The Smiley Smile Message Board

Every Beach Boys fan knows that tomorrow (Feb. 6, 2018) will mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of The Great Carl Wilson. I'm not trying to be the first to post about this solemn occasion, but my Tuesdays are hectic and there's a chance I'll be so busy I won't have time to post tomorrow.

I hope everyone here will join me and make mention of how much you admired this man who, more than anyone else, was responsible for keeping America's Band relevant and great for close to 35 years.

I remember that every time a program on VHI broke for a commercial, or came back from one, there would be a picture of Carl with the words "In Memorium 1946-1998", or something very close to that. They did that the entire day of his passing. This sounds like a cliche, but it really was one of those situations where the world feels a little bit colder. There was definitely a sense that somebody really important....irreplaceable, was gone. I knew on that day that The Beach Boys were no more, and would never recover from this.

He is so deeply missed.  It's wonderful that his "angel" voice lives on for so many, and "Forever".

I cannot believe it's been 20 years already, and that'd he'd be 71. I can't picture Carl in his 70s, and I can't fathom we lost him so long ago.

It seems so long ago, but at the same time it's like it happened yesterday. I'm trying to picture what the group would be like today if he were still here.

I can’t even begin to imagine. Would band relations have been better or would they somehow been worse?

Whatever it would’ve been though it’d all be worth it so hear him sing God Only Knows just one more time

20th anniversary just days after some sh!tty show at an ostrich festival announcement. Thank god he and Dennis didn’t live to see how bad the groups name has been tainted over the last 20 years.

RIP

While that statement is true on some level, I've gotta believe Carl would not approve.  If half the posters on this board possessed a fraction of the kindness, humility and forgiving nature of Carl Wilson, this board would be a better place.

I found out right before I left for work that day. My friend Ron called to give me the bad news. He had no idea what he was about to say to me was going to screw with my head for the whole time I was at work. "Hey one of the Beach Boys died," he said to me. "Yeah Dennis died back in '83", I said. "No one of his brothers died today, not Brian." (my friend didn't know alot about the group...but he knew I was a huge fan and had to call me. He heard the news on our local oldies station B101.5). I didn't know Carl was sick and I was so shocked and bummed out. I really admired Carl. I was 12 when I first saw the American Band video back in the 80s and I thought he was the coolest and most down to earth member of the band.  I was lucky enough to see one Carl Wilson BBs concert back in 1992 and it was Carl who I was the most excited to see and hear (the band did an amazing show that night, everyone sounded great, but Carl sounded the greatest). Sad day in music. What an amazing human being and what an incredible talent he was.

I did not get emotionally invested in the Beach Boys until 1998. So at the time I wasn't heart broken. However, as I have learned more about the band, Carl is probably my favorite Beach Boy. Definitely vocally and as a human being! I am bummed that I never got to see him live.

As for what the Beach Boys would be today, we have to remember that Full House, Summer in Paradise, etc had already happened. He was more concerned with keeping everyone happy than leading. But I don't think Al would have gotten fired. I am curious what would have happened with Brian. Carl had voted down doing Pet Sounds live or some of his new songs. Would Brian have gone solo? Would Carl eventually accept Brian's newer songs? I don't now.

I remember reading about it in our local newspaper and being deeply saddened. I was a fan of the Beach Boys but hadn't known that Carl was sick. Remembering that Dennis had died earlier I felt badly for Brian as he was now the only Wilson left.
I'll be going on a Carl binge tomorrow, listening to as many of the songs he wrote or sang lead on as possible.

I don't like to commerate dates of demise, preferring to celebrate birthdays instead. Hard to believe it's been 20 years that we've been without Carl.

I still love and miss the man -- he was finest kind. Carl Wilson never met a stranger, as the old saying goes.

You're VERY right, Em. I'd like it if some kind creature explained exactly WHY people celebrate the death anniversary. I really truly can't fathom it. It's bizarre in every level. It's as if people really like downers, being reminded of sad events, even reading it typed doesn't make sense.

Mari, we are commemorating, not celebrating. Big difference.
The 20th anniversary of Carl's death is a milestone and we wish to honor his memory. It's sad but we also remember the happy things, the joy Carl gave and continues to give to us.

But isn't it enough to honor one's memory celebrating their birthday? What's date of death got to do with it? I just find it bizarre that people would choose to "remember happy things", "the joy" at the sad date, when [artist's name] died. It doesn't look right. I don't mean to address the OP but generally don't understand this tradition. You didn't really explain it well, Liz. I'd like to get to the bottom of this, as I'm very curious about things I fail to understand.

The thing about death anniversaries is that they can conjure up memories of the day of the person's passing, and of course when one passed, that's usually a prime time to look back at all of the great ways they've impacting your life. 

Guess it's a cultural thing. Where I live the dead are honored. All Saints Day, November 1, is a city holiday. On that day and the following, All Souls Day, people go and visit the graves of their departed loved ones, bringing flowers, sprucing up the grave sites. It's often not a sorrowful occasion but when family share memories.
And we believe that our loved ones' spirits are still around, laughing with the rest of us.
There can be a tinge of sadness particularly if the person died at a relatively young age, as Carl did.

If anybody likes to listen to my song about him, here it is:

https://soundcloud.com/user-397643104/cdw-we-miss-you-tm-manfred-schmidt

This is a sad day for fans and obviously a much, much more difficult day for Carl's family.  I hope they take comfort in knowing how much he means to people and just how deeply loved and respected he is by his fans. 

Very late to the BBs party, but I love his voice so much. Thanks for all the wonderful music, Carl!

Mike said this about Carl today, on his Facebook page :

"I can't believe it's been 20 years since we lost Carl, an angel among men, and a friend to all. We miss you everyday my dear cousin, your voice, love for others and gentle spirit lives on in the hearts and minds of many.
We Love you always,"
Mike

I wonder if Carl's impact will truly ever be known. I mean, you hear a LOT of artists talk about seeing either Elvis, or The Beatles on Sullivan, and that being the definitive moment for them to want to be a musician. But how many future guitar players heard the riff off Surfin' USA or the Intro to Fun, Fun, Fun, and said "that's what I want to do". Was this dude maybe more of a pioneer than he gets credit for? How many came before him, in a 'band' setting, that stretched out on lead? Yes Chuck and Buddy, and any number of guys were playing rock guitar, but in a group setting? I bet he influenced a lot of young guitar players.

Been playing the first 2 albums in the car this week, there is a lot of great guitar playing on those records!

Slaap zacht, lieve Carl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXxe1ZEntjA

 :woot :woot :woot I'm fairly certain that Carl, had he not passed away, would have never let that have happened.

I concur.

In the 90s, I was young and stupid and only a casual BB fan.  :o   As a result, I never saw the band with Carl.  Now, if given a time machine I think I’d use it to go back to a BB concert circa 1972 or 73 so I could see Carl at his peak.  He was the best. 

I saw the Beach Boys for the first time in 1978, an outdoor show - in the rain - with the Kinks also on the bill. Saw them again in 1983,84,85,86,87,88, and 91. Each time, it was Carl that blew me away with his singing and guitar playing. I remember at the 84 show, he sang "Heaven" and dedicated it to Dennis. As I recall, many people were holding their lighters up...and some may have even had candles. Long time ago, but it was a memorable moment - also when he sang "God Only Knows" at that show.
At the time, I was wondering if the casual fans who attended these shows even knew who Brian was. I only saw him with the group twice - 83 and 85. I think the casual fans just thought of the Beach Boys as the guys they saw on stage year after year - Carl, Dennis, Mike, Al and Bruce.

yes in May '84 I saw their show where Carl sang Heaven (it was in Monterey I think)

Here is my song for him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpBuhomZUIo