On Brian going solo

[Jonathan Blum]

As someone who wasn't really in the Beach Boys' orbit in around 1987-88...

What was the official position about Brian doing a solo album at that point?  Was there a party line about why he wasn't recording with the band, even though he was still more-or-less performing with them?  Did anyone ask why, for example, "One For The Boys" wasn't actually done *by* the boys?

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[KittyKat]

I don't think they had much of a position on it. He was signed to another label then they were. He was living behind the Eugene Landy Iron Curtain. I'm sure they were grateful when Gene allowed them to play with the band or do TV appearances with them, and didn't want to say anything bad about the solo album to keep the peace.

[Loves The Sunflower]

I don't recall an official position from the rest of The Beach Boys about the matter. Doesn't mean there wasn't one. Not helpful, I know...

I doubt they could really complain about it officially with any degree of credibility. I mean, by 1987/8, the world had seen one solo album and a side project (i.e., Celebration) from Mike Love, one solo album from Bruce Johnston (okay, technically he was out of the band when his solo album was released), one solo album from Dennis Wilson (with much of a second in the can but sadly unreleased until recently), and two solo albums from Carl Wilson. Officially bemoaning a solo project of Brian's at the time would seem hypocritical at best and juvenile at worst.

[Lonely Summer]

They couldn't have been too much against it - they did allow Brian do do a solo guest spot in some 1989 concerts - a couple of those songs, In My Car and Love and Mercy - even made it into the Endless Summer tv series.

[PongHit]

even made it into the Endless Summer tv series.

No, American Family.

[Jonathan Blum]

Okay, then, what did Brian / Landy say were his reasons for going solo at that point?  I vaguely remember Carl saying he did his albums because he wanted to do stuff that wouldn't really fit in with the Beach Boys style...  but that was never really an issue for Brian before, was it?

Again, I'm just interested in the face they put on it...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[Lonely Summer]

even made it into the Endless Summer tv series.

No, American Family.

No, I'm talking about the syndicated show the BB's had in the summer of 1989.

[KittyKat]

Okay, then, what did Brian / Landy say were his reasons for going solo at that point?  I vaguely remember Carl saying he did his albums because he wanted to do stuff that wouldn't really fit in with the Beach Boys style...  but that was never really an issue for Brian before, was it?

Again, I'm just interested in the face they put on it...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Brian went solo because he was given an offer for a solo album deal, he didn't seek it out (or if he did, that's  not how he got the deal).  Brian sang "On Broadway" at a Rock Hall of Fame dinner and Seymour Stein of Sire Records was so impressed, he approached Brian and Landy and started the deal right there.

[Rocky Raccoon]

even made it into the Endless Summer tv series.

No, American Family.

No, I'm talking about the syndicated show the BB's had in the summer of 1989.

Kind of a disturbing performance as well.  The way he just paces back and forth with a stone look on his face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj5A-597o0E

[KittyKat]

Almost as bad as his performance of "Nighttime" on a Dick Clark special. Brian worked with a dance instructor for the first solo album appearances. His dance moves looked like a cross between Martin Short's Ed Grimley character and Mike Love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGfwkkm-GQI

[Cabinessenceking]

gee that's horrible to look at...

the things people made Brian do when he clearly was not up to their hopes and dreams

[Ron]

Okay, then, what did Brian / Landy say were his reasons for going solo at that point?  I vaguely remember Carl saying he did his albums because he wanted to do stuff that wouldn't really fit in with the Beach Boys style...  but that was never really an issue for Brian before, was it?

Again, I'm just interested in the face they put on it...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Couple things about Landy... it certainly appears that in this period of their relationship, Landy was manipulating and using Brian for financial reasons, there are tons of allegations (not sure if any were ever proved) that Landy would give himself co-writing credits or in other ways get his name thrown into the game so that he received money from Brian's work.  So getting Brian to do something solo meant that Landy could exert more control and get more money out of it.

Remember, he was Brian's doctor.  He shouldn't have had any financial association or business dealings with Brian whatsoever.

Another thing worth mentioning is that in the late 80's, as screwed up as Brian was, he was still very much the alpha male he always was and nobody had the BALLS to say anything about anything he was doing.  They wouldn't have said anything about him having a solo career... They habitually paid him part of all the money for doing next to nothing... All that changed shortly after, however.

[Ron]

Ed Grimley

Wow.  Haven't heard or thought of that in 15 years.  YOU JUST BLEW MY MIND, KITTY KAT

[Ron]

the things people made Brian do when he clearly was not up to their hopes and dreams

The worst I've ever been aware of was "Smart girls".  Not only did they have him do rap (which he despises)... not only did they have him trash all his famous songs in the song (by ridiculing all the girls names).... but if you listen to the record, it sounds like they're torturing a mentally ill person... the "awesome, Dude!" at the end literally sounds like Brian's soul is breaking in half!

Horrible, horrible sh*t. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

even made it into the Endless Summer tv series.

No, American Family.

No, I'm talking about the syndicated show the BB's had in the summer of 1989.

Kind of a disturbing performance as well.  The way he just paces back and forth with a stone look on his face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj5A-597o0E

That may be the worst thing ever. WTF does he DO to the first verse?!

[Dancing Bear]

Simple. I'm sure Carl, Mike and Al didn't love the fact that Brian was releasing a solo album but they probably kept a low profile in hope that Brian would be back for one more Beach Boys album. Rocking the boat in the press would give Landy (and Brian) the excuse to keep an even further distance from the band.

That was before Kokomo, of course.

[joe_blow]

the things people made Brian do when he clearly was not up to their hopes and dreams

The worst I've ever been aware of was "Smart girls".  Not only did they have him do rap (which he despises)... not only did they have him trash all his famous songs in the song (by ridiculing all the girls names).... but if you listen to the record, it sounds like they're torturing a mentally ill person... the "awesome, Dude!" at the end literally sounds like Brian's soul is breaking in half!

Horrible, horrible sh*t. 

Some like it, I think....has some catchy moments! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wiGIuveWl4

[Lonely Summer]

Simple. I'm sure Carl, Mike and Al didn't love the fact that Brian was releasing a solo album but they probably kept a low profile in hope that Brian would be back for one more Beach Boys album. Rocking the boat in the press would give Landy (and Brian) the excuse to keep an even further distance from the band.

That was before Kokomo, of course.

Yep.  I found it funny that Brian turned up on Full House to sing Kokomo with the BB's, and he wasn't even on the record.