Brian say's a Reunion possible...or not!

[pixletwin]

why harp on the behavior of Brian's camp and let it ruin the few performing years we have left with Brian?

God, thats a depressing thought. 

[Amy B.]

why harp on the behavior of Brian's camp and let it ruin the few performing years we have left with Brian?

God, thats a depressing thought. 

Errrrr...sorry.  "Few" is a relative term-- the man continues to amaze me and considering his penchant for surprising his fans will still be giving concerts into his 90s. I'm just saying that people argue so much about little issues, and I just feel lucky to be around at a time when Brian is still performing.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I don't see Brian performing too much longer. He's 65 this year, and I think the new work/album and the reception thereof could well influence the future. I'm not alone in this view.

[c-man]

I don't see Brian performing too much longer. He's 65 this year, and I think the new work/album and the reception thereof could well influence the future. I'm not alone in this view.

Wasn't Brian planning on retiring with "SMiLE", then changed his mind?

[Pretty Funky]

Maybe Brian was planning on retiring after SMiLE but his "Management" had other ideas.
Look at it this way. Success in London in September and it's more of the same for Brian.
If not...it's back to the Beach Boys. They have all bases covered. Brilliant!

[Andrew G. Doe]

I don't see Brian performing too much longer. He's 65 this year, and I think the new work/album and the reception thereof could well influence the future. I'm not alone in this view.

Wasn't Brian planning on retiring with "SMiLE", then changed his mind?

Yeah, but his wife and managers talked him out of it.

[Amy B.]

Just to give the wife and managers the benefit of the doubt for a minute...  Isn't there a legitimate concern that if Brian were to retire, he would sit around feeling depressed and start overeating? Maybe the touring/working on music keeps him feeling useful? It's not as if he plays golf or something.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Anyone everr asked him what he'd like to do ?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Exactly.

Of course, the biggest teminalogical inexactitude of all is still trundled out, but not for much longer. 


Is that something cryptic, or something that's commonly known?  I'm not sure what you mean by that line, AGD, and I certainly respect your inside knowledge.  Is it having to do with Brian's role in the studio, or is it something to do with Brian on a personal level?

I was wondering about that too,

[Dr. Tim]

Re: what Brian wants to do - isn't the point of everything we've seen/read lately this: that what Brian wants to do is that others "suggest" what he do?  Very much a benign form of passive/aggressiveness, being "supervised" in one sense but exercising ultimate veto power if he really doesn't want to do something?   As in: others propose what to do, or they do the "scut work" for him, and he gets the credit.  Peter's book and the BD docu suggest it, even Brian himself repeatedly says "my wife" or "someone" suggested he do one thing or another.  I'll defer to you scholars but that's certainly the impression I've been getting these past couple of years, with all the renewed historical interest.

I don't see this as sinister or praiseworthy, just how things are being done, the "analysis" can be left to the flame-throwers on all sides.

[Amy B.]

Re: what Brian wants to do - isn't the point of everything we've seen/read lately this: that what Brian wants to do is that others "suggest" what he do?  Very much a benign form of passive/aggressiveness, being "supervised" in one sense but exercising ultimate veto power if he really doesn't want to do something?   As in: others propose what to do, or they do the "scut work" for him, and he gets the credit.  Peter's book and the BD docu suggest it, even Brian himself repeatedly says "my wife" or "someone" suggested he do one thing or another.  I'll defer to you scholars but that's certainly the impression I've been getting these past couple of years, with all the renewed historical interest.

I don't see this as sinister or praiseworthy, just how things are being done, the "analysis" can be left to the flame-throwers on all sides.

Well, exactly. Doesn't the Carlin book talk about how it's almost an insult to him to suggest that he's simply a robot doing whatever anyone tells him to do?  I think leaving it up to him would just leave him doing... nothing. Instead, it's probably like, "Brian, you want to tour?" "Okay." "Brian, you want to make a record?" "Okay." "Brian, you want to stay home?" "Okay." I think he's more in control when he's not in  control-- when he can react to others' decisions, rather than making all the decisions himself. I think he LIKES that his wife and manager make the decisions, and he knows that the ultimate decision is really his.

[endofposts]

I think Brian probably doesn't mind if whatever is proposed turns out okay, such as finishing "Smile."  Or the relatively mild touring schedule.  I do wonder what he thinks about some of the studio work (with some isolated brighter spots) of "original" material of "Imagination" and afterwards.  I think it's wrong to push him on that if he doesn't have anything new, or if what's new isn't up to his standards.  I do think he has standards, and only should put out a record of "new" stuff if it is indeed new and something he feels is decent material.  I can live without ever hearing a new Brian Wilson record if he's not 100% behind what he's doing (or other people are suggesting he do, however it happens).   That also goes for anything he might do with the Beach Boys in the future, if that ever were to happen.   

[Sheriff John Stone]

I think leaving it up to him would just leave him doing... nothing. Instead, it's probably like, "Brian, you want to tour?" "Okay." "Brian, you want to make a record?" "Okay." "Brian, you want to stay home?" "Okay."

I see what you're saying, but I think you have to elaborate just a little bit more. Yes, the questions are probably put to Brian like, "Do you wanna do this?" or "Do you wanna do that?"

But I also think there's some selling or bargaining going on. Use the recording of a new album as an example. After the initial question - Do you want to record a new album - there's probably a "So and so would like to collaborate. So and so could get the musicians together. So and so would be great producing the tracks. So and so can do the auto tuning. So and so can sequence it. All you have to do is sing the lead vocals. The guys can work out the backgrounds. The actual amount of time you have to put in is a couple of weeks max. What'd ya say?"... OK, sounds good.

And we get a Brian Wilson "solo" album...