The Dennis/Mike stage fight incident

[Jay]

I have read from several different sources that Dennis and Mike ended up having a physical fight on stage at the Universal Ampitheater, in 1979. Does anybody know exactly what happened? Apperantly Dennis made some kind of drunken on mic comment about cocaine. Does any recording, film, or picture(s) exist of this?

[shelter]

Wasn't that the show where Dennis threw his drum kit on Mike from the drum riser?

[sherryluvsbrian]

How neat would that be to see a video of that. I have looked before and came up with nothing.

[Rocker]

I asked about that years ago on the Blue Bamboo Room and got this answer. I can't rememebr who wrote it (iirc he was at that show), but it's much appreciated:

Universal Ampitheatre, L.A., 1978 or 9.,,,,,, Dennis was L-O-A-D-E-D. He made a comment to the audience extolling the restoritive powers of Qualudes and Cocaine on the human mind and body. Mike was pissed and the other's kept watching him with one eye, worried what would happen. Brian had two cigerettes burning in the ashtray on his keyboards and one drooping out of his mouth. They encored and began to leave the stage but Dennis wasn't ready to go. He attempted to climb one of the fake palms onstage, yelling at the band, "Get back out here you mo'fos !". They did not comply. Ah, yes, America's Band.

[Ron]

Well good for Mike.  If my cousin was acting like that, I'd probably beat some sense into him too

[c-man]

According to Lindsey Buckingham's ex Carol Ann Harris, in her new autobiography "Storms", she accompanied Dennis to the show and Mike was pissed that Dennis missed the soundcheck, so Dennis decked him.   Just hauled off and punched him in the face, without saying so much as a word.  Carol was shocked, to say the least, but Dennis gave her a sly wink, as if to say "Business as usual".  This was backstage prior to the show.  If true, it would further illuminate the onstage tension. 

[oldsurferdude]

According to Lindsey Buckingham's ex Carol Ann Harris, in her new autobiography "Storms", she accompanied Dennis to the show and Mike was pissed that Dennis missed the soundcheck, so Dennis decked him.   Just hauled off and punched him in the face, without saying so much as a word.  Carol was shocked, to say the least, but Dennis gave her a sly wink, as if to say "Business as usual".  This was backstage prior to the show.  If true, it would further illuminate the onstage tension. 

Wow, pow!! It would be asking way too much if this "decking" of Mike was miraculously captured on video-Yeah, I know Dennis was way outta control, but just to see him wack that bastard right in the kisser would be incredible-maybe it'll show up someday on YouTube.

[Aegir]

Not everything gets captured on camera.

[Smilin Ed H]

Not back then, anyhow...

[Jonas]

Not everything gets captured on camera.

Whats with your current trend of one-liners?

[Ian]

Dennis was basically fired after the show- He does not seem to have drummed with the band again till the European tour in June 1980. He was absent from the Fall and winter tours they did in 79-80

[c-man]

Dennis was basically fired after the show- He does not seem to have drummed with the band again till the European tour in June 1980. He was absent from the Fall and winter tours they did in 79-80

Dennis played with the band in Hawaii, which I believe was either in August or November, according to Domenic Priore, who was in attendance.   I think Dennis was basically living there for a time with Christine McVie.  And a report from BBFUN said Dennis rejoined the band for a short tour in November.
There was also a report that he joined them briefly for an encore at one of their Lake Tahoe gigs in January '80.  Not sure how true that is.

[Mark H.]

I saw the band in July or August of 1979 in Lexington KY, Rupp Arena.  They were touring the LA album.  Toward the end there was on on-stage feud that resulted in Mike and Al leaving the stage.  Cristine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham came out and filled in for the encore.  It was wild to say the least...and Dennis was "cooked".  Brian was doing his best to imitate a circus bear....he would wave and jump about on cue.

[Steve Mayo]

I saw the band in July or August of 1979 in Lexington KY, Rupp Arena.  They were touring the LA album.  Toward the end there was on on-stage feud that resulted in Mike and Al leaving the stage.  Cristine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham came out and filled in for the encore.  It was wild to say the least...and Dennis was "cooked".  Brian was doing his best to imitate a circus bear....he would wave and jump about on cue.

the rupp arena 1979 concert was on april 28th, 1979. i was there also. they were in cincinnati a week earlier on 4/21/79. lindsey was great in the encores wasn't he? and dennis leading the crowd during good vibrations, at one point asking all the "one legged" people to sing. ah yes, those were the days!

[Mark H.]

Ahhh....April.  I did not recall the date.  It was a good show musically for sure.  But the factions and divisions were obvious even then.  Seems that maybe Carl left the stage too...I don't recall.  Wasn't this the first returning tour for Bruce?

[Eric Aniversario]

I saw the band in July or August of 1979 in Lexington KY, Rupp Arena.  They were touring the LA album.  Toward the end there was on on-stage feud that resulted in Mike and Al leaving the stage.  Cristine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham came out and filled in for the encore.  It was wild to say the least...and Dennis was "cooked".  Brian was doing his best to imitate a circus bear....he would wave and jump about on cue.

Was this ever explained on stage?  Who was arguing with who?

[c-man]

Ahhh....April.  I did not recall the date.  It was a good show musically for sure.  But the factions and divisions were obvious even then.  Seems that maybe Carl left the stage too...I don't recall.  Wasn't this the first returning tour for Bruce?

Bruce returned around Labor Day of '78 and did the tail end of a tour with them (Jan & Dean were special guests on that tour).  I've got a tape of a show in Florida on that tour, and yes, Dennis was cooked there, too...he gives up playing drums at one point, until Carl "orders" him back to the kit.  People in the audience can be heard yelling "Sober up!" and "I can smell the whisky!". 

Bruce apparently sat out a tour later that year, but was back full-time starting with the Radio City Music Hall shows in March of '79.

I saw the Boys that Summer (July 2nd) in Omaha, and Dennis was a no-show.  From what I understood, he was basically gone until the May 1980 European tour, with the exception of that show in Hawaii and apparently a few shows in November of '79, for which he was "allowed" to play.

[Ron]

According to Lindsey Buckingham's ex Carol Ann Harris, in her new autobiography "Storms", she accompanied Dennis to the show and Mike was pissed that Dennis missed the soundcheck, so Dennis decked him.   Just hauled off and punched him in the face, without saying so much as a word.  Carol was shocked, to say the least, but Dennis gave her a sly wink, as if to say "Business as usual".  This was backstage prior to the show.  If true, it would further illuminate the onstage tension. 

Wow, pow!! It would be asking way too much if this "decking" of Mike was miraculously captured on video-Yeah, I know Dennis was way outta control, but just to see him wack that bastard right in the kisser would be incredible-maybe it'll show up someday on YouTube.

Yeah, but you can't actually think it was a good thing that Dennis punched out Mike for being responsible. 

[Dancing Bear]

According to Lindsey Buckingham's ex Carol Ann Harris, in her new autobiography "Storms", she accompanied Dennis to the show and Mike was pissed that Dennis missed the soundcheck, so Dennis decked him.   Just hauled off and punched him in the face, without saying so much as a word.  Carol was shocked, to say the least, but Dennis gave her a sly wink, as if to say "Business as usual".  This was backstage prior to the show.  If true, it would further illuminate the onstage tension. 

Wow, pow!! It would be asking way too much if this "decking" of Mike was miraculously captured on video-Yeah, I know Dennis was way outta control, but just to see him wack that bastard right in the kisser would be incredible-maybe it'll show up someday on YouTube.

Yeah, but you can't actually think it was a good thing that Dennis punched out Mike for being responsible. 

What if we found out that Mike punched Brian in Dec'66? The horror, the horror... 

[Aegir]

Not everything gets captured on camera.

Whats with your current trend of one-liners?

I wouldn't consider three posts a "trend", but in any case, I was in a really weird mood (depressed, cynical, no sleep) last night and this morning, if that's any explanation.

[oldsurferdude]

Dennis punching Mike out for being "responsible"? What does that mean? Dennis, obviously drunk, sees the person he absolutely hates, and goes after him, that's all there is to it-it has nothing to do with being responsible-he, along with many others, hated that prick-Good for Dennis!!

[gsmile]

This is one the many reasons that the Beach Boys are my favorite band.  What other message boards do you visit that have posts asking "Is there footage of Dennis Wilson decking Mike Love?" or "Which show did Mike throw a piano bench at Brian?".  Not too mention, I think that this is the only band that I know of where people openly debate about the participation of band members during the actual songwriting and production process!  This is in no way a critique of this board, I just thought I should point out one of the many reasons (besides the music) why the Boys are endlessly fascinating.  Most message boards merely consist of "When does the new album come out?" and "What are your favorite XXXXXXXX songs to work out to?"

And to go slightly off topic, would anyone else like to see a Beach Boys movie directed by David Lynch?  Maybe I'm just slightly off from this flu bug I have currently, but this struck me as a good combo, you know, for an alternate reality.  His old-Hollywood style with a underbelly of creepiness would somehow make  an interesting viewing.  Think about how cool the SMiLE sessions would be...the "Fire" footage is practically Lynchian already!

Alright...I'm done. 

[MBE]

Dennis punching Mike out for being "responsible"? What does that mean? Dennis, obviously drunk, sees the person he absolutely hates, and goes after him, that's all there is to it-it has nothing to do with being responsible-he, along with many others, hated that prick-Good for Dennis!!

Mike isn't as hated anymore. We all hate Bruce now 

[Ron]

Dennis punching Mike out for being "responsible"? What does that mean? Dennis, obviously drunk, sees the person he absolutely hates, and goes after him, that's all there is to it-it has nothing to do with being responsible-he, along with many others, hated that prick-Good for Dennis!!

Dennis was a fucking drunk who missed the soundcheck.  Mike called him on it, and instead of being a man and admitting his problems or trying to do something about the situation HE created, the problem HE created, he instead made it physical.  I don't applaud that, good for Mike for giving him hell about missing the soundcheck.  Apparentely out of the two that day, Mike was the only one who gave a sh*t about the fans, the quality of the performance, or being responsible enough to take care of business. 

[Ian]

The Hawaii show was on Aug 11 1979 with Heart- as the BBs were returning from their tour of Japan. Dennis was not on the Japan tour with them- so if he played the Hawaii show it was a one off.  I am not aware of any November 79 shows, though they did do an October 79 tour  in the South. Reviewers of some of those shows noted Dennis's absence. They were in Tahoe Jan 16-19 1980- I was unaware that Dennis was there, but maybe he was. His absence at tours in Feb-March 1980 and April 1980 were noted by reviewers.