The Smiley Smile Message Board

Can you still rent Mike's Lake Tahoe house on a nightly basis? It's a beautiful house in a beautiful area. Just think, soaking in Mike's hot tub (I can hear the scream of "Cooties!" already).

Interesting that he has a grand piano in his home.
Can he play at all?

Interesting that he has a grand piano in his home.
Can he play at all?

Good lord, I don't think there's a BB song that Robin Leach didn't reference.

My god, he's just not likeable is he

My god, he's just not likeable is he

My god, he's just not likeable is he

My god, he's just not likeable is he

Interesting that he has a grand piano in his home.
Can he play at all?

Imagine they did a show like that on Brian at the time!

People who think Mike Love is vile must not get out much.  I've seen worse on the average trip to Walmart, or to some fine shopping areas, for that matter. I think Steve Martin has based part of his comedy career on doing Mike Love-like characters, that's how common his type is.

I would like to know where Mike stands on the cutlery industry making cheap knock-offs in China and slapping names like "Henckels" on them. I'm sure a man of his discriminating cutlery taste would be outraged.

Good lord, I don't think there's a BB song that Robin Leach didn't reference.

I wish I could swim in my own waterfall.

My god, he's just not likeable is he

People who think Mike Love is vile must not get out much.  I've seen worse on the average trip to Walmart, or to some fine shopping areas, for that matter. I think Steve Martin has based part of his comedy career on doing Mike Love-like characters, that's how common his type is.

I would like to know where Mike stands on the cutlery industry making cheap knock-offs in China and slapping names like "Henckels" on them. I'm sure a man of his discriminating cutlery taste would be outraged.

I get out loads, and as such am aware that lots of people are vile. And Mike L is one of them.

It's as if he does it deliberately, yet I genuinely believe it's not remotely an act. I guess he's just honestly an objectionable, tactless arse, albeit a talented one.

I honestly try to see Mike in a better light than that, though it's hard to see the random bringing up of DW's + BW's problems as having much of a point on a show like this. I think sometimes he is well meaning, but in this case it kinda feels like throwing them under the bus. Maybe I'm seeing things wrong.

I mean, I get that he wants to bring up the fact that he lives a clean life, and that he's proud of that - but does that have to, by definition, necessitate bringing bringing up somebody else's problems (and death)? Can't the fact that he lives a clean life be mentioned without him additionally having to point out other peoples' flaws and extreme tragedies? I just don't get it. I want to like the man, but I can't understand why he does what he does.

I feel like it's a bit of a straw grab to try and explain it as Mike having briefly mentioned those things to magically convince viewers to not do drugs, because it just seems like bad taste in its off the cuff context - it's supposed to be a lighthearted segment on Mike, not about Mike's wonderful lifestyle juxtaposed against other peoples' problems (and death). I think Dennis would have wanted to have been remembered for something other than drugs/death. The Lifestyles show itself is already purely a show-off/ego stroking type of piece for its guests anyway, so particularly in that context, and knowing Mike's strained relationship with Brian at the time, the comments just leave a bad taste in my mouth. It's hard to see how he wouldn't be aware to see that those comments could potentially come off to some as being in bad taste in context of the type of show... this wasn't some deep serious, lengthy soul-bearing discussion on Geraldo.

Not trying to inflame or start a debate, just my two cents. Oh well.
 

I know, Jack Riely wrote lyrics to Holland. Still, everything Mike Love evr wrote really sucks. But. he a stand up guy. clished? obsessiontae? IMO IUMO IMO it still sucks IMO I wanna piss someone off but IMO its MHO SO FU IMO

IMO, the lyrics on Holland are much more obnoxious than Lifestyles of The Rich And Famous, or anything that Mike has ever done in an interview. He's made some crappy music over the years. I hate the musical legacy (with obvious exceptions for anything involving Brian Wilson), but I just straight up like the man.

But anyways here's some other thoughts. 'Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous' reeks of the 1980s (although I looked it up and I see that it actually lasted 'til '95! Wow.) and Ronald Reagan and the basic ME ME ME American thing that was going on. And whatever your opinion of Mike Love, he likes to show off, whether it be on stage, or with all his rings and jewelry, referencing his old hits in new songs, or bragging about his accomplishments in interviews. So put Mike Love together with the biggest "Me Decade"* and then a large helping of "I cowrote 'Kokomo', it recently hit number one, and cousin Brian had jack sh*t to do with it" and you are gonna have the most egotistical, big-headed, disgustingly pompous Mike Love ever. You know how Brian sang "I just wasn't made for these times"? Well, Mike Love was most absolutely, for sure, made for the 1980s. His tacky sartorial choices, his money-grubbing, his basic need to pat himself on the back? Such  truly 1980s American characteristics.

It's also this kind of attitude which showed why Kurt Cobain was so very necessary, just as punk was necessary in the '70s. When you got dickheads like Mike Love and all these hair metal jackasses and just a general 1980s "Reaganism" thing going on, we needed something to set us back to zero.


*Yes I know this was apparently 1990, but in the big scheme of things 1990 was still part of "'80s culture", just as the early '80s were still an extension of the late '70s.

that was really clished. Sorry.   :'(

Tom Wolfe coined the term 'the Me Decade' to refer to the 1970's. Although arguably, every decade since the end of WWII has been a 'Me" decade, including our current one. I don't know what any of this has to do with Reagan -- presidents don't create the culture.

Also, Cobain didn't set anything "back to zero". Nirvana picked up where such 80's bands as the Pixies and the Replacements left off. And true, grunge had a short-lived cultural impact (mainly on fashion), but the music biz kept churning out a mix of crap and quality, same as it ever did and indeed continues to do.

Mike is the same person from decade to decade. "His tacky sartorial choices, his money-grubbing, his basic need to pat himself on the back" are just as present in the 1960's and the 2010's as they were in the 80's.

And Mike? He's a man for all seasons. He'll make a home for himself in any decade. And as crass as he is, there's something as admirable as it is off-putting in such adaptability.

Doesn't Brian Wilson own multiple large, luxurious homes, multiple nice cars, and has been seen wearing Gucci loafers?  I guess the difference between Mike and Brian is that Brian wasn't stupid or tacky enough to get himself on such a show. Or Gene Landy wasn't, given the time that was filmed in. It also could have been embarrassing to show that Gene was living in the nice, huge house and Brian was living in a less luxurious beach shack.

Brian also doesn't seem to care about showing (off) stuff to strangers in the first place.




Come to think of it, all of the Beach Boys are (/have been) very private people. Mike just may be the least private one of them.. He stills pales in comparison to other rock stars, of course.

I think Mike did it because of the Beach Boys resurgence in popularity, and enjoyed being featured on celebrity TV at age 50. Gives him a nice place to talk about cutlery and all the other aspects of rockstar life.

I love when he recites his lyrics for the song he wrote to his girlfriend and finishes with "so, that's pretty romantic."

who is this guy and what is he on about?

It's not just that he mentions that Dennis died and Brian had terrible addition issues, it's that he says it with a smug smile on his face. And then says 'that's their problems'. Who on earth refers to the death of their own cousin in such a way? It's really not excusable. He's either really horrid or just a bit mad - I like to think it's the latter. Hey, at least the guys interesting...

"Here's my fabulous house. Did I mention my cousins are substance abusers and one of them died? Oh well. He was drunk like a drunkard. He was so mother fucking high. He was so mother fucking drunk like a drunkard. That's their problem. My cousin Brian is famous for being a nutjob, not for writing the songs that paid for these houses. I'm just sitting here reversing the aging process."

Seriously, if one us tried to do parody of Mike Love on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, there is  no way we could touch the unintended hilarity of this.

"Watch me rub this secret liniment all over my torso. I've used it for years and it reverses the aging process despite what you actually see."

he's aged better than al


(http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/pc/Al+Jardine+cCEtyr-FfE6m.jpg)

I'd say all the Beach Boys look 70 plus. The key difference is that Mike's calendar age has finally caught up with his actual look, the exact opposite of reversing the aging process

Mike does indeed look the same age in this interview from last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZFuEh02tFw

But nowadays he seems to have mellowed plenty too.

For those interested in the BB songs Robin referenced ;D

Good Vibrations - five times
Surfin' Safari - twice
Fun Fun Fun - twice

Be True To Your School
California Saga: California
Don't Worry Baby
Good Timin'
Heroes and Villains
I Can Hear Music
I Get Around
Rock and Roll to the Rescue
Sail on Sailor
Surfer Girl
Wouldn't It Be Nice

Maybe that's the room. Y'know, THE room, the metaphorical room in which he hopes one day to sit down with Cousin Brian and write a whole new Beach Boys album.

I love when he recites his lyrics for the song he wrote to his girlfriend and finishes with "so, that's pretty romantic."

Also, I wish the narrator would've made a reference about Mike's 25-year-old girlfriend and "how she boogalooed it" with a 49-year-old man...

Why do you wish that? Because it would've given Mike the opportunity to mention how young Marilyn was when Brian was sleeping with her, or how young Shawn was when Dennis married her and how young Shawn was (17) when she got pregnant with Dennis' son, Gage?

It's not just that he mentions that Dennis died and Brian had terrible addition issues, it's that he says it with a smug smile on his face. And then says 'that's their problems'. Who on earth refers to the death of their own cousin in such a way? It's really not excusable. He's either really horrid or just a bit mad - I like to think it's the latter. Hey, at least the guys interesting...

[...] or how young Shawn was when Dennis married her and how young Shawn was (17) when she got pregnant with Dennis' son, Gage?

I admit it, I'm a ladies man!

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af251/crashbangboomable/ML4_zpsd2a8980b.jpg)

Mojo lotion!  Where do we order?

(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af251/crashbangboomable/ML2_zps7097b1b0.jpg)

Haha I like the Sail On Sailor reference.....but yeah, insane song title reference overload - set to footage of Mike Love swimming in a waterfall lol

"But that's their problem".

Sorry, but the man is - or at least was - a prick. Talented, but a prick.

Steve Martins act.  LOL!     I like to think that was a relic of the disco era self indulgence and the Kokomo vibe and thatMike has outgrown all of that attitude.  really out of synch with the eastern ideals he espouses.  sometime I think Mike is insecure and overcompensated.   could that be?

Mike does indeed look the same age in this interview from last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZFuEh02tFw

But nowadays he seems to have mellowed plenty too.

Now that was fun to watch! Thanks for the link.

There apparently was a court case regarding paternity, followed by some type of settlement.  From what I remember reading here, the test suggested he was the father but it was not conclusive.  AGD has more specific info.

O.k., I agree, that was pretty funny.  Definitely very un-Kokomoish.

Returning back to off-topic rather than discussing super-boring stuff like reality show with Carnie & picture-posting:

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit puzzled by the last bit, so the question still remains - is Mike a real father of Shawn or not? Mr. Doe, got any answer? metal flake paint, maybe? I'd like to know the final verdict.

I think Jon explains it the best:

http://youtu.be/koLWVS_6mbE?t=7m59s

Returning back to off-topic rather than discussing super-boring stuff like reality show with Carnie & picture-posting:

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit puzzled by the last bit, so the question still remains - is Mike a real father of Shawn or not? Mr. Doe, got any answer? metal flake paint, maybe? I'd like to know the final verdict.

Well that was traumatizing...

Thanks very much! You have the best memory on details like the needed timing of video, needed page of book & other references. It's amazing. Now my life is complete (well, half: the next thing I look forward to is the photo of Hite &/or Dorinda Morgan(s)).

That maybe so, but it doesn't leave much room for remembering the important stuff like taking the garbage out ;D

Not long to go (hopefully) until we see that photo.