New Mike Examiner interview

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I am no fan of ML and I interacted with the guy and it wasn't pleasant, on multiple levels.

That said, I think he still does a great job as front man and sings pretty well still. Brian is THE MAN but his voice is not  good. Bruce can still sing and I don't believe his mic is ever turned off (except when the board guy turns it down for hand claps)..

My problem with the Mike/Bruce show for me is primarily the number of seedy, crappy venues they play. Based on my personal, first hand knowledge, I am of the opinion they don't tour for the money or to reach out to fans in remote places. It's a boys club ongoing party and that's what they love. That's why they have Stamos in when they can.

With Brian, Al and David along, there is too much visibility on the band. Essentially,  Mike and Bruce have way more fun doin their own thing.
Probably why they never let Al back in the band. They find him a killjoy maybe.

So,  Mike and Bruce are still having sex with groupies (urghh, what a horrific thought) and Al doesn't like this. Is this the bare bones (pun intended) of what you mean?

And when you said you "interacted" with Mike and it "wasn't pleasant, on multiple levels" I shuddered. Please put my mind at rest.

[Wirestone]

I think what was so wonderful about the C50 -- and so disappointing -- is that it granted longtime BW partisans and group fans a peek into the best of all possible worlds.

Imagine a band that never splintered. Imagine a band that had kept recording and put out interesting albums through the 80s, 90s and 00s. Imagine a band that consistently played to big, enthusiastic crowds and yet still had serious music-geek cred. Imagine a group that functioned and played an evolving setlist night after night after night.

The C50 tour (and the album, without which it all would have seemed rote) made this whole alternate timeline, this alternate reality, seem possible. It's hard to give that up, even if you know it's unrealistic, even if you know it's something we created through our collective hopes. That's why Brian wanted to keep going, too, because this fantasy benefits him most of all -- imagine if you never fell ill, if you could keep your band going, if you were onstage as part of an amazing group night after night. Remember, this is the man who wrote, "I love my fantasy ... just don't call it reality, oh no."

Thus, Mike wanting to return to reality seems like a betrayal, because we don't want to return to reality. Mike is telling us, as he always has, that we have to wake up, that other things matter besides pure artistic satisfaction. You can't escape through drugs or imagination. You have to deal with the here and now, and that means that things have limits, that projects have ends, and that things are not always patched up.

[Mikie]

Honestly how long do you think they could have possibly kept this thing rolling? Sooner or later I'm certain Brian would have jacked it in.

"Jack it in" or "pack it in?"

Tell you the truth, I'm a little surprised Brian made it to the end of the C50 tour. Saw him in Berkeley in June and his back was really giving him problems. He was walking around gingerly like Walter Brennan on "The Real McCoys" and sitting down as much as possible. And I was also surprised about what he said after the tour. I thought maybe he would be glad it was over and could rest for a few months before going out on the road again. He's been seeing a Chiro and/or surgeon for awhile now about his back.

[SMiLE Brian]

Great post Wirestone, really sums up the fundamental differences between BW and ML.

[filledeplage]

You're young and going to college on the East Coast...

That explains a lot.

Maybe we all should take this bit of info and step back and ask ourselves: if I was young and in college and a massive Beach Boys fan while all my college friends are blasting Zep, The Stones and The Beatles in their dorm rooms and going on and on about how superior those bands are: the fact that Mike/Bruce are playing SeaWorld and dumpy casinos would not help my argument that The Beach Boys deserve to be placed on the same level as those other bands.... Simple as that. And when you're young and in college, such discussions about music really mean a lot! I mean, they never stop meaning a lot, but at that time in your life, they can take on epic proportions.....

The fact that we went from the C50 tour to SeaWorld sucks. Yes, we can make the necessary excuses and give The Bruce Boys a pass, but it still sucks as a fan in many ways.... That's all. And it is OK to express this feeling....

It is beyond great that young people are interested in the Boys.  There are advantages and disadvantages.  First, they have a network of like-minded folk, where they can ask for info, guidance, and scholars for history.  Desper, Doe, Stebbins, Hinsche.  In those late 60's and early 70's days it was really isolating, except for the explosion of fm radio as guidance and validation for being a Boys fan.

Second, they have a band that NOW has the cred that the "veterans" yearned for.  

Third, Disney/SeaWorld venues were not even built, and few casinos, existed outside of Vegas.  Borgata is a venue of the Touring Band as C50.  Woodstock, from the original is now Bethel Woods.  The music is more "comfortable" than camping out.  And the "outhouses" have marble-type walls.  

Fourth, in my opinion, there is no shame in whatever venue you perform in, as long as it is professional, rehearsed and the audience is engaged in the music.  This is a position of, "No apology, necessary."  

These young people are blessed.  There are rock and roll history classes, get course credit, and can expound their scholarly research on the Band, and chronicle their history, with box set sessions releases, of both SMiLE and Pet Sounds, global film footage, and the re-release of vinyl!  Cool beyond belief!  

[drbeachboy]

Great post Wirestone, really sums up the fundamental differences between BW and ML.

A good way of seeing the Artist versus the Entertainer. Good stuff, indeed.

[Mikie]

So,  Mike and Bruce are still having sex with groupies (ugh, what a horrific thought) and Al doesn't like this. Is this the bare bones (pun intended) of what you mean?

So far we have Bonneville Mariner's excellent reasons for Mike not to continue the C50:

1. The logistics of bringing all the elements together for another tour

2. Mike's preference for light and efficient touring

3. Personal differences/hostilities between parties

Should we add a 4Th and mention Mike's indiscretions or leave that for another day? Should this issue be brought out into the open on this thread or regard it as speculation and not go there?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

You're young and going to college on the East Coast...

That explains a lot.

Maybe we all should take this bit of info and step back and ask ourselves: if I was young and in college and a massive Beach Boys fan while all my college friends are blasting Zep, The Stones and The Beatles in their dorm rooms and going on and on about how superior those bands are: the fact that Mike/Bruce are playing SeaWorld and dumpy casinos would not help my argument that The Beach Boys deserve to be placed on the same level as those other bands.... Simple as that. And when you're young and in college, such discussions about music really mean a lot! I mean, they never stop meaning a lot, but at that time in your life, they can take on epic proportions.....

The fact that we went from the C50 tour to SeaWorld sucks. Yes, we can make the necessary excuses and give The Bruce Boys a pass, but it still sucks as a fan in many ways.... That's all. And it is OK to express this feeling....

It is beyond great that young people are interested in the Boys.  There are advantages and disadvantages.  First, they have a network of like-minded folk, where they can ask for info, guidance, and scholars for history.  Desper, Doe, Stebbins, Hinsche.  In those late 60's and early 70's days it was really isolating, except for the explosion of fm radio as guidance and validation for being a Boys fan.

Second, they have a band that NOW has the cred that the "veterans" yearned for.  

Third, Disney/SeaWorld venues were not even built, and few casinos, existed outside of Vegas.  Borgata is a venue of the Touring Band as C50.  Woodstock, from the original is now Bethel Woods.  The music is more "comfortable" than camping out.  And the "outhouses" have marble-type walls.  

Fourth, in my opinion, there is no shame in whatever venue you perform in, as long as it is professional, rehearsed and the audience is engaged in the music.  This is a position of, "No apology, necessary."  

These young people are blessed.  There are rock and roll history classes, get course credit, and can expound their scholarly research on the Band, and chronicle their history, with box set sessions releases, of both SMiLE and Pet Sounds, global film footage, and the re-release of vinyl!  Cool beyond belief!  

There is nothing cool at all about your most beloved band playing SeaWorld: free with admission along with chicken wings and beer...... Sorry.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Great post Wirestone, really sums up the fundamental differences between BW and ML.

A good way of seeing the Artist versus the Entertainer. Good stuff, indeed.

being an entertainer IS art

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I know I brought it up, but I genuinely wondered if that was what (s)he meant.

I tend to agree though Mikie, probably nicer if we don't go there  

[drbeachboy]

So,  Mike and Bruce are still having sex with groupies (ugh, what a horrific thought) and Al doesn't like this. Is this the bare bones (pun intended) of what you mean?

So far we have Bonneville Mariner's excellent reasons for Mike not to continue the C50:

1. The logistics of bringing all the elements together for another tour

2. Mike's preference for light and efficient touring

3. Personal differences/hostilities between parties

Should we add a 4Th and mention Mike's indiscretions or leave that for another day? Should this issue be brought out into the open on this thread or regard it as just speculation and just not go there?

This makes me think that maybe Mike had to drop Brian, Al & Dave  just so he could afford to travel with all that Viagra.

[AndrewHickey]

Fourth, in my opinion, there is no shame in whatever venue you perform in, as long as it is professional, rehearsed and the audience is engaged in the music.  This is a position of, "No apology, necessary."  

Absolutely. If the band are putting on a good show, then it doesn't matter where it is -- in fact, in some ways it's *more* admirable to give it their all when they're playing somewhere that isn't as supposedly-classy as the Albert Hall or somewhere.

As for Pinder's argument... I've never seen my Beach Boys fandom as something that needed defending, not even when I was in university and the most recent thing anyone I knew had heard from them was Fun Fun Fun with Status Quo. And even if I did, it's not the responsibility of anyone in the band to help me in that defence -- it'd be my problem, not theirs.

[SMiLE Brian]

I know I brought it up, but I genuinely wondered if that was what (s)he meant.

I tend to agree though Mikie, probably nicer if we don't go there  

Its true that Mike and Bruce are still major party boys, but thats all I want to say either.

[AndrewHickey]

There is nothing cool at all about your most beloved band playing SeaWorld: free with admission along with chicken wings and beer...... Sorry.

Depends if you like chicken wings and beer, I suppose. Certainly when I told my wife (a non-fan) about the endless discussion over that show, she said "I'd go to see that! Sounds a lot more fun than the shows you went to last year."

[filledeplage]

I think what was so wonderful about the C50 -- and so disappointing -- is that it granted longtime BW partisans and group fans a peek into the best of all possible worlds.

Imagine a band that never splintered. Imagine a band that had kept recording and put out interesting albums through the 80s, 90s and 00s. Imagine a band that consistently played to big, enthusiastic crowds and yet still had serious music-geek cred. Imagine a group that functioned and played an evolving setlist night after night after night.

The C50 tour (and the album, without which it all would have seemed rote) made this whole alternate timeline, this alternate reality, seem possible. It's hard to give that up, even if you know it's unrealistic, even if you know it's something we created through our collective hopes. That's why Brian wanted to keep going, too, because this fantasy benefits him most of all -- imagine if you never fell ill, if you could keep your band going, if you were onstage as part of an amazing group night after night. Remember, this is the man who wrote, "I love my fantasy ... just don't call it reality, oh no."

Thus, Mike wanting to return to reality seems like a betrayal, because we don't want to return to reality. Mike is telling us, as he always has, that we have to wake up, that other things matter besides pure artistic satisfaction. You can't escape through drugs or imagination. You have to deal with the here and now, and that means that things have limits, that projects have ends, and that things are not always patched up.

Wirestone - all of that "imagining" is great, but the real triumph of C50 as I see it, was they all had become 50 year survivors.  They lost much, each of them, siblings, band mates, etc., public opinion ups and downs, rejection in the States, lack of confidence from the record industry, and yet came back, on many levels, and more than once.  

C50 reminded me of a roller coaster ride, thrilling, and over before you could blink, yet, it was likely an exhausting undertaking, high profile and in the "fishbowl."  If they take that ride again, they all need to be on board.  But, each band got a chance to see a slice of the other's modus operandi. They must have learned a great deal.

[Mikie]

I know I brought it up, but I genuinely wondered if that was what (s)he meant.

I tend to agree though Mikie, probably nicer if we don't go there  

Yeah, maybe you're right. Some things you just don't.........touch. 'Course it never stopped us from talking about Dennis. But again, Dennis is at the bottom of the Pacific now.....

P.S. Surfrider is a guy.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

There is nothing cool at all about your most beloved band playing SeaWorld: free with admission along with chicken wings and beer...... Sorry.

Depends if you like chicken wings and beer, I suppose. Certainly when I told my wife (a non-fan) about the endless discussion over that show, she said "I'd go to see that! Sounds a lot more fun than the shows you went to last year."

Chicken wings and beer are great, but Mike/Bruce thrown in might not help my appetite.

[filledeplage]

You're young and going to college on the East Coast...

That explains a lot.

Maybe we all should take this bit of info and step back and ask ourselves: if I was young and in college and a massive Beach Boys fan while all my college friends are blasting Zep, The Stones and The Beatles in their dorm rooms and going on and on about how superior those bands are: the fact that Mike/Bruce are playing SeaWorld and dumpy casinos would not help my argument that The Beach Boys deserve to be placed on the same level as those other bands.... Simple as that. And when you're young and in college, such discussions about music really mean a lot! I mean, they never stop meaning a lot, but at that time in your life, they can take on epic proportions.....

The fact that we went from the C50 tour to SeaWorld sucks. Yes, we can make the necessary excuses and give The Bruce Boys a pass, but it still sucks as a fan in many ways.... That's all. And it is OK to express this feeling....

It is beyond great that young people are interested in the Boys.  There are advantages and disadvantages.  First, they have a network of like-minded folk, where they can ask for info, guidance, and scholars for history.  Desper, Doe, Stebbins, Hinsche.  In those late 60's and early 70's days it was really isolating, except for the explosion of fm radio as guidance and validation for being a Boys fan.

Second, they have a band that NOW has the cred that the "veterans" yearned for.  

Third, Disney/SeaWorld venues were not even built, and few casinos, existed outside of Vegas.  Borgata is a venue of the Touring Band as C50.  Woodstock, from the original is now Bethel Woods.  The music is more "comfortable" than camping out.  And the "outhouses" have marble-type walls.  

Fourth, in my opinion, there is no shame in whatever venue you perform in, as long as it is professional, rehearsed and the audience is engaged in the music.  This is a position of, "No apology, necessary."  

These young people are blessed.  There are rock and roll history classes, get course credit, and can expound their scholarly research on the Band, and chronicle their history, with box set sessions releases, of both SMiLE and Pet Sounds, global film footage, and the re-release of vinyl!  Cool beyond belief!  

There is nothing cool at all about your most beloved band playing SeaWorld: free with admission along with chicken wings and beer...... Sorry.

We weren't old enough to get a beer...those old venues didn't have liquor licenses.  

What is cooler than the Boys and a "frosty sociable" during intermission?

Bring it on!

[bgas]

I know I brought it up, but I genuinely wondered if that was what (s)he meant.

I tend to agree though Mikie, probably nicer if we don't go there  

Yeah, maybe you're right. Some things you just don't.........touch. 'Course it never stopped us from talking about Dennis. But again, Dennis is at the bottom of the Pacific now.....

P.S. Surfrider is a guy.

Dennis is nowhere near the bottom of the Pacific; if anything he's out surfing somewhere

[Nicko1234]

Should we add a 4Th and mention Mike's indiscretions or leave that for another day? Should this issue be brought out into the open on this thread or regard it as speculation and not go there?

It's been mentioned numerous times and of course one of the perks of touring for Mike is that he gets to have sex with stacks of young women. The same as it is for many other touring musicians.

[Pretty Funky]

I would say this threads days are numbered!

[Sheriff John Stone]

A naive question I guess....It was brought to our attention that Mike's wife was on the C50 tour and (cough) calling the shots. Does she not tour with Mike on the M & B  tours?

[SMiLE Brian]

I think she stays home for the M&B tours.

[Nicko1234]

A naive question I guess....It was brought to our attention that Mike's wife was on the C50 tour and (cough) calling the shots. Does she not tour with Mike on the M & B  tours?

Occasionally possibly.

But at some shows Mike will scan the crowd before the show starts and get one of the roadies to ask a young lady or two to go backstage to meet him. Then after the show they will return. I think we can guess it is not to trade recipes with his wife.

[AndrewHickey]

A naive question I guess....It was brought to our attention that Mike's wife was on the C50 tour and (cough) calling the shots. Does she not tour with Mike on the M & B  tours?

Well, either:
She goes and doesn't care what Mike gets up to,
She doesn't go and doesn't care what Mike gets up to,
She doesn't go, does care but doesn't know what he gets up to or
He gets up to nothing because he's an old man and the rumours are just that.

We can probably discount the third option at least, and which of the other three options it is is their concern and not ours.