The Brian Wilson Orchestra

[jeffcdo]

I'd go for sure.  Without Brian they might even feel free to integrate some of their own original material into the shows.  My hunch though is that this particular band would not stay together without Brian, they just have too many creative interests of their own.

[Runaways]

well i guess this is where you'd find the people who would

[the captain]

I'd go for sure.  Without Brian they might even feel free to integrate some of their own original material into the shows.  My hunch though is that this particular band would not stay together without Brian, they just have too many creative interests of their own.

They almost certainly wouldn't because, as AGD said earlier in the thread, they aren't a band other than as hired parts of BW's tours.

[jeffcdo]

They almost certainly wouldn't because, as AGD said earlier in the thread, they aren't a band other than as hired parts of BW's tours.
[/quote]
True but as some have pointed out in reviews of BWRG, it can be argued they've become a band.

[the captain]

Become a band in what sense, though? Group of people who have become familiar with one another? Sure--many of them have played together now for a decade. But become a band in the sense that they work together on original material, or would have some reason to exist other than that they are paid by the Wilson org.? I doubt it. Let's not romanticize things. Wondermints were, and maybe still are, a band. Simons, Mills, Bragg, Foskett, Bennett, and Mertens aren't. (Gregory, sometimes, as a part-time 'mint.) I'm not saying they couldn't be a band. I'm not saying they won't want to be a band. But right now, that group of people are a collection of hired sidemen, and if they weren't, someone else would be. Sure, they could tour as a Wilson cover band, and especially if they were made official via the Wilson or BRI organizations, I'm sure they'd do just fine financially. But they are what they are.

[PongHit]

The Glenn Miller Orchestra has toured without Glenn Miller since he died in 1944.  Another example, local to me, is the Sun Ra Arrestra.  In the rock world, there's too many examples to count; tribute bands have become big business.  When Mike or Brian retire/die, that will not stop touring BBoy bands.  Guaranteed.  And it wouldn't surprise me if BW's band continued to do official shows, sanctioned by BRI.

[PongHit]

It would be pretty disrespectful to Brian to carry on.

It would be disrespectful to Brian & his music to not carry on.

[rogerlancelot]

Brian Wilson & The Futher Muckin' Buck Futters

Brian Wilson & The Ass Bandits

I still think his next album should be strictly gay country. It would certainly confuse his critics and it might be a stronger statement than an album of Disney covers.

[hypehat]

It would be pretty disrespectful to Brian to carry on.

It would be disrespectful to Brian & his music to not carry on.

Not sure I follow. Last thing I heard, if you want to hear Brian Wilson's music, you can buy it on these new-fangled things called CDs, MP3s or even records. It's not like, I dunno, Mozart or Bach or something where you can only hear the music via a modern recording or going to a show. You have the man's body of work, as he originally intended (which i certainly don't think was in a concert scenario), archived and preserved in the vaults, and available for the populace in easily accessible formats. His music won't suddenly stop existing or go out of print or fall off the map if his band (which I love, btw) hang up the guitars after he dies.


I've tried answering this topic a few times since Luther's original answer without much success. I guess I just don't like tribute bands. The idea of the Count Basie or Duke Ellington bands carrying on after the death of their leaders does seems a little.... phoney. I guess. I'm turning it over in my head, and I just don't like the idea of it. By all means, they can do tribute shows, write their memoirs, join other bands, write new material, cover BB's songs on their albums.... But the Brian Wilson Band without Brian Wilson isn't The Brian Wilson Band, in my opinion.

[rogerlancelot]

[donald]

This BAND, as a unit,  has a SOUND.  Like Chicago Transit Authority, BST, The Dead, The Beach Boys, Spector, Motown, etc.   They at least should have an identity as much as the Heartbreakers or Crazyhorse.

[Wirestone]

I'd go, no question about it. Brian is the least impressive part of his shows--by far--unless the music isn't important to you. His instrumental contributions are nil, his vocal contributions are shaky. It's funny to watch him, and there's a certain car-wreck / feel-good part to the whole thing. But in terms of quality performance? I love his band despite Brian Wilson. Mike Love's recent comments about the Beach Boys possibly carrying on because of the strength of the material are dead on. There will be a market for that music forever.

This manages to be on target and off target at the same time.

The one thing that binds this disparate group together is Brian and his music. They're more proficient, certainly, than their sometimes awkward leader. But that group exists to back him / cover for him / enhance him / spur him on.

To see the group when Brian is on fire -- as he is every other tour or so -- is to see a radically different group than when they're merely propping up a bored or scared BW. They go to another level -- and it's why, to me at least, the group wouldn't quite work without him.

[the captain]

My guess, and of course that's all it is, is that an "on fire" BW doesn't take them to another level so much as the scared and stiff and awkward BW drags them down a level. And without him, they'd be able to do a better job of really pushing every night without fear of the reaction of the guy seated at front-center stage.