibility needs to be rewon in the eyes of the public before a Pink Floyd-style reunion generates more than laughter. Remember, to most folk they're still an Endless Summer Beach Band whose credibility went out the window after Good Vibes. We are the faithful but there ain't THAT many of us. The Floyd were always a serious prospect.

[Ron]

Ron, since the BB producer of the 80s and 90s, Terry Melcher, is no longer with us, and since the Boys haven't been open to letting Brian produce a BB song for a while, who do you think should produce those songs?

Brian of course.  The Beach Boys haven't been open to letting him produce a song, but they also haven't been open to reuniting, or to appearing on the same stage, or in the same studio, or to even talking on the phone, or to not suing each other, lol.  So it'd take a lot of compromise if it would ever happen. 

[Rocker]

One of the biggest problems will be the band. I don't believe that Mike would tour with Brian's band. He will say that his band are the beach boys (at leat officially) and that they should do it. And I really hope that Brian will never have to tour with that band.
They can use Brian's band and let some from Al's band be there, but not Mike's.

But I still don't wish for a reunion. If it happens, okay, but it's not a must. It would be nice, but I know that it would turn out to be a great Beach-party and all the great things the Beach Boys have worked for will be forgotten, if they are remembered anyway.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Friends 2006

Meant For You (Friends)
Wouldn't It Be Nice (Pet Sounds)
This Whole World (Sunflower)
-Quick Dedication to Carl-
Long Promised Road (Surf's Up)
Be Here In the Morning (Friends)
Here She Comes (Carl & The Passions: So Tough)
Sail On Sailor (Holland)
Funky Pretty (Holland)
Honkin Down the Highway (Love You)
Heroes & Villians (Smiley Smile)

-Intermission-

Never Learn Not to Love (20/20)
-Quick Dedication to Dennis-
Forever (Sunflower)
Hold On Dear Brother (Carl & The Passions: So Tough)
Deirdre (Sunflower)
Vegetables (Smiley Smile version / Acapella)
All This is That (Carl & The Passions: So Tough)
God Only Knows (Pet Sounds)
Friends (Friends)

-Encore-
Help me, Rhonda!
California Girls
Surf's Up (Surf's Up)
Celebrate The News
You're Welcome (SMiLE)

I know, it'll never happen. But a boy can dream. 

a reunited beach boys singing a charlie manson song in 2006