New Mike Love interview

[juggler]

http://clatl.com/atlanta/in-the-beach-boys-mike-love-a-hero-or-villain/Content?oid=3930863

The Beach Boys were working on SMiLE around then, which has become the Holy Grail of lost rock 'n' roll albums. What did you think about Brian and Van Dyke Parks' '04 version?

I'm not qualified to comment too much. Here's the deal: When you have Brian at his strongest and Carl, Alan, myself and Bruce singing our asses off in the '60s, doing Pet Sounds, doing "Good Vibrations" and working on SMiLE, you can't top it. People can copy that, but you'd be hard-pressed to come up with that group's level of chemistry and brilliance at that time. When you hear Brian Wilson sing "Wonderful" on the original SMiLE tapes it's unbelievable. Those tapes will be released November 1.

Have you been involved with the SMiLE reissue?

No, other than to comment on it. I was involved with recording the songs originally, but other people are putting the album together as well as a box set with lots of outtakes and different versions of songs. Do you have a favorite Beach Boys record?

[stack-o-tracks]

Nice interview. I havent really liked Mike much as a person but I see where he's coming from about the drug stuff. And I think he shouod change his name to Narc. 

[smile-holland]

You did write the song "Transcendental Meditation" on Friends.
I wrote a song more recently called "Cool Head, Warm Water," which was something the Maharishi [Mahesh Yogi] said to me once: "You need to have a cool head in warm water." So I made it into a little pop song. I've been meditating since I learned from him in Paris in 1967.

 

[Mikie]

Of course Mike couldn't resist one more time talking about the song credits when asked about his relationship with Brian. It's old news but Mike just has to let readers know which songs he wrote. He says he wrote every word to "California Girls" and most of the words to "Help Me Rhonda" and "I Get Around," but Mike makes note of the songs Brian got sole credit for previous to the court date. I'd just like to know if he really did write most of the words to those songs.

And he also wrote the "I'm picking up good vibrations" line as he has told us many times, but what else did he contribute to the song? Along with Wouldn't It Be Nice (which he says he had a part in and has been disqualified by Asher), what else specifically did he write on Good Vibrations??

Same ol' interview where he exercises his bragging rights and the ego kicks in again.


Interviewer: "Have you been involved with the SMiLE reissue?"
Mike: [Side-stepping the question after a brief promotion] "Do you have a favorite  Beach Boys record?"

We need an interviewer who has the gonads to press Mike more about Smile and other stuff. Tired of hearing about the drug history. It wasn't just about the drugs, was it Mike? It was about jealousy and your ego that overcame you because you weren't the primary lyricist.

[CarlTheVoice]

Carl's drug taking is mentioned again here, as he was my fave BB I'd like to know to what extent it affected his performances etc and whether he was a druggie from early on as Brian seems to have been. It's easy to think Carl was the 'clean and sensible' one of the group.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

You're still hitting those high harmonies after all these years?

WTF kind of a question was that?! Wow...just wow. Talk about not knowing whose voice was whose...

[ghost]

Carl's drug taking is mentioned again here, as he was my fave BB I'd like to know to what extent it affected his performances etc and whether he was a druggie from early on as Brian seems to have been. It's easy to think Carl was the 'clean and sensible' one of the group.

Carl was clearly smoking pot, taking LSD, hash, nitrous etc by 1967.

[18thofMay]

Brian singing Wonderful?

[ghost]

That's my forte, having the lyrics and concepts resonate with the music, whether it be the rhythm, the melody or what have you.

I demand that Mike writes lyrics for all the Smile songs right now.

[ghost]

Brian singing Wonderful?

What about it? You don't like his voice on it?

[CarlTheVoice]

Carl's drug taking is mentioned again here, as he was my fave BB I'd like to know to what extent it affected his performances etc and whether he was a druggie from early on as Brian seems to have been. It's easy to think Carl was the 'clean and sensible' one of the group.

Carl was clearly smoking pot, taking LSD, hash, nitrous etc by 1967.

Wow, didn't realise it was all that by 67! It does surprise me.

[ghost]

nice to see mike mention busy doin nothing

[ghost]

Carl's drug taking is mentioned again here, as he was my fave BB I'd like to know to what extent it affected his performances etc and whether he was a druggie from early on as Brian seems to have been. It's easy to think Carl was the 'clean and sensible' one of the group.

Carl was clearly smoking pot, taking LSD, hash, nitrous etc by 1967.

Wow, didn't realise it was all that by 67! It does surprise me.

I don't know for sure, I'm just throwing out a guess that's probably quite accurate. Come on, it's 1967. Brian first used acid two years previous! You don't think Carl got on that boat with his elder brother? My guess - he took LSD a handful of times or more, smoked grass as much as anyone, hash... did lots of reddi whip nitrous with Brian....

[shelter]

Isn't there someone close to Mike who can tell him to finally give the whole "I came up with the "I'm picking up good vibrations" hook and I wrote 'Kokomo' without Brian's help" thing a rest? I think I've read about two dozen interviews by now where he mentions that and it gets really annoying. If Mike would ever wonder why people see him as the bad guy, that might be the reason. The Wilsons never bragged about their personal contributions like that... And the worst thing is that Mike doesn't even need to toot his own horn like that. He was an essential part of one of the most successful bands in the history of pop music, he sang on dozens of classic pop songs, he's been touring the world for half a century - that's impressive enough. He doesn't need to keep claiming all the little hooks and the album titles that he came up with.

[SMiLE Brian]

I just think he will never let go of his underdog mentality and feels like he is trapped in Brian's shadow. He should talk about some of his less known accomplishments.

[ghost]

Isn't there someone close to Mike who can tell him to finally give the whole "I came up with the "I'm picking up good vibrations" hook and I wrote 'Kokomo' without Brian's help" thing a rest? I think I've read about two dozen interviews by now where he mentions that and it gets really annoying. If Mike would ever wonder why people see him as the bad guy, that might be the reason. The Wilsons never bragged about their personal contributions like that... And the worst thing is that Mike doesn't even need to toot his own horn like that. He was an essential part of one of the most successful bands in the history of pop music, he sang on dozens of classic pop songs, he's been touring the world for half a century - that's impressive enough. He doesn't need to keep claiming all the little hooks and the album titles that he came up with.

Shelter, Mike Love has had deathly low self-esteem ever since going bald in the mid-60s. Cousin Brian rubbed this in by having Mike sing on She's Goin Bald. Not only that but cousin Brian determined to show Mike up till his dying day - which is why Mr Wilson curiously has an entire head of hair intact while his cousin balded 40 years prior. Let Mike enjoy feeling significant and involved, it's good for his sense of well-being.

Seriously though - put yourself in Mike's shoes. The whole world keeps talking about Brian this and Brian that. Well guess what? The last number one hit Brian wrote was in 1966! Mike participated in a #1 in 1988! Why not give Mike some Love too? I'm picking up good vibrations is a good part! And Mike's story about Back In The USSR is as endearing as any story [and every story becomes trite when heard too often]. He's speaking to different interviewers who have not been reading every single interview from him ever to know his usual answers. To them and most readers, it's not old news, it's new insights.

Now, time to listen to Don't f*** With The Water.

Don't you f*** with the water
Don't you think it's sad?
What's happened to the water
Our water's goin bad

[Heysaboda]

Brian singing Wonderful?

What about it? You don't like his voice on it?

hey don't eff with the formula, man........

 

[Amy B.]

I try to give Mike a chance. I really do. But he just irritates me. Seems like every interview includes the following:
-Mike came up with "I'm picking up good vibrations," which is a crucial part of the song.
-And Mike also wrote [insert at least three more titles here]
-Mike co-wrote Kokomo [usually he'll mention it was #1] without Brian
-Mike hates drugs because look what they did to the Wilsons...Intentionally or not, this expression of love ends up sounding passive aggressive... "Dennis was all messed up on drugs" [no mention of Dennis' accomplishments]

In fact, it all comes off as very passive aggressive. He's trying to defend himself, but he never comes off in a very good light. I just can't imagine he'd be easy to hang around with for very long.

[ghost]

I really disagree. When Mike speaks against the drugs it's not putting himself above it, it's his very real concern for these people. It's his LOVE. Mike LOVE, remember? Not Mike Passive-Aggressive.

To Mike, it probably seemed like the Wilson bros WERE going off the deep end in 1966-1967 and perhaps never fully returned after it. Think about it - Dennis got involved with CHARLES MANSON, Carl got into heavy drugs, Brian... DUH - you know?

Mike probably took acid once or twice and smoked a fair share of weed but I doubt he has much experience with other drugs. Which means he has no idea what the lifestyle is like from the user's perspective just the observers. So his insights are valid - FOR HIM - hence, for me, observing his observations.

[MBE]

Good interview, very consistent with his views.

[Ron]

Well, lesse here.  First the guy starts off by saying "Talking with Mike Love is like having a conversation with the Devil". 


O.K.  I'm surprised, even at 70, that Mike didn't kick his ass.  Then, apparently, his first question to Mike is

"So you're still hitting those high harmonies after all these years"

This dumbass has no clue about anything involving the band, even though he's about to ask Mike everything negative he can find about him on the internet.  How Mike even puts up with morons like this is beyond me. 

As Mike usually does, he's completly complimentary to Brian in the entire interview.  He treats the interviewer with nothing but respect even though the guy was about to go write an article comparing him to Satan.  I mean what the f***. 

Mike's point about reality being a composite of different people's views, usually gets lost.  I like that. 

Next, the guy completely butchers Mike's song title.  It's Cool Head, Warm Heart, dumbass.  So he managed to insult Mike Love and Mahesh Yogi in the same sentence.

This guy doesn't deserve to interview the great Mike Love. 

[ghost]

Well, lesse here.  First the guy starts off by saying "Talking with Mike Love is like having a conversation with the Devil". 


O.K.  I'm surprised, even at 70, that Mike didn't kick his ass.  Then, apparently, his first question to Mike is

"So you're still hitting those high harmonies after all these years"

This dumbass has no clue about anything involving the band, even though he's about to ask Mike everything negative he can find about him on the internet.  How Mike even puts up with morons like this is beyond me. 

As Mike usually does, he's completly complimentary to Brian in the entire interview.  He treats the interviewer with nothing but respect even though the guy was about to go write an article comparing him to Satan.  I mean what the f*ck. 

Mike's point about reality being a composite of different people's views, usually gets lost.  I like that. 

Next, the guy completely butchers Mike's song title.  It's Cool Head, Warm Heart, dumbass.  So he managed to insult Mike Love and Mahesh Yogi in the same sentence.

This guy doesn't deserve to interview the great Mike Love. 

Right on man. Mike Love was just TMing the entire time, you know? He was like, I don't give a f*** that this guy is a moron. That's his trip. Aum pretty baby won't you rock with me Henry.

[Ron]

Of course Mike couldn't resist one more time talking about the song credits when asked about his relationship with Brian. It's old news but Mike just has to let readers know which songs he wrote. He says he wrote every word to "California Girls" and most of the words to "Help Me Rhonda" and "I Get Around," but Mike makes note of the songs Brian got sole credit for previous to the court date. I'd just like to know if he really did write most of the words to those songs.

And he also wrote the "I'm picking up good vibrations" line as he has told us many times, but what else did he contribute to the song? Along with Wouldn't It Be Nice (which he says he had a part in and has been disqualified by Asher), what else specifically did he write on Good Vibrations??

Same ol' interview where he exercises his bragging rights and the ego kicks in again.

You left out part of the interview in your manic attempt to paint Mike as an asshole.  He mentioned the song writing credits because he mentioned the lawsuit, because he mentioned that when He and Brian have problems it's really between he and Brian's handlers, which he mentioned because the guy said he's painted as a Villian and how's his relationship with Brian?

What else would you have him say?  The guy tells him he's an asshole to start off the interview; never met him, just tells him he's read over and over again what a dick he is.  Then asks him how is his relationship with Brian?  So Mike tells him that he and Brian usually don't have problems, for instance.. blah blah blah.

When the asked about Good Vibrations Mike specifically mentioned that Brian's a musical genius and is the genius behind all the harmonies and the sound of the song.  What more do you want from him?  This is an interview to promote a concert, SANS Brian Wilson!  lol

[Ron]

Isn't there someone close to Mike who can tell him to finally give the whole "I came up with the "I'm picking up good vibrations" hook and I wrote 'Kokomo' without Brian's help" thing a rest? I think I've read about two dozen interviews by now where he mentions that and it gets really annoying. If Mike would ever wonder why people see him as the bad guy, that might be the reason. The Wilsons never bragged about their personal contributions like that... And the worst thing is that Mike doesn't even need to toot his own horn like that. He was an essential part of one of the most successful bands in the history of pop music, he sang on dozens of classic pop songs, he's been touring the world for half a century - that's impressive enough. He doesn't need to keep claiming all the little hooks and the album titles that he came up with.

Did you mention the parts where he gave more praise to Brian than himself?  Calling Brian a musical genius?  Talking about Brian's harmonies?  Re-Read it without the jade this time.

[Ron]

I try to give Mike a chance. I really do. But he just irritates me. Seems like every interview includes the following:
-Mike came up with "I'm picking up good vibrations," which is a crucial part of the song.
-And Mike also wrote [insert at least three more titles here]
-Mike co-wrote Kokomo [usually he'll mention it was #1] without Brian
-Mike hates drugs because look what they did to the Wilsons...Intentionally or not, this expression of love ends up sounding passive aggressive... "Dennis was all messed up on drugs" [no mention of Dennis' accomplishments]

In fact, it all comes off as very passive aggressive. He's trying to defend himself, but he never comes off in a very good light. I just can't imagine he'd be easy to hang around with for very long.

Amy maybe you missed the part where the guy asked him why he's painted as the ass, and he explained because in the 60's he wasn't taking drugs like the boys were, and he hated seeing it ruin their lives.  Sounds perfectly logical to me.

He's a touring band.  It's an interview about a concert.  You dont' think maybe he'd mention the things he did, so people will come see the show?  He went out of his way, over and over again, to talk about how great Brian is.