If you could change one event/decision in Beach Boys history, what would it be?

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

I wish that Pet Sounds would have never been released, and been replaced by a Summer In Paradise 66 version.

[drbeachboy]

I wish that Pet Sounds would have never been released, and been replaced by a Summer In Paradise 66 version.

Don't we all!

[Mooger Fooger]

I'd say withdrawing from Monterey Pop did more to damage their image than anything else in their career. Right at the point where they could have won over the crowd in a single swoop, they back out, and loudly project the image that they were phoneys unable to play their own music on stage.

[drbeachboy]

I'd say withdrawing from Monterey Pop did more to damage their image than anything else in their career. Right at the point where they could have won over the crowd in a single swoop, they back out, and loudly project the image that they were phoneys unable to play their own music on stage.

I never, ever heard or read anything calling them phoneys. Uncool yes, but not phoney. Is this just your opinion or has this been stated in articles?

[dellydel]

I'm gonna go with... not enough drugs were consumed.  More drugs, for everyone, especially Al!

But seriously, as a fan of "drugs" I can't help but cringe at Brian's now-standard "shouldn't have done those drugs!" line.   Not to mention, doesn't he also often say, and I'm paraphrasing, "Pet Sounds was the weed album, and SMiLE was the LSD album"?  And mind you, he doesn't say that with any regret, but with a little bit of pride, the kind of pride one has for one's earlier, wilder years. 

Sure, maybe he should've done LESS drugs.  But lets not forget the role drugs played in some of the BB's greatest stuff, not to mention pretty much all the music you like from every artist you like. 

I think what was wrong with Brian was already wrong with Brian, before drugs were ever introduced.  And I think the legal drugs Landy used did way more damage than the LSD.  (I assume no one here is complaining about weed...)

IMHO.

[Cam Mott]

I doubt changing one thing would have any real difference. The premise always seems to be the Beach Boys shoulda/coulda been something other than what they were and I don't buy it.

[Fun Is In]

I would make the voices in Brian's head benevolent instead of malevolent from the outset.

[Myk Luhv]

The Wilson brothers should've started doing molly too at some point. I can only imagine the weird, perverted music they'd come up with, Brian and Dennis especially!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

The decision not to use the hi-hat on studio recordings.

+1

This might seem like a tiny and insignificant detail, but it's just one more thing that contributed to them less than impressing the rock/hip contingent when it mattered....... And it's why many of us prefer the live Dennis-driven versions of songs in question......

[runnersdialzero]

The decision not to use the hi-hat on studio recordings.

+1

This might seem like a tiny and insignificant detail, but it's just one more thing that contributed to them less than impressing the rock/hip contingent when it mattered....... And it's why many of us prefer the live Dennis-driven versions of songs in question......

"Listen to this horseshit. Is the drummer even using cymbals? This doesn't even sound like classic rock! LOL!"

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

The decision not to use the hi-hat on studio recordings.

+1

This might seem like a tiny and insignificant detail, but it's just one more thing that contributed to them less than impressing the rock/hip contingent when it mattered....... And it's why many of us prefer the live Dennis-driven versions of songs in question......

"Listen to this horseshit. Is the drummer even using cymbals? This doesn't even sound like classic rock! LOL!"

Hey, I didn't say I agree with it! But can you imagine just finishing side 4 of Tommy and then throwing on 20/20 and yeah, Do it Again's got a nice groove, but then it's all sleigh bells n wood blocks from there out.... Not much fun for air drummers who'd likely toss the record off and put their Zappa or Sgt. Pepper back on (where Ringo rocks it)

I have a friend who still makes fun of The Beach Boys because I played him Wild Honey once and he couldn't stop laughing about the simple drums with no hi-hat! .... I mean, yeah, people are idiots, but idiots buy (or don't buy) records!

[hypehat]

I'm gonna go with... not enough drugs were consumed.  More drugs, for everyone, especially Al!

But seriously, as a fan of "drugs" I can't help but cringe at Brian's now-standard "shouldn't have done those drugs!" line.   Not to mention, doesn't he also often say, and I'm paraphrasing, "Pet Sounds was the weed album, and SMiLE was the LSD album"?  And mind you, he doesn't say that with any regret, but with a little bit of pride, the kind of pride one has for one's earlier, wilder years. 

Sure, maybe he should've done LESS drugs.  But lets not forget the role drugs played in some of the BB's greatest stuff, not to mention pretty much all the music you like from every artist you like. 

I think what was wrong with Brian was already wrong with Brian, before drugs were ever introduced.  And I think the legal drugs Landy used did way more damage than the LSD.  (I assume no one here is complaining about weed...)

IMHO.

I can't tell whether this is trolling or not.

[runnersdialzero]

The decision not to use the hi-hat on studio recordings.

+1

This might seem like a tiny and insignificant detail, but it's just one more thing that contributed to them less than impressing the rock/hip contingent when it mattered....... And it's why many of us prefer the live Dennis-driven versions of songs in question......

"Listen to this horseshit. Is the drummer even using cymbals? This doesn't even sound like classic rock! LOL!"

Hey, I didn't say I agree with it! But can you imagine just finishing side 4 of Tommy and then throwing on 20/20 and yeah, Do it Again's got a nice groove, but then it's all sleigh bells n wood blocks from there out.... Not much fun for air drummers who'd likely toss the record off and put their Zappa or Sgt. Pepper back on (where Ringo rocks it)

I have a friend who still makes fun of The Beach Boys because I played him Wild Honey once and he couldn't stop laughing about the simple drums with no hi-hat! .... I mean, yeah, people are idiots, but idiots buy (or don't buy) records!

*giggle* I knew what you meant and that it wasn't something you were totally onboard with. It's just so silly. I have little time for folks like your friend, at least in terms of talking about music.

Might sound selfish, but I'd rather things the way they were than them chasing after lame rawk cliches full-on in order to gain popularity.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

The decision not to use the hi-hat on studio recordings.

+1

This might seem like a tiny and insignificant detail, but it's just one more thing that contributed to them less than impressing the rock/hip contingent when it mattered....... And it's why many of us prefer the live Dennis-driven versions of songs in question......

"Listen to this horseshit. Is the drummer even using cymbals? This doesn't even sound like classic rock! LOL!"

Hey, I didn't say I agree with it! But can you imagine just finishing side 4 of Tommy and then throwing on 20/20 and yeah, Do it Again's got a nice groove, but then it's all sleigh bells n wood blocks from there out.... Not much fun for air drummers who'd likely toss the record off and put their Zappa or Sgt. Pepper back on (where Ringo rocks it)

I have a friend who still makes fun of The Beach Boys because I played him Wild Honey once and he couldn't stop laughing about the simple drums with no hi-hat! .... I mean, yeah, people are idiots, but idiots buy (or don't buy) records!

*giggle* I knew what you meant and that it wasn't something you were totally onboard with. It's just so silly. I have little time for folks like your friend, at least in terms of talking about music.

Might sound selfish, but I'd rather things the way they were than them chasing after lame rawk cliches full-on in order to gain popularity.

True, but then again, I still wish Brian had just let Dennis bash away on many many songs.

[bluesno1fann]

Also, if I had a time machine I would go back and somehow try to stop Dennis from drowning and I also wish Carl had never taken up smoking. I love all the Boys and wish Dennis and Carl could have been part of the 50th.

I don't think stopping Carl from smoking all-together would have changed anything. Better to warn him in 1990 that he will be dead before the decade is out, and to take cancer tests every year

[Phoenix]

There are a lot of good ones (which I raised many of in the semi-recent "What if?" someone started) but MY answer is definitely that Brian could have cracked the nut that was Smile before he ran out of steam.   

[Mooger Fooger]

I'd say withdrawing from Monterey Pop did more to damage their image than anything else in their career. Right at the point where they could have won over the crowd in a single swoop, they back out, and loudly project the image that they were phoneys unable to play their own music on stage.

I never, ever heard or read anything calling them phoneys. Uncool yes, but not phoney. Is this just your opinion or has this been stated in articles?

I am certain I read it somewhere that they were phoneys because they couldnt perform their songs live. It also tied in with the use of studio musicians. I cannot for the life of me recall where I read it.

[Smilin Ed H]

The decision not to use the hi-hat on studio recordings.

+1

This might seem like a tiny and insignificant detail, but it's just one more thing that contributed to them less than impressing the rock/hip contingent when it mattered....... And it's why many of us prefer the live Dennis-driven versions of songs in question......

"Listen to this horseshit. Is the drummer even using cymbals? This doesn't even sound like classic rock! LOL!"

Hey, I didn't say I agree with it! But can you imagine just finishing side 4 of Tommy and then throwing on 20/20 and yeah, Do it Again's got a nice groove, but then it's all sleigh bells n wood blocks from there out.... Not much fun for air drummers who'd likely toss the record off and put their Zappa or Sgt. Pepper back on (where Ringo rocks it)

I have a friend who still makes fun of The Beach Boys because I played him Wild Honey once and he couldn't stop laughing about the simple drums with no hi-hat! .... I mean, yeah, people are idiots, but idiots buy (or don't buy) records!

*giggle* I knew what you meant and that it wasn't something you were totally onboard with. It's just so silly. I have little time for folks like your friend, at least in terms of talking about music.

Might sound selfish, but I'd rather things the way they were than them chasing after lame rawk cliches full-on in order to gain popularity.

Amen to that. The only thing they could do worse would be to wrap themselves in the Blues, the refuge of aging white rockers needing an excuse to bash out 10 minute gurning guitar solos...

I'll take Wild Honey over Tommy any day

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

I'd have the rest of the band cut a deal with Brian regarding SMILE.  They support him and do whatever it takes to finish and release it, and he continues to get support to complete non-top 40 music and albums, so long as 1) he gets help for his drug and mental issues, and 2) he assists the band in making albums more in line with what they consider to be Beach Boys music.  In essence, Brian starts his solo career 20+ years sooner than he did in our timeline, and the rest of the Boys still get to grow and shine as creative artists.

the heck?

I'd try to help, but I'll need more info to answer your question.

[Cyncie]

Assuming that you can't really change nature or nurture, I would have gotten all of the Wilson brothers legitimate mental health supports as soon as the cracks started showing. Imagine what the group could have been had all three of those talents managed to maintain some level of health and functionality. I know that Brian's withdrawal left the space for Carl and Dennis to come more to the forefront; but I believe he would have needed to do that, anyway, to get some healthy balance in his life. A Beach Boys band with Brian, Carl and Dennis at their creative best would have been awesome to behold.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The rehiring of Landy late 1982, with carte blanche. It was a catastrophically stupid short term fix that turned into pretty much a wasted decade, and the results of his regime are still painfully obvious today. Every single person who so much as nodded when asked if it was a good idea deserves eternal censure. Anyone else would have been a better choice.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I'm gonna go with... not enough drugs were consumed.  More drugs, for everyone, especially Al!

But seriously, as a fan of "drugs"...

Setting aside the obvious trolling, any credibility fell flat on its ass right there. 

[Mike's Beard]

The rehiring of Landy late 1982, with carte blanche. It was a catastrophically stupid short term fix that turned into pretty much a wasted decade, and the results of his regime are still painfully obvious today. Every single person who so much as nodded when asked if it was a good idea deserves eternal censure. Anyone else would have been a better choice.

In retrospect, clearly yes. But things were beyond desperate by 1982 and Landy had got results before. The really dumb move was nobody felt compelled to step in the second Landy began upping his fees and started worming his way into Brian's artistic and legal affairs.

[Andrew G. Doe]

They couldn't: he demanded, and was given, a completely free hand.

[bluesno1fann]

The rehiring of Landy late 1982, with carte blanche. It was a catastrophically stupid short term fix that turned into pretty much a wasted decade, and the results of his regime are still painfully obvious today. Every single person who so much as nodded when asked if it was a good idea deserves eternal censure. Anyone else would have been a better choice.

Still, if it weren't for Landy, Brian would have most likely died around the same time as Dennis. You gotta give Landy credit for saving his life