New Mike Love interview

[Ron]

The interviewer is such a brilliant piece of work he thinks Mike is much like the devil and sang all the high parts.  No wonder Mike asked him if he had a favorite Beach Boys song.


I mean can you imagine the nerve?  Here's this young punk writing for creative loafing telling him about things he supposedly did in the 60's, and trying to talk drugs with a guy who was living this sh*t and saw family members die from it.  The whole interview was out of line.  If the guy thinks Mike is the devil, he wouldn't have had a noun to compare me to because he never would have forgot that interview.  

My interview would have started something like


"Look motherf*cker.  I'm not a villian and I didn't sing the high parts.  Brian and I exchange christmas cards.  You buy his christmas cd.  There's a difference.  If you mention somebody I know that's dead, I'm going to whip your ass"

[Mikie]

Plus, Wirestone, you say that Mike went through a "bitterly contested lawsuit" which I guess to you somehow accounted for his negative demeanor in the 1993 interview(?)

1. The outcome of the lawsuit was the year before the 1993 interview. Mike won. Big time. No reason for him to hold onto grudges.
2. It wasn't bitterly contested. Brian pretty much folded like a wet noodle, fell asleep, and didn't contest anything.
3. Ultimately it was Murry that Mike had to blame for the lack of song credits, not Brian.

Somewhere in the '93 interview I read where Mike said that the label on the Good Vibrations single didn't have his name credited. I have an original copy of Good Vibrations (U.S.) which says (Brian Wilson/Mike Love).

[Chocolate Shake Man]

The interviewer is such a brilliant piece of work he thinks Mike is much like the devil and sang all the high parts.  No wonder Mike asked him if he had a favorite Beach Boys song.


I mean can you imagine the nerve?  Here's this young punk writing for creative loafing telling him about things he supposedly did in the 60's, and trying to talk drugs with a guy who was living this sh*t and saw family members die from it.  The whole interview was out of line.  If the guy thinks Mike is the devil, he wouldn't have had a noun to compare me to because he never would have forgot that interview. 

My interview would have started something like


"Look motherf*cker.  I'm not a villian and I didn't sing the high parts.  Brian and I exchange christmas cards.  You buy his christmas cd.  There's a difference.  If you mention somebody I know that's dead, I'm going to whip your ass"

I really am unclear at this point - do you believe that the interviewer read the introduction of his article to Mike Love?

[Mikie]

The interviewer is such a brilliant piece of work he thinks Mike is much like the devil and sang all the high parts.  No wonder Mike asked him if he had a favorite Beach Boys song.

The author of the interview obviously wrote the "Devil" introduction before or (presumably after) the interview. I'm sure Mike never saw or heard that part prior or during the interview. Maybe he'll see it now.  

[Chocolate Shake Man]

And moreover, the interviewer only draws the comparison between Mike Love and the Devil in order to say that Mike Love is "charming" and an "excellent conversationalist" (though if you have read Paradise Lost, you'll note that he does have a tendency to go on). The same paragraph ends with the journalist basically concluding that the negative press against Mike Love has been a consequence of one-sidedness.

But I suppose if you are hyper-defensive, you would want to ENTIRELY MISREAD what the journalist is saying.

[Wirestone]

I have to say, too, that I've never been an ML fan. I find the voice and attitude off-putting, and have for awhile. But I have to say, his interviews over the last few years have been getting steadily more reasonable.

And then to see people get incensed over an interview like this -- which is more or less Mike's personal version of the boilerplate Brian usually mumbles, only with about ten times the coherency -- it's kinda nuts. HE PRAISES SMILE. He toots his own horn, of course, but why wouldn't he? He's promoting his band.

See, this is the thing. We all love BW here. But who would want to spend more than a few minutes interacting with him in a social situation? Doesn't it seem like it would be kind of a chore? On the other hand, I bet going out for dinner with Mike would be really entertaining.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

See, this is the thing. We all love BW here. But who would want to spend more than a few minutes interacting with him in a social situation? Doesn't it seem like it would be kind of a chore? On the other hand, I bet going out for dinner with Mike would be really entertaining.

Nah. Like I said, I'm not sure if I could name anyone from a 60s rock and roll band who has poorer social skills than Mike Love.

[Ron]

The interviewer is such a brilliant piece of work he thinks Mike is much like the devil and sang all the high parts.  No wonder Mike asked him if he had a favorite Beach Boys song.


I mean can you imagine the nerve?  Here's this young punk writing for creative loafing telling him about things he supposedly did in the 60's, and trying to talk drugs with a guy who was living this sh*t and saw family members die from it.  The whole interview was out of line.  If the guy thinks Mike is the devil, he wouldn't have had a noun to compare me to because he never would have forgot that interview. 

My interview would have started something like


"Look motherf*cker.  I'm not a villian and I didn't sing the high parts.  Brian and I exchange christmas cards.  You buy his christmas cd.  There's a difference.  If you mention somebody I know that's dead, I'm going to whip your ass"

I really am unclear at this point - do you believe that the interviewer read the introduction of his article to Mike Love?

I believe the interviewer clearly said "Most of the books and articles written about the Beach Boys portray you as a villain in the group".  then proceeded to ask Mike 100 questions about Brian Wilson (who, if you don't know, doesn't tour with the Beach Boys and won't be at Friday's show that the interview was supposed to be about).  

[Wirestone]

1. The outcome of the lawsuit was the year before the 1993 interview. Mike won. Big time. No reason for him to hold onto grudges.

Well, if Mike is as you portray him, why wouldn't he?

2. It wasn't bitterly contested. Brian pretty much folded like a wet noodle, fell asleep, and didn't contest anything.

It actually went to trial. That's pretty unusual for a case like this. Settlements are generally reached -- and Mike's side offered one that would have saved Brian a lot of time and money. It says a lot about the team surrounding Brian and how they reacted to Mike's request for credit. Do you think that didn't sting Mike? That to get what was rightfully his -- credit on some of the band's biggest songs -- that he had to drag his cousin into court? It's insane.

My view: At the time he saw Brian as weak and easily manipulated. He feels betrayed by his cousin. It's a theme that runs throughout the interview and shades a lot of what he says.

3. Ultimately it was Murry that Mike had to blame for the lack of song credits, not Brian.

So? Mike blamed Brian for not standing up to Murry.

[Mr. Wilson]

That incident with pushing a piano ..Mike into BW i believe occured at CBS convention late 70"s London England.. Cause BW was bored just playin the OLD stuff..I believe..

[MBE]

Even Domenic Priore thought Mike was pretty funny in person.

[Mikie]

See to me if Mike likes Smile doesn't matter. He did a good job singing on the sessions and helped considerably with Good Vibrations. The Asher lyrics were terrible.

I really like 'em. And I like the way Brian sang them. Liked it ever since I first heard them on "The Beach Boys Best Summers Of Our Lives" radio show in 1976. I played that version over and over on a cassette back then.

[Wirestone]

The Asher lyrics were terrible.

Hear, hear. Mike's lyrics for GV are one of his finest moments as a writer.

[Pied Piper]

Not wanting to be pro or con Mike (here) but I thought it was interesting that Brian sez (Pet Sounds DVD) that he told him in 1966 that using an outside lyricist for Pet Sounds was "just this once". Also, it would take a lot less time to read and glean information from some of these threads if there wasn't so much insistence on having the last word once you've already made your point. IMHO.

[Mikie]

It actually went to trial. That's pretty unusual for a case like this. Settlements are generally reached -- and Mike's side offered one that would have saved Brian a lot of time and money. It says a lot about the team surrounding Brian and how they reacted to Mike's request for credit. Do you think that didn't sting Mike? That to get what was rightfully his -- credit on some of the band's biggest songs -- that he had to drag his cousin into court? It's insane.

No. Mike didn't mind. He has always had disdain for Brian's lawyers, management, and thought, "Let's go get 'em". It was a huge payday for Mike (which of course continues to this day) and he jumped all over the chance when Brian's lawyers pursued it in court. Why would that "sting" Mike? And again, I didn't read about any bitterness, at least on the part of Mike or Brian. In fact, Brian seemed to not care at all.

And I'll bet you'll say that Mike was so stung and bitter about the 1992 lawsuit (which he won) that he turned around and sued Brian again in 2004. Yeah, Mike felt real bad about doing that, didn't he? I'm glad he lost that one. It was frivolous. Another case where Mike thought he'd go after Brian's management, eh?

[Wirestone]

I dunno. This all seems slightly nuts to me. Night, all.

[MBE]

See to me if Mike likes Smile doesn't matter. He did a good job singing on the sessions and helped considerably with Good Vibrations. The Asher lyrics were terrible.

I really like 'em. And I like the way Brian sang them. Liked it ever since I first heard them on "The Beach Boys Best Summers Of Our Lives" radio show in 1976. I played that version over and over on a cassette back then.

It's interesting to hear those sections, but I don't think they have the needed relatability. Which is odd as Tony's Pet Sounds lyrics speak to me very much. I really think Brian was petty to use them in 2004. Just a quick note I love Brian's music and certain aspects of the man but to me he is not this perfect being or helpless victim.

[Chris Moise]

A guy from this board e-mailed me today. He has an interview with Mike Love in a couple of days and asked me what I would like to ask Mike. Any ideas from the board members here that I can pass on?  

Ask him what I'm in Great Shape was and if he remembers any of the 1966 CITFOTM verse lyrics. I'm 75% kidding 

[Micha]

Part of what he said: "It would have been a great record but he [Brian] just didn't have the will or the ability to finish it. See, a lot of the Brian bullsh*t rests around that album and it's nothing, it's just fragments."

Aw, you know, spoken language is even more washy than written language. When Mike says "it's nothing" he might as well refer to the "Brian bullsh*t", then skip themes in his mind and refer to the album with "it's in fragments". It is very pointless to get hung up on this phrasing.

[hypehat]

Oh goody, a 5 page thread arguing about Mike Love. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Mike's done some questionable things, said a lot that's, at best, ill-advised and has a character that rubs a lot of folk up the wrong way. But... Brian's done a lot of reprehensible stuff too, as have all the others.

No hereos, no villains, only shades of gray.

[Cam Mott]

Not wanting to be pro or con Mike (here) but I thought it was interesting that Brian sez (Pet Sounds DVD) that he told him in 1966 that using an outside lyricist for Pet Sounds was "just this once". Also, it would take a lot less time to read and glean information from some of these threads if there wasn't so much insistence on having the last word once you've already made your point. IMHO.

What!?! We do not!! Get out [pointing indignantly]!

Mike rules and poops rainbows and pees root beer!!

[Autotune]

That incident with pushing a piano ..Mike into BW i believe occured at CBS convention late 70"s London England.. Cause BW was bored just playin the OLD stuff..I believe..

David Leaf reported that, I believe. I can hear no incident in the recording of that show. Not that it did not happen.

I'd like it if Mike were more outspoken (and questioned in interviews) about songs like Let the Wind Blow, All I Wanna do. About his various singing styles. About the fact that he's sounding great live these days. We're lucky that he's still around. Go see him. Cut the bashing

[LostArt]

Mike's done some questionable things, said a lot that's, at best, ill-advised and has a character that rubs a lot of folk up the wrong way. But... Brian's done a lot of reprehensible stuff too, as have all the others.

No hereos, no villains, only shades of gray.

This.  Yeah, Mike is Mike, Brian is Brian.  Nobody's perfect.  This new interview is old news.  Why is everyone so upset?  What I find surprising is that no one has mentioned this...

"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."

What the frick is that all about?  Was Mike just feeding him some crap because the interviewer was kind of clueless and a bit rude?

[hypehat]

Even more annoying is that he says that when the interviewer asks him about the song Transcendental Meditation. I have the feeling someday Mike's not going to have his morning cup of coffee when they mention that song and say 'Yeah, I gave Brian some really calm, spiritual lyrics and he put motherf*cking saxophones on it. The goddamm hippie". Then ruin any goodwill each camp has for the other in for the forseeable