Mike now talking 50th Reunion with Brian

[Pretty Funky]

http://www.app.com/article/20090822/ENT/908220301/1031/Beach+Boys+still+surfin++the+airwaves

Beach Boys still surfin' the airwaves
The Beach Boys hit Ocean Grove for weekend performance
By ED CONDRAN • CORRESPONDENT • August 22, 2009


As the Beach Boys approach their 50th anniversary, vocalist Mike Love is more than happy to look back at the group's plethora of accomplishments. The group's achievements are unparalleled. The pioneering Southern California pop-rock act is the top selling American band of all time. No band has more than the Beach Boys 36 Top 40 hits.

 
"It's been amazing," Love said while calling from Tucson, Ariz. "I can't imagine a better existence than being a Beach Boy. I've loved every minute of it. We have an enormous amount of success over an incredibly long period of time. We've survived so much, and we're still doing it."
The Beach Boys, performing Saturday at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, certainly can be described as survivors. The group weathered changing musical styles and changes in personnel.
Love soldiered on despite the loss of three of his cousins. Vocalist/keyboardist/visionary Brian Wilson left the band due to mental illness and drug use. His brothers Dennis and Carl Wilson passed away, the former in 1983 and the latter in 1998.
The quirky Love, 68, has feuded publicly for decades with a number of musicians, most notably Brian Wilson. But he claims that the pair, who grew up singing together as children, are on good terms.
"Brian and I and our wives are planning to go out together soon," Love said. "We don't have that (bad blood) anymore. I love Brian. The man is a genius. I only want the best for him. We go back a long, long way."
However, the two tour separately and that's just fine with Love, who possesses the rights to the name of the band, which he won after a legal dispute.
"I love the Beach Boys," Love said. "I'll never go out there and tarnish the good name of the band. I go out there and we just have fun playing the hits."
Expect the familiar when the Beach Boys return to Ocean Grove. "Good Vibrations,' "Surfin' USA" and "Barbara Ann," will be among the hits, which evoke a simpler and more innocent time.
"We never get tired of doing those songs or coming back to New Jersey," Love said. "It's all just wonderful."
Don't expect the Beach Boys to slow down anytime soon. In fact, Love believes the band will be busier than ever since he's plotting the band's 50th anniversary.
"That's going to be a crazy time," Love said. "I envision a PBS documentary. I envision doings special shows in places like the Hollywood Bowl and Wembley Stadium."
Love believes that Brian Wilson will be part of those benchmark events.
"I see that happening," Love said. "I see Brian there and hopefully there will be some amazing special guests like Paul McCartney and Neil Young. They like the Beach Boys. Who doesn't like the Beach Boys?"




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In Your Voice| Read reactions to this story
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[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

Well...I hope so is all I can say to that!

[Rocker]

Would love to see some evnt, but please without any guest stars

[mtaber]

"Brian and I are going out with our wives" - man, I'd hate to have to pay THAT tab...

[Sheriff John Stone]

"Brian and I and our wives are planning to go out together soon," Love said.

This is exactly what Mike should be doing. Healing old wounds, mending fences, charming Melinda....

OK, you can accuse me of getting carried away, but I think it's possible that if they do have this dinner, and it goes well, that they could walk away with some "verbal pact" to go forward with planning something. Hey, it's a start....

[variable2]

this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside..

[DonnaK]

Well, time will tell. You never know what's going to happen in the BB/BW world!

[The Shift]

I think it's aspiration speaking, but it's good. Great promise.

[tpesky]

I also think its more aspiration, but certainly some promise.

Couple things:

A. I almost spit out my drink when Mike said he would never tarnish the good name of the band. He's not now, but certainly some of his actions over the past many years might be at least bordering on tarnishing!

B. Please no guest stars- I dont want to see them performing music, I want to see the Beach Boys!

C.  Mike is gonna have to back off his high horse about HIS aspirations or what HE wants to do or else it's never gonna happen

[southbay]

I always said a BB reunion wouldn't be complete without Neil Young.  Jardine and Marks would just be fluff... 

[Shady]

This is the greatest thing I've heard in a long time.

It always hurt me that Mike and Brian have been estranged to for so long, but it's good to know that things are good and Mike's got big plans for this landmark event.

I'm excited 

[PaulHippensteel]

>>Please no guest stars- I dont want to see them performing music, I want to see the Beach Boys!

I agree. In the '80s PBS had a folk-rock TV special that ended in a big, sloppy, "All-star" jam session that was the very antithesis of simple elegant folk-rock. I'd rather hear good music than see the Beach Boys equivalent of "It's A Mad Mad World" (or "We Are The World").

[phirnis]

Guest stars... The 25th anniversary concert at Waikiki beach comes to mind...

[the captain]

Or the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson." Ricky Martin, superstar.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Right, this isn't a "tribute" to the Beach Boys, but a reunion, a reunion of THE BEACH BOYS. As great as artists like Neil Young, or Springsteen, or McCartney, or Elton John, or whoever are, their affect on or relationship with the Beach Boys is negligible.

I would like to see this reunion be less about ratings and more about emotion, something more of a documentary than an all-star filled concert. The Beach Boys have always learned from their past; I'm sure they'll make the right decisions.

[Outie 315]

 Mike's New Band!:

http://www.broadway.com/Fun-Fun-Fun-Beach-Boy-Mike-Love-Feels-the-Beat-at-Jersey-Boys/broadway_photos/5016732

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I always said a BB reunion wouldn't be complete without Neil Young.  Jardine and Marks would just be fluff... 

What..?! Then it's not the Beach Boys!

[Eric Aniversario]

It's odd that the writer doesn't even acknowledge Al's existence.

[Awesoman]

It's odd that the writer doesn't even acknowledge Al's existence.

Who?   

[Pretty Funky]

Mike...'I envision a PBS documentary. I envision doings special shows....'

This concerns me. I hope he is not planning this thing. Bring in a outsider. I don't know who was behind the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over' reunion but that was different enough to make it of interest.

[oldsurferdude]

"Brian and I are going out with our wives" - man, I'd hate to have to pay THAT tab...

Knowing how mike is about money, Brian will definitely have to dole out the cash for this.

[Pretty Funky]

Better that than have Mike choose the restaurant. Tofu anyone?

[TonyW]

"Brian and I are going out with our wives" - man, I'd hate to have to pay THAT tab...

Knowing how mike is about money, Brian will definitely have to dole out the cash for this.

Gee I hope for Brian and Melinda's sake Mike never saw Melinda's post about Mike on the Bloo Board - the post that disappeared after about 10 minutes but just long enough for enough people to read it to confirm that it existed. I saw it at the time and was dumbstruck at how bitter she was towards Mike ... really do wish I had saved it somewhere. Dinner could be very long and very quite ...

[donald]

Well, Neil Young could do long may you run.........that would be sweet with the Beach Boys doing the harmony part (caroline no) (spot shifts to Bb s for a moment)

And Neil just finished a colab with Booker T...stranger and worse things could happen......

[Nicole]

I hope something comes of this, it's exciting that they might be considering something! I'm with all of ya'll that don't want a huge thing with a ton of guest stars. I'd want it to be all about the Beach Boys.