Are Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks currently estranged?

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

In the old days Van could pick up a phone and call Brian or drop by the house.  Now meetings have to be approved and arranged.

How do you know this to be true?

I'm talking about in 1966-67 - and how I know is by the multiple accounts of that time by Brian, Van Dyke, the Vosse posse, press, etc.  how do I know that now meetings have to be approved and arranged?  Surely you know that Brian has handlers and Melinda and that access to Brian is controlled?  Mike and others (Jeff Beck et al) have complained about that very thing. 

Short version, as I expected: You don't know it to be true. Brian's friends are able to call him on the phone and drop by whenever they like. BW drives his own car, goes where he likes, and does what he pleases.

If Van isn't able to do that now, then that's perhaps because he's not Brian's friend now -- and hasn't been for 50 years.

They've definitely been on good terms more recently than 50 years ago. They seemed pretty close during OCA and BWPS. It's possible Brian saw VDP as more of an employee for the latter but I'd like to believe they were friends then

[37!ws]

They've definitely been on good terms more recently than 50 years ago. They seemed pretty close during OCA and BWPS. It's possible Brian saw VDP as more of an employee for the latter but I'd like to believe they were friends then

Watch him at the end of the performance in Beautiful Dreamer. Someone doesn't get that emotional in an employee-boss relationship.

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

They've definitely been on good terms more recently than 50 years ago. They seemed pretty close during OCA and BWPS. It's possible Brian saw VDP as more of an employee for the latter but I'd like to believe they were friends then

Watch him at the end of the performance in Beautiful Dreamer. Someone doesn't get that emotional in an employee-boss relationship.

Exactly. I felt warmth in the OCA video that was posted recently too. That's why all this is so saddening to me, because it's seemingly out of nowhere. Throwing his lot in with Daro especially.

[Wirestone]

There are plenty of people I work with -- who I'm friendly with! -- who I wouldn't invite to my home. Just because Van and Brian have a shared history, and just because they sometimes work well together does not mean they're close friends. BW also goes hit and cold on folks -- as Joe T. and Paley now well.

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

There are plenty of people I work with -- who I'm friendly with! -- who I wouldn't invite to my home. Just because Van and Brian have a shared history, and just because they sometimes work well together does not mean they're close friends. BW also goes hit and cold on folks -- as Joe T. and Paley now well.

Very true

[Komera]

[Joke mode engaged]

Perhaps VDP heard about how Mike's the greatest lyricist in the world.  He's unhappy about that.

[Joke mode disengaged]

[Smilin Ed H]

They've definitely been on good terms more recently than 50 years ago. They seemed pretty close during OCA and BWPS. It's possible Brian saw VDP as more of an employee for the latter but I'd like to believe they were friends then

Watch him at the end of the performance in Beautiful Dreamer. Someone doesn't get that emotional in an employee-boss relationship.

Exactly. I felt warmth in the OCA video that was posted recently too. That's why all this is so saddening to me, because it's seemingly out of nowhere. Throwing his lot in with Daro especially.

I suspect throwing his lot in with Daro was as much to highlight his thoughts about people who he deems to have a pernicious influence on Brian's creativity - Loren was, after all, pretty damning about Mike and Murry and didn't VDP made some sarcastic comments when the C50 shows got rolling because it's clear that's not where he sees Brian?

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

They've definitely been on good terms more recently than 50 years ago. They seemed pretty close during OCA and BWPS. It's possible Brian saw VDP as more of an employee for the latter but I'd like to believe they were friends then

Watch him at the end of the performance in Beautiful Dreamer. Someone doesn't get that emotional in an employee-boss relationship.

Exactly. I felt warmth in the OCA video that was posted recently too. That's why all this is so saddening to me, because it's seemingly out of nowhere. Throwing his lot in with Daro especially.

I suspect throwing his lot in with Daro was as much to highlight his thoughts about people who he deems to have a pernicious influence on Brian's creativity - Loren was, after all, pretty damning about Mike and Murry and didn't VDP made some sarcastic comments when the C50 shows got rolling because it's clear that's not where he sees Brian?

I can understand that, but considering everything else he was saying that was obviously untrue or incredibly obnoxious...doesn't make vdp look good to throw his support behind him

[Awesoman]

It probably does get VD's goat that he is more musically sophisticated than Bri, yet is a lot poorer and did not have Brian's ability to write simple, catchy fare that performed well on the charts.  He probably knows he could not write simple successful songs like Brian either, and wonders how that "magic trick" was performed so often.

You haven't changed a bit, MTG.  ;-)