Do you guys think that...?

[retrokid67]

Do you guys think that Brian, Denny, and Carl would've been bigger than the original beach boys line up if they formed a group of their own?  Or do you think not because at the time they were writing their best stuff, hardly anybody at the time got it except for maybe critics? I personally wish they would've done that because the other band mates were holding them back through jealousy and they almost succeeded with Brian.  I don't see how they could allow Bruce Johnston to usher them off the stage so that he could sing a sappy, long, drawn-out love song and people had to wait 42 years to hear one of Denny's best songs  .  I'm upset for the people who had to wait that long.   

[drbeachboy]

Do you guys think that Brian, Denny, and Carl would've been bigger than the original beach boys line up if they formed a group of their own?  Or do you think not because at the time they were writing their best stuff, hardly anybody at the time got it except for maybe critics? I personally wish they would've done that because the other band mates were holding them back through jealousy and they almost succeeded with Brian.  I don't see how they could allow Bruce Johnston to usher them off the stage so that he could sing a sappy, long, drawn-out love song and people had to wait 42 years to hear one of Denny's best songs  .  I'm upset for the people who had to wait that long.   

Denny's best song was held back by no one but Dennis, himself. The back story has it that it was due to a sequencing dispute with Carl. I'm sure the brothers Wilson had their own issues with each other to deal with, besides with the other band members.

[retrokid67]

That's true he did hold it back, but he also wanted to go on tour for his solo album and they threatened to kick him out of the group if he did.  There were financial problems with that too but the fact that they threatened him is just sick. Also, regarding WBNTLA, it just amazes me still that there was an argument (with Carl of all people) and that songs like SDT and TALOYF (which is one of the most ridiculous songs I ever heard) did.  Of course that's been said a dozen times.  I can tolerate SDT a little bit more than the second because that was the last song Denny drummed on before he broke his hand.

[Waspinators]

I have wondered how things would've been with the band as a three piece, with Brian on bass, Carl handling all guitar duties and Denny on drums. I figure Denny could've handled a lot of the Love-type leads in the early days. But hey, I'm forever grateful for Mike and Al's contributions, despite any creative disputes or setbacks. The group was what it was, and here we are 50 years later with numerous posts on a message board dedicated them... they did their thang.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

And the drama and heartbreak is part of what makes them such a fascinating band. They'd have been a lot less of that without Mike around.

Plus, he wrote some of the greatest pop lyrics of all time, which was kinda cool...

[retrokid67]

And the drama and heartbreak is part of what makes them such a fascinating band. They'd have been a lot less of that without Mike around.

Plus, he wrote some of the greatest pop lyrics of all time, which was kinda cool...

Yea, plus it's kind of a good thing they kept Denny in the back behind the drums for the early years because if he was up front, no one would give the other ones a second glance  plus for his own safety; it would be easier to get to him if he was in the front.

[urbanite]

When the BB's started out, through the 1970's, Mike Love was a great singer and his voice fit so many of their hits, perfectly.  I don't feel that way about his singing post 1980, but in the superstar, formative years, Mike Love was indispensable.

[retrokid67]

When the BB's started out, through the 1970's, Mike Love was a great singer and his voice fit so many of their hits, perfectly.  I don't feel that was about his singing post 1980, but in the superstar, formative years, Mike Love was indispensable.

yea I can't imagine the lead on "Surfin U.S.A." sung any other way.  but what was up with the way he was dressing in the 70s? seriously he already looked old and had revealed his bald spot, then he went on taking his shirts and crap off, wth   

[Ron]

Everybody acted like a dumbass in the 70's.  Not just Mike.  At the time, he was probably the BEST dressed memeber of the band, have you seen what Brian liked to wear back then? 

Also, don't believe everything you read on the internets.  I know it's the only way to learn some of this stuff, but not everything said about the Beach Boys is entirely true... most people who relay a story about something that happened, have a reason for doing it, and they leave out the parts that don't fit their storyline and emphasize the parts that suggest their point.  Brian, Dennis, and Carl would have never left the Beach Boys and started their own band, because MIke, Al, and Bruce (the three guys they would be leaving behind) arguably were doing most of the work!  Mike never missed a show and fronted the band for the last  50 years.  That's hard work.  Al, arguably (again) was the best memeber of the whole fuckin' band in the 70's era... and Bruce was consistant on the stage.  This is a era of time where for much of the decade Brian wasn't doing much, Carl had his own issues he was going through, and Dennis was circling the drain.  I know we'd all love to hear a band with those guys but you convienently created a band of three addicts and put the three sober guys on the sidelines.

If you mean 'what if' the band was ALWAYS just the brothers, you're seriously underestimating Mike's contributions early on.  As ridiculous as it sounds now, he was the 'cool' guy in the group at the beginning, there was a reason he sang lead on all the early songs.  The band started out as a gimmick and never would have got off the ground without that gimmick. 

[Moon Dawg]

 From 1962-68, not one of the Wilson brothers could compete with Love for the role of the frontman. They would NOT have been bigger or more successful without Mike Love as singer, lyricist, frontman, smartass, etc.
 
 On the other hand, the idea of Brian, Carl, Dennis making a trio record in the seventies minus the others is highly appealing. Stebbins floated this fantasy in his FAQ book a few years back to good effect.

[retrokid67]

  Yea ok you guys make some good...great points  As much as I hate to admit it Mike Is the only one capable of being the front man.  one thing I hate though is the jokes.  I was watching their concert from 1969 on YouTube, you know where he was dressed up like a Biblical character, and those jokes he told were so awful it was uncomfortable to watch  .  But I guess when I posed the question, I was thinking about the brothers making music together on their own, but I didn't even think about the live performances until you guys pointed it out  .  especially in the 70s, that would've been a hot mess   

[Watch a Cave]

You can't rewrite history.  There is no way the group would have been bigger without mike and Al.

I mean just listen to the records.. Mike had a GREAT voice in the 60s.  Plus it was unique and stood out from the other lead singers at the time.  Also Mike and Al fit perfectly in the vocal blend that made them famous and Mike had the biggest ego and swagger to be the frontman on stage.

Did Mike's voice get nasally later on? Yes.  Did he make some poor decisions about the direction of the band?  Yeah probably.  But that doesn't take away from his great vocal performances in the 60s.

[Rocker]

Well, it's quite easy. There would be no way a Wilson brothers band could have had made it without the Beach Boys. And I don't think that in the 70s, when the Beach Boys were already a legendary act, anyone outside the fans would have cared enough for a Wilson brothers band for them to have any success on a notable level.

[urbanite]

i think the BB's could have replaced Mike as the lead singer in the late 1970's and 80's, and probably improved as a band.  But the band had so many personal issues, it was porbably never seriously discussed.

This was briefly touched on in a different thread, when the Beach Boys played Great Britain in the late 1960's, Mike wore a get-up that made him look like a prophet from the Bible.  Totally out of sync with popular culture and the clothes the rest of the band wore.  Then there was the very odd tunic he wore for the photos in the Sunflower album, followed by the turban and gold vest for the Fifteen Big Ones tour.  What was up with that?

[Rocker]

i think the BB's could have replaced Mike as the lead singer in the late 1970's and 80's

Never. Like it or not but especially in the 80s Mike was the face of the Beach Boys. When people heard the name they had Mike's on stage presence in mind.
I'm not saying that Mike didn't stop some very interesting directions the songwriters were turning to but the Beach Boys could never be the Beach Boys without Mike Love.






It's called show businnes.

[retrokid67]

i think the BB's could have replaced Mike as the lead singer in the late 1970's and 80's, and probably improved as a band.  But the band had so many personal issues, it was porbably never seriously discussed.

This was briefly touched on in a different thread, when the Beach Boys played Great Britain in the late 1960's, Mike wore a get-up that made him look like a prophet from the Bible.  Totally out of sync with popular culture and the clothes the rest of the band wore.  Then there was the very odd tunic he wore for the photos in the Sunflower album, followed by the turban and gold vest for the Fifteen Big Ones tour.  What was up with that?

Yea! that's the kind of stuff I was referring to it was just too weird 

[RangeRoverA1]

Everybody acted like a dumbass in the 70's.  Not just Mike.  At the time, he was probably the BEST dressed member of the band, have you seen what Brian liked to wear back then? 

Also, don't believe everything you read on the internets.  I know it's the only way to learn some of this stuff, but not everything said about the Beach Boys is entirely true... most people who relay a story about something that happened, have a reason for doing it, and they leave out the parts that don't fit their storyline and emphasize the parts that suggest their point.  Brian, Dennis, and Carl would have never left the Beach Boys and started their own band, because Mike, Al, and Bruce (the three guys they would be leaving behind) arguably were doing most of the work!  Mike never missed a show and fronted the band for the last  50 years.  That's hard work.  Al, arguably (again) was the best member of the whole band in the 70s era... and Bruce was consistent on the stage.  This is an era of time where for much of the decade Brian wasn't doing much, Carl had his own issues he was going through, and Dennis was circling the drain.  I know we'd all love to hear a band with those guys but you conveniently created a band of three addicts and put the three sober guys on the sidelines.

If you mean 'what if' the band was ALWAYS just the brothers, you're seriously underestimating Mike's contributions early on.  As ridiculous as it sounds now, he was the 'cool' guy in the group at the beginning, there was a reason he sang lead on all the early songs.  The band started out as a gimmick and never would have got off the ground without that gimmick. 

Excellent points as usual, Ron! Agreed on everything except the "BEST dressed" bit; good advice in the highlighted text, for everyone.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I love the white robe! Dancing around on stage in that with a tambourine was bad ass! IMO! A modern indie band called the Polyphonic Spree did the robe thing as well.

[adamghost]

Everybody acted like a dumbass in the 70's.  Not just Mike.  At the time, he was probably the BEST dressed memeber of the band, have you seen what Brian liked to wear back then? 

Also, don't believe everything you read on the internets.  I know it's the only way to learn some of this stuff, but not everything said about the Beach Boys is entirely true... most people who relay a story about something that happened, have a reason for doing it, and they leave out the parts that don't fit their storyline and emphasize the parts that suggest their point.  Brian, Dennis, and Carl would have never left the Beach Boys and started their own band, because MIke, Al, and Bruce (the three guys they would be leaving behind) arguably were doing most of the work!  Mike never missed a show and fronted the band for the last  50 years.  That's hard work.  Al, arguably (again) was the best memeber of the whole fuckin' band in the 70's era... and Bruce was consistant on the stage.  This is a era of time where for much of the decade Brian wasn't doing much, Carl had his own issues he was going through, and Dennis was circling the drain.  I know we'd all love to hear a band with those guys but you convienently created a band of three addicts and put the three sober guys on the sidelines.

If you mean 'what if' the band was ALWAYS just the brothers, you're seriously underestimating Mike's contributions early on.  As ridiculous as it sounds now, he was the 'cool' guy in the group at the beginning, there was a reason he sang lead on all the early songs.  The band started out as a gimmick and never would have got off the ground without that gimmick. 

I think this is a really fair point, but I have to dispute the Carl part of the equation.  Carl's period of non-functionality and non-participation was very brief (basically 1978, and 1981-1982) and he kept it all together for much of the rest of the time.  Witness the sometimes atrocious 1981 concerts without him.