New Mike Examiner interview

[Nicko1234]

...Course, if you're trying to talk about Mike's contribution in that time, it's even less...

You could argue that that adds to the complexity of Brian and Mike's relationship couldn't you. When Brian pulled back, Mike lost his collaborator and was cast adrift. From that point on he was always waiting for Brian to be well enough/feel the inclination to work together again.

[modestmaus]

Of course, I would love them to do another new-material album. And I realize what I'm about to say isn't anything that hasn't been said before (and better!) by other people on this board but..

If this has to be it, I am very grateful TWGMTR is the final word. I mean, for awhile it looked like SiP was going to be the last word when it came to original Beach Boys material and that @#*(@$@lightningboltsymboletc. country album wouldn't have been a very pleasant note to end on either. TWGMTR (the song) and Isn't It Time sure are preferable final singles over HEY NOW well its a love thing and Uncle Jesse, etc.

[Andrew G. Doe]

When a final album was announced, my initial reaction, which I'm sure was shared by many here, was along the lines of "extremely high potential for calamity": at best, I was expecting something on a par with KTSA - competent but uninspiring. What we got, even allowing for a slightly mushy center, was truly startling: the first time I heard "FTTBA" I very nearly cried. Hell, I probably did, because it was just orders of magnitude better than it had any real right to be. The entire sequence just floored me, and it still does.

And then we got the tour, and I gave serious thought to believing in miracles, or at least the Easter Bunny.

And that's why I personally don't want to see them attempt another album or tour: re the album, I can't believe they kept the best tracks back (although given this is The Beach Boys...) thus I have to believe that a sequel cannot be as good, or even close, much less surpass. Same goes for the shows, with a frosting of absent surprise factor. Does lightening strike twice, and if it does, can you bottle it ? I sincerely doubt that. A handful of squabbling posters on fora such as this and maybe a weeks worth of silly season press clippings aside, the C50 event ended on a high note as far as Joe Q. Public was concerned. I'd like it to be remembered that way by everyone.

I have no influence on what happens next and given that this IS The Beach Boys, who's to say a second miracle won't happen ? But... tempus fugit. And maybe Fitzgerald was right.

[Cam Mott]

Wow, Mike sure makes it sound like Brian rarely contributed anything to the band from '64 to 2013.

Absolutely. I'd LOVE somebody to defend the "Occasionally, during the last 45 years, he has gotten together with us to do things like the 15 Big Ones album" quote. It is just intellectually dishonest the way Mike talks. Yes, Brian didn't tour all that much, but apparently Mike also forgets stuff like Pet Sounds or the fact that even from 1964 to 2012, Brian wrote almost every one of their hits.

It doesn't personally bother me if Mike doesn't wanna work with the rest of them anymore. He has the right to do what he wants with whoever he wants. But he shouldn't be touring as The Beach Boys if he doesn't wanna work with The Beach Boys. And the onus is on Brian and Al too, if they wanna continue to let a guy who doesn't wanna work with them go out as The Beach Boys. It's a pathetic situation all around.

"Brian Wilson left the Beach Boys – as far as the touring group is concerned – in 1964. Occasionally, during the last 45 years, he has gotten together with us to do things like the 15 Big Ones album. That was 1976."

Is this untrue? 45 years would be since 1968. I suppose it depends on how you quantify "occasionally".

[rab2591]

The "Calibre" of fame that the Beach Boys have? Wtf? Their songs are famous, and their name is famous. That is why Bruce and Mike can tour with the name. You seem to fucking really hate casinos. That's vanity. George Jones plays casinos. Merle Haggard plays casinos. Elvis played Casinos. That's not good enough  for you?  

and...If Ringo toured Casinos as The Beatles everyone would demand their money back when McCartney failed to show up.

I just saw Chris Issak at a Casino.  It was a nice one.  Elvis headlined Vegas.  Big difference.

Mike and Bruce play some dives.  I think it's sad.  The greatest American Rock band reduced to this.  On the heals of the triumphant C50, it's a read come down.  Based on the radio.com poll, I'd say I am in the majority.

Anyway, that's my opinion and I'm stickin to it.  God luck with yours.

Exactly.

[Micha]

I feel impelled to point out that the only "acclaim" that Brian, Alan & David are currently "soaking up" is emanating from forums such as this (and of course The Bloo), more specifically from the Love-hating Brianista (current pejorative usage) contingent. No-one in the mainstream media has said anything one way or the other. For all we know, when push comes to shove they may suck royally.

I'd say the odds that they "suck royally" are very very very low. We will have Brian's band (with Brian), with the bonus of Al's voice and David's guitar and voice...should be an okay show.

I think David is perfectly capable of doing all of Mike's leads. Like all of us here, I'd pay more for those three guys than for a M&B show. I think I'd pay about the same amount of money for a Brian&David show as for a Mike&Bruce&Al show.

The Beach Boys have been dead since Carl died. The C50 Album and tour is like the maniac in a horror movie popping up for one last scare before he finally dies.

And really, that's not the worst thing in the world, because as TWGMTHR showed, working with Mike yields subpar results for Brian. Mike at this point is not good enough lyrically or musically to work with Brian. I don't want to hear diluted work from Brian just to have Mike on it.  I'd rather not have any more Beach Boys albums than to have ones without integrity.

So to me all this yearning for Mike and Brian to play together is wrongheaded, because Mike is a bad fit for what Brian is capable of doing. He would have and always has held Brian back, and Brian has never had the strength of personality or the ability to make Mike shut up and do what he tells him to do.

Now there's a Brianista point of view for you!

[Micha]

I have no influence on what happens next and given that this IS The Beach Boys, who's to say a second miracle won't happen ? But... tempus fugit. And maybe Fitzgerald was right.

After the surprise quality of TWGMTR I believe there could be another good album coming up. Could be all Bill&Sue too, I hope not. My hope is that the MIC box will get them ambitious again.

Oh, and is it possible that Mike likes to tour with his band and likes those guys and doesn't only do it for the money?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Like all of us here, I'd pay more for those three guys than for a M&B show.

Please, don't include me in such a sweeping statement if you don't mind.

[oldsurferdude]

Wow, from what Jon Stebbins has just said about all those marvelous plans that are either no longer possible or are sitting dormant, I think we may have to accept the "end" of the BB as a reunited performing and creative band. This is the low time: we could have had another studio album, 30 more shows, etc. Are we now officially resolved to the knowledge that Radio is the "last" BB album? I want to face the truth bravely, as it were.

I think we're gonna have to get used to if prof. And no matter who wants to rationalize Mike's behavior, Stebbins has pretty much laid on the table that the blame for no new album and no true Beach Boys shows should be laid at Mike's feet, because apparently him and Bruce consider themselves THE BEACH BOYS (as evidenced by Bruce's quote from SeaWorld).

The Beach Boys have been dead since Carl died. The C50 Album and tour is like the maniac in a horror movie popping up for one last scare before he finally dies.

And really, that's not the worst thing in the world, because as TWGMTHR showed, working with Mike yields subpar results for Brian. Mike at this point is not good enough lyrically or musically to work with Brian. I don't want to hear diluted work from Brian just to have Mike on it.  I'd rather not have any more Beach Boys albums than to have ones without integrity.

So to me all this yearning for Mike and Brian to play together is wrongheaded, because Mike is a bad fit for what Brian is capable of doing. He would have and always has held Brian back, and Brian has never had the strength of personality or the ability to make Mike shut up and do what he tells him to do.

You've got it in the sack-Fantastic post. That"s a keeper.

[oldsurferdude]

My point is this, The Beach Boys shouldn't play casinos, period.

And pray tell, who, exactly, elected you God ? Or at least CEO of Brother Records, Inc. ?

I may be many things that are less than perfect, but I don't presume to tell musicians where and where not they may earn their living. Arrogance sir, sheer arrogance.

Who elected you Pope? Shut up! He said. Look up aggogance in Webster's-like your photo?

As mentioned in my reply to Andrew's post, let's cut out the hostility, okay?

Thanks for the cooperation.

No problem but you've got to admit, this was one hellava street fight and straight from the heart of what makes this a great board. Can we do this more often? It really keeps the juices flowing. It's like a shot or two of Jack when things get slow.

[filledeplage]

Wow, from what Jon Stebbins has just said about all those marvelous plans that are either no longer possible or are sitting dormant, I think we may have to accept the "end" of the BB as a reunited performing and creative band. This is the low time: we could have had another studio album, 30 more shows, etc. Are we now officially resolved to the knowledge that Radio is the "last" BB album? I want to face the truth bravely, as it were.

I think we're gonna have to get used to if prof. And no matter who wants to rationalize Mike's behavior, Stebbins has pretty much laid on the table that the blame for no new album and no true Beach Boys shows should be laid at Mike's feet, because apparently him and Bruce consider themselves THE BEACH BOYS (as evidenced by Bruce's quote from SeaWorld).

The Beach Boys have been dead since Carl died. The C50 Album and tour is like the maniac in a horror movie popping up for one last scare before he finally dies.

And really, that's not the worst thing in the world, because as TWGMTHR showed, working with Mike yields subpar results for Brian. Mike at this point is not good enough lyrically or musically to work with Brian. I don't want to hear diluted work from Brian just to have Mike on it.  I'd rather not have any more Beach Boys albums than to have ones without integrity.

So to me all this yearning for Mike and Brian to play together is wrongheaded, because Mike is a bad fit for what Brian is capable of doing. He would have and always has held Brian back, and Brian has never had the strength of personality or the ability to make Mike shut up and do what he tells him to do.

The concept of the death of the Beach Boys after Carl died, absolutely contradicts what the hopeful life-embracing person, I think he was.  He could have spent his last months, secluded, in the lap of luxury, but, chose to spend it as optimistically as possible, performing the music he loved.  And, while, the band might never exist in the same format, they did grieve profoundly and found meaning in renewal and rebirth.  Brian's striking out on his own, bears testimony to that, as well as some of his work in composing, honoring both of his brothers, particularly TLOS.  

The honoring of Dennis and Carl in the C50 event collectively gave fans and the band a place to formally put that love that did not die alongside those two beloved members, but instead spurred the CalSaga genesis, and various tributes to both.  I find that philosophy does not serve either Carl or Dennis. Music is an evolving art and life-form, and all the band versions honor their contributions reverently.  

My bet is that the last thing Carl and Dennis would have wanted would have been to see the music die along with them.  It would deny their future generations to honor and perform the music. I think he would be pleased that his fellow and future musicians/relatives would work so hard to perform the parts he sang, as he was the ultimate "voice" model in both his Band and rock music in general. They do them both, proud. Life changes and goes on.  Their losses forced growth all around.  Growth is life-force.   JMHO

[Lowbacca]

I think "Brianiac" would be more clever.

I picture a Bizarro version of Superman's foe. That'd be one hell of a comic book.  On the other hand maybe I just need to sober up, have a coffee and stop reading the board as the first thing I do after a hard day's night.  Great thread anyway (and I haven't even read that ML interview  ). Long live SmileySmile!

[EgoHanger1966]

Give me a casino gig over that QVC thing last year any day. Now THAT was crass IMO.

That "crass" move got them a #3 chart record.

[Shady]

Could Brian, Al and David put an end to Mike touring as The Beach Boys if they wanted to?

[Nicko1234]

Could Brian, Al and David put an end to Mike touring as The Beach Boys if they wanted to?

David would have no say whatsoever.

[Lowbacca]

Could Brian, Al and David put an end to Mike touring as The Beach Boys if they wanted to?

Theoretically? Sure. But they obviously don't want to (and David has no vote anyway). Each one of them has been enjoying the benefits of the "band situation" for a number of years now. Works for everybody.

Or did I mis-interpret your question?   I've had a couple of cups o' coffee by now but I'm still a tad groggy.

[Shady]

I assumed David had no say but I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Could Brian, Al and David put an end to Mike touring as The Beach Boys if they wanted to?

Theoretically? Sure. But they obviously don't want to (and David has no vote anyway). Each one of them has been enjoying the benefits of the "band situation" for a number of years now. Works for everybody.

Or did I mis-interpret your question?   I've had a couple of cups o' coffee by now but I'm still a tad groggy.

That makes sense. I know they all get a slice financially from the M&B tour, or maybe it's just Brian, idk.

[AndrewHickey]

That makes sense. I know they all get a slice financially from the M&B tour, or maybe it's just Brian, idk.

Not just Brian. Mike's company pays BRI a fee to perform as "The Beach Boys" -- and BRI is owned by a four-way split of Mike, Brian, Al and Carl's estate.

Brian also makes additional money from songwriting royalties from those performances, which Al wouldn't make (except when they perform All This Is That). That would be quite a large slice of Brian's income as well.

Whether they could stop Mike touring as the Beach Boys depends on two things -- firstly, what the original contract between Mike and BRI says (it could say that he has a permanent irrevocable license so long as he sticks to the terms agreed, in which case they'd have to prove he hadn't stuck to the terms), and secondly what position Carl's estate would take (and what happens in the situation of a 50/50 split on the board).

But yes, Brian and Al could probably, if they really wanted to and cared enough, prevent Mike touring as "the Beach Boys". But it would lose them very large amounts of money from the license, plus probably legal fees if Mike challenged, and it's not like they'd be going out on tour as the Beach Boys without Mike -- and Mike would hardly be happier about touring with them then than he would be now.

So the question "could Brian and Al stop Mike touring as the Beach Boys?" basically comes down to "could Brian and Al throw away a substantial income every year for no personal benefit other than pure spite?" -- to which the answer is "yes, but why would they?"

[Kurosawa]

I feel impelled to point out that the only "acclaim" that Brian, Alan & David are currently "soaking up" is emanating from forums such as this (and of course The Bloo), more specifically from the Love-hating Brianista (current pejorative usage) contingent. No-one in the mainstream media has said anything one way or the other. For all we know, when push comes to shove they may suck royally.

I'd say the odds that they "suck royally" are very very very low. We will have Brian's band (with Brian), with the bonus of Al's voice and David's guitar and voice...should be an okay show.

I think David is perfectly capable of doing all of Mike's leads. Like all of us here, I'd pay more for those three guys than for a M&B show. I think I'd pay about the same amount of money for a Brian&David show as for a Mike&Bruce&Al show.

The Beach Boys have been dead since Carl died. The C50 Album and tour is like the maniac in a horror movie popping up for one last scare before he finally dies.

And really, that's not the worst thing in the world, because as TWGMTHR showed, working with Mike yields subpar results for Brian. Mike at this point is not good enough lyrically or musically to work with Brian. I don't want to hear diluted work from Brian just to have Mike on it.  I'd rather not have any more Beach Boys albums than to have ones without integrity.

So to me all this yearning for Mike and Brian to play together is wrongheaded, because Mike is a bad fit for what Brian is capable of doing. He would have and always has held Brian back, and Brian has never had the strength of personality or the ability to make Mike shut up and do what he tells him to do.

Now there's a Brianista point of view for you!

To me, it's just being realistic. Brian has accomplished quite a bit musically in the last 15 years or so, while Mike has done nothing of note and makes a living as a nostalgia act.

[Jim V.]

Theoretically? Sure. But they obviously don't want to (and David has no vote anyway). Each one of them has been enjoying the benefits of the "band situation" for a number of years now. Works for everybody.

Which is why as lame as I think Mike is for touring as The Beach Boys, Brian is basically putting his stamp of approval of the proceedings by voting for the license to go to Mike. Actually he is making it possible for Mike to do it. If he wanted to play hardball he could, but apparently it's not important enough for him.

[Shady]

That makes sense. I know they all get a slice financially from the M&B tour, or maybe it's just Brian, idk.

Not just Brian. Mike's company pays BRI a fee to perform as "The Beach Boys" -- and BRI is owned by a four-way split of Mike, Brian, Al and Carl's estate.

Brian also makes additional money from songwriting royalties from those performances, which Al wouldn't make (except when they perform All This Is That). That would be quite a large slice of Brian's income as well.

Whether they could stop Mike touring as the Beach Boys depends on two things -- firstly, what the original contract between Mike and BRI says (it could say that he has a permanent irrevocable license so long as he sticks to the terms agreed, in which case they'd have to prove he hadn't stuck to the terms), and secondly what position Carl's estate would take (and what happens in the situation of a 50/50 split on the board).

But yes, Brian and Al could probably, if they really wanted to and cared enough, prevent Mike touring as "the Beach Boys". But it would lose them very large amounts of money from the license, plus probably legal fees if Mike challenged, and it's not like they'd be going out on tour as the Beach Boys without Mike -- and Mike would hardly be happier about touring with them then than he would be now.

So the question "could Brian and Al stop Mike touring as the Beach Boys?" basically comes down to "could Brian and Al throw away a substantial income every year for no personal benefit other than pure spite?" -- to which the answer is "yes, but why would they?"

Thanks for that. Very insightful.

It was more curiosity on my part, I know any sort of BB incarnation on the road is better than none at all, financially at least.

[SMiLE Brian]

Who knows, their lawyers could be gridlocked right now on this issue.

[Mike's Beard]

Mike seems to prefer being the big fish in the small pond rather than a small cog in something much bigger. At 70+ years old it really is his prerogative.
In an ideal world they would all remain together and carry on making new music and touring but then, in an ideal world they would have got their collective shits together well over a decade ago and made this happen. It didn't through and the reason it didn't is largely because of one man; Brian Wilson. He did everything he could to separate himself both personally and professionally from the entity that is "The Beach Boys". This is something the Myke bashers tend to conveniently overlook.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I can guarantee this...if Melinda and Jacqueline were in sync and wanting the same thing they would all be working together still.
 

You can guarantee? So, what is the issue or issues that are causing them to not work together pray tell?

[SMiLE Brian]

Mike seems to prefer being the big fish in the small pond rather than a small cog in something much bigger. At 70+ years old it really is his prerogative.
In an ideal world they would all remain together and carry on making new music and touring but then, in an ideal world they would have got their collective shits together well over a decade ago and made this happen. It didn't through and the reason it didn't is largely because of one man; Brian Wilson. He did everything he could to separate himself both personally and professionally from the entity that is "The Beach Boys". This is something the Myke bashers tend to conveniently overlook.

Not in the 1990s when he was freed from Landy, he tried to make an album with the BBs and it didn't pan out. He went solo after sitting through the S&S project.