Some cool BAD quotes...

[Howie Edelson]

From my nationally syndicated feed...

BRIAN WILSON BACK ON THE ROAD WITH AL JARDINE AND DAVID MARKS

by Howie Edelson


To anyone who has followed the Beach Boys over the past half century, it really comes as no surprise that less than one year after their critically acclaimed 50th anniversary world tour, the group has split into to two separate touring factions. On Saturday night (July 20th), Brian Wilson -- with fellow group co-founders Al Jardine and David Marks -- kicked off a seven-city mini-tour in Atlantic City, New Jersey's The Grand. Mike Love, who controls the license to the Beach Boys name, has been criticized for exercising his option to tour with his usual side musicians under the Beach Boys moniker following the group's reunion tour, which featured all the surviving founders onstage -- Love, Wilson, Jardine, and Marks -- along with longtime veteran and Love's sidekick on the road, Bruce Johnston.

Wilson's new tour, which features his backing band of the past 14 years, performed a 28-song Beach Boys-heavy setlist -- which included two songs from the band's 2012 Top Three comeback album, That's Why God Made The Radio. Other highlights and surprises included the acapella introduction to the Beach Boys' 1967 Smile album -- "Our Prayer," David Marks taking the lead on "Summertime Blues" -- which he performed with the late-Carl Wilson on the group's 1962 debut album Surfin' Safari, and the lead on the Dennis Wilson favorite "Little Bird" -- which hadn't been performed at a Beach Boys show since 1968. The setlist also featured such deep cut favorites as "Break Away" and "Girl Don't Tell Me." Al Jardine took the spotlight several times with classic readings of "Cotton Fields," "Then I Kissed Her," and his legendary "California Saga: California" from the Beach Boys' 1973 Holland album.

Al Jardine admitted to us that back in the late-'70s and '80s, he -- like several of his other bandmates -- took Brian Wilson for granted while he struggled with major bouts of substance abuse problems and mental issues. Jardine assured us that these days, he puts Wilson first -- even above himself: "I sit at the feet of the master when we're on tour with Brian. I know where I owe my allegiance. Thank God we still have Brian. It's so wonderful to be in his presence. At the time we were so into our egotistical self, that we thought we were the show -- but we were just the messenger. That's what Mike (Love) doesn't get. He's just the messenger. In all deference to (Mike), he's a great talent (and) singer and writer himself, but we're just messengers (for Brian). And if we could all just coalesce around this wonderful music that we created together, then that's what you're behind."
 
Brian Wilson, who has long suffered debilitating bouts of stage fright, admitted to us that he doesn't just worry about singing, he also stresses about talking in between songs and often rehearses what he'll say: "I'm looking forward to making a little bit more humorous jokes and being a little bit more funny, a little bit more funny than it is."

Although Al Jardine performed on the Beach Boys' 1961 debut single, "Surfin'," he wasn't part of the Beach Boys live act until 1963, when Brian Wilson began sitting out road dates. 50 years later, David Marks recalls Jardine's early days on tour as a Beach Boy: "Al had fun. He didn't really go out to, y'know, chase women and get drunk with us, but he enjoyed the traveling. He enjoyed the attention, he enjoyed the playing -- the actual music. He was replacing Brian with the bass and the high parts, the high singing parts."

[Rocky Raccoon]

Interesting that Al has now adapted the old Dennis Wilson stance that the Beach Boys should act as Brian's "messengers."  While I think the way he talks about Brian is a little over the top, it is reassuring that Al doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon and that this seems to be a long term partnership.

[Cyncie]

While Al's language tends to unnecessarily deify Brian, I am glad to see Al taking the stand that Brian's music is at the center of all this, and  the rest of the band owes him that. I always wondered if Brain, during the dark years of mental breakdown and the substance abuse that accompanied it, felt as if i the band considered him a mere commodity; a hit making machine that had to be kept functioning at all costs.  Perhaps, from his perspective, when he needed them in a personal sense, they were more concerned about where the next hit was coming from. In those circumstances, I can see why he would be hurt and want to distance himself from them in later years. It's good to see Al admit they took his talent for granted during those difficult times.

I can't tell, though, if Mike doesn't get it (as Al says) or gets it but doesn't want to accept it.  He still blames everything that went wrong in the band on "drugs," without any apparent compassion for Brian's underlying mental health issues. He complains that Brian needs his band and private bus to tour, instead of realizing that some of that is necessary for him to be functional. He insists that their current problem is due to the mysterious "others" who surround Brian, instead of seeing that Brian has to be somewhat dependent on others, now.  It's almost like Mike would rather Brian was a drug fried, obstinately childish puppet, than a talented composer who suffers from a rather debilitating mental health problem.  I think, if Mike demonstrated a little more compassion for "Cousin Brian," he'd go a long way toward repairing his bad PR. As for the music, I've seen Mike's show several times, and he always gives Brian credit for the music they're performing. It just seems he'd rather have him be the long- lost -to -drugs genius cousin, than a functioning part of the Beach Boys.

[Lowbacca]

While Al's language tends to unnecessarily deify Brian, I am glad to see Al taking the stand that Brian's music is at the center of all this, and  the rest of the band owes him that. I always wondered if Brain, during the dark years of mental breakdown and the substance abuse that accompanied it, felt as if i the band considered him a mere commodity; a hit making machine that had to be kept functioning at all costs.  From his perspective, when he needed them in a personal sense, they were more concerned about where the next hit was coming from. In those circumstances, I can see why he would be hurt and want to distance himself from them in later years. It's good to see Al admit they took his talent for granted during those difficult times.

I can't tell, though, if Mike doesn't get it (as Al says) or gets it but doesn't want to accept it.  He still blames everything that went wrong in the band on "drugs," without any apparent compassion for Brian's underlying mental health issues. He complains that Brian needs his band and private bus to tour, instead of realizing that some of that is necessary for him to be functional. He insists that their current problem is due to the mysterious "others" who surround Brian, instead of seeing that Brian has to be somewhat dependent on others, now.  It's almost like Mike would rather Brian was a drug fried, obstinately childish puppet, than a talented composer who suffers from a rather debilitating mental health problem.  I think, if Mike demonstrated a little more compassion for "Cousin Brian," he'd go a long way toward repairing his bad PR. As for the music, I've seen Mike's show several times, and he always gives Brian credit for the music they're performing. It just seems he'd rather have him be the long- lost -to -drugs genius cousin, than a functioning part of the Beach Boys.

Good post, especially the part about Mike (not) acknowledging Brian's (history of) illness and everything that goes along with it as a crucial factor in the band's history. I mean, obviously I can't know for sure if that's the case with Mike and his perspective on things but at least I have the same impression (as Cyncie).


P.S. Good article, Mr Edelson!

[Ed Roach]

"BRIAN WILSON BACK ON THE ROAD WITH AL JARDINE AND DAVID MARKS"               by Howie Edelson

Great as usual, Howie.  And, (as if I haven't already told you), congratulations on the birth of your 2nd son!

[Emdeeh]

Interesting that Al has now adapted the old Dennis Wilson stance that the Beach Boys should act as Brian's "messengers."

With all due love, respect, and credit to Al and Brian (and Dennis), the whole "messenger" concept makes me cringe. Too many misconceptions about the BBs -- both in group and individual roles -- hinge on Dennis' old quote, especially when taken literally (which I don't think it was meant to be).

[Lowbacca]

Interesting that Al has now adapted the old Dennis Wilson stance that the Beach Boys should act as Brian's "messengers."

With all due love, respect, and credit to Al and Brian (and Dennis), the whole "messenger" concept makes me cringe. Too many misconceptions about the BBs -- both in group and individual roles -- hinge on Dennis' old quote, especially when taken literally (which I don't think it was meant to be).

. . . and even if interpreted in the literal sense, Mike Love as the ever-touring front man still is and has always been the "main messenger", if you will. Puts an ironic spin on what Al said.

[Howie Edelson]

Thanks Lowbacca.
More pics coming soon, Eddie!!!

I think Al has gotten to a "normal" place in regards to the band. I've been talking to Al quite a bit over the past few weeks, and I can honestly say that this guy is coming at the gig -- and his relationship with Brian -- in the same way and for the same reasons that we would. He's not thinking about these dates above being able to be out on the road with a few old friends doing his life's work. And that's really how he thinks of it. Not in terms of cash, or notoriety, but just "doing what he does." When I first got to know Al, there was a lot of anger in regards to the politics surrounding the band. The past decade or so has changed this guy and how he goes about his job -- and how much he appreciates doing his job. Although from the get go, Bruce Johnston pretty much told anyone within earshot that the reunion tour was a temporary excursion -- Al honestly believed that the success and momentum of the trek would force ALL the band members to put any jobs without the co-founders in second place to the Beach Boys, and instead use their own guys for corporate gigs. Whether he didn't wanna hear the truth or not, he felt blindsided. I will say this about Al, which I find interesting; he never talks about Brian as being or having been unwell, or weird, or damaged. If it comes up, sure, but he thinks of him more like a living musical Buddha.

BUT......

It has to be said, that the conditions for Al Jardine working with Brian Wilson in 2013 are completely different than those which Mike Love faces in doing the same.
For decades there have always been conditions surrounding being involved with Brian -- Mike Love has chosen to meet those conditions for far longer than anyone else.

[ontor pertawst]

Thanks so much for that... Brian Wilson as Living Musical Buddha, God Emperor of Pop. A lovely idea. I'm loving Al's interviews lately.





Fig. 3553. Alan Jardine consults with Brian Wilson over a new chord change.