Sean O'Hagan and the BBs

[Wirestone]

I don't think there's any question.

Think about it this way -- basically at any point in his life where he hasn't had strong supervision or motivation from a parental figure, Brian has fallen apart. And it's not that complicated -- he is mentally ill and needs a caretaker. And he knows it, but like many folks with such issues he also resents it as well.

But he's also smart, and a little egotistical. Brian knows that if he makes himself look as blameless as possible, if people don't like what he does, he can always make someone else the fall guy. You think his constant "wifeandmanagers" talk is about Brian being manipulated? Maybe. But it's also about him manipulating the people around him, and his audience's expectations.

Latest case in point -- the Gershwin album. Multiple sources have suggested that this is project Brian has talked about and wanted to do for awhile. Yet in interviews, he's said that he was asked to do it. He's clearly familiar with at least some of Gershwin's output, yet he says he was taught all the songs by Paul. There's no question he produced the album, yet in one interview he said that Melinda produced his lead vocals (I assume she was at the studio at some point when he was working on his leads).

The common factor here -- a lack of willingness (in public) to take responsibility for creative decisions. (Unless the album does well, like Smile, in which case he's more than happy to take the credit, regardless of how much he actually did.) "I'm Brian, I'm a legend, but I'm so weak." Yeah, right.

[petsite]

And a few more observations:

1.) The BB were recording over Don Was produced backing tracks, not the Paley/Wilson tracks. Soul Searching out on boots is the groups vocals flown back onto the Wilson/Paley tracks. Carl objected to the Was tracks.

2.) Brian really didn't get a good vibe off of Sean. He said to several people Seankinda creeped him out. Brian said Sean seemed to be buzzed when he met him. We know Sean talks about like his drugs in interviews around that time. Who knows.

3.) Imagination is an album I still listen to more than any of Brian's other projects, because his voice sounds so good. The songs aren't bad either.

I will shut up now.

[Menace Wilson]

From the article it sounds like Sean was already creeped out by Bruce Johnston before going to meet with BW.  That may have contributed to the weird vibe too.