Beach Boys co-founder wants in on reunion

[Jon Stebbins]

From Howie Edelson's syndicated radio feed...

BEACH BOYS CO-FOUNDER WANTS IN ON REAGAN LIBRARY REUNION
by Howie Edelson

Beach Boys fans are buzzing over Saturday's (February 5th) prospective reunion between the surviving Beach Boys at Southern California's A Concert For America: A Tribute To Ronald Reagan -- yet many die-hards are wondering why co-founder David Marks hasn't been invited.

Although both ousted co-founder Al Jardine and longtime member Bruce Johnston have posted about Saturday's show online and their hope for Brian Wilson's participation -- there's been no mention of Marks, who's happy, healthy, and eager to play with the band.

Marks, who remains on good terms with all factions of the group, performs regularly with Al Jardine and often sits in with Mike Love's touring version of the Beach Boys during their New York area dates -- and even joined the band for their 2008 UK tour. When we caught up with him, Marks told us he wants nothing more than to be a full time member of the Beach Boys again: "Okay, I'm gonna be very truthful and honest from my heart; I wanna be there and I think I belong there. That's my feeling. I mean, we're talking about me resurfacing with the book and certain recordings, and sitting in and all of that -- I think that has brought me around to come to grips with my 'Beach Boy-ness.' It's part of me, it's part of my life, it's part of who I am. And I wanna be in the band. Of course, I mean, I would be silly to say 'no' (laughs)"

CHECK IT OUT: The Reagan celebrations will be streaming live from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. PST on Saturday (February 5th) at:
http://www.reaganfoundation.org/live-webcasts.aspx

Marks, who began making music with neighbors Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson as a pre-teen, was a member of the Beach Boys from 1961 to 1963 and one of the five names on the band's original contract to Capitol Records. He performed on the group's first five albums, including the hits "Surfer Girl," "409," "Little Deuce Coupe," "Surfin' Safari," "Shut Down," "In My Room," "Catch A Wave," "Be True To Your School," and "Surfin' U.S.A." Marks quit the band due to his frustration at not having his own music being incorporated into the act, and over frictions with the Beach Boys' manager, the Wilson brothers' father Murry Wilson.

In the early '70s, Marks occasionally would pop onstage at Beach Boys concerts. In the early '90s, he contributed to Brian Wilson's unreleased album Sweet Insanity.

Marks rejoined the Beach Boys in 1997 and stayed for three years. Marks and Beach Boys historian Jon Stebbins recently co-authored Marks' autobiography chronicling the band's early days, called The Lost Beach Boy.

Of all the Beach Boys, Jardine performs most often with Marks and says that he's impressed with their onstage chemistry: "Dave's a great guy, he really is. He's a nice, nice man. He's grown into a man from a boy. He's become a real gentleman, it's been nice working with him. He has a little self confidence issue. He needs to step forward. . . He needs to grow into his own skin, but he's getting there. He's been under the radar for a long time."

Throughout the years Marks has stayed a favorite of fans of the band's early days and has never been bashful about sticking up for Mike Love -- even when it's been far from in vogue. Marks told us that fans who insist on portraying Love as a villain in the Beach Boys' story have got it all wrong: "Every human being is complex. You can't just pin an image on somebody. That's just ignorant and shallow. He is complex, there's a lot to him. Brian (Wilson) -- people don't even understand Brian like they think they do. Y'know you can't just say, 'I've seen this guy's picture a million times, I've heard him speak and make an ass of himself a couple of times, and he hates Brian Wilson' -- which is ridiculous (laughs)."

Mike Love told us that after years of watching him battle his demons, Marks is a pleasure to be around: "David Marks, y'know unfortunately he got involved in alcohol and drugs, and so on like that, like too many people have in the music business. But he is so intelligent and such a great artist, too. I mean, he's really gifted at guitar and a really great person, and fun as could be. Whenever we've hung out together it's nonstop fun."

After splitting from the Beach Boys, Marks formed his solo band the Marksmen and became one of the first acts signed to A&M Records. Later on he played in the late '60s psychedelic and jazz-inspired band the Moon, and went on to attend classes at Boston's Berklee School of Music before becoming a noted L.A. session guitarist.

Last October Marks recorded a new live album in Los Angeles in front of select group of friends. The live set, due out this spring, was recorded and produced by Grammy Award winner Mark Linett, who is the man responsible for engineering Brian Wilson Presents Smile, producing and mixing the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds box set, and overhauling the group's entire catalogue over the past 20 years.

[bgas]

So what I get from this: 
The "forces" are martialing to SHAME Mike into inviting Dave to play at this "supposed reunion" for the Reagan Birthday party. 
They should let it go. Don't try and force something to happen, how can that be good? 
 
Let's hope that any reunion that's going to take place, will happen because ALL the people involved not only want to be there, but are there happily and not because somebody has "blackmailed" somebody to get them included.
That everyone ( Brian, Mike, David, Al, Bruce, Blondie, Ricky, add yours) will want to be there and they will all do some prior rehearsals.

[Jon Stebbins]

So what I get from this: 
The "forces" are martialing to SHAME Mike into inviting Dave to play at this "supposed reunion" for the Reagan Birthday party. 
They should let it go. Don't try and force something to happen, how can that be good? 
 
Let's hope that any reunion that's going to take place, will happen because ALL the people involved not only want to be there, but are there happily and not because somebody has "blackmailed" somebody to get them included.
That everyone ( Brian, Mike, David, Al, Bruce, Blondie, Ricky, add yours) will want to be there and they will all do some prior rehearsals.

I think throwing around words like "forces" and "blackmail" are just a little paranoid. Howie writes a syndicated feed that goes out to hundreds of radio stations daily, he's written dozens of articles on the Beach Boys. Sometimes I post them here to share with you guys. Over the the last six months a lot of the BB's pieces Howie has written are dealing with issues surrounding a potential BB's reunion. He's written several from Al's perspective when Al has made relevant statements regarding wanting a reunion. He's written some from Mike's perspective when Mike has mentioned potential reunion and his wish to reunite with Brian. He's written some from Brian's perspective when Brian has stated he wants no part of a reunion. Now here's one from Dave's perspective voicing his wish to do the Reagan thing. Your reaction is imbalanced.

[Howie Edelson]

Bgas --  I too long for the days of believing that the group members "not only want to be there, but are there happily." But the facts are this; the Beach Boys' brotherhood, love, spirituality and great humor still exist -- in US. The fanbase. WE carry that on, and all want yet another glimpse of it from the band. But to believe in 2011 that "The Beach Boys" exists as a realistic entity for any reason other than financial is as adorable as it is naive. 

Surfers don't rule -- politics and green money does. Let's hope that ALL the co-founders, Bruce Johnston -- along with the co-creators of HOLLAND -- Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the BB's legendary backline -- are all up on stage for the 50th saluting THE BEACH BOYS' FANS.

The 50th isn't about the band. It's about the fans. They get the money, we get the thrill -- we all call it even. That's the deal.

[bgas]

Bgas --  I too long for the days of believing that the group members "not only want to be there, but are there happily." But the facts are this; the Beach Boys' brotherhood, love, spirituality and great humor still exist -- in US. The fanbase. WE carry that on, and all want yet another glimpse of it from the band. But to believe in 2011 that "The Beach Boys" exists as a realistic entity for any reason other than financial is as adorable as it is naive.  

Surfers don't rule -- politics and green money does. Let's hope that ALL the co-founders, Bruce Johnston -- along with the co-creators of HOLLAND -- Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the BB's legendary backline -- are all up on stage for the 50th saluting THE BEACH BOYS' FANS.

The 50th isn't about the band. It's about the fans. They get the money, we get the thrill -- we all call it even. That's the deal.

Good points.  And you say it much more eloquently than I can manage.
I hope this will come to pass, and each of us will get what we want.  

So what I get from this: 
The "forces" are martialing to SHAME Mike into inviting Dave to play at this "supposed reunion" for the Reagan Birthday party. 
They should let it go. Don't try and force something to happen, how can that be good? 
 
Let's hope that any reunion that's going to take place, will happen because ALL the people involved not only want to be there, but are there happily and not because somebody has "blackmailed" somebody to get them included.
That everyone ( Brian, Mike, David, Al, Bruce, Blondie, Ricky, add yours) will want to be there and they will all do some prior rehearsals.

I think throwing around words like "forces" and "blackmail" are just a little paranoid. Howie writes a syndicated feed that goes out to hundreds of radio stations daily, he's written dozens of articles on the Beach Boys. Sometimes I post them here to share with you guys. Over the the last six months a lot of the BB's pieces Howie has written are dealing with issues surrounding a potential BB's reunion. He's written several from Al's perspective when Al has made relevant statements regarding wanting a reunion. He's written some from Mike's perspective when Mike has mentioned potential reunion and his wish to reunite with Brian. He's written some from Brian's perspective when Brian has stated he wants no part of a reunion. Now here's one from Dave's perspective voicing his wish to do the Reagan thing. Your reaction is imbalanced.

As to this, I say, Perhaps. 
I haven't seen/heard all of Howie's feeds. I think you post the ones closest to your heart, which is your right, obviously. 
Mike's desires are well known. 
Brian's desires may be his, or those of someone else in his organization.( Again, I didn't see whether they were from the mouth, or reported)
Now Al is reporting:
>> So, for 2012 we hope to kick-off the Grammys, then a worldwide tour.  I think you’ll get a chance to see us live, because it will be quite a coming-out party.   Brian’s team has been very encouraging; we just have to figure out how to do it, you know, who will the players be and who will be involved, but everyone has agreed in principle to do it.<<
My hope is  , DAVE , WILL be one of those involved, and is one of those who has agreed in principle. ( He should be)

[oldsurferdude]

Stinks of Myke Luhv's power play politics all the while sharpening his skewer from the sewer-a turd to (and from) the end.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Stinks of Myke Luhv's power play politics all the while sharpening his skewer from the sewer-a turd to (and from) the end.

You should send this line to Mike!

He'll snap his fingers and come up with a nifty vocal melody to it! or maybe a "Summer Of Love" style rap!

This just proves that Mike might as well not even try to be the nice guy or even say anything nice....... ever!

 He does so and we get tripe like this in an instant!

[bgas]

Stinks of Myke Luhv's power play politics all the while sharpening his skewer from the sewer-a turd to (and from) the end.

You should send this line to Mike!

He'll snap his fingers and come up with a nifty vocal melody to it! or maybe a "Summer Of Love" style rap!

This just proves that Mike might as well not even try to be the nice guy or even say anything nice....... ever!

 He does so and we get tripe like this in an instant!

Not saying it is or isn't tripe?  but what did Mike do to be the nice guy, iyo?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Quote from Myke: "David Marks, y'know unfortunately he got involved in alcohol and drugs, and so on like that, like too many people have in the music business. But he is so intelligent and such a great artist, too. I mean, he's really gifted at guitar and a really great person, and fun as could be. Whenever we've hung out together it's nonstop fun."

[oldsurferdude]

Quote from Myke: "David Marks, y'know unfortunately he got involved in alcohol and drugs, and so on like that, like too many people have in the music business. But he is so intelligent and such a great artist, too. I mean, he's really gifted at guitar and a really great person, and fun as could be. Whenever we've hung out together it's nonstop fun."

And you swallowed it all-hook, line and skewer. Man, take your head outta your a&$ . These days, Myke says just about anything to enhance damage control-only it ain't gonna work-the die is cast-we and everyone else knows he's a BALDfaced liar who will say anything to make himself look good.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

ahem

[Pretty Funky]

So your saying Dave didn't do drugs and alcohol, is not talented and a jackas$ around the band OSD?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Oldsurferdude should aspire to be the next Stebbins and write that long overdue Mike/Myke biography!

Or at least he can aspire to being the next Albert Goldman.

[oldsurferdude]

So your saying Dave didn't do drugs and alcohol, is not talented and a jackas$ around the band OSD?

Gosh darn! I read my post over and over and I couldn't find anything about whether David did drugs, alchohol, had acceptable behavior, had bad breath, body oder, athlete's foot, hemorroids, lice, worms, or diarrhea. No joke, I couldn't a sliver of any of that stuff in there. I'm pretty sure it was about Myke Luhv, but let me check again just to be sure.  

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Gosh darn is right!

You were being quoted as to your response to Myke's quote regarding David Marks, which you were using as evidence that Myke's a liar, and the quote was all about David Marks!

Get out a calculator and do the math!

[oldsurferdude]

Oldsurferdude should aspire to be the next Stebbins and write that long overdue Mike/Myke biography!

Or at least he can aspire to being the next Albert Goldman.

Uh, is that the best ya got??

[oldsurferdude]

Gosh darn is right!

You were being quoted as to your response to Myke's quote regarding David Marks, which you were using as evidence that Myke's a liar, and the quote was all about David Marks!

Get out a calculator and do the math!

That's TOA's problemo, not mine, genius.

[Jay]

Yesterday Mr. Stebbins was making a fuss out of David not being asked to reunite with the group, and today this article appears. Interesting timing, indeed...

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

"closing in on 2 million posts before Myk Luhv drops"

Can we interpret this as a threat and please call in the authorities?

[oldsurferdude]

"closing in on 2 million posts before Myk Luhv drops"

Can we interpret this as a threat and please call in the authorities?

The only threat around here is your own stupidity. Do you need help dialing the number?? Let us know and I'll be glad to show you how.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

oldmarkdavidchapmandude

[oldsurferdude]

oldmarkdavidchapmandude

Oldmykelovesterdude-hey, maybe I'll change it to that-thanks for the idea!!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

and I can be oldlovesmykesterdude! 

[Ed Roach]

I first met Howie at one of Carl & Dennis' sons gigs, w-a-y back when; they might have even still been called SMOKE.  Hard to find a more knowledgeable, hard-core fan than Howie - and keep in mind, Dennis & I only happened to become friends because of what a staunch fan I have been since the first time I heard them, back in '63...  I even have pictures I took of their first gig in New York; Monster Mash, The Wanderer, stripe shirts, Brian Wilson  & all - I mean, I saw & photographed THE BEACH BOYS, for gosh sakes!  Only in America could a kid from Brooklyn wind up living & touring the world with his idols, after their crazed drummer hit him up for a ride...
Anyhow, I was a bit sad when Howie told me he was moving back to The Apple; that is, until he got this gig, writing about & interviewing some incredible legends.  (And how in the world can one head possess so much random musical knowledge?)  Let's not forget that Howie was the Creative Consultant on a lot of peoples favorite documentary, "The Real Beach Boy", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClBfaGPD0mI , and let's hope his radio broadcasts help to make sure this reunion comes off right!

[Howie Edelson]

Eddie -- I love you.

Let's hope it does help it happen the way the FANS want. In all the hours I've logged talking to the band -- both on and off the record -- most of them pretty much seem to want the same things. I've been lucky enough to have told them personally how I WOULD want to see a reunion happen and WITH WHO I would want it to happen with. These are very, very early days re: the 50th. It's money, it's politics, but hopefully knowing that it's the last go round for these guys, the gremlins will be kept at bay.

On a side note -- I know if given the chance, Carl B. would be there in a nanno-second as well, and it would be incredible to watch Justyn onstage trading licks with David. Full circle.