The Mike Love WRKO Interview

[Outie 315]

  Mike Love on WRKO's Howie Carr Show:

  http://audio.wrko.com/m/audio/20741136/mike-love-8-22-08.htm?q=the+beach+boys

[the captain]

Thanks for that. This is an extremely interesting interview--one of the better ones I've heard from Mike. He's very tactful as he deals with questions about Al, Brian, etc. He also is really classy as he discusses modern popular music. Someone was really baiting him to criticize modern pop, and he handled it very well.

[Sheriff John Stone]

That interview is soon gonna be a year old, and Mike mentioned that the Al Jardine "issues" are behind them. I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

[Wilsonista]

Maybe Al  is happier doing his own shows at his own pace.  Mike's pace is brutal for anyone at any age.


I might have mentioned this before in another thread, but it bears repeating. It seems like Mike is mellowing in his old age.  This is more befitting of him.

[the captain]

I think RobMac may well be right: I would be very hesitant right now--as a 32 year old--to tour the way the Beach Boys band does, regardless of the pay. And Al doesn't have to do it anymore: lord knows he's financially secure, having led that life (seemingly sensibly) for 30+ years. Maybe he's interested in being a Beach Boy, but not really all the time. Or maybe since that time, they've run into other issues. Who knows?

But we've heard in that past year that Mike was added to Al's album, so they're at least willing to work together.

Anyway, whatever their current careers, I just think it's very becoming of Mike to talk that way, respectfully and confidently, but not condescendingly and disparagingly. Good for him, and I hope he keeps it up. Not every interview needs to be half plug for Kokomo, half diss of Brian, Al, Dennis or whoever.

[Eric Aniversario]

I like this interview too.  Regarding Mike's comments about Al, it does sound like the "issues" are resolved, but I think he said that they were talking about getting together in the studio, not as a touring act. 

[phirnis]

A low-key Beach Boys album featuring the best material of Mike's and Al's respective projects, fleshed out by four or five of Brian's contributions would be alright with me. Just don't let Bruce Johnston chose the producer, that's all I'm asking for.

[shelter]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

Maybe he just realized that he probably has another 10-15-20 years left on this planet and that he would rather spend those years taking it easy on his beautiful ranch than playing casino's and state fairs with a band that used to play in stadiums?

[the captain]

Just don't let Bruce Johnston chose the producer, that's all I'm asking for.

Or be the producer.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

The way I see it - Money.  The BB touring band does what it does and the adding of Al wouldn't increase the crowds much while having to pay Al.would take a big chunk out Mike and Bruce's share.   Plus Al gets a share of every BB show from BRI while still being able to do his own gigs.  Maybe, with all the legal stuff settled, they are happy with the status quo at this point in their lives.

[southbay]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

The way I see it - Money.  The BB touring band does what it does and the adding of Al wouldn't increase the crowds much while having to pay Al.would take a big chunk out Mike and Bruce's share.   Plus Al gets a share of every BB show from BRI while still being able to do his own gigs.  Maybe, with all the legal stuff settled, they are happy with the status quo at this point in their lives.

Al and Brian get paid touring $ anyway as part of BRI...

[the captain]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

The way I see it - Money.  The BB touring band does what it does and the adding of Al wouldn't increase the crowds much while having to pay Al.would take a big chunk out Mike and Bruce's share.   Plus Al gets a share of every BB show from BRI while still being able to do his own gigs.  Maybe, with all the legal stuff settled, they are happy with the status quo at this point in their lives.

Al and Brian get paid touring $ anyway as part of BRI...

SurfRiderHawaii said that: your post isn't contradicting him/her. See bold.

[Amy B.]

Interesting... None of the BBs were ever particularly good at interviewing, were they? Is that something else that made it hard for them to compete with the Beatles? I mean, Mike is perfectly nice in this interview, but he seems bored and disengaged. And we all know how bad Brian can be.

[the captain]

Brian wasn't bad up through the mid/late 70s, I don't think. And I do recall one really interesting early 70s interview with Carl where he gets pretty technical, musically speaking, that I really enjoyed. But no, they're not exactly the Beatles in that regard, are they?

[southbay]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

The way I see it - Money.  The BB touring band does what it does and the adding of Al wouldn't increase the crowds much while having to pay Al.would take a big chunk out Mike and Bruce's share.   Plus Al gets a share of every BB show from BRI while still being able to do his own gigs.  Maybe, with all the legal stuff settled, they are happy with the status quo at this point in their lives.

Al and Brian get paid touring $ anyway as part of BRI...

SurfRiderHawaii said that: your post isn't contradicting him/her. See bold.

True, good catch. Point is, though, that Al is getting his "big chunk" of cash whether he is there or not.

[the captain]

Thank you, thank you. I'm very detail-oriented (i.e. anal). Feel free to forward your praise, high-paying job offers, etc. my way. 

[adamghost]

A low-key Beach Boys album featuring the best material of Mike's and Al's respective projects, fleshed out by four or five of Brian's contributions would be alright with me. Just don't let Bruce Johnston chose the producer, that's all I'm asking for.

Agreed...something low-key could be kind of neat.

[adamghost]

Interesting... None of the BBs were ever particularly good at interviewing, were they? Is that something else that made it hard for them to compete with the Beatles? I mean, Mike is perfectly nice in this interview, but he seems bored and disengaged. And we all know how bad Brian can be.

I've always thought that, surprisingly enough, Dennis was the most articulate Beach Boy in interviews.  (Good Morning America notwithstanding)

[Sheriff John Stone]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

Maybe he just realized that he probably has another 10-15-20 years left on this planet and that he would rather spend those years taking it easy on his beautiful ranch than playing casino's and state fairs with a band that used to play in stadiums?

Yeah, I know what you mean. I just got tickets to Brian Wilson's concert at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Come to think of it, I believe Al is playing at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas - with The Endless Summer Band! 

[LittleSurferGirl]

I personally think its a bit sad that money [ And I know there are other factors but this one sticks out] has to seperate a well-loved, cherished band

Good interview though.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I personally think its a bit sad that money [ And I know there are other factors but this one sticks out] has to seperate a well-loved, cherished band

Money didn't separate it. Money is what kept it going.

[the captain]

I'm sure it did plenty of both over the years.

[Wilsonista]

I wonder what is really keeping Al from rejoining the band?

Maybe he just realized that he probably has another 10-15-20 years left on this planet and that he would rather spend those years taking it easy on his beautiful ranch than playing casino's and state fairs with a band that used to play in stadiums?

Yeah, I know what you mean. I just got tickets to Brian Wilson's concert at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Come to think of it, I believe Al is playing at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas - with The Endless Summer Band! 

*sigh*

[TdHabib]

Interesting... None of the BBs were ever particularly good at interviewing, were they? Is that something else that made it hard for them to compete with the Beatles? I mean, Mike is perfectly nice in this interview, but he seems bored and disengaged. And we all know how bad Brian can be.

I've always thought that, surprisingly enough, Dennis was the most articulate Beach Boy in interviews.  (Good Morning America notwithstanding)

It's interesting, Brian can be very articulate...it just depends on his mood AND if the interviewer asks him detailed questions...most stars can give a good story to a vague question...but Brian can't. Dennis, in audio interviews especially, is very articulate yes

[Outie 315]

  Check out Mike Love on  106.9 Club Dennis,Bronx N.Y. :

  http://www.clubdennis911.com/beachboymikelove.htm