After 50+ years, what's the final verdict on Mike Love?

[I. Spaceman]

And Roger was so haunted by Syd, he took a long journey just to get to sounding exactly like him (Dark Globe<>The Fletcher Memorial Home).

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Not to bring this up again, but Blondie and Ricky were Beach Boys. If they were billed as such by the rest of the band, then they were legit Beach Boys. It would be different if they were just hired hands for the live shows or session musicians. Can't say it's because they weren't there long enough as they were there about the same amount of time as Dave was initially.  Can't say it's because they aren't family, because neither are Alan or Bruce. Can't say it's because they changed the sound of the band, because that is what happens much of the time when a new member joins a band. There's no good reason to exclude them.

Ricky has said he and Blondie didn't consider themselves Beach Boys.

And Bruce has said he considers himself a hired hand and is only in it for the money , but I still consider him a Beach Boy.

That's cool. As it is cool for me to agree with Ricky and Blondie on the subject of them being out of place within the Beach Boys main group construct.

I can dig that. I do often wonder what would have happened if they stuck around. Would we still gave had 15 Big Ones?

As for the Floyd, I miss Wright's keyboard stylings on the post 75 albums. More than anything else it's that sound I loved especially the 60s ethereal organ sound

Me too! And this is where I really hate the amount of energy the Dave vs Roger/writing credits bullmerda has taken away from being able to appreciate the band in any cohesive way.... If the Animals album didn't have ROGER WROTE EVERYTHING plastered all over it, people might actually say Rick Wright dominated the whole thing.... That long droning section of Dogs that goes on and on and is essentially just keyboards and drums is one of my fave moments in all of Floyd. It really is hypnotic, scary, and beautiful. And that long Rhodes intro  to Sheep is amazing as well.... 

[leggo of my ego]

I guess we are talking about the mans character, there is no argument that BB wouldn't be the BB
without Mike so I will voice my observations.

Over the span of time Mike's actions reveal him to be um...mercenary. (follow the money)

Also while I can imagine what his fears were from Brian's creative direction change
from Surf to Smile, his actions, again based on fear of loss were no doubt pivotal in the sequence
of events that contributed to the demise of the SMiLE lp. When Brian Wilson needed all the support he could get, Mr. Love
went "Murray" on him.

I think his actions make him out to be a very selfish person...a Mean Person, as they say in the Queen's English.

So thats my verdict: Meany!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I guess we are talking about the mans character, there is no argument that BB wouldn't be the BB
without Mike so I will voice my observations.

Over the span of time Mike's actions reveal him to be um...mercenary. (follow the money)

Also while I can imagine what his fears were from Brian's creative direction change
from Surf to Smile, his actions, again based on fear of loss were no doubt pivotal in the sequence
of events that contributed to the demise of the SMiLE lp. When Brian Wilson needed all the support he could get, Mr. Love
went "Murray" on him.

I think his actions make him out to be a very selfish person...a Mean Person, as they say in the Queen's English.

So thats my verdict: Meany!

Final verdict after 50+ years on Mike Love is that in 50+ more years, and no matter how much information/discussion/consideration/soul searching takes place on the issue: we will still get posts exactly like this one.....


Not that I'm dissing Leggo My Ego's opinion..... Just pointing out that this topic seems to be a great big circle/snake eating it's own tail.

[leggo of my ego]

I guess we are talking about the mans character, there is no argument that BB wouldn't be the BB
without Mike so I will voice my observations.

Over the span of time Mike's actions reveal him to be um...mercenary. (follow the money)

Also while I can imagine what his fears were from Brian's creative direction change
from Surf to Smile, his actions, again based on fear of loss were no doubt pivotal in the sequence
of events that contributed to the demise of the SMiLE lp. When Brian Wilson needed all the support he could get, Mr. Love
went "Murray" on him.

I think his actions make him out to be a very selfish person...a Mean Person, as they say in the Queen's English.

So thats my verdict: Meany!

Final verdict after 50+ years on Mike Love is that in 50+ more years, and no matter how much information/discussion/consideration/soul searching takes place on the issue: we will still get posts exactly like this one.....


Not that I'm dissing Leggo My Ego's opinion..... Just pointing out that this topic seems to be a great big circle/snake eating it's own tail.

Thank you sir. At least I was trying to be nice, unlike the You Tube posts that could certainly clouds one's judgement if they believed everything they read! 

I couldnt help but chime with my .02 but I did try to make my post short too! 

[Jason]

Yes, because the ramblings of a mental deficient on YouTube should be indicative of the content of someone's character...

[Mike's Beard]

I have yet to read a nice comment about Mike on youtube.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I've long thought that Mike's image is carefully cultivated and he gets a kick out of the negative opinions. The same way he said he gets a kick out of telling lame jokes on stage just to see the reactions he gets. I think he likes to kick the ants nest.

[Jason]

I've long thought that Mike's image is carefully cultivated and he gets a kick out of the negative opinions. The same way he said he gets a kick out of telling lame jokes on stage just to see the reactions he gets. I think he likes to kick the ants nest.

And yet butthurt Brianistas on the internet think they're really going to bruise his ego by posting ridiculous attacks on his character. He's worth millions, they're probably still sitting in their mothers' basements among semen-stained back issues of Crawdaddy and the Leaf toilet paper. You do the math.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I've long thought that Mike's image is carefully cultivated and he gets a kick out of the negative opinions. The same way he said he gets a kick out of telling lame jokes on stage just to see the reactions he gets. I think he likes to kick the ants nest.

And yet butthurt Brianistas on the internet think they're really going to bruise his ego by posting ridiculous attacks on his character. He's worth millions, they're probably still sitting in their mothers' basements among semen-stained back issues of Crawdaddy and the Leaf toilet paper. You do the math.

Can you..........see me?

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Brian had precisely zilch to do with "Problem Child". 

Oops. I was thinking 'Smart Girls'! My bad!

[Don Malcolm]

I've long thought that Mike's image is carefully cultivated and he gets a kick out of the negative opinions. The same way he said he gets a kick out of telling lame jokes on stage just to see the reactions he gets. I think he likes to kick the ants nest.

And yet butthurt Brianistas on the internet think they're really going to bruise his ego by posting ridiculous attacks on his character. He's worth millions, they're probably still sitting in their mothers' basements among semen-stained back issues of Crawdaddy and the Leaf toilet paper. You do the math.

Can you..........see me?

Not only can he see you, Stephen, he's actually there in the same room with you, only you can't see him...

...Amazing, ain't it?? That's the power of the Smiley Smile board, son, and don't you forget it!!!

But a question: just what on earth could there possibly be in those back issues of CRAWDADDY that would induce anyone to wank off to them? More likely that when you shake 'em, some loose marijuana seeds would spill to the floor...but "semen-stained"? In fact, I can only recall one hot photo of Chaka Khan out of a six-year run of issues...

[Jason Penick]

We Got Love shouldn't have been ditched in favor of Sail On Sailor. I think it should have been included in favor of Leaving This Town. It is at least an upbeat, rocking tune, not a slow synth-solo drag. In my opinion, the only good Ricky/Blondie BB contribution.

No love for Here She Comes?

No, I actually can barely make it through that one.

Someday I hope to understand your extreme dislike for The Flame Ian. To me, they were a tight, melodic band with some interesting arrangements. Blondie Chaplin was a triple threat with his fine vocals, guitar chops and writing ability, and Ricky Faatar was one hell of a drummer who could also write and sing. The fact they emerged from segregated South Africa to ultimately find success Stateside and in the UK only adds to my admiration for those guys.

I kind of get what you're saying about them being a poor fit as full-time Beach Boys, but do you really find nothing to like about their self-titled album for example? Certainly there was far worse music out there.



EDIT: Sorry, since posting this I've seen that you've already taken some drubbing over your position, so feel free not to answer this if the topic's already been beat to death!

[I. Spaceman]

We Got Love shouldn't have been ditched in favor of Sail On Sailor. I think it should have been included in favor of Leaving This Town. It is at least an upbeat, rocking tune, not a slow synth-solo drag. In my opinion, the only good Ricky/Blondie BB contribution.

No love for Here She Comes?

No, I actually can barely make it through that one.

Someday I hope to understand your extreme dislike for The Flame Ian. To me, they were a tight, melodic band with some interesting arrangements. Blondie Chaplin was a triple threat with his fine vocals, guitar chops and writing ability, and Ricky Faatar was one hell of a drummer who could also write and sing. The fact they emerged from segregated South Africa to ultimately find success Stateside and in the UK only adds to my admiration for those guys.

I kind of get what you're saying about them being a poor fit as full-time Beach Boys, but do you really find nothing to like about their self-titled album for example? Certainly there was far worse music out there.



EDIT: Sorry, since posting this I've seen that you've already taken some drubbing over your position, so feel free not to answer this if the topic's already been beat to death!

I think they are very talented guys, and the story of The Flame is an inspiring one. But if their album (and contributions to The Beach Boys) are certainly inoffensive, I don't find them particularly inspired. There was far worse music out there, sure, but there was far better music as well, and for me, too much of it to go with lesser-quality efforts simply because of the Beach Boys association. There are a ton of bands from that time that sound like that, mellow major-label hippie-rock that didn't sell. But, I really do like Blondie and Ricky as sidemen.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I've long thought that Mike's image is carefully cultivated and he gets a kick out of the negative opinions. The same way he said he gets a kick out of telling lame jokes on stage just to see the reactions he gets. I think he likes to kick the ants nest.

And yet butthurt Brianistas on the internet think they're really going to bruise his ego by posting ridiculous attacks on his character. He's worth millions, they're probably still sitting in their mothers' basements among semen-stained back issues of Crawdaddy and the Leaf toilet paper. You do the math.

+ 100 billion!!!!!

[Jason Penick]

I think they are very talented guys, and the story of The Flame is an inspiring one. But if their album (and contributions to The Beach Boys) are certainly inoffensive, I don't find them particularly inspired. There was far worse music out there, sure, but there was far better music as well, and for me, too much of it to go with lesser-quality efforts simply because of the Beach Boys association. There are a ton of bands from that time that sound like that, mellow major-label hippie-rock that didn't sell. But, I really do like Blondie and Ricky as sidemen.

I can dig it. Thanks.