Mike on his dad ...

[leggo of my ego]

Also, I think that when Love Sheet Metal failed, Mike saw the hardships it created in the family on Mt. Vernon & Fairway and he was really affected by that. For life. Sometimes I think that's why he's continued to work on the road all these years almost non-stop. Even while he wasn't on the road, he had projects going outside the Beach Boys in the studio. It's almost like in his head he was always concerned that his career would end at some point and he would end up like his Dad.

I've always thought this very thing too, and suspected that this was one of the main driving forces in Mike's decision making process/personality/life. I think that was the mentality behind "don't f*** with the formula"--he was probably scared of losing the security that the Beach Boys' success had given him (which was totally unexpected in the first place), and reverting to the hardships with which his family was well acquainted. He was also probably driven to help out his parents financially, and didn't want to see his ability to do so slip out of his hands. The unlikely level of success the Beach Boys had, that i imagine he saw as a blessing, must have been on his mind a lot, accompanied by the thought/fear of seeing that slip away. Growing up (and even in the first year of the formation of the Beach Boys), he probably thought that he would stay in the same town doing manual labor and that that was just what was in the cards for his life. Imagine suddenly being a worldwide success that seemingly can do no wrong. And then imagine not being the person running the show, maybe feeling like you have no control of the situation, but you really want things to stay on course, to continue bringing you success, but you can't directly do anything about it because someone else is in charge. This is one of the reasons why i don't get down on Mike for trying to pull Brian back in when Brian was veering off in new musical directions. From a purely artistic standpoint i don't agree with Mike, but at the end of the day these were people with their own struggles and insecurities and baggage, of which we can't ever know the extent because we weren't there then and we aren't them. So in that sense i see where Mike was coming from.

All sounds spot on - but I think its safe to say we know the Mike was ruled by fear and doubt concerning the direction Brian was heading in - and foolishly he moved to try to redeem the situation driven by those fears which resulted in catastrophe.

I am sure Brian would have finished Smile with 100% support from his bandmates.
But thats all water under the bridge.


Oh and Happy 95th B-day Milton Love, hang in there!

[RangeRoverA1]

Mick Jagger's father Joe lived till 93. Ain't no "sloppy Joe".

[J.G. Dev]

I read in Wiki article of Mick Jagger that his father Joe died at age of 93. Good to see that Milton outlived him. Belated Happy Birthday to him hoping he'll reach 100 mark. Great writing from Mike as well! Wirestone is otm, he should definitely publish an autobiography.

Milt Love: "And I'd like to see Joe Jagger get up and do 'I Get Around'!" 

[Shady]

Joe Jagger has always been chicken sh*t to get on stage with Milt Love

[Dancing Bear]

I'm sure Mike loves music as much as anyone here. I also think he believes he has a role in the Beach Boys and he sticks to it with a passion.

[gfac22]

Joe Jagger has always been chicken sh*t to get on stage with Milt Love

 

[SMiLE-addict]

Very nice Mike! You should be thankful to not only have a loving dad, but to have one who's made it to 95, and still going!

[Bean Bag]

I believe that Milt is the one who instilled the work ethic in Mike. Also, I think that when Love Sheet Metal failed, Mike saw the hardships it created in the family on Mt. Vernon & Fairway and he was really affected by that. For life. Sometimes I think that's why he's continued to work on the road all these years almost non-stop. Even while he wasn't on the road, he had projects going outside the Beach Boys in the studio. It's almost like in his head he was always concerned that his career would end at some point and he would end up like his Dad.

Could be wrong. But millionaires have been known to have low points in their careers, sometimes after becoming famous. After 50 years of pumping gas, working in sheet metal, and then The Beach Boys, he's pretty well made sure that he has a home to go home to. Many of them.

Who was it, Milt or Glee who threw Mike's clothes out on the lawn when Mike was kicked out? Wasn't that after he got his girlfriend (later his wife) pregnant?

Absolutely.  Primal fears. 

Mike = money wasn't gonna come in tomorrow
Brian = not good enough
Carl = not enough love in the room
Denny = there is no love...

[RangeRoverA1]

[deleted]

[Mr. Cohen]

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3ud1bp/

[Mr. Cohen]

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3ud1cr/