Mike Love's RR hall of fame speach

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Have the other BBs given their thoughts on Mike's speach? Was Mike drunk? He also rudely interupted Brian as he was reading his own speach.

To be fair, I have an idea of what Mike was trying to say. He was promoting peace, but in a divisive way. What an embarrising way for the BBs to be inducted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZSAQX2uuUY

[kirt]

I've read that he was half crazed from "fasting" .  In my opinion his speech is far more  embarrassing than Dennis on "Good morning America"  or any of the odd interviews with Brian over the years.  Mike just seems full of anger and just rambles on with no point or direction.  I'm not a Mike Love basher and can usually see his point of view (even if I don't agree) ,but two things he's said ,the hall of fame speech and calling Dennis a "drugged out ,talentless ,parasite" are two things I find unacceptable.

 

[slothrop]

I think he's also upset that The Beach Boys have always been underrated compared to their classic rock peers--The "Mop Tops" and The Stones.

I can understand his pain...

[?]

I've read that he was half crazed from "fasting" .  In my opinion his speech is far more  embarrassing than Dennis on "Good morning America"  or any of the odd interviews with Brian over the years.  Mike just seems full of anger and just rambles on with no point or direction.  I'm not a Mike Love basher and can usually see his point of view (even if I don't agree) ,but two things he's said ,the hall of fame speech and calling Dennis a "drugged out ,talentless ,parasite" are two things I find unacceptable.

 

When did Mike say that about Dennis?  That's absurd.  If he thought Dennis was talentless you'd think he would have chosen a different song to "give" to Stamos...

[Mike's Beard]

That is an all time classic cringe moment. Highlights include the house band starting up twice in an effort to shut him up and Mike just overriding them and someone in the crowd yelling "Shut the F*ck up!" I believe Carl muttered "That's our career over" or words to that effect. Elton John's "Thank f*ck didn't he mention me" bit never fails to crack me up.

[Sheriff John Stone]

And then there was Bob Dylan saying, "I'd like to thank Mike Love for not mentioning ME. I play a lot of dates every year, too. Peace, love, and harmony is greatly important indeed, but so is forgiveness, and we got to have that, too..."

[kirt]

I've read that he was half crazed from "fasting" .  In my opinion his speech is far more  embarrassing than Dennis on "Good morning America"  or any of the odd interviews with Brian over the years.  Mike just seems full of anger and just rambles on with no point or direction.  I'm not a Mike Love basher and can usually see his point of view (even if I don't agree) ,but two things he's said ,the hall of fame speech and calling Dennis a "drugged out ,talentless ,parasite" are two things I find unacceptable.

 

When did Mike say that about Dennis?  That's absurd.  If he thought Dennis was talentless you'd think he would have chosen a different song to "give" to Stamos...

Both of these articles refer to  it,  the "Beat Patrol" article mentions-  In 1980 Nick Kent reported Love’s description of Dennis as “a drugged-out no-talent parasite who we’ve sacked”.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1103842,00.html

http://beatpatrol.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/ben-edmonds-dennis-wilson-the-lonely-sea-2002/

[TdHabib]

In 1980 Nick Kent reported Love’s description of Dennis as “a drugged-out no-talent parasite who we’ve sacked”.

That's sickening.

[Paulos]

Wow, I've read about the RRHOF speech many times but this is the first time I've seen it. Mike looked more than a little wired, a bit like someone who has one to many Red Bulls and his interupting of Brian was not only rude but exceedingly strange. As for the rest well, just what the hell was he thinking? This has to rank as the most embarassing Beach Boys moment, even more so than Dennis on Good Morning America as previously mentioned or indeed Brian's 'dancing'.

[oldsurferdude]

In 1980 Nick Kent reported Love’s description of Dennis as “a drugged-out no-talent parasite who we’ve sacked”.

That's sickening.

Yes it is. Revolting in a word. Not that he could but has he ever explained his behavior in any way- ever apologized for this misadventure?

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Brian seemed in good health. I guess this was before the stroke. Its sad to compare him here to a couple years later on the special about Dr Landy.

[Dave in KC]

Even bigger than a Grammy award ceremony, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction audience of rock and roll stars was just too big of an egg for Mike not to crack. The problem is, obviously he was having a bad day and the ramifications from it go on today. We've all had that bad day, the one that you try to put out of your memory. I think Mike feels that way. I'm sure Bruce has forgiven him.

[oldsurferdude]

Even bigger than a Grammy award ceremony, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction audience of rock and roll stars was just too big of an egg for Mike not to crack. The problem is, obviously he was having a bad day and the ramifications from it go on today. We've all had that bad day, the one that you try to put out of your memory. I think Mike feels that way. I'm sure Bruce has forgiven him.

Nah, not buying into that "Mike had a bad day " business one bit. Let's see-he chose his "bad day" in front of an audience of peers with cameras rolling? Hell, that's totally his element-tell me he didn't rehearse this "speech" of his several times in front of the mirror(crack). He was on stage and for once he was not the center of attention. The other guys were sincere and humbled to be up there. He was chompin' at the bit to take over the reigns of the entire ceremony-I'm surpeised they didn't music over the guy or have security take him off the stage. And this idiot is supposed to be into meditation??? What a fraud. 

[Rocker]

Let's see-he chose his "bad day" in front of an audience of peers with cameras rolling? 

Well, of curse you cn't choose when you have a bad day. But it seems very srange that he had to do it all in front of cameras and some of the biggest names in the business.
Here are some things I noted regarding Mike:

- he already behaves kinda strange when they come on stage. For no obvious reason he's snapping his fingers and dancing

- at 1:11 he's caressing Brian's shoulder (nice to see this imo)

- at 1:17 his hand goes up to the back of Brian's head (which to me is a little strange, but maybe that's just me)

- at 1:39 Mike begins to work on the mic while Brian is still talking and just got applause for mentioning "Be my baby"
               (Carl doesn't look too happy but then is smiling)

It seems that Carl's speech was planned but iirc the boys where already leaving the stage when Mike took the mic. So that would indcate that it wasn't planned that he would talk at all. Don't know if he thought about it before or if it was spontaneous

[Mike's Beard]

Whats sad is that for the first minute or so Mike is saying some genuinely heartfelt nice stuff. Then out of nowhere it's like he's been possessed by a demon and starts making a total knob out of himself. Good for a giggle tho', I must admit.  I watch it on You Tube every few months or so.

[Amy B.]

I don't buy the "bad day" thing either. No one forgave Kanye for his outburst, and that wasn't even as bad, in some ways.

Kids have bad days and can't control themselves. Adults have bad days but are supposed to have the self-control to display appropriate behavior in public. Especially someone who by that time had been in the public eye for 25 years. There are exceptions to the self-control thing. The effects of mental illness, drug addiction, and --I guess-- fasting would all be hard to control. But still, it wasn't even just mildly inappropriate. It just made him seem like such a hypocrite for talking peace and serenity and displaying something completely different.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I find it hypocritical how fans of Dennis and Brian continue to bring up this Hall Of Fame moment. Surely Dennis and Brian never did anything in public to embarrass the group. They were always (barely) walking examples of class and dignity. And, of course those same fans find different ways to rationalize the behavior - just cover everything with drugs, alcohol, and mental illness. And, if you get tired of using those excuses, well, they wrote Pacific Ocean Blue and Pet Sounds, so they must be great guys with big hearts. Mike, he never wrote that great music, so he can't get away with being an butthole.

[Dave in KC]

I'm sure Mike would like to take back that few minutes. And for a long time now. Carl once told me in a nice private chat before a concert that any bad things that have happened over the years pertaining to events related to being on the road were forcefully "put out of his head, just completely not thought of anymore."  This struck me at the time(1990). Being cousins and so close, I would not be surprised if Mike has the same mindset. As for those who view it now and want some sort of pound of flesh for his indiscretion, please try to get over it.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I'm sure Mike would like to take back that few minutes.

As for those who view it now and want some sort of pound of flesh for his indiscretion, please try to get over it.

Yes and yes. Shortly after the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame broadcast, the Beach Boys were on national TV again, receiving some sort of award (an American Music Career Achievement Award or something), and Mike was wearing a hard hat; I think he might've even made a humorous comment. So he knew what the response to his speech was.

However, I've always disputed Carl's comment, "Well, there goes our career...." and fans claiming that the group was hurt by Mike's speech. Let's see, in the ensuing year following Mike's speech, the group appeared in a top movie soundtrack (Cocktail), had the largest selling single of their career ("Kokomo"), had one of the largest selling albums of their career (Still Cruisin'), and starred in a national TV series. Gee, with commercial failure like that, maybe Mike should've made more speeches!

[kirt]

 I'm not making excuses for Dennis ,Brian, Al's knee socks or Mike's dancing (although, he was just  imitating Jagger).
 I've heard Mike interviewed many times and that's the only time that made me cringe.   

[punkinhead]

When I watch Mike speak, I see much anger in his eyes....it's like it was built up for years; the song writing credits, jealousy issues with the attention to Brian, etc.

I think we all see Mike's point, and it's a good, edgy topic for that ceremony, but he just ranted too much.


Compare his actions to Spector's at all the RR hall of fame occasions.

[TdHabib]

The best stories are the ones the rest of the band have told:
I've heard both Bruce and/or Carl saying "well, there goes our career" or asking a top-ranking record exec "is our career over?"

And the best is Al going over to Ringo and Hari sincerely apologizing for Mike's actions and saying he wasn't on his game. Ringo is sweet and puts his head on Al's shoulder. Hari responds with "maybe he should've listened to the Maharishi" and then puts his head on Al's shoulder.

Then there's the one in the Todd Gold book that is most likely untrue.

[punkinhead]

So when they both put their heads on Al's shoulder....Al was standing up and they were both sitting?  ol Al never hit puberty.





If Mike ever had an autobiography, wonder what he'd say about the speech.

[Jason]

That's a BIG "if". I think the only thing in the Beach Boys world that stands less of a chance of happening than a Michael autobiography is a release of the Manson recordings.

Besides, Michael isn't an idiot. He most likely knows quite well that no amount of confessions in an autobiography would change the views people have of him. He doesn't care enough what people think. Great minds don't think alike; they think for themselves. And it's not like he, or anyone else in the band for that matter, owes us an explanation for his respective actions. Michael sure cries over what people think of him...all the way to the bank. And we're sitting here on a forum debating it.

[Sheriff John Stone]

The best stories are the ones the rest of the band have told:
I've heard both Bruce and/or Carl saying "well, there goes our career" or asking a top-ranking record exec "is our career over?"

I wouldn't exactly call four or five words a story....And, as I pointed out in my above post, they were completely wrong. Somebody put 'em in a movie soundtrack, somebody bought "Kokomo", somebody bought Still Cruisin', somebody signed 'em to a contract for a TV series, and somebody is still going to Beach Boys' concerts in 2010 - and giving Mike standing ovations.