Google Play - New 40 Minute Interview ;-)

[Justin]

The interviewer was a little too awkward during the interview.  He said he was really excited to be there but was quite bland and showed no real levels of enthusiasm when talking to the guys.  An okay job but if he was such a music geek I would've assumed he would've had more challenging things to ask. 

Brian amazes me because although he seems so completely not there when he does answer a question, his brain fires the most random comments and snipets at ridiculously RAPID fire.  I mean that questions about always wanting to be commercial...Brian answers saying that "I Get Around" was very commercial.  What? Really?!  Not "Surfin' USA" or "Good Vibrations."?  He amazes me that he seems to be totally on top of it yet still slightly somewhere else in these kind of situations.

[CoolWater]

Mike: So that's my nature, to be, uh, words. Classic!

I  thought this was a great interview, gave time to all the members and they all seemed to enjoy themselves. Well you know, except Brian. But that's why part of why we love him.

As for these guys not liking each other, whether it be Mike and Al. or Mike and Brian, or Mike and ______... The Beach Boys are a family. Maybe not blood anymore, except for Mike and Brian, but when you spend 50+ years around each other, and you fight and make up and fight and keep coming back, you're family. They're brothers and that's what brother's do, tease and poke each other, get on each others nerves, try to one-up each other.

To me the 'tension', as some of you call it, just comes with the territory. There are a lot of easier ways to make money at age 70 than than going on a world tour. They're here to celebrate the legacy, the music, each other, the fans (and make some serious bank). What's it to you? Hallelujah!

When i was back stage in San Diego last month I thanked them for their generosity in continuing to share their music.  I love their faults, their false starts, their quirkiness, their absolute refusal to try to be 'cool', their angelic harmonies, their cheese, their sentimentality, and their egos.

They've provided the soundtrack to my life, and I love them all. God bless the Beach Boys.

[Ron]

The interviewer was a little too awkward during the interview.  He said he was really excited to be there but was quite bland and showed no real levels of enthusiasm when talking to the guys.  An okay job but if he was such a music geek I would've assumed he would've had more challenging things to ask. 

Brian amazes me because although he seems so completely not there when he does answer a question, his brain fires the most random comments and snipets at ridiculously RAPID fire.  I mean that questions about always wanting to be commercial...Brian answers saying that "I Get Around" was very commercial.  What? Really?!  Not "Surfin' USA" or "Good Vibrations."?  He amazes me that he seems to be totally on top of it yet still slightly somewhere else in these kind of situations.

Yeah, it's very strange.  You want to just lump him in with other people that you would consider disinterested, or 'out of it'... but he appears to be 1. Hearing and understanding everything that's going on, and at the same time 2. Doing something completely differnent in his mind.

So he can answer any of the questions, but the whole time he looks like he couldn't care to be there.  When they ask him a question he answers it before they're done asking it!  And like you said, it'll be completely random.. but then he backs it up. 

I think, ultimately, the best answer is he may be fucking with us. 

[Justin]

I think, ultimately, the best answer is he may be f*cking with us. 

I love the idea that this could be true!

[joe_blow]

Brian seem off in this interview and the one on Rolling Stone's site. He reverted to looking  at his watch at about the 16:00 mark and seemed halfway off stage before the others got off their seats.

[puni puni]

"What was it like to reunite after 50 years?"
"How has the recording process changed since 50 years ago?"
"Who were your influences?"

I don't understand why interviewers ask such placid questions, until I realize that they're probably scared the Boys would walk out of the room if you brought up the wrong thing.

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?" "What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?" "What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer? Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich? How did you meet him? What about the album you produced for American Spring?" "Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?" "What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?" "What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?" "When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer? When did you acquire one? What was it about a Moog that attracted you?" "What are or were your literature interests besides Arthur Koestler's The Act of Creation?" "Is there anything you haven't done with music or songwriting that you wish you had?" "What is the progress on your biopic and the one for your brother Dennis?" "Are you aware of the image clash your band has between the surf songs and the experimental symphonies?" "Do you realize/agree that your music is more relevant today than when you were at your commercial peak?" "What was it about Phil Spector's style of production and arranging did you take notes from besides the obvious tape echo and combining of instruments?" "Why did you and the band put down the Smile sessions as meaningless noise for so many years?"

"Mike, why are you so obsessed with things being "commercial"? You seriously think commercial viability is something you're supposed to keep in mind when you're judging music? Do you see dollar signs when you close your eyes? Why do you think people won't come to your concerts if you leave out Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA from the setlist in favor of cuts like Cabinessence or Surf's Up? Why do you keep bringing up how you wrote the very prolific lyrics to Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA? Are you aware that Surf's Up was a pun?"

"Bruce... uh"
"Al... um"
"David... err"
"...Well, what happened to Van Dyke Parks' participation in the Smile Sessions campaign?"

[seltaeb1012002]

Now THAT's an interview I'd pay to see.

[Wirestone]

"What was it like to reunite after 50 years?"
"How has the recording process changed since 50 years ago?"
"Who were your influences?"

I don't understand why interviewers ask such placid questions, until I realize that they're probably scared the Boys would walk out of the room if you brought up the wrong thing.

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?" "What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?" "What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer? Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich? How did you meet him? What about the album you produced for American Spring?" "Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?" "What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?" "What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?" "When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer? When did you acquire one? What was it about a Moog that attracted you?" "What are or were your literature interests besides Arthur Koestler's The Act of Creation?" "Is there anything you haven't done with music or songwriting that you wish you had?" "What is the progress on your biopic and the one for your brother Dennis?" "Are you aware of the image clash your band has between the surf songs and the experimental symphonies?" "Do you realize/agree that your music is more relevant today than when you were at your commercial peak?" "What was it about Phil Spector's style of production and arranging did you take notes from besides the obvious tape echo and combining of instruments?" "Why did you and the band put down the Smile sessions as meaningless noise for so many years?"

"Mike, why are you so obsessed with things being "commercial"? You seriously think commercial viability is something you're supposed to keep in mind when you're judging music? Do you see dollar signs when you close your eyes? Why do you think people won't come to your concerts if you leave out Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA from the setlist in favor of cuts like Cabinessence or Surf's Up? Why do you keep bringing up how you wrote the very prolific lyrics to Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA? Are you aware that Surf's Up was a pun?"

"Bruce... uh"
"Al... um"
"David... err"
"...Well, what happened to Van Dyke Parks' participation in the Smile Sessions campaign?"

Brian would either 1.) flee screaming or 2.) give gnomic answers to every one of those questions. I'll demonstrate:

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?"

I don't think so. No.

"What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?"

No.

"What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer?"

I can't answer that question.

"Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich?"

He's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"How did you meet him?"

Through my brothers.

"What about the album you produced for American Spring?"

I don't remember. To tell you the truth, I don't remember much about that.

"Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?"

What was the question again? No.

"What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?"

I didn't know they did that. I don't know.

"What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?"

Van Dyke's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer?"

I don't remember.

"When did you acquire one?"

I don't remember.

"What was it about a Moog that attracted you?"

I don't know. I can't answer that question. Hey, I've got a plane to catch. Great interview. Bye.

[MBE]

"What was it like to reunite after 50 years?"
"How has the recording process changed since 50 years ago?"
"Who were your influences?"

I don't understand why interviewers ask such placid questions, until I realize that they're probably scared the Boys would walk out of the room if you brought up the wrong thing.

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?" "What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?" "What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer? Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich? How did you meet him? What about the album you produced for American Spring?" "Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?" "What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?" "What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?" "When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer? When did you acquire one? What was it about a Moog that attracted you?" "What are or were your literature interests besides Arthur Koestler's The Act of Creation?" "Is there anything you haven't done with music or songwriting that you wish you had?" "What is the progress on your biopic and the one for your brother Dennis?" "Are you aware of the image clash your band has between the surf songs and the experimental symphonies?" "Do you realize/agree that your music is more relevant today than when you were at your commercial peak?" "What was it about Phil Spector's style of production and arranging did you take notes from besides the obvious tape echo and combining of instruments?" "Why did you and the band put down the Smile sessions as meaningless noise for so many years?"

"Mike, why are you so obsessed with things being "commercial"? You seriously think commercial viability is something you're supposed to keep in mind when you're judging music? Do you see dollar signs when you close your eyes? Why do you think people won't come to your concerts if you leave out Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA from the setlist in favor of cuts like Cabinessence or Surf's Up? Why do you keep bringing up how you wrote the very prolific lyrics to Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA? Are you aware that Surf's Up was a pun?"

"Bruce... uh"
"Al... um"
"David... err"
"...Well, what happened to Van Dyke Parks' participation in the Smile Sessions campaign?"

I've asked Brian quite a number of those things and he gave me direct and lucid answers.

[sea of tunes]

"What was it like to reunite after 50 years?"
"How has the recording process changed since 50 years ago?"
"Who were your influences?"

I don't understand why interviewers ask such placid questions, until I realize that they're probably scared the Boys would walk out of the room if you brought up the wrong thing.

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?" "What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?" "What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer? Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich? How did you meet him? What about the album you produced for American Spring?" "Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?" "What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?" "What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?" "When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer? When did you acquire one? What was it about a Moog that attracted you?" "What are or were your literature interests besides Arthur Koestler's The Act of Creation?" "Is there anything you haven't done with music or songwriting that you wish you had?" "What is the progress on your biopic and the one for your brother Dennis?" "Are you aware of the image clash your band has between the surf songs and the experimental symphonies?" "Do you realize/agree that your music is more relevant today than when you were at your commercial peak?" "What was it about Phil Spector's style of production and arranging did you take notes from besides the obvious tape echo and combining of instruments?" "Why did you and the band put down the Smile sessions as meaningless noise for so many years?"

"Mike, why are you so obsessed with things being "commercial"? You seriously think commercial viability is something you're supposed to keep in mind when you're judging music? Do you see dollar signs when you close your eyes? Why do you think people won't come to your concerts if you leave out Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA from the setlist in favor of cuts like Cabinessence or Surf's Up? Why do you keep bringing up how you wrote the very prolific lyrics to Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA? Are you aware that Surf's Up was a pun?"

"Bruce... uh"
"Al... um"
"David... err"
"...Well, what happened to Van Dyke Parks' participation in the Smile Sessions campaign?"

Brian would either 1.) flee screaming or 2.) give gnomic answers to every one of those questions. I'll demonstrate:

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?"

I don't think so. No.

"What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?"

No.

"What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer?"

I can't answer that question.

"Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich?"

He's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"How did you meet him?"

Through my brothers.

"What about the album you produced for American Spring?"

I don't remember. To tell you the truth, I don't remember much about that.

"Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?"

What was the question again? No.

"What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?"

I didn't know they did that. I don't know.

"What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?"

Van Dyke's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer?"

I don't remember.

"When did you acquire one?"

I don't remember.

"What was it about a Moog that attracted you?"

I don't know. I can't answer that question. Hey, I've got a plane to catch. Great interview. Bye.

Brian, is that you?

[puni puni]

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?"
I don't think so. No.

"There was a huge change in your voice when you listen to recordings made before and after your comeback. Why do you think this happened?"

"What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?"
No.

"Does it sound like something you would have said? Do you agree with your own words from 1966?"

"What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer?"
I can't answer that question.

"Because you can't remember, or...?"

"Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich?"
He's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

Enough for me.

"How did you meet him?"
Through my brothers.

"Do you remember the sessions?"

"What about the album you produced for American Spring?"
I don't remember. To tell you the truth, I don't remember much about that.

Oh well.

"Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?"
What was the question again? No.

"Are you sure?"

"What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?"
I didn't know they did that. I don't know.

Enough for me.

"What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?"
Van Dyke's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"His style of arranging is pretty wild. Did he ever help you with any of that?"

"When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer?"
I don't remember.

Oh well.

"When did you acquire one?"
I don't remember.

f*ck you, yes you do, that would be like forgetting the decade your child was born in.

"What was it about a Moog that attracted you?"
I don't know. I can't answer that question. Hey, I've got a plane to catch. Great interview. Bye.

;_;

[Wirestone]

Take it from someone who has interviewed Brian -- if he doesn't want to play, you aren't getting anything.

I thought I had it figured out. I had 15 minutes. He shut me down in six, and that was with all the follow-ups I could think of. The man is fearsome.

[Cabinessenceking]

Is David mixing up Al and Bruce?

He says Al came back when Brian stopped touring and played bass and sang the falsetto, he must be suffering alzheimers for making MASSIVE mistakes like that. I dont thinkg Bruce really enjoyed that. He was the one who was brought in to fill Brian's role.

[Cabinessenceking]

I dig that at the end Bruce admits he googled himself and saw all the internet critisism about his comments on the presidential race. Hilarious!, guy has got a sense of humor bringing that up!

[Micha]

Is David mixing up Al and Bruce?

He says Al came back when Brian stopped touring and played bass and sang the falsetto, he must be suffering alzheimers for making MASSIVE mistakes like that. I dont thinkg Bruce really enjoyed that. He was the one who was brought in to fill Brian's role.

Buy a good book about the BB history and read it. Dave is absolutely correct. Brian left the road in 1963, and Al came back to replace Brian, playing bass. The tour line-up was Mike, Carl, Dave, Al, Dennis.

When Dave left later that year, Al took Dave's guitar role and Brian replaced Al on the road. In 1965 Brian left the road again and that was when Bruce came.

[bgas]

Is David mixing up Al and Bruce?

He says Al came back when Brian stopped touring and played bass and sang the falsetto, he must be suffering alzheimers for making MASSIVE mistakes like that. I dont thinkg Bruce really enjoyed that. He was the one who was brought in to fill Brian's role.

Yeah, sure, and the Beach Boys didn't play any of the instruments on their records either
Beach Boys 101

[puni puni]

Take it from someone who has interviewed Brian -- if he doesn't want to play, you aren't getting anything.

It doesn't look like that when he's being asked in front of a camera. Most people expect essay-length responses to the most nondescript inquiries. With Brian or anyone else with his sort of attitude, you can't simply fire a shot in the dark and hope you strike oil. This isn't a guy who gives speeches.

Look at this interview. This is how you talk to Brian Wilson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1va4JjgfY#t=133s

"Why is Gershwin so important to you?"
"Well, he was always important to me ever since I was 3. Later on when I was 28, I relearned how to play Rhapsody in Blue."

Most would stop here and accept just that. They think to themselves, "well, that doesn't really answer the question, but it's good enough so let's move on..." He doesn't.

"Do you remember what it was that captured your imagination about Gershwin in the beginning?"

It's virtually the same question, but asked with a more direct approach. Is he going to say "I dunno"?

"Well, it was just the way he made his violins have pretty harmony. His harmony was very advance and original. He originated some harmony and I learned from him."
"So, as a songwriter, were you captivated by his melodies?"
"Not just his melodies, but the way he presented his melodies, you know? Like if he had do do do... dah dumm..."
"I don't... Tell me what you just did there."
"In Rhapsody in Blue... rah duh da dah... I learned how to go dah dah da dah... Like that."

You couldn't hope for anything more than that... That's exactly how a musician influences another. It's always the little things. The question is finally answered concisely. What else is there to say?

Another good example, where the interviewer asks about Brian's quintessential arranging and production:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1va4JjgfY#t=264s

"Is that you consciously doing your style or is that what naturally emanates from you when you approach a song?"
"Well, it depends on each song. Each songs different. You have to interpret each song the way George would've wanted it to be."

With anyone else, it would have ended there. The question isn't really answered, but he did give a statement. Oh well, it's pointless to try again, right?

"But when you do what you just called The Beach Boys shuffle, the sort of Help Me Rhonda sound, are you consciously recalling what you've done in the past or do you naturally go there?"
"Actually, I'm drawn to that place because I know it's waiting for me. You know, the shuffle? So like, I'll wait for a few minutes, then I'll get the notion and start playing it."

There we go; he does it consciously. Mystery solved.

[Jon Stebbins]

Is David mixing up Al and Bruce?

He says Al came back when Brian stopped touring and played bass and sang the falsetto, he must be suffering alzheimers for making MASSIVE mistakes like that. I dont thinkg Bruce really enjoyed that. He was the one who was brought in to fill Brian's role.

Wow. That post should be a MASSIVE embarrassment for you. Dave was absolutely correct.

[startBBtoday]

Take it from someone who has interviewed Brian -- if he doesn't want to play, you aren't getting anything.

It doesn't look like that when he's being asked in front of a camera. Most people expect essay-length responses to the most nondescript inquiries. With Brian or anyone else with his sort of attitude, you can't simply fire a shot in the dark and hope you strike oil. This isn't a guy who gives speeches.

Look at this interview. This is how you talk to Brian Wilson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1va4JjgfY#t=133s

"Why is Gershwin so important to you?"
"Well, he was always important to me ever since I was 3. Later on when I was 28, I relearned how to play Rhapsody in Blue."

Most would stop here and accept just that. They think to themselves, "well, that doesn't really answer the question, but it's good enough so let's move on..." He doesn't.

"Do you remember what it was that captured your imagination about Gershwin in the beginning?"

It's virtually the same question, but asked with a more direct approach. Is he going to say "I dunno"?

"Well, it was just the way he made his violins have pretty harmony. His harmony was very advance and original. He originated some harmony and I learned from him."
"So, as a songwriter, were you captivated by his melodies?"
"Not just his melodies, but the way he presented his melodies, you know? Like if he had do do do... dah dumm..."
"I don't... Tell me what you just did there."
"In Rhapsody in Blue... rah duh da dah... I learned how to go dah dah da dah... Like that."

You couldn't hope for anything more than that... That's exactly how a musician influences another. It's always the little things. The question is finally answered concisely. What else is there to say?

Another good example, where the interviewer asks about Brian's quintessential arranging and production:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1va4JjgfY#t=264s

"Is that you consciously doing your style or is that what naturally emanates from you when you approach a song?"
"Well, it depends on each song. Each songs different. You have to interpret each song the way George would've wanted it to be."

With anyone else, it would have ended there. The question isn't really answered, but he did give a statement. Oh well, it's pointless to try again, right?

"But when you do what you just called The Beach Boys shuffle, the sort of Help Me Rhonda sound, are you consciously recalling what you've done in the past or do you naturally go there?"
"Actually, I'm drawn to that place because I know it's waiting for me. You know, the shuffle? So like, I'll wait for a few minutes, then I'll get the notion and start playing it."

There we go; he does it consciously. Mystery solved.

I've definitely noticed lately that Brian would like to be asked about specific songs or specific moments more than just very general questions at this point. Maybe that's just the way his mind works, that every song and every moment is self contained.

[Amy B.]

Yeah, it's very strange.  You want to just lump him in with other people that you would consider disinterested, or 'out of it'... but he appears to be 1. Hearing and understanding everything that's going on, and at the same time 2. Doing something completely differnent in his mind.

I noticed that. Every time the interviewer directed a question at Brian, I thought Brian would ask him to repeat it, since it didn't seem like he was paying attention. But no, Brian was able to answer everything, albeit in his own unique way.
There was one part in the beginning where Dave was answering a question and Brian was STARING him down from about a foot away. Really creepy! But yeah, I don't think Brian wanted to be there, but he kind of played along.

[Zach95]

Yeah, it's very strange.  You want to just lump him in with other people that you would consider disinterested, or 'out of it'... but he appears to be 1. Hearing and understanding everything that's going on, and at the same time 2. Doing something completely differnent in his mind.

I noticed that. Every time the interviewer directed a question at Brian, I thought Brian would ask him to repeat it, since it didn't seem like he was paying attention. But no, Brian was able to answer everything, albeit in his own unique way.
There was one part in the beginning where Dave was answering a question and Brian was STARING him down from about a foot away. Really creepy! But yeah, I don't think Brian wanted to be there, but he kind of played along.

I noticed this as well.  Boy, if I were Dave I would have been extremely uncomfortable having the great, imposing Brian Wilson staring at me like that.

[Ron]

There's a video from the 5/28 show of them doing "Add Some Music" in aother thread.  Al screws up some of the vocals while he's standing around the Piano.  Brian just stares him downnnnn... and downnnn...... and downn...... like "really Al?  Really?  I'm watching you, Al.  Don't mess up, Al.  "

[Lowbacca]

Yeah, it's very strange.  You want to just lump him in with other people that you would consider disinterested, or 'out of it'... but he appears to be 1. Hearing and understanding everything that's going on, and at the same time 2. Doing something completely differnent in his mind.

I noticed that. Every time the interviewer directed a question at Brian, I thought Brian would ask him to repeat it, since it didn't seem like he was paying attention. But no, Brian was able to answer everything, albeit in his own unique way.
There was one part in the beginning where Dave was answering a question and Brian was STARING him down from about a foot away. Really creepy! But yeah, I don't think Brian wanted to be there, but he kind of played along.

I noticed this as well.  Boy, if I were Dave I would have been extremely uncomfortable having the great, imposing Brian Wilson staring at me like that.

I think Brian didn't even mean anything by 'staring' at Dave.. he was just looking at him, for whatever reason being interested in what Dave was saying at that particular moment.

[TimmyC]

Mike: So that's my nature, to be, uh, words. Classic!

I  thought this was a great interview, gave time to all the members and they all seemed to enjoy themselves. Well you know, except Brian. But that's why part of why we love him.

As for these guys not liking each other, whether it be Mike and Al. or Mike and Brian, or Mike and ______... The Beach Boys are a family. Maybe not blood anymore, except for Mike and Brian, but when you spend 50+ years around each other, and you fight and make up and fight and keep coming back, you're family. They're brothers and that's what brother's do, tease and poke each other, get on each others nerves, try to one-up each other.

To me the 'tension', as some of you call it, just comes with the territory. There are a lot of easier ways to make money at age 70 than than going on a world tour. They're here to celebrate the legacy, the music, each other, the fans (and make some serious bank). What's it to you? Hallelujah!

When i was back stage in San Diego last month I thanked them for their generosity in continuing to share their music.  I love their faults, their false starts, their quirkiness, their absolute refusal to try to be 'cool', their angelic harmonies, their cheese, their sentimentality, and their egos.

They've provided the soundtrack to my life, and I love them all. God bless the Beach Boys.

Great post Cool Water - you're my kinda Beach Boys fan!

[Cabinessenceking]

Is David mixing up Al and Bruce?

He says Al came back when Brian stopped touring and played bass and sang the falsetto, he must be suffering alzheimers for making MASSIVE mistakes like that. I dont thinkg Bruce really enjoyed that. He was the one who was brought in to fill Brian's role.

Wow. That post should be a MASSIVE embarrassment for you. Dave was absolutely correct.

yes sir