Blondie Chaplin to Guest with BW on Some Dates

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

No worse than BAD tickets running higher than the C50 shows.

[Nicko1234]

That is the problem in a nutshell, Mike uses the BBs name to feed his ego and personal desires.

Brian wishes to have the BBs as a functioning band that makes new music like TWGMTR.

It is a shame that they aren't working together as I'm sure that's what we would all have liked to happen.

But the BBs aren't going to make new music and if Mike were to have his license revoked then that wouldn't change in a hurry.

[Cyncie]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

[Pretty Funky]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

Mike in reality does not have a say in M&B ticket prices. He charges a fee to the promoter for the band, then the promoter charges what they think the market will pay. That is why there are some big differences in ticket prices over a touring season.

[Cyncie]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

Mike in reality does not have a say in M&B ticket prices. He charges a fee to the promoter for the band, then the promoter charges what they think the market will pay. That is why there are some big differences in ticket prices over a touring season.

Oh, I know how how it works. I'm just saying that the excuse that Mike plays the small venues to keep ticket prices down doesn't always work out that way to the paying public. In fact, smaller venues may actually have to charge more to cover their costs since they have fewer seats to sell, overall.

[SMiLE Brian]

That is the problem in a nutshell, Mike uses the BBs name to feed his ego and personal desires.

Brian wishes to have the BBs as a functioning band that makes new music like TWGMTR.

It is a shame that they aren't working together as I'm sure that's what we would all have liked to happen.

But the BBs aren't going to make new music and if Mike were to have his license revoked then that wouldn't change in a hurry.

But all the members except M&B want to make music and tour as the BBs. Is that hard for Mike to check his ego and accept that the BBs were never about him. The BBs as a functioning band have always been a vehicle for BW's ideas with help from others.

[SMiLE Brian]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

The C50 was an affordable event for such an onstage extravaganza. I would not pay more for a stripped down M&B show since it isn't the full BBs experience anymore. The C50 BBs made M&B obsolete. 

[Nicko1234]

But all the members except M&B want to make music and tour as the BBs. Is that hard for Mike to check his ego and accept that the BBs were never about him. The BBs as a functioning band have always been a vehicle for BW's ideas with help from others.

Well apart from last year when was the last time they were about that?

For the majority of the group's 51 years or so they have been about endless touring and playing the hits.

I'm not saying that's a good thing but I'm not at all surprised that after being the leader of a group calling themselves the Beach Boys for 30+ years, that Mike wouldn't cede that forever and agree to do whatever Brian and his management wanted.

[Nicko1234]

The C50 was an affordable event for such an onstage extravaganza. I would not pay more for a stripped down M&B show since it isn't the full BBs experience anymore. The C50 BBs made M&B obsolete. 

Not to the general public though.

It is astonishing to me (and no this is not me praising Mike or Bruce) that the general public just seemed to ignore that the C50 had happened and that M&B went back to playing the exact same venues as they always had and continued to shift tickets.

[Pretty Funky]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

Mike in reality does not have a say in M&B ticket prices. He charges a fee to the promoter for the band, then the promoter charges what they think the market will pay. That is why there are some big differences in ticket prices over a touring season.

Oh, I know how how it works. I'm just saying that the excuse that Mike plays the small venues to keep ticket prices down doesn't always work out that way to the paying public. In fact, smaller venues may actually have to charge more to cover their costs since they have fewer seats to sell, overall.

Last year the C50 missed Vancouver from memory. This year M&B played there and Vancouver Island. No way would Vancouver Island have got a C50 show so those people would have gone to great expense travelling plus hotels to catch a show. What I'm saying is even if the ticket price is the same, other factors can put it out reach to those who live in the smaller markets.

[RubberSoul13]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

The C50 was an affordable event for such an onstage extravaganza. I would not pay more for a stripped down M&B show since it isn't the full BBs experience anymore. The C50 BBs made M&B obsolete. 

I wouldn't exactly say they're obsolete. There will always be new fans coming into the picture that want to hear Mike singing "Little Deuce Coupe" and "California Girls"...and even "Kokomo".....or maybe not "Kokomo"....

[Cyncie]

The whole M&B "doing for it for fans in smaller venues" talk rings hollow when they charge $80 dollars for some shows.

I paid more for each of the three Mike and Bruce shows I saw than I did for the C50. The Mike and Bruce shows were in local arts center type settings and concert halls. The C50 was in a large outdoor auditorium. Granted, I had to travel a bit more to see the C50, but smaller venues have not equalled lower tickets, in my experience.  

Mike in reality does not have a say in M&B ticket prices. He charges a fee to the promoter for the band, then the promoter charges what they think the market will pay. That is why there are some big differences in ticket prices over a touring season.

Oh, I know how how it works. I'm just saying that the excuse that Mike plays the small venues to keep ticket prices down doesn't always work out that way to the paying public. In fact, smaller venues may actually have to charge more to cover their costs since they have fewer seats to sell, overall.

Last year the C50 missed Vancouver from memory. This year M&B played there and Vancouver Island. No way would Vancouver Island have got a C50 show so those people would have gone to great expense travelling plus hotels to catch a show. What I'm saying is even if the ticket price is the same, other factors can put it out reach to those who live in the smaller markets.

Well, accessibility is another matter, and I understand Mike's point where that's concerned. Playing the smaller venues does allow him to have a greater reach outside of the major markets. That's why, in my Perfect Beach Boys World (patent pending) The Beach Boys name would be reserved for the full C50 line up and would play those high profile gigs like Madison Square Garden and the New York New Years Eve bash while The Beach Boy's Touring Band featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston would continue touring the small venues. In my perfect world.

[leggo of my ego]

Oh hell. Please.

There's nothing "rotten" in Scenario 

These are exciting times for the fans -- the BRI arrangement seems to be working pretty good to me. 

[Phoenix]

As a BIG fan of the "Blondie era", I can't say how excited I am about his "return to the band".  And what's funny is tho Mike still holds the touring license, to Brian and company, I think that's actually how they look at this.  Consider these facts:  Al has said in interviews that Mike and Bruce are welcome to "come back" and even wished that they would.  And for all we talk about how many Beach Boys are on stage on these tours's, ask yourself this: How many people from C50 are on stage at these "competing" tours?  "The Beach Boys" have Mike L, Bruce, Scott T, John, and Tim (returning from backstage), while "Brian Wilson" has Brian, Al, Dave, Jeff, Darian, Scott B, Nelson, Probyn, Paul, Mike D, and Nick (who was there for some dates). 

To someone like Al, it's business as usual with the exception of a minority of Beach Boys and VERY small minority of the backing band.   We and they know that Mike went back to the long standing status quo after the temporary situation of C50, but on the inside everything feels the same as it's been since the 2012 Grammy's!  This is why Al is out their extending an open door for Mike and Bruce to "come back".  To him, "BAD" IS the Beach Boys, no matter who has the name.


And for something completely unrelated that no one's brought up:  How ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE is it going to be to hear Brian and company play "Funky Pretty"!?!??!!  Just picture Brian on Carl's part and Dave on Mike's!     Wow!

[Nicko1234]

Well, accessibility is another matter, and I understand Mike's point where that's concerned. Playing the smaller venues does allow him to have a greater reach outside of the major markets. That's why, in my Perfect Beach Boys World (patent pending) The Beach Boys name would be reserved for the full C50 line up and would play those high profile gigs like Madison Square Garden and the New York New Years Eve bash while The Beach Boy's Touring Band featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston would continue touring the small venues. In my perfect world.

I think you're getting smaller markets and smaller venues mixed up there.

Mike's comments (which I don't entirely believe anyway) are about playing the markets where the C50 tour would never go. Not about playing small theatres as some of the county fair shows have surprisingly had stacks of fans.

[Nicko1234]

These are exciting times for the fans -- the BRI arrangement seems to be working pretty good to me. 

Absolutely.

100+ gigs from M&B for the casual fans.

30+ gigs from Brian, Al, Dave and Blondie for the hardcore.

It is the best possible situation right now as you can't force them all to tour together. Any other BRI arrangement would lead to fewer opportunities to watch these guys.

And they won't be touring for that much longer either.

[Mike's Beard]

Exactly. Having any combination of these guys playing together is great news for fans. Ideally we'd love to have them all together, all the time, but as this isn't going to happen anytime soon it's pointless to bitch about it.

[bluesno1fann]

It would be just fantastic is Ricky Fataar decides to join Brian Wilson's band all of a sudden 

[Cyncie]

Well, accessibility is another matter, and I understand Mike's point where that's concerned. Playing the smaller venues does allow him to have a greater reach outside of the major markets. That's why, in my Perfect Beach Boys World (patent pending) The Beach Boys name would be reserved for the full C50 line up and would play those high profile gigs like Madison Square Garden and the New York New Years Eve bash while The Beach Boy's Touring Band featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston would continue touring the small venues. In my perfect world.

I think you're getting smaller markets and smaller venues mixed up there.

Mike's comments (which I don't entirely believe anyway) are about playing the markets where the C50 tour would never go. Not about playing small theatres as some of the county fair shows have surprisingly had stacks of fans.

I must be dense since everyone on this board feels the need to correct my stupidity these days.  I live in a rural area.  I was part of a feasibility study on getting a professional outdoor theater in our area. I know the demographics.  I know, and have worked in, the venues we're talking about. We don't have large auditoriums or big outdoor venues here. There aren't bazillions of concert ticket buying fans in one concentrated area. When Mike and Bruce play HERE they play college auditoriums or other  smaller settings to necessarily smaller crowds. I realize there are exceptions to the rule with county and state fairs, but IN GENERAL if Mike wants to play the minor markets he will be playing in smaller venues. THOSE are the venues he's played in my state.  And no, the C50 would never play those venues. Which was my point.

However, I don't think Mike is being completely honest, because I don't see how playing smaller markets is exclusive of playing the larger ones. Which was my other point.

[Nicko1234]

I must be dense since everyone on this board feels the need to correct my stupidity these days.  I live in a rural area.  I was part of a feasibility study on getting a professional outdoor theater in our area. I know the demographics.  I know, and have worked in, the venues we're talking about. We don't have large auditoriums or big outdoor venues here. There aren't bazillions of concert ticket buying fans in one concentrated area. When Mike and Bruce play HERE they play college auditoriums or other  smaller settings to necessarily smaller crowds. I realize there are exceptions to the rule with county and state fairs, but IN GENERAL if Mike wants to play the minor markets he will be playing in smaller venues. THOSE are the venues he's played in my state.  And no, the C50 would never play those venues. Which was my point.

However, I don't think Mike is being completely honest, because I don't see how playing smaller markets is exclusive of playing the larger ones. Which was my other point.

That may well be true in your area. But generally speaking the county and state fairs aren't the exceptions to the rule and most M&B shows certainly don't cost as much as the C50 tickets.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Well I thought paying $450 for a front row ticket to a Brian/Beck show was fair, I mean your essentially getting 2 meet and greets, 2 sound checks, 2 signatures, 2 pictures... And they're both artists I'm interested in.

And I highly recommend you grab Truth and Blow by Blow ASAP. Really great stuff.

[drbeachboy]

Well I thought paying $450 for a front row ticket to a Brian/Beck show was fair, I mean your essentially getting 2 meet and greets, 2 sound checks, 2 signatures, 2 pictures... And they're both artists I'm interested in.

And I highly recommend you grab Truth and Blow by Blow ASAP. Really great stuff.

I paid around that amount for a C50 Meet & Greet ticket last year and thought it a total rip-off. Meet & Greets used to be free. No music ticket should cost $100 or more. Of the 40 plus Beach Boys shows that I attended, none of my most favorite shows cost more than $10.00 for a ticket. A 4000% increase over 30 years is outrageous.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Well, I mean to be fair, the photo signed by the two is probably going to be a fun collectors item considering the circumstances.
It's all about how you view it, the merchandise and things of that nature probably equate to half of the cost, and the $100 front row seat...

I mean if you say...

Brian and Jeff signed picture = about $100-200
T-Shirt = $25
Front Row Ticket = $100
"Special Item" = $25-30
Picture with Them = Whatever you feel it's worth

Looks pretty reasonable honestly, sure it's expensive, but so is an Xbox One

[SloopJohnnyB]

It's your entertainment dollar. I like to compare seeing a rock band to a sporting event.

If you're lucky a favorite band may come to your town once a year. There are multiple baseball, football and hockey games all year long. People pay big money to see these events. (food, parking included) You can watch the sporting events on TV but people still spends hundreds of dollars to attend the games. I don't know about football/soccer games in Europe and around the world but Football games in the U.S. are very expensive.


Spending a hundred or two on a single concert that may only happen once a year or every few years doesn't seem that bad to me. Especially if it's one of your favorite bands.   

[drbeachboy]

It's your entertainment dollar. I like to compare seeing a rock band to a sporting event.

If you're lucky a favorite band may come to your town once a year. There are multiple baseball, football and hockey games all year long. People pay big money to see these events. (food, parking included) You can watch the sporting events on TV but people still spends hundreds of dollars to attend the games. I don't know about football/soccer games in Europe and around the world but Football games in the U.S. are very expensive.


Spending a hundred or two on a single concert that may only happen once a year or every few years doesn't seem that bad to me. Especially if it's one of your favorite bands.   

Paying $475 will be a once in a lifetime event for me. I paid it because I realized it would most likely be the last time that they would be together. Had it been any other band, I would have stayed home. No one night of entertainment is worth that kind of money. Plus, in my case, they herded us like cattle, so no meeting any of them, nor did I greet them or them me. The term is a real misnomer. I went to a free meet & greet with Brian during the Smile Tour, he signed my book, looked me in the eye and thanked me when I told him how great the show was. Now, that was priceless.