Bruce Johnston talks reunion idea.

[adamghost]

David's singing voice is pretty cool, actually.  To me his participation is kind of the wild card that would make it more interesting.

Bottom line perhaps we can all agree on...if the participants all want to do it, then great, and if in spite of past experiences down this road they can make it happen in the way some folks here have envisioned, that's great too.  But they're all real people and if any of them DON'T want to do it, for whatever reason, we should respect that and not second-guess it based on how "we" think "they" should behave, or our vision of what's best for them.

[NightHider]

I think the debate about how a reunited Beach Boys would "sound", either live or in the studio, is getting into the area of relativity. Which is fine, that's part of the fun of the discussion.

Would a 2009 version of The Beach Boys sound like the original records? No. Would they sound like Live In London '69? No. Would they sound like In Concert 1972-73? No. Would they sound like Knebworth 1980? Now we're getting into some serious discussion.

 

I thought they sounded fine for:

15 Big Ones in 1976
Knebworth in 1980
The unrehearsed Campfire Sessions in 1989
Nashville Sounds in 1996

Don't see why things would change now....except for Carl of course....

[Aegir]

Al sounds good on his own, Mike & Bruce sound good with each other and with Dave, Brian sounds okay on his own and with Al, so if you combine them all and have some (relatively*) younger guys around to sing the high end, everything'll work out fine.

*Matt Jardine has gotta be at least 40 years old by now, Foskett's older still. If only Brian could've kept his falsetto as long as these guys...

[Dancing Bear]

[quoteI remember reading that during the 2006 Capitol rooftop event, "Don't Talk" was playing in the background and Mike asked Brian if he could still sound like that.  Brian laughed before telling him he couldn't. Either Mike is kidding himself about Brian's voice, or he still likes to goad Brian.

Ever thought he was just kidding with him?

Thanks for that informative post, Carrie. In all honesty, I've never heard David sing, nor heard any of his solo work. Now I know I need to check him out!

Goading, kidding...there's a fine line, particularly where we're talking about a sensitive relationship. When Brian had Al hold his nose to imitate Mike, a similar thing. "Oh, he's gonna LOVE that." [/quote]

Have you ever thought that it would take Mike ten seconds to veto the nose holding scene from the Endless Harmony docu? And it's there. Maybe Mike laughed his ass off when he watched it at home. Maybe Brian wasn't terribly hurt when Mike made the comment about "Don't Talk".

I'm not trying to claim that those guys don't have issues with each other. Sure they have. But I think there are some zones where they are able to get along. If making a reunion to revisit old material or writing new songs isn't one of those, so be it.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Carrie, I checked out the site... I freaking LOVE the version of Kokomo on there. 

Okay...I'm sold. If there's a reunion I want David there. All of those songs are new recordings? If that's the case, David's voice is the best out of the surviving Beach Boys, easily.

[phirnis]

I'm really warming up to the idea of solo recordings... just let everybody sing on them, that's all I'm asking for. As an example, imagine Al contributing a few lines to a song like Cool Head Warm Heart and let Brian handle a bit of the background vocals. Other than that, lots of group vocals please! It wouldn't be a Friends situation for sure, more like 20/20 or even Still Cruisin' and I'd be perfectly fine with that. And don't necessarily go for a big production, I'd love a bit of a campfire vibe, which might even satisfy both Alan and Mike's aesthetic demands (think Postcard, 1989 TV special, 1993 unplugged tour). I don't mean sloppiness, just keep it simple and tasteful. Bring in some horns, some vibes, guitars, glockenspiel, and some basic percussion. Oh, and make sure Van Dyke Parks will play that accordion again! After all, he's a real nice guy according to Mike Love.

[Carrie Marks]

Carrie, I don't see the 'The Lost Years' 3 CD set in your online store (except in the package with the the book, which I've read and own), is that the only package available right now?

Thanks for asking.  However, someone just bought the very last copy as part of the 'set' on Friday. I believe there is still ONE left in stock through Amazon and 1 or 2 left at CDBaby if you'd like a last chance to get one!  Otherwise, the songs on disc 1 and disc 3 are packaged individually as the Marksmen Ultimate Collectors Edition, I Think About You Often, and the Marks Clifford live at Blue Dolphin. 

Holy Man would have been cool and I believe Jon Stebbins did throw David's name out there as an option.  But Taylor was also a good choice - and Carl B would have been another one that would have done a great job on it, too!

[Carrie Marks]

Carrie, I checked out the site... I freaking LOVE the version of Kokomo on there. 

Okay...I'm sold. If there's a reunion I want David there. All of those songs are new recordings? If that's the case, David's voice is the best out of the surviving Beach Boys, easily.

I'm glad to hear you liked what you heard! There is even more of a selection of original songs here: http://www.reverbnation.com/davidmarks

Angie was recorded in 1968 - but David's only playing guitar on that track (both parts...he's jamming with himself at the end).  Kokomo was recorded in 2001 and I Sail Away was recorded last summer...the rest fall in between that window.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Carrie, does David read this or other message boards? Also, have you two discussed a possible Beach Boys' reunion, just in passing - or seriously? If yes, are you at liberty to tell us his thoughts? Thank you....

[Amy B.]

Have you ever thought that it would take Mike ten seconds to veto the nose holding scene from the Endless Harmony docu? And it's there. Maybe Mike laughed his ass off when he watched it at home. Maybe Brian wasn't terribly hurt when Mike made the comment about "Don't Talk".

I'm not trying to claim that those guys don't have issues with each other. Sure they have. But I think there are some zones where they are able to get along. If making a reunion to revisit old material or writing new songs isn't one of those, so be it.

I didn't say Brian was terribly hurt. I have no idea what the intent was behind those incidents, or what the response was, and neither do you. I know they both have a sense of humor. I wasn't clear enough in the point I was trying to make. I just mean that there is a point where joking around can degenerate into something more serious that stirs up old issues, if people spend enough time together. Obviously their relationship is complicated, and sometimes they get along great, and other times, not so much. If they want to do a reunion, fine. I'm just saying that I don't understand the calls for it, given what has happened in the past right now, and given that Brian currently seems to be in a good place. Do I hope their relationship improves? Of course. I think whatever happens, it's up to each of them, bottom line. But to me, if it never happens, it's not some sort of tragedy. Brian is doing his thing, quite successfully, and Mike and Bruce are doing theirs, also successfully. In their own way, each project is a reminder of the value of the Beach Boys sound.

[the captain]

...if it never happens, it's not some sort of tragedy. Brian is doing his thing, quite successfully, and Mike and Bruce are doing theirs, also successfully. In their own way, each project is a reminder of the value of the Beach Boys sound.

Very true. It could be said this is the best time the Beach Boys world has had since ... the mid 70s? The Beach Boys band continues to tour, and with better reviews than I've seen since I've paid attention to such things (late 90s). People attending the shows REALLY speak up for them as good quality, which is awesome. Brian Wilson has a great band and seems as happy and healthy as Brian Wilson is likely to be, and has a good new album and quality touring show. David Marks's material--old and new--has been made available again, and when he joins the various live shows, everyone acknowledges his contributions, especially as a great guitarist (not to mention J. Stebbins's book got him a lot of his due credit, helping fight the myth of the Beach Boys being Brian, Carl, Dennis, Mike and Al). And Dennis's POB was rereleased, with Bambu material, no less. Al got good reviews when he toured with Brian a year or so ago, and presumably is nearing the release of his album (which does include contributions from David, Brian, Mike and Carl). To some that means a reunion should happen, and if it does, whatever--fine. Good. But regardless, these are pretty darn good times anyway. Sometimes it's good to just appreciate what we do have, rather than pine for what we don't.

[Dancing Bear]

I didn't say Brian was terribly hurt. I have no idea what the intent was behind those incidents, or what the response was, and neither do you.

Well, we know that Mike didn't mind, or it would have been cut from Endless Harmony. 

Otherwise, yeah, we don't know, so I used "maybe" twice.

[Pretty Funky]

Re the posts on how the voice's may sound now compared to the bands prime.

I think for me, that would be a reason for my interest. A certain difference and freshness to what we have heard for the last 40 plus years in concert or record. A certain rough edge may add something to certain songs. One that springs to mind would be David rocking on 'Wild Honey'.

Remember the combination of Mike, Brian, Al, Bruce and David on stage together is new. Yes, for a band almost 50 years old something new. Why not think outside the square and make it interesting and tempting for all parties to say 'why the hell not'.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I think for me, that would be a reason for my interest. A certain difference and freshness to what we have heard for the last 40 plus years in concert or record. A certain rough edge may add something to certain songs. One that springs to mind would be David rocking on 'Wild Honey'.

Remember the combination of Mike, Brian, Al, Bruce and David on stage together is new. Yes, for a band almost 50 years old something new. Why not think outside the square and make it interesting and tempting for all parties to say 'why the hell not'.

Could this also fall into the "what's in it for Brian/the group" department? It would be interesting, wouldn't it?

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Carrie, I don't see the 'The Lost Years' 3 CD set in your online store (except in the package with the the book, which I've read and own), is that the only package available right now?

Thanks for asking.  However, someone just bought the very last copy as part of the 'set' on Friday. I believe there is still ONE left in stock through Amazon and 1 or 2 left at CDBaby if you'd like a last chance to get one!  Otherwise, the songs on disc 1 and disc 3 are packaged individually as the Marksmen Ultimate Collectors Edition, I Think About You Often, and the Marks Clifford live at Blue Dolphin. 

Holy Man would have been cool and I believe Jon Stebbins did throw David's name out there as an option.  But Taylor was also a good choice - and Carl B would have been another one that would have done a great job on it, too!

Mahalo Carrie!  Amazon was sold out but I was able to order one from CD Baby.  I've been meaning to order this collection since it came out but glad I got one before it was too late.

[Jonathan Blum]

Adam, couldn't all this reasoning be also applied to Brian's solo career? It's not really advancing his legacy.

You don't think finishing and touring Smile redefined Brian's legacy?

No. Smile is still an abandoned and beautiful project that Brian worked on when he was 24/25 years old.

BWPS made some waves back in 2004, the CD was a nice celebration, but Smile will always be a sixties beast. Officially releasing more than the twenty-something minutes of Smile contained the GV box set would do the job just as well, or better. Probably better, IMO.

How about proving he could do a good album as a followup?

I don't think it's a good album, and I doubt anyone cares outside the diehard fanbase.

A 70% on metacritic and a #21 album says otherwise.  That's the difference between the die-hard fanbase, who barely got GIOMH into the Top 100 and gave it middling reviews, and where Brian's at now.

It's not about what you think, really; you don't get to define his legacy.  Neither do those of us on this board -- we're talking about a reputation that's bigger than us.  Among the much wider audience of people who've heard of Brian and Smile (who are still a fraction of those who've heard about the Beach Boys with no concept of the guys behind the music), the end of the biopic script is now that Brian finally finished it, got standing ovations, won a Grammy, et cetera.

And would a reunion concert add something to that legacy?  I tend to think, only if it was a genuine reconciliation, more than just a revisiting.  Personally I'd love to see it if it just gave us something as sweet as that moment of Brian and Mike singing one of their favorite Everly Brothers songs on Hawthorne CA.  Or let 'em each do a new track with all of them singing on it, showing the ability to collaborate one more time.  If it's just about getting them to stand on a stage together, I don't think that'll mean that much...  "doing it for the fans" impresses me even less...  but something which actually lays ghosts to rest, that could matter in the big scheme of things.  Or just matter to the people involved, which would be worth it in its own right.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[Amy B.]

I don't think it's a good album, and I doubt anyone cares outside the diehard fanbase.

A 70% on metacritic and a #21 album says otherwise.  That's the difference between the die-hard fanbase, who barely got GIOMH into the Top 100 and gave it middling reviews, and where Brian's at now.

And BWPS got a 100% (or close to it) on Metacritic. The statement about TLOS that "I don't think it's a good album, and I doubt anyone cares outside the diehard fanbase..." You could probably say that about a lot of recent albums. It doesn't mean those albums aren't good. Just means you don't like it and many people aren't attuned to the albums. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, it may not make a noise, but it still falls. Or something like that. Anyway, to get back to the reunion subject, I wonder what kind of material the diehard fans would consider to be good from reunited Beach Boys. I believe that TLOS is just about as good as Brian can get these days. I'm not sure what Mike can do as a lyricist these days, since he doesn't do much without Brian. So if you don't like TLOS, what would you be looking for?

[Carrie Marks]

Carrie, does David read this or other message boards? Also, have you two discussed a possible Beach Boys' reunion, just in passing - or seriously? If yes, are you at liberty to tell us his thoughts? Thank you....

I think to some degree, most everyone in the extended BBs organization is privy to what’s going on with the boards.  David doesn’t visit himself, but he is pretty much up-to-date with what goes on…and he will answer questions or get involved with discussions through me.

About the reunion….from his perspective it’s really a complicated thing with multiple layers. Mostly, he just wants to work!  He loves doing shows as the “Legends” with Al and Dean and it was really fun for him to play with Mike again – and he really loved getting to play with this new (for him) configuration with Scott, John, Randell and Christian.   And he’s constantly writing and recording, so it would be great to do more collaboration with the other guys where they ‘guest’ on each other’s solo projects.

Now technically there already was a reunion in 2006, but if [big IF] there was some one-off 50th Anniversary event or a new Beach Boys CD, then of course David would want to be involved. Not only would it be ‘right’, but I believe he would be an asset musically – especially if this fantasy project were to include recording.  However, if it doesn’t happen…I don’t think that means that all the other mini ‘reunions’ that have been going on over the last few years should be discounted. 

For example, Al wrote a really fun song and David played guitar on it and then they performed it together live at the Roxy to honor Carl.  I mean, rewind to 1963 and would anyone think that David Marks would be playing Blues licks behind Al Jardine at a club in the Sunset Strip?!?  That’s pretty cool, in my opinion!  It was also really cool for him to get to tour the UK as a “Beach Boy” this year for the first time, too.  So, whatever happens or doesn’t happen officially, there already has been several years worth or ‘reuniting’ that have all contributed towards healing and produced wonderful memories and some good music.  Hopefully there will be more to come…

[Carrie Marks]

Mahalo Carrie!  Amazon was sold out but I was able to order one from CD Baby.  I've been meaning to order this collection since it came out but glad I got one before it was too late.

Cool, thanks...I think you got the last one! 

[roll plymouth rock]

Personally I've noticed a chain of events that I suspected may lead to an anniversary reunion of some type: the Capitol rooftop reunion in 2006, Brian re-signing with Capitol Records shortly thereafter....we all know Capitol was the original BB's label, so on top of the members themselves being interested in playing with each other again and what not to honor the songs, wouldn't Capitol perhaps see this potential when deciding to re-sign BW? And by going public with his comment about a potential reunion, Bruce has shown that the idea is being given some degree of serious thought in the inner ranks of the BB's. I could see an event kind of like Led Zeppelin's recent one-off London reunion show working well for a Beach Boys 50th reunion

[Jon Stebbins]

I know for a fact that the Hollywood Bowl would love to host a Beach Boys reunion concert. A member of my family holds a perfect position within the Hollywood Bowl organization to make this happen if the BB's wanted it. In fact, this party specifically reached out to me last year to see if I could somehow assist them in gauging interest within the BB's family. The whole idea was set aside before we even began the process of trying to get the ball rolling, mainly because all parties were busy and the timing didn't seem right. But the idea is still alive, and I know there is serious interest within the Bowl's hierarchy. Obviously a summer BB's reunion concert at the Bowl would be a huge L.A. event. One upside of doing it there is that the BB's would have the L.A. Philharmonic at their disposal for at least part of the set. Another is that there is plenty of history with the BB's at the Bowl, having first played there in Oct. '62...and nearly every year until the late sixties. The downside might be the sound, some don't like it there, although Brian sure sounded amazing at the Bowl this past summer, it seems the ability to project excellent sound for rock music has vastly improved at the Bowl in recent years. Another downside might be the issue of filming and recording such a concert, there could be legal, union and institutional issues to overcome, although I'd imagine for such a one-of-a-kind event these things could be worked out. Anyway, the Hollywood Bowl is one of many many possibilities for this potential event. My underlying point here is that despite the Beach Boys frayed nature, and ongoing legacy issues, there are high profile venues that see the obvious commercial potential and HUGE historical importance of hosting a Beach Boys reunion concert. With the 50th anniv. coming up, if everybody stays healthy, I would not be surprised to see it happen. I would probably be even less surprised if it didn't.

[Dancing Bear]

(...) I believe that TLOS is just about as good as Brian can get these days. I'm not sure what Mike can do as a lyricist these days, since he doesn't do much without Brian. So if you don't like TLOS, what would you be looking for?

It's not about liking or hating it. From Brian's 2007/2008 works, I like (to varying degrees) Midnight's Another Day, Good kind of Love, Live Let Live, Southern California, Going Home, Message Man and What Love Can Do. From those seven, five were included in TLOS. So, I don't think it's a good album. It's so simple...

I look for a world where Brian only releases songs that I'll enjoy. Even simpler. 

[Amy B.]

(...) I believe that TLOS is just about as good as Brian can get these days. I'm not sure what Mike can do as a lyricist these days, since he doesn't do much without Brian. So if you don't like TLOS, what would you be looking for?

It's not about liking or hating it. From Brian's 2007/2008 works, I like (to varying degrees) Midnight's Another Day, Good kind of Love, Live Let Live, Southern California, Going Home, Message Man and What Love Can Do. From those seven, five were included in TLOS. So, I don't think it's a good album. It's so simple...

I look for a world where Brian only releases songs that I'll enjoy. Even simpler. 

I'm not as analytical when I listen to music, I guess. I don't listen to an album and say, "I like only 40 percent of it, so it's not a good album." I love most of the songs on TLOS, but for the sake of the argument I'll just point out that it's always been rare for a project Brian is involved in to contain all good songs, even back in the 60s (Today, Pet Sounds and Smile maybe being exceptions, but the earlier stuff had a lot of filler). With today's technology, you can just make your own album out of those 2007/08 works that you enjoy, plus some Paley sessions stuff or whatever else you like. Voila! Instant classic. 100%, A-grade album. Brian is back!   

[Pretty Funky]

Thanks for your post about the bowl Jon. I mentioned a few posts back about this being a new on stage line-up and thinking outside the square.

How would you feel about Brian singing 'You Are So Beautifull' solo?

Carrie, thanks to you for your answer. It's great David is still int the loop so to speak. Would you care to share his and your opinion on the Brian, Mike and Al relationship or feelings at the present? That seems to have been the most strained.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Anyway, to get back to the reunion subject, I wonder what kind of material the diehard fans would consider to be good from reunited Beach Boys. I believe that TLOS is just about as good as Brian can get these days. I'm not sure what Mike can do as a lyricist these days, since he doesn't do much without Brian. So if you don't like TLOS, what would you be looking for?

That's an easy one, Amy. It's never been as much about Brian's material (although I find the "solo" years to be mediocre at best); it's never been as much about the lyrics (although I find Mike Love as good as any lyricist Brian's used), and it's not even about the production. IT'S ABOUT THE VOCALS - LEAD AND BACKING.

Brian's "solo" albums - all of them - have suffered from Brian's lead vocals and the times he layered his own voice as backing vocals. All of Brian's "solo" albums, as a new Beach Boys' album, would benefit from dividing up the lead 3 or 4 different ways, and using The Beach Boys' voices for the harmonies.