Why did Al and Mike fight?

[Jay]

I think I tried to ask this a long time ago when I first joined this board. I can't quite remember. Does anybody know exactly why Al and Mike had a falling out in the early 1990's? I think Al was actually fired for about a week or so. I know that Al fought with Mike about the cheerleader idea, but that doesn't seem like a reason for Al to actually get fired over. Is it something between them that hasn't been made public?

[Dutchie]

The only thing i know about it was that Al wanted the bb to quit after the death of Carl. Mike wanted to continue. For i know Al left by him self. Maybe a insider aka AGD can tell more?

[Wirestone]

Let's put it this way.

Al has toured with Mike. He doesn't tour with Mike anymore.

Al has toured with Brian. He doesn't tour with Brian anymore.

Al might have some issues. Just sayin'.

[MBE]

I remember Mike saying Al couldn't let go of some old things. The group had therapy sessions where things were talked out and he was back in the band. I'm speaking of the 1991 break.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Something went seriously awry in the early 90s, so much so that Alan was essentially excluded from the band for, reportedly, a severe attitude problem (the fact that his tinnitus was worstening back then was certainly a factor) which is why he wasn't on the bulk of the SIP sessions. Mike alluded to this in his Goldmine interview. It's also documented in Jon's book that David was an innocent pawn in a scenario seemingly intended on easing Alan out of the band in 1997... and then of course there's the famous 1998 SuperBowl incident. The indications are that, even had Carl not died, Alan's days in the band were numbered, and his insisting that without Carl the band should not continue certainly didn't help his cause.

But exactly what went sour between Mike & Alan prior to the early 90s is unclear, although the May 6th 1990 gig at Circle Star Theater, San Carlos CA may have been a flashpoint: this was the show where, mid-song, Alan looked at his watch, stopped playing, unstrapped his guitar and walked off stage. A stagehand he passed on the way asked him what he was doing, to which the reply was "got a plane to catch". 

[Jay]

Something went seriously awry in the early 90s, so much so that Alan was essentially excluded from the band for, reportedly, a severe attitude problem (the fact that his tinnitus was worstening back then was certainly a factor) which is why he wasn't on the bulk of the SIP sessions. Mike alluded to this in his Goldmine interview. It's also documented in Jon's book that David was an innocent pawn in a scenario seemingly intended on easing Alan out of the band in 1997... and then of course there's the famous 1998 SuperBowl incident. The indications are that, even had Carl not died, Alan's days in the band were numbered, and his insisting that without Carl the band should not continue certainly didn't help his cause.

But exactly what went sour between Mike & Alan prior to the early 90s is unclear, although the May 6th 1990 gig at Circle Star Theater, San Carlos CA may have been a flashpoint: this was the show where, mid-song, Alan looked at his watch, stopped playing, unstrapped his guitar and walked off stage. A stagehand he passed on the way asked him what he was doing, to which the reply was "got a plane to catch". 

Thanks for that info. I always wondered what Carl thought of everything. I mean, back in the early 1990's around the SIP album. Maybe he had his own things to think about...

[oldsurferdude]

Let's put it this way.

Al has toured with Mike. He doesn't tour with Mike anymore.

Al has toured with Brian. He doesn't tour with Brian anymore.

Al might have some issues. Just sayin'.

With Mike's ego issues, its a mazing Al lasted as long as he did. Mike has toured with Al-he doesn't anymore.  Brian has toured with Mike and Al-he doesn't anymore.

[Jason]

But exactly what went sour between Mike & Alan prior to the early 90s is unclear, although the May 6th 1990 gig at Circle Star Theater, San Carlos CA may have been a flashpoint: this was the show where, mid-song, Alan looked at his watch, stopped playing, unstrapped his guitar and walked off stage. A stagehand he passed on the way asked him what he was doing, to which the reply was "got a plane to catch". 

You can hear the difference on the recording, too.

[jimmyboy]

What happened at the 1998 Superbowl,please.

[summerinparadise.flac]

Wait a minute...Mike Love got in a fight with someone?

[Matt H]

What happened at the 1998 Superbowl,please.

Quoted from AGD's Bellagio website (http://esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs98.html):

Although generally regarded as the first time the phrase "America's Band" was used in relation to a quasi-beach Boys line-up, the official billing of the band for this show was (deep breath) "A Tribute To The Beach Boys Featuring Mike Love, Bruce Johnston,   David Marks, Glen Campbell, Dean Torrance, and John Stamos". Reportedly, the first Alan knew of this was when he saw it on the Super Bowl broadcast. Twilight Zone time: not only did Alan watch the game, but so did Brian & Carl, when the former was visiting the latter. It was the last time Brian saw his brother alive.

[urbanite]

II thought Al stopped touring with Brian because he wasn't getting paid by Brian's tour people.

[Runaways]

i thought i read once that Al was a pain or something on that tour

[Jay]

But exactly what went sour between Mike & Alan prior to the early 90s is unclear, although the May 6th 1990 gig at Circle Star Theater, San Carlos CA may have been a flashpoint: this was the show where, mid-song, Alan looked at his watch, stopped playing, unstrapped his guitar and walked off stage. A stagehand he passed on the way asked him what he was doing, to which the reply was "got a plane to catch". 

You can hear the difference on the recording, too.

Care to elaborate?

[Jay]

What happened at the 1998 Superbowl,please.

Quoted from AGD's Bellagio website (http://esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs98.html):

Although generally regarded as the first time the phrase "America's Band" was used in relation to a quasi-beach Boys line-up, the official billing of the band for this show was (deep breath) "A Tribute To The Beach Boys Featuring Mike Love, Bruce Johnston,   David Marks, Glen Campbell, Dean Torrance, and John Stamos". Reportedly, the first Alan knew of this was when he saw it on the Super Bowl broadcast. Twilight Zone time: not only did Alan watch the game, but so did Brian & Carl, when the former was visiting the latter. It was the last time Brian saw his brother alive.

I wonder what Brian and Carl thought of the Superbowl incident?

[jimmyboy]

II thought Al stopped touring with Brian because he wasn't getting paid by Brian's tour people.

I'm sure he got paid. Maybe it wasn't enough. I saw one of those shows in Oakland  Al looked uncomfortable.

[Mikie]

I was at the Oakland show with Brian (and Ricky Fataar) and Al looked fine. He seemed relaxed and was having a good time. Not long afterwards though, he was off the tour.

[Andrew G. Doe]

II thought Al stopped touring with Brian because he wasn't getting paid by Brian's tour people.

I'm sure he got paid. Maybe it wasn't enough. I saw one of those shows in Oakland  Al looked uncomfortable.

Nothing to do with finances.

[Wirestone]

In the Boston show, there was definite tension there, although it seemed to be more on Brian's side than Al's. It seemed as though Al was trying to gently take over the band (giving introductions, specially thanking the band, etc.), and Brian was not pleased.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

II thought Al stopped touring with Brian because he wasn't getting paid by Brian's tour people.

Al wasn't getting paid and then became a pain (or is it the other way around).

[Custom Machine]

In the Boston show, there was definite tension there, although it seemed to be more on Brian's side than Al's. It seemed as though Al was trying to gently take over the band (giving introductions, specially thanking the band, etc.), and Brian was not pleased.

Yeah, what seemed really odd to me was that when Brian exited the stage and the band kept playing, Al exited with him as well.  If this were a Beach Boys concert where the main guys left and the supporting band kept playing, i guess that would make sense, but this was a Brian Wilson concert, so it seemed really presumptuous to me that Al, who was not the headliner, but a special guest, would exit the stage whenever Brian did.  Seems like he should have stayed out there playing with the rest of the band until Brian returned.

That being said, Al sounded absolutely great, and the ultra-warm enthusiastic reception he received may have been somewhat unsettling to the BW camp.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The Reader's Digest version: Al invited himself on the tour, then got himself uninvited.

[Wirestone]

BW camp (in this case) = Brian.

I think.

[Lorenschwartz]

which one changed which's underoo's last night

[tpesky]

Brian sang on Al's album and they have appeared together a few times after the tour, so at least the friendship is there. Brian mentioned in a quote he did not like working with Mike and Bruce, but nothing about Al.  I wonder if there's a chance they could do something, at least a few shows together at 1 point before they retire.