Beach Boys on the road even after all the original Beach Boys are gone. ML-Yup!

[Cam Mott]

I think it would honor the originals to be a group who is so in demand and/or loved that the demand/love exceeds their deaths/retirement. I think it would be great if the next gen of the originals wanted to carry it on.

[JaredLekites]

I have to agree with what Brian said about 10 or so years ago:

"When Carl died, it kind of f**d everything up..."

[TdHabib]

One of the things that I always appreciate about the Beatles is that all of them agreed on the same principle before they broke up:
Without all four of us, it isn't the Beatles. (We're not hiring David Gilmour.)

When the Beatles did briefly get back together in 1994, it was with Lennon's voice and songwriting. It was highly emotional and it was very short lived and it was respectful.

I only with the BB had that kind of legacy control to say, you know what, no reunion without Carl.

Now I know the BB violated that premise as early as 1963 by replacing Brian on the road, but in my opinion a reunion without Carl would just be...sad. Infinitely sad as something is just missing. And frankly, I wish the BB would've broken up when Dennis died. I know Carl said that he knew Dennis would want the group to carry on---but in my mind I just imagine a scenario where Carl says off-the-fly at the press conference: "You know, I just don't want to carry on without my brother, I'm leaving the group." And I know Brian would've followed him, and I doubt Jardine would've stayed in the Beach Boys. But it didn't happen that way and we have all of the shitty recordings of the 80s as a result.

I guess what I'm saying is I wish The Beach Boys would've died with Dennis. Not only would the legacy have been kept in tact, but in my opinion there was less heart and soul to the group as time wore on. Yes the summer 1988 and boxset 1993 tours were terrific, but IMHO that's the exception that proves the rule.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

In about 30 years, John Stamos could be the only link left to the real Beach Boys.

[Ron]

Sorta like The Temptations.  If you haven't looked into that, it's worse than the BB's fiasco.

Lesse, I think 1 member was fired for being a drunk before they really even ever made it big.  Then another member was replaced for being a drunk; David Ruffin was fired and replaced for basically being a jerk, Eddie was fired for being a jerk, A couple committed suicide? I think (although they may have been out of the group by then), and a few years back Melvin died, leaving Otis the only original member.

They're an interesting band because like the Drifters mentioned above, they had hits with several different lead singers.  Really though it's not all that strange since there's so many doo wop groups that do the same thing.  The platters come to mind.

With the temptations though they still do pretty big tours like Mike and Co do... they play a lot of dates with orchestras at upscale venues.  When Otis dies I have no doubt that the Temptations will still be out there singing those hits, more power to them. 




I'll tell you another thing, as bad as we may hate it, I saw the BB's about 10 years ago or so, and the place was PACKED with kids.  Everybody was having a good time, and singing along to  those songs, thousands and thousands of people.  If they're able to get that kind of a mojo going with just Mike and Bruce, more power to them.  If people keep going and having a good time, I hope it rolls on after they're both gone!

[bossaroo]

that was Mike's reply when asked on the spot.


i honestly don't think his ego would allow the Beach Boys to continue once he is no longer able.
and that's probably a good thing.


I love the idea of keeping the flame alive with a Beach Boys Family & Friends tribute, with folks like Carnie & Wendy, the Jardine boys, etc.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

There's an article in the book "The Grateful Dead and Philosophy" by John Uglietta that tackles this issue very well, that is, what constitutes the substance of "a band"?

Is it just a semantic issue?  Is there some intrinsic meaning to the words: Boys, The, and Beach?  What is it about pop music that makes reproduction a dirty word?  Nobody ever complains about the various "Bach Collegia" or "Strauss Waltz Orchestras" not actually having Bach or Strauss in their members, nor do people get angry that these bodies try to pass off the idea that Bach actually does play with them.  On the other hand, plenty of modern songwriters have no problem anonymously pitching in to a top-40 hit for some teen superstar.

People are worried about "legacy," but to be worried about legacy right now is a little premature.  If that's really what we're concerned about, I can think of no greater legacy than continuing to have the fine recordings from the early 60s on, in combination with a popular desire to go to a concert of all Beach Boys songs--no matter who is playing them.  Not this year, but in fifty years.

If we're really fans of "the music," it doesn't matter who performs it, as long as it's done with care.  If it bugs you that Mike takes the Beach Boys on the road, that has nothing to do with the music, that has to do with you having a problem with Mike personally, or liking Brian personally, or whatever.  The great music will out, over centuries, no matter who's playing it and what they call themselves while doing so.

[Alex]

Sorta like The Temptations.  If you haven't looked into that, it's worse than the BB's fiasco.

Lesse, I think 1 member was fired for being a drunk before they really even ever made it big.  Then another member was replaced for being a drunk; David Ruffin was fired and replaced for basically being a jerk, Eddie was fired for being a jerk, A couple committed suicide? I think (although they may have been out of the group by then), and a few years back Melvin died, leaving Otis the only original member.

Isn't Dennis Edwards still alive?

[Ron]

Yes, he is but he's not an original member.  He replaced David Ruffin, so many of their hits (My Girl most noteably!) were recorded before him.  He's the equivalent to Bruce Johnston. 

[Jason]

Huh? Dennis Edwards' role in the Temptations was MUCH bigger than that of Bruce's with the Boys. I mean, Dennis Edwards was only their lead singer from 1968-80! And he was on some of their most popular records. For all intents and purposes...Eddie Kendricks was the lead singer before 1964. And Melvin Franklin was the leader up until he died in 1995.

[Ron]

Um.... you're not trying to actually argue with me that Dennis was an original member are you?  LOL  I mean, what are you getting agitated about?  We're talking about original members.  He's not.  Your timeline clearly shows he's not.  I obviously was drawing a comparison between him being a long time member of the group who joined at a later date, just as Bruce is a long time member of the BB's but still joined at a later date.  The rest of your history lesson I don't really see what has to do with the point of the entire post, which is talking about bands with hardly any or none at all original members.  It's just music.  Relax.

[Pretty Funky]

All quiet on the BB/ BW front so not a lot to discuss here so if the moderator would allow me, could I take this thread slightly OT?

After seeing  the huge concerts and stage sets the Stones have had, say from the mid 90s, I've wondered had all the Beatles been alive, would they have ever done a huge reunion gig or tour?

For several reasons I think yes!

-They quit live shows in the 60s because they wern't being heard. That has not been a problem with modern sound systems.
-Maybe not for the money but for a good cause ie World Peace, starvation etc.
-Lets asume legal issues may have been smoothed over.
-The chance to tour a whole album with cool stage production. I'm thinking Pepper.
-After seeing their peers still touring plus the new acts that came through, would the competitive juices of the four Beatles kick in
 to show they could cut-it years later?



Just wondering?

[Smilin Ed H]

Is this the Hoffman board?

[Pretty Funky]

               


Well at least Brians 'cough' handlers came through with a Bloo update so this site may get more lively. Suject to connection issues of course.

[Alex]

Um.... you're not trying to actually argue with me that Dennis was an original member are you? 

No, he's not an original member...but he sang lead on Papa Was A Rolling fodaing Stone!!!

[astroray]

Dennis Edwards was better than Ruffin!
Dennis Wilson was better than Stamos!