Brian's health

[KittyKat]

Brian doesn't seem any different than he always has  been other than being heavier.  He's not as heavy as he was right before Dr. Landy got him to lose a lot of weight.  I'm sure he sees doctors all the time who monitor his health.  If he were in that bad of a shape they wouldn't be able to get insurance for him to tour.  I don't think he looks that bad other than needing to take off thirty or forty pounds to make his gut smaller.  That might help his back problems if he had less weight to carry around.  His face looks older because he doesn't smile much.  He looks years younger when he smiles.

[bossaroo]

I'd say Brian is 250 tops. And 250 to 300 is quite a leap.

I wouldn't be surprised if Al weighed in at right around a buck twenty-five.

[Gohi]

Brian doesn't seem any different than he always has  been other than being heavier.  He's not as heavy as he was right before Dr. Landy got him to lose a lot of weight.  I'm sure he sees doctors all the time who monitor his health.  If he were in that bad of a shape they wouldn't be able to get insurance for him to tour.  I don't think he looks that bad other than needing to take off thirty or forty pounds to make his gut smaller.  That might help his back problems if he had less weight to carry around.  His face looks older because he doesn't smile much.  He looks years younger when he smiles.

Plenty of musicians in terrible health have been given the okay to tour.

[musicismylife101]

From what I've heard, Brian's been moving a lot better than he did months earlier and did not voice any complaints about his health. Hopefully this is an exaggeration and Brian's doing well. A tour like this is a huge feat for any artist old or young and so far they've been handling it pretty well.

[Micha]

His weight is three stone and five. No, wait, I got that mixed up.

[KittyKat]

Brian doesn't seem any different than he always has  been other than being heavier.  He's not as heavy as he was right before Dr. Landy got him to lose a lot of weight.  I'm sure he sees doctors all the time who monitor his health.  If he were in that bad of a shape they wouldn't be able to get insurance for him to tour.  I don't think he looks that bad other than needing to take off thirty or forty pounds to make his gut smaller.  That might help his back problems if he had less weight to carry around.  His face looks older because he doesn't smile much.  He looks years younger when he smiles.

Plenty of musicians in terrible health have been given the okay to tour.

Yeah, but I'd think Brian's own doctors would not approve and his wife wouldn't let him if they were that worried.  Melinda seems like she cares about those things.  Brian supposedly takes a few different medications for his mental well being and that requires seeing medical doctors every few months.  He's not someone who never sees doctors at all.  I'm sure they tell him to lose weight too but it gets harder as people get older and with his back problem he exercises less.

[Craig Boyd]

I like Bruce's image of Brian being like the guy from A Space Odyssey.  Brian, the travelling psychonaut, coming down from the gilded paisley halls of eternal harmony bliss to gift us with songs like "Ding Dang" and "Spring Vacation".

I noticed the article misquoted Bruce on this one, he was actually talking about the sequel 2010 in the Rolling Stone piece.

[Sheriff John Stone]

he's nowhere near 300 lbs.

This. I bet he is closer to 230 or 240. No big deal for a man of his age.

If Brian is 230 or 240, does that make Mike Love 180 or 190? Mike's closer to 230 than Brian is.

I would bet that Mike is at least 230 lbs. and I'd bet even more that Brian weighs 300 lbs. Brian is 6' 3'', and his neck, arms, and stomach is huge. He's easily as big as an NFL lineman and most of them are around 300lbs. To me, he looks like an older version of the 1976 15 Big Ones Brian.

[startBBtoday]

he's nowhere near 300 lbs.

This. I bet he is closer to 230 or 240. No big deal for a man of his age.

If Brian is 230 or 240, does that make Mike Love 180 or 190? Mike's closer to 230 than Brian is.

I would bet that Mike is at least 230 lbs. and I'd bet even more that Brian weighs 300 lbs. Brian is 6' 3'', and his neck, arms, and stomach is huge. He's easily as big as an NFL lineman and most of them are around 300lbs. To me, he looks like an older version of the 1976 15 Big Ones Brian.

Keep in mind that NFL linemen are also between 6'4" and 6'6" and that they're mostly muscle, despite being flabby around the gut. Since muscle weighs more than fat, I'd probably put Brian around 275. But yeah, he's gotten really big again. I'd say he's around the same size at 1976, and wasn't his weight at its highest around 300-330?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

According to Brian himself, he was 225 in 1998 when Imagination came out (from contemporary interviews).

[Al Jardine: Pick Up Artist]

He certainly could lose a bit of weight, it might help his back a bit, but he isn't morbidly obese.

Also, getting a slightly different hairstyle would make him look so much better. When it just lays flat he looks 20 years older.

[lance]

Brian looks very overweight to me, and that is terrible for your health. There are so many serious problems that that will cause, back problems, heart probles, diabetes and so on. I am worried about him. LIke it or not, a 200 slightly overweight Brian is going to live longer than a 250 lb obese one. Mike is fat too, but I bet he loses weight by the end of the tour as he is actually moving around some. Brian needs to find some way to exercise besides walking if he can't do that any more. He seems to eat unhealthily(steaks and the like) and needs to make up for that with exercise.

So do I, actually.

[The Heartical Don]

His weight is three stone and five. No, wait, I got that mixed up.

In the cantina...

[absinthe_boy]

Brian looks very overweight to me, and that is terrible for your health. There are so many serious problems that that will cause, back problems, heart probles, diabetes and so on. I am worried about him. LIke it or not, a 200 slightly overweight Brian is going to live longer than a 250 lb obese one. Mike is fat too, but I bet he loses weight by the end of the tour as he is actually moving around some. Brian needs to find some way to exercise besides walking if he can't do that any more. He seems to eat unhealthily(steaks and the like) and needs to make up for that with exercise.

So do I, actually.

Just let Brian be Brian.

He's not all that overweight. And you can bet he can afford the best medical care and advice that $$$ can buy.

Sheesh...if you think Brian is overweight I hope you never meet me. If you do, I'll challenge you to a 100 yard run. You may be surprised.

[MBE]

Brian's not drunk or high at the shows, he's leading the band at certain points and he's singing better then he has in decades. He may be overweight but no way is this the 1975, 1982, or 1995 Brian. Not even close.

[absinthe_boy]

Brian's not drunk or high at the shows, he's leading the band at certain points and he's singing better then he has in decades. He may be overweight but no way is this the 1975, 1982, or 1995 Brian. Not even close.

Don't forget that we live in a world where, for many people, being thin (or at least not being fat) is the be-all and end-all of existence.

We are constantly bombarded with the message that not only is it desperately unhealthy to be fat, but it is also an indication of stupidity on the part of the fat person. After all, every expert in obesity (none of who is themselves fat) knows it's easy to lose weight.

Getting off my soapbox (lest it creaks under my weight)...

Brian is nigh on 70 years old. It's normal to put on a bit of a paunch. Does he appear especially unhealthy? He's had some back issues, but he's what....6 foot 5 or something? Any 70 year old of that height is likely to have some back problems. Otherwise Brian looks in fair health for someone of his age...that's without considering his past.

[lance]

I do not consider obesity to be 'stupidity' at all. that's ridiculous.

 I just know that obesity carries with it very serious health problems and shortens life. This is not some sort of society-pushed message pushing people into 'unhealthily' worrying about their weight.

 It is a scientifically proven fact.

I would be VERY surprised if Brian's no-doubt top-notch doctor DOES NOT* tells him the same thing. Yes, hes seventy; yes older men develop a paunch. But he looks seriously heavier than 2008. Look, I hope he enjoys his life too, and maybe he just doesn't care, if so, well, what can  you do. But to argue that his weight is healthy is just, well, incorrect.

Also if you look at your average 80 year old, I think you find that there are very few as fat as Brian. Not saying there are none. But the fact is that obesity will get you sooner or later(sooner if your genes are bad.) Again, this is not a judgement. It's a scientific fact.

*for some reason when I first wrote this post I neglected to put those words in.

[runnersdialzero]

275 doesn't sounds like an exaggeration for Brian recently keep in mind the guy's height, too. 275 on Brian is gonna look a bit different than 275 on a guy who's 5'10. Still, 275 is pretty high.

Important sh*t right hurr, I realize, but still. Don't really care about his appearance, just hope the d00d is doing well.

[urbanite]

That's a fairly big spare tire he's carrying around.  It doesn't matter who your doctor is, one day, unannounced, something bad will happen to you, stroke, heart attack, etc. 

[lance]

Exactly. It's a bit more than a paunch. I don't want to guess his weight, as it's true that at his height a bit more pounds is natural. But I think it's clear that he not just 'overweight' but obese. I mean, if he's enjoying himself, fine, but he will last longer if is in shape, most likely. Yeah, he's going to die regardless. it really just depends on how much longer he wants to be around for his kids, I guess. And all of us are going to shed some tears the day that guy goes, I'm sure. Not that he really owes us anything, of course.

 I'm sure his doctor tells him the same thing. So what's the problem? I'm not saying he's stupid, but that his weight is unhealthy.

[Amy B.]

Yes, a lot of guys Brian's age have a "bit of a paunch," but what Brian has is more than just a bit. I'm guessing Brian's doctor has warned him about the dangers of carrying that much weight, particularly with his history, which probably already put a considerable strain on his organs. Hopefully the weight just had to do with the lack of exercise due to his back issues. I remember someone (Billy Hinsche?) describing how Brian suggested they go for a walk together, and it turned out they walked for a couple of miles. Billy couldn't believe how athletic Brian still was. That was a few years ago. Now that Brian's back appears to be better, maybe he's walking more and taking some of the weight off. People often gain weight as they get older, but no matter what age you are, it's never a good idea to be obese.

I don't think anyone in this thread is criticizing Brian-- it's just concern for his health.

[lance]

I can well believe he was walking two miles. When I was at my most overweight I could easily walk 10 miles on a day off!(And I did and pretty soon I wasn't that overweight.) I can understand that he might have some problems, but surely there is some cardio-vascular exercise he could do. At heart he's still kind of a jock, even if he is equally kind of an artsy-fartsy weirdo at heart. My point is, I want to the dude to be healthy and I'm sure he'd prefer it on some level as well.

[Amy B.]

I can well believe he was walking two miles. When I was at my most overweight I could easily walk 10 miles on a day off!(And I did and pretty soon I wasn't that overweight.) I can understand that he might have some problems, but surely there is some cardio-vascular exercise he could do. At heart he's still kind of a jock, even if he is equally kind of an artsy-fartsy weirdo at heart. My point is, I want to the dude to be healthy and I'm sure he'd prefer it on some level as well.

No, two miles isn't a lot. I should try to find the anecdote, but I think what impressed Billy (or whoever it was) was that Brian was a complete contrast from the slow, lumbering guy he is often on stage. He was walking really fast and Billy had trouble keeping up. I think I'm remembering that right.

[Mr. Cohen]

They need to hire Tommy to take care of this weight issue!

Melinda: Brian, what did you just take?
Brian: It's something Tommy gave me. It's supposed to help me lose weight!
Melinda: Something Tommy gave you?! Brian... what is it?
Brian: It's just paper. It's just a piece of paper.
Melinda: Brian!
Brian: Melinda, where is my moog? How do you expect me to do a show without my moog?!?!

[absinthe_boy]

 I just know that obesity carries with it very serious health problems and shortens life. This is not some sort of society-pushed message pushing people into 'unhealthily' worrying about their weight.

Tell that to Sir Winston Churchill.

Now I am not arguing that being fat is good for you. The statistics do show that there are increased risks of various illnesses and conditions. But I would also say that Brian isn't incapable of looking after himself and he will have the best medical care/advice that money can buy. Brian has survived a lot, he is a robust guy. I'm just saying that there is probably no need to worry about his spare tyre.

I am a little concerned about the fact that he looks 10 years older than he did 5 years ago. But then the dude is nearing 70. He's more active than most 70 year olds.

  to argue that his weight is healthy is just, well, incorrect.

None of us is privy to his medical notes. We don't know what is weight is. For all we know, his heart rate, blood pressure and blood work all show him to be in good condition.

Also if you look at your average 80 year old, I think you find that there are very few as fat as Brian. Not saying there are none. But the fact is that obesity will get you sooner or later(sooner if your genes are bad.) Again, this is not a judgement. It's a scientific fact.

I think you are overdoing the scientific fact thing. What gets us in the end is death. Brian's only outward sign of ill-health has been his back, which is hardly surprising for an older man of his height. Anything else, such as the effect his weight might have on his health, is entirely conjecture.