Should They Call It A Day After This Tour?

[the professor]

NO FREAKING WAY should they call it a day after this tour.

They recorded an album that sounds glorious to my ears, an album that stands easily beside their best work.  And they are almost halfway through a highly successful tour.

So, how about 2 or 3 more studio albums, let Mike and Brian write some more together, because they are genius-level collaborators!  And give Al, Bruce and Dave a spotlight!  Maybe cut back on touring, and spend more time in the studio.  A live DVD, and some compilations.  We don't ask for much!  LOL

The Boys have still "got it" what ever "it" is!

The Professor agrees completely. Is anyone on record speaking to the issue of a follow up album? With all the interviews you would imagine someone would've asked, especially since this one is a hit.

[Pretty Funky]

I read a story just yesterday (but now can't find it!) where Mike's closing comment was something like 'I don't think we're finished yet' on the subject of recording.

[Juice Brohnston]

I like the idea of Mike, Bruce, Al, and Dave, staying on the road, with Brian in the studio.  Just having Brian 'in' the band, would lend a lot of 'cred' to the organization.  Mike and Bruce's live show, which has become pretty solid, would certainly be bolstered by Al and Dave.

[JohnMill]

I believe that as long as they enjoy it, they should continue on as The Beach Boys. If Brian wants to record with the guys, then have more Beach Boys albums. If he doesn't, make 'em Brian Wilson albums. And if the guys wanna continue touring together (Mike, Al, Dave, Bruce) with Brian sometimes joining in then that's cool too.

Honestly I think this would be pretty much how I'd like to see things go from here on out.  Look none of us know how much longer the never ending tour is going to go on.  These guys are all cruising towards seventy, not sixty and I wouldn't be surprised if their professional careers all shut down within the next ten years.*  That being said I wouldn't mind say The Beach Boys nucleus of Mike, Al, Dave and Bruce touring together from here on out with Brian sitting in for special occasions or when the group happens to swing through California.  I also wouldn't mind one or two more new records before they pack it in (finish that Life Suite Brian  )

I also like this idea of the "California Saga" and hope they start booking a few shows.  I doubt they'll ever do a full fledged tour but a run of some of the Cali clubs might not be out of the question.

* No I wasn't try to be cute and make puns based off The Beach Boys' car songs like "Shut Down" and "409" there   

[bgas]

I believe that as long as they enjoy it, they should continue on as The Beach Boys. If Brian wants to record with the guys, then have more Beach Boys albums. If he doesn't, make 'em Brian Wilson albums. And if the guys wanna continue touring together (Mike, Al, Dave, Bruce) with Brian sometimes joining in then that's cool too.

Honestly I think this would be pretty much how I'd like to see things go from here on out.  Look none of us know how much longer the never ending tour is going to go on.  These guys are all cruising towards seventy, not sixty and I wouldn't be surprised if their professional careers all shut down within the next ten years.*  That being said I wouldn't mind say The Beach Boys nucleus of Mike, Al, Dave and Bruce touring together from here on out with Brian sitting in for special occasions or when the group happens to swing through California.  I also wouldn't mind one or two more new records before they pack it in (finish that Life Suite Brian  )

I also like this idea of the "California Saga" and hope they start booking a few shows.  I doubt they'll ever do a full fledged tour but a run of some of the Cali clubs might not be out of the question.

* No I wasn't try to be cute and make puns based off The Beach Boys' car songs like "Shut Down" and "409" there   

Sounds like a great idea for the touring band; BUT:
    WILL promoters pay more $$ for shows with Dave and Al but not Brian?  Because if they won't, Mike's piece of the pie is smaller is smaller and I bet he won't want to do the shows. 

[TommyPlural]

Pointless speculation (what isn't, ha!), but if either of these Brian-less touring scenarios played out (the Mike and Bruce show continuing as it has, or Al and Dave joining the Mike and Bruce show/ some sort of new convergence of the touring bands without Brian) how do you think the TWGMTR material would be addressed at shows? It would make sense for any band calling itself "The Beach Boys" to promote the newest album by The Beach Boys, so one would think at the very least the title track would be a setlist regular. Who would sing it? If the Mike and Bruce band continued would it be Randell Kirsch or Christian Love? Would Al take over the Brian leads as he used to in the old days? I wonder what it would sound like.

And, just to chime in, I would prefer Al and Dave joining the Mike and Bruce band and touring as the Beach Boys with Brian working in the studio and occasionally joining in for special performances. Darian, Scott, Paul, Probyn, etc should continue to collaborate with Brian, especially on the recordings.

[SG7]

Al is doing some solo shows in FL next year I heard.

[JanBerryFarm]

Maybe Ed Carter and Billy Hinsche should weigh in on this.....

[onkster]

I foresee a beautiful future for the band:

- Brian stays off the road, writes cool songs, and the guys come back and lay down some vocals, then go back out on tour as much as they care to.

Worked before! It could work again!

(I would love, of course, for Brian to tour with them always--I just get concerned that it's a strain on him. I'd rather have a live, healthy, happy Brian if that's what it takes.)

[Sheriff John Stone]

It would make sense for any band calling itself "The Beach Boys" to promote the newest album by The Beach Boys, so one would think at the very least the title track would be a setlist regular. Who would sing it? If the Mike and Bruce band continued would it be Randell Kirsch or Christian Love? Would Al take over the Brian leads as he used to in the old days? I wonder what it would sound like.

There wouldn't be a reunion like they're having without Brian, and we're all elated that he's singing his fair share of vocals. But, if there is one song that will sound better without Brian, it would be the title track. No matter who is assigned his part, it will be sung on time and on key - IMO. It is nice to hear Brian sing leads on his old songs, but, on some of them, Al can do a more than adequate job, and on some of them, a better job - also IMO.

The group that ends up being, as you put it "calling itself The Beach Boys", will be viewed by an overwhelming number of the live audience - say over 90% - as THE Beach Boys. I don't think they'll feel guilty or have any problems playing any new stuff. It'll probably sound pretty good.

[Justin]

The way Al keeps putting it, "everybody in the band had to give up something in order to do this reunion"...which he mentions how he had to put aside his own solo ventures to do this tour.  With that said, I can't see Al giving up his group in order to permanently join The Beach Boys.  Considering he seems a little stiffled from making more song choices in the current set---there's an amount of freedom in his side group that he just can't get with Mike/Bruce.  I doubt he'd want to give that up.

[bgas]

The way Al keeps putting it, "everybody in the band had to give up something in order to do this reunion"...which he mentions how he had to put aside his own solo ventures to do this tour.  With that said, I can't see Al giving up that group in order to join permanently join The Beach Boys.  Considering he seems a little stiffled from making more song choices in the current set---there's an amount of freedom in his side group that he just can't get with Mike/Bruce.  I doubt he'd want to give that up.

Al had to give up his three shows a year to play ( and get paid for) 75 shows as part of the group; seems like a fair trade-off to me. 
Dave gets back in the fold, does all the shows, and improves his standing  as an original Beach Boy. what did he have to give up for this? 
For that matter, what did Bruce, Mike and Brian have to give up? 
All I can see is the sum is much greater than the parts. 

[Justin]

Those were his words not mine so I'm not sure what he's referring to.  Besides the little work he does on his own, the obvious thing he had to "give up" would be his free time which he seems to be enjoying since he's not really boggled down with his own group's touring.  So that'd be ridiculously wild if he decided to join the MIke/Bruce group permanently since nothing about his professional life in his last few years has hinted that he's up for significant touring throughout the year.

[bgas]

Those were his words not mine so I'm not sure what he's referring to.  Besides the little work he does on his own, the obvious thing he had to "give up" would be his free time which he seems to be enjoying since he's not really boggled down with his own group's touring.  So that'd be ridiculously wild if he decided to join the MIke/Bruce group permanently since nothing about his professional life in his last few years has hinted that he's up for significant touring throughout the year.

Of course his "last few years" weren't exactly by choice. If Mike hadn't relieved him of duty as a BB, he'd most likely have been happy to play most every show they did; OR, had he been allowed to us the BBs name, he'd most likely have played as many shows as he could get.

[Juice Brohnston]

Those were his words not mine so I'm not sure what he's referring to.  Besides the little work he does on his own, the obvious thing he had to "give up" would be his free time which he seems to be enjoying since he's not really boggled down with his own group's touring.  So that'd be ridiculously wild if he decided to join the MIke/Bruce group permanently since nothing about his professional life in his last few years has hinted that he's up for significant touring throughout the year.

Probably more of a 'give in' than 'give up', in that  egos needed to be checked at the door, and the group had to be the focus after years of everybody running their own show.

As for Al touring, I always felt he would want to tour more if the opportunity was there.  I imagine it is tough for Al to secure bookings, as it would be for Mike without the Beach Boys name.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

A great prophet named Dennis Wilson once stated that the Beach Boys would be doing shows in wheel chairs! If that comes true then Mike should write a song called "Nursery Home USA"

[Jonathan Blum]

The one thing that's missing from the new material so far is a proper balls-out rocker.  Not something midtempo like "Beaches In Mind", but one with the tempo and energy of a "Don't Back Down" or "Fun Fun Fun".  A chance for Dave to lay down some blistering surf licks -- the spotlight at last -- and Mike and Al to show just how young they still are.

Until I heard just how good they still are, I wouldn't have even imagined such a song would be possible.  But now...  I want them to stick around long enough to show just how much they haven't lost it.  A dignified and melancholy farewell is one thing, and the end of the last album is lovely...  but I'd rather have them hit one more high note before they go.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[Alex]

If there is a second post-reunion BBs record, I really hope that Al, Dave, and Bruce get some of their songs on it.

[Alan Smith]

End on a high.

As much as it pains me to say so.

[Tristero]

Here's what I envision:  After the tour wraps up, Brian goes back and completes the full Life Suite.  Then the Beach Boys take up residency in some theater in L.A. and do a series of acclaimed shows featuring that, followed by a complete performance of SMiLE.  They release an award winning CD/DVD package of the event, helping to solidify their commercial/critical renaissance.  Hey, it could happen!   

[Paul J B]

The one thing that's missing from the new material so far is a proper balls-out rocker.  Not something midtempo like "Beaches In Mind", but one with the tempo and energy of a "Don't Back Down" or "Fun Fun Fun".  A chance for Dave to lay down some blistering surf licks -- the spotlight at last -- and Mike and Al to show just how young they still are.

Until I heard just how good they still are, I wouldn't have even imagined such a song would be possible.  But now...  I want them to stick around long enough to show just how much they haven't lost it.  A dignified and melancholy farewell is one thing, and the end of the last album is lovely...  but I'd rather have them hit one more high note before they go.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

I totally agree with your perspective. The suite at the end of TWGMTR stands as a fantastic close right now. But since the album was so much better than most of us anticipated and has left us wanting more, A COUPLE of fast rock songs are what I'm really itching for now. Mike sounds so good on the new record, that it would be great to hear him belt it out on one more new rocker.

[HeroAndVillain]

The contract with Capitol calls for two more albums. Deal with it.     

Easy. They record another album called "That's Why God Made the Microwave Oven", and after that "That's Why God Made the Men's Personal Grooming Kit", and they're done.

[urbanite]

Mike sounds okay on some songs, very restrained.  Daybreak Over the Ocean is not the type of song I would look forward to having on another album.   

[Ziggy Stardust]

The contract with Capitol calls for two more albums. Deal with it.     

Really? that's amazing, where does that info comes from?

[Jim V.]

End on a high.

As much as it pains me to say so.

I just don't get why people on here (obviously Beach Boys fans) would want the group to quit. It makes no sense. As they are my favorite group, and they are putting out great material, why would I want that to stop? If they wanna keep making more songs and putting out more new material, then I'm all for it. If they don't want to, then that is fine, but seeing as how they have more new songs coming out on the 'hits' album it doesn't look like they are done quite yet.