THE ENDLESS SUMMER WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE BEACH BOYS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR WRAP

[Jim V.]

It's about the missed opportunity of keeping this reunion lineup together.

Was never, ever going to happen, and that's not me saying so based on any insider info I may (or may not) have: it's simple common sense and reasonable business practise. It's called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'. Everyone came on board knowing that the C50 tour would have a finite lifespan, and that knowledge made it easier for all the past nonsense to be, if not forgotten, then laid aside for the duration. Personally, I don't believe the statement that they could have easily booked another 12 shows in the UK, because were that true, then they would have. No-one in this band ever turned down guaranteed income and from what I understand, it was hard enough booking two dates.

It's funny that you say it's never, ever going to happen, but the man who wrote all the classics, the man himself, Brian Wilson, wants it to continue. As does Al Jardine and David Marks. I think I know why you're so sure though. I might be totally wrong (although I think I'm right), but I'm pretty sure your "inside source" is probably Bruce Johnston or somebody close to him, which is why you are so sure about this not continuing. And it's also probably why you stood up for him even when he decided to insult an interviewer, and when he's insulted fans. You don't wanna bite the hand that feeds you. You'll deny it. But you also probably can't admit it even if it is true. Also funny you couldn't answer me what was so very misinformed in my other comment! Regardless though, you're still a great guy to have here Andrew. But I just don't think you are quite on the level with all this. Seems like you are in the corner of one of the groups, which is odd, because usually it seems to me that you usually dispassionately judge the facts.

[Nicko1234]

It's about the missed opportunity of keeping this reunion lineup together.

Was never, ever going to happen, and that's not me saying so based on any insider info I may (or may not) have: it's simple common sense and reasonable business practise. It's called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'. Everyone came on board knowing that the C50 tour would have a finite lifespan, and that knowledge made it easier for all the past nonsense to be, if not forgotten, then laid aside for the duration. Personally, I don't believe the statement that they could have easily booked another 12 shows in the UK, because were that true, then they would have. No-one in this band ever turned down guaranteed income and from what I understand, it was hard enough booking two dates.

It's funny that you say it's never, ever going to happen, but the man who wrote all the classics, the man himself, Brian Wilson, wants it to continue. As does Al Jardine and David Marks. I think I know why you're so sure though. I might be totally wrong (although I think I'm right), but I'm pretty sure your "inside source" is probably Bruce Johnston or somebody close to him, which is why you are so sure about this not continuing. And it's also probably why you stood up for him even when he decided to insult an interviewer, and when he's insulted fans. You don't wanna bite the hand that feeds you. You'll deny it. But you also probably can't admit it even if it is true. Also funny you couldn't answer me what was so very misinformed in my other comment! Regardless though, you're still a great guy to have here Andrew. But I just don't think you are quite on the level with all this. Seems like you are in the corner of one of the groups, which is odd, because usually it seems to me that you usually dispassionately judge the facts.

You`ve misquoted Andrew there surely...

He stated that it, `WAS never, ever going to happen`. You`ve changed that to the future tense.

Andrew is surely right in that there is no way that this tour was ever going to carry on indefinitely with Brian and the other guys wanting to play 100+ shows every year. That`s why Mike and Bruce going out again was always extremely likely.

It doesn`t mean that the recent configuration couldn`t do a much smaller tour next year or some recording though.

[oldsurferdude]

There is reason to be joyous about the reunion tour-it made the Myke and Bruth show incredibly more obsolete than it was before the 50th tour. Don't give a sh*t 'bout any license or who gets paid what-M&B are the most devious fraud act in the entertainment industry. Anyone who claims to be a "hardcore, balls to the wall" fan and subscribes to the authenticity of this masquerade because of this "it's all about the music" crap is severely off course.

[Jim V.]

It's about the missed opportunity of keeping this reunion lineup together.

Was never, ever going to happen, and that's not me saying so based on any insider info I may (or may not) have: it's simple common sense and reasonable business practise. It's called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'. Everyone came on board knowing that the C50 tour would have a finite lifespan, and that knowledge made it easier for all the past nonsense to be, if not forgotten, then laid aside for the duration. Personally, I don't believe the statement that they could have easily booked another 12 shows in the UK, because were that true, then they would have. No-one in this band ever turned down guaranteed income and from what I understand, it was hard enough booking two dates.

It's funny that you say it's never, ever going to happen, but the man who wrote all the classics, the man himself, Brian Wilson, wants it to continue. As does Al Jardine and David Marks. I think I know why you're so sure though. I might be totally wrong (although I think I'm right), but I'm pretty sure your "inside source" is probably Bruce Johnston or somebody close to him, which is why you are so sure about this not continuing. And it's also probably why you stood up for him even when he decided to insult an interviewer, and when he's insulted fans. You don't wanna bite the hand that feeds you. You'll deny it. But you also probably can't admit it even if it is true. Also funny you couldn't answer me what was so very misinformed in my other comment! Regardless though, you're still a great guy to have here Andrew. But I just don't think you are quite on the level with all this. Seems like you are in the corner of one of the groups, which is odd, because usually it seems to me that you usually dispassionately judge the facts.

You`ve misquoted Andrew there surely...

He stated that it, `WAS never, ever going to happen`. You`ve changed that to the future tense.

Andrew is surely right in that there is no way that this tour was ever going to carry on indefinitely with Brian and the other guys wanting to play 100+ shows every year. That`s why Mike and Bruce going out again was always extremely likely.

It doesn`t mean that the recent configuration couldn`t do a much smaller tour next year or some recording though.

Didn't exactly misquote him. From the beginning he has said that the reunion would not keep on. Brian Wilson on the other hand has been saying he wants it to continue though. Isn't that weird that even though Brian Wilson wants to keep it going, it supposedly won't? I'm not saying the tour should carry on indefinitely. However, maybe they could come to the agreement that they should act like a real band again and not have two versions of the same group out there. That instead of grubbing more money up flogging the the name around, instead Mike and Bruce could actually try to write some good material and contribute to the next album? How about that?

I have no problem with Mike and Bruce going out and touring as "The Beach Boys" if Brian, Al, and Carl's estate think that it's okay. However, if Brian is bummed about it and Al's trying to convince Mike not to do it, since they wanna keep the group going, I think that is what's messed up. If Brian was ready to get back to his solo career then I'd say fine. But when 3/5 of the group wants to continue with The Beach Boys, but the other two don't but then go on tour as "The Beach Boys" well then....that just doesn't make any fuckin' sense.

[18thofMay]

Al has been all over Facebook wanting this to go on.

[Shady]

Kudos to the person who made this!

[Nicko1234]

Didn't exactly misquote him. From the beginning he has said that the reunion would not keep on. Brian Wilson on the other hand has been saying he wants it to continue though. Isn't that weird that even though Brian Wilson wants to keep it going, it supposedly won't? I'm not saying the tour should carry on indefinitely. However, maybe they could come to the agreement that they should act like a real band again and not have two versions of the same group out there. That instead of grubbing more money up flogging the the name around, instead Mike and Bruce could actually try to write some good material and contribute to the next album? How about that?

I have no problem with Mike and Bruce going out and touring as "The Beach Boys" if Brian, Al, and Carl's estate think that it's okay. However, if Brian is bummed about it and Al's trying to convince Mike not to do it, since they wanna keep the group going, I think that is what's messed up. If Brian was ready to get back to his solo career then I'd say fine. But when 3/5 of the group wants to continue with The Beach Boys, but the other two don't but then go on tour as "The Beach Boys" well then....that just doesn't make any f***in' sense.

There`s nothing weird about it and it makes complete sense.

Mike and Bruce play 120+ concerts every year. They always have and until they drop they probably always will. Brian doesn`t and never will.

Therefore while Brian may want the current group to continue, what would that entail? Taking several months off now while Brian maybe rests, writes some songs and plans a new album perhaps. Meanwhile Mike and Bruce would be twiddling their thumbs at home. That was never going to happen. That doesn`t mean that Mike and Bruce and vehemently opposed to doing some recording in the future or that they would never play again in the recent configuration. It just means that they aren`t going to sit around at home waiting for that to happen.

You may be right btw that Bruce has spoken to AGD. But as Bruce has been saying this in the press since the tour began that needn`t be the case...

[Rocker]

I don't want to sound corny, but The Beach Boys did present themselves as a TEAM in the interviews and the shows. You take one or two members off of that team and now you have a couple of individuals. It's no longer The Beach Boys, it's Mike and Al and David and whoever.....That's when the problems begin.

I don't think it sounds corny in any way. I can agree with that quote.
All in all I think you, Sheriff John Stone, and I have the same thoughts but come to a different end result at times. Not to talk down other members/posters in this thread (please don't think that way guys!!) but your posts seem like having a real process of thought which I can follow very much compared to mine, although - as mentioned - I come to a different result. But that is probably the problem about it all in some way...

[Jim V.]

Didn't exactly misquote him. From the beginning he has said that the reunion would not keep on. Brian Wilson on the other hand has been saying he wants it to continue though. Isn't that weird that even though Brian Wilson wants to keep it going, it supposedly won't? I'm not saying the tour should carry on indefinitely. However, maybe they could come to the agreement that they should act like a real band again and not have two versions of the same group out there. That instead of grubbing more money up flogging the the name around, instead Mike and Bruce could actually try to write some good material and contribute to the next album? How about that?

I have no problem with Mike and Bruce going out and touring as "The Beach Boys" if Brian, Al, and Carl's estate think that it's okay. However, if Brian is bummed about it and Al's trying to convince Mike not to do it, since they wanna keep the group going, I think that is what's messed up. If Brian was ready to get back to his solo career then I'd say fine. But when 3/5 of the group wants to continue with The Beach Boys, but the other two don't but then go on tour as "The Beach Boys" well then....that just doesn't make any f***in' sense.

There`s nothing weird about it and it makes complete sense.

Mike and Bruce play 120+ concerts every year. They always have and until they drop they probably always will. Brian doesn`t and never will.

Therefore while Brian may want the current group to continue, what would that entail? Taking several months off now while Brian maybe rests, writes some songs and plans a new album perhaps. Meanwhile Mike and Bruce would be twiddling their thumbs at home. That was never going to happen. That doesn`t mean that Mike and Bruce and vehemently opposed to doing some recording in the future or that they would never play again in the recent configuration. It just means that they aren`t going to sit around at home waiting for that to happen.

You may be right btw that Bruce has spoken to AGD. But as Bruce has been saying this in the press since the tour began that needn`t be the case...

I'm not blaming Mike and Bruce for wanting to continue on. But if they want to tour as "The Beach Boys" now, or in the future, they would probably be well served not to piss off both Brian and Al, since those 2 are much more powerful BRI-wise than Mike and Bruce since, there are two votes between Brian and Al, but only one between Mike and Bruce. So if they do wanna do some touring and not piss anybody off, and not "dilute" the brand name as Mike claims he doesn't wanna do, then they can go out as the "Endless Summer Beach Party Spirit of America Band". Or maybe they could work something out with Al and Brian where those guys can work on new material with Dave while Mike and his lackey can go on tour if they want.

[Nicko1234]

I'm not blaming Mike and Bruce for wanting to continue on. But if they want to tour as "The Beach Boys" now, or in the future, they would probably be well served not to piss off both Brian and Al, since those 2 are much more powerful BRI-wise than Mike and Bruce since, there are two votes between Brian and Al, but only one between Mike and Bruce. So if they do wanna do some touring and not piss anybody off, and not "dilute" the brand name as Mike claims he doesn't wanna do, then they can go out as the "Endless Summer Beach Party Spirit of America Band". Or maybe they could work something out with Al and Brian where those guys can work on new material with Dave while Mike and his lackey can go on tour if they want.

The Endless Summer Beach Band doesn`t sell the required tickets. It`s not an option.

You`re right that Brian and whoever can work on new material as Mike and Bruce tour and Mike seems open to that. Which is one of the reasons why this announcement isn`t that big a deal.

[BB Universe]

A few comments/thoughts on the topic (which may to an extent reiterate what others have already said):

 - There's a disconnect between Mike and Bruce who want to play 100 or more shows a year and probably Brian and Al who want to do less (not sure what Dave's position would be). So, what would happen when M & B say "the Beach Boys" are booking that many shows and the others say something like "we'll I'm not doing all of them". (Remember, Mike has the license...[and, I wonder if there must have been some agreement to the license to let the name be used in the 50 Year Celebration configuration] ). The principals are obviously not of the same mind on this topic.

 - Stepping back for a moment, its interesting to consider whether the problem here is that BRI allows the name to be licensed. On the one hand it is a revenue stream to the BRI member/owners. On the other hand it permits less than all to go out under the name and therein creates the issue at hand.

 - In this sense the Beach Boys are perhaps a bit unique from other "super" name groups. In other cases the most dominant performer usually tours when that group is on tour and when (s)he doesn't perform the name isn't used (The Who; Rollling Stones; come to mind; exception may have been Fleetwood Mack in the late 80's early 90's but Mick was part of the touring group, Stevie et. al. not). Here, there are 2 key people who are of different minds on touring.

 - In some other cases ownership of the name wasn't clear and resulted in litigation over its use.  Here, the name is owned but available for license - which causes this issue. The touring entity probably sets the rules as to how to participate (ie. if you aren't going to do all the shows, you aren't a part).

 - All this creates an interesting situation to say the least.

[Jonathan Blum]

A few comments/thoughts on the topic (which may to an extent reiterate what others have already said):

 - There's a disconnect between Mike and Bruce who want to play 100 or more shows a year and probably Brian and Al who want to do less (not sure what Dave's position would be).

FWIW, from what he said in Sydney, Dave's position would seem to be that he's up for doing more with the band, but that this tour was a pretty long and intense slog -- he might be up for another tour like this (or shorter), but not the full-blown year-round endless summer...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[Custom Machine]

It's called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'.

The Beach Boys in concert going from main members Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, and David back to just Mike and Bruce is called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'?  Since the addition of Scott Totten and John Cowsill, the Mike and Bruce shows have been really great, but the reunited Beach Boys shows have been pure magic.

How does over saturating the market and going from pure magic to really great qualify as 'not diluting the magic of the brand'?  The 'magic of the brand' is definitely suffering in the public's eye when reports have Al, David, and no less than Brian Wilson interested in continuing, but being told they don't currently have that option.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Kudos to the person who made this!

The one on the bottom looks like a promotional photo for a bad CBS buddy sitcom.

[Mikie]

This is a good one.  And right on the money!

[Wirestone]

We do have four parties -- Brian, Al, Carl's estate and Mike. Assuming that Brian and Al don't want to tour as much as Mike, it would be difficult for them to refuse him the license on financial grounds, especially if they get paid a percentage of his revenue. But there are creative matters and egos involved now, which means it's harder to consider dispassionately.

The main dynamic in all of this is Mike and Brian. If Brian wants to end this, he can. He would surely have Al on his side. If he wants to force Mike to change, he probably could. But nothing in Brian's past suggests he would be quite so aggressive as this. He knows how to deal with Mike. He knows Mike lives for this.

So what happens? Brian rests and records. Mike and Bruce tour. Al stews, and possibly plays with some other combination of the guys. At a certain point next year, the invitations to record and / or write come in. And we might see the machine move. But I guess I just can't see Brian ever saying that Mike couldn't use the name on the road. I don't think he'd do it, even if he wants to tour and record with the group indefinitely. And I don't think either Mike or Brian think of Al as crucial enough to change their plans for the group.

[SMiLE Brian]

There is reason to be joyous about the reunion tour-it made the Myke and Bruth show incredibly more obsolete than it was before the 50th tour. Don't give a sh*t 'bout any license or who gets paid what-M&B are the most devious fraud act in the entertainment industry. Anyone who claims to be a "hardcore, balls to the wall" fan and subscribes to the authenticity of this masquerade because of this "it's all about the music" crap is severely off course.

Oldsurferdude is the real BBs fan through the years. Brian Wilson is the BBs with the help of Carl, Dennis, Al ,Mike, David, and Bruce. Mike Love isn't the real BBs alone and really is an annoyance when Brian doesn't tour with him and call him out for being a loudmouth

[Awesoman]

Here's another article:

http://www.montereyherald.com/living/ci_21596502/beach-boys-tour-ending-bad-vibrations

[HeyJude]

It's interesting. While I doubt Mike cares much about the backlash they are seeing right now, which will probably blow over at some point, it's certainly not a positive thing.

I think it probably would have totally flown under the radar, at least in terms of these media outlets, if Mike had just waited until the new year, or even just later this year, to pick up touring again. I think some of what makes this just appear so negative is the idea that he's literally going back to his old band within days of the reunion ending.

I'd be curious to know how much Mike's PR folks/agent saw this negative press coming. As I said, long-term, it probably isn't going to be a huge deal. But as I said before, I don't know if anybody in Mike's camp explained to him that he had more positive buzz from even longtime curmugeonly fans than he had had in decades for doing this reunion tour. I know, he probably doesn't know and/or doesn't care. 

[Aegir]

at least with the Mike & Bruce shows there's a chance you can meet the band without dropping another three paychecks on the ticket.

[SMiLE Brian]

I think this tour has reawaken the love for the real BBs and Mike's touring outfit is unprepared for this sentiment.

[HeyJude]

I'm also finding it interesting that a lot of comment suggesting the disconnect between Mike/Bruce and the others is based on upon the idea that the others don't want to do the 120 show per year slog. That may well be true. But why does Mike/Bruce or any BB lineup have to do that many shows? I don't get using that idea as a baseline for this. Don't get me wrong, some of the reasons at least that Mike does so many shows are well established. But there's nothing anywhere that says that many shows have to take place.

[Shady]

Maybe were all forgetting Mike has a few ex-wives to pay off 

[Nicko1234]

I'm also finding it interesting that a lot of comment suggesting the disconnect between Mike/Bruce and the others is based on upon the idea that the others don't want to do the 120 show per year slog. That may well be true. But why does Mike/Bruce or any BB lineup have to do that many shows? I don't get using that idea as a baseline for this. Don't get me wrong, some of the reasons at least that Mike does so many shows are well established. But there's nothing anywhere that says that many shows have to take place.

Mike doesn`t have to but he wants to. It`s what he does and has been since the 60s. He`s not going to stop until he drops...

[CarlTheVoice]

This shouldn't be news at all. We knew this a few months ago, the reunion was never billed as a permanent thing and we all knew the London gigs would be the last ones. What has changed, apart from the fact that Brian's camp want to push this?

They have put on a wonderful tour, released a brilliant album and gained more respect from the public - why risk carrying on and losing that touch?

I love the Beach Boys and would love to see them more often, but I also don't know why this has been made into a new story.