Somewhat painful Bruce Johnston interview in a Dutch magazine

[adamghost]

I dunno.  Bruce comes off a bit defensive to me, kind of like someone who's ready to take offense because they themselves have a pre-conceived notion of what they're dealing with and it annoys them...like when you have an argument with someone in your head that pisses you off, rather than the person that's standing in front of you.  Projection.

OTOH, the guy wrote the article and spun it as he saw fit.  So who knows.

I found the mostly thoughtful tone of the muted political discussion really inspiring, by the way.  If only that was the rule and not the exception.  *sigh*

[shelter]

Well, Bruce and the Capitol guy eventually did hang up, so they must have noticed that the interviewer had been able to hear their little discussion. They could have called him back to apologize and to ask him to not include it in the article, and I'm sure that any decent journalist would have respected that. But they didn't, and the journalist just did what a journalist is supposed to do: he picked up something that he thought was interesting enough for his readers, so he wrote it down.

[EgoHanger1966]

Well, Bruce and the Capitol guy eventually did hang up, so they must have noticed that the interviewer had been able to hear their little discussion. They could have called him back to apologize and to ask him to not include it in the article, and I'm sure that any decent journalist would have respected that. But they didn't, and the journalist just did what a journalist is supposed to do: he picked up something that he thought was interesting enough for his readers, so he wrote it down.

I don't think that would have helped much - it's like being caught in a lie. I doubt an "I'm sorry" to the reporter 1 minute after he called him a dick (without having known he could hear) would have meant much at all.

[Danimalist]

Maybe... just maybe... Bruce is a bigger dick than Mike. 

Pixlet for the win!

[Danimalist]

Well, he's right about Europe. I know that's a bitter pill for some, but hey.

Wow. Do you make generalizations about "Asia" like this, too? As a professor of political economy, I would suggest that your generalizing about the more than 40 countries, with an incredible range of policies on taxation, social welfare, state intervention, etc, support my earlier assertion about the "biologically predetermined ideological tendencies" (that perplexed you in an earlier thread), which inform both political beliefs and opinions about the relative merit of various Beach Boys.

Thanks though; I'm getting a really cool idea for a journal article.

[Paulos]

Why isn't this thread in the Sandbox where it belongs? Why do I feel like I'm reading a typical Shut Down board 'other topics' politics thread from a few years ago? Why are people firing of snide xenophobic comments off at each other, including a moderator? And most important of all, why doesn't Bruce know how to hang up a telephone which would have saved all this goshdarn nonsense in the first place?

[GhostyTMRS]

Having now seen the article, Bruce was clearly doing a press junket. A PR rep is almost always on the line during phone interviews to make sure the interviewer keeps to his or her allotted time with the guest. I've done a bunch of these (in fact there was a PR person on the phone when I did an interview with Brian and there was one on the phone yesterday when I spoke with another guest who was doing about 10 of these interviews in a row).

Whether or not, the reporter crossed a line by including an overheard conversation into the body of his interview is another story. Personally I wouldn't have done it but then again I've never overheard someone call me a "dick" so who knows how angry I'd get. I have had plenty of conversations with artists/musicians that took place after I had wrapped up the interview but the tape was still rolling. I've never included any of that stuff because it was understood by the guest that the interview was over..but that's just me.

Nothing painful here, really. Bruce is a Republican. Who cares? Moving on.   

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Add Some Politics To Your Day
South Bay Socialist
Our Capitalist Club
She Believes In Welfare Again
Give Me A Handout Rhonda
I'm Bugged At My Old Man (because I hate success)
Girl Don't Tell Me You're A Socialist
Busy Doin Nothing Except Adjusting My Mike And Clapping
Never Learn Not To Hang Up The Phone

[Autotune]

Bravo to the reporter for having the guts to share what he heard. Bravo. I would've done the same thing. In fact, once it goes online, I'm going to share the link with every Beach Boys fan I know. Wake the world and let them know what this entitled Santa Barbara jackass thinks about them.

He opened his mouth. He deserves full blow back.

Why the hell are you on a fan forum to begin with?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Bravo to the reporter for having the guts to share what he heard. Bravo. I would've done the same thing. In fact, once it goes online, I'm going to share the link with every Beach Boys fan I know. Wake the world and let them know what this entitled Santa Barbara jackass thinks about them.

He opened his mouth. He deserves full blow back.

Why the hell are you on a fan forum to begin with?

He's stating his opinion like we all do.

Ugh, I thought my song-title puns would have killed this thread......

[Juice Brohnston]

Having now seen the article, Bruce was clearly doing a press junket. A PR rep is almost always on the line during phone interviews to make sure the interviewer keeps to his or her allotted time with the guest. I've done a bunch of these (in fact there was a PR person on the phone when I did an interview with Brian and there was one on the phone yesterday when I spoke with another guest who was doing about 10 of these interviews in a row).

Whether or not, the reporter crossed a line by including an overheard conversation into the body of his interview is another story. Personally I wouldn't have done it but then again I've never overheard someone call me a "dick" so who knows how angry I'd get. I have had plenty of conversations with artists/musicians that took place after I had wrapped up the interview but the tape was still rolling. I've never included any of that stuff because it was understood by the guest that the interview was over..but that's just me.

Nothing painful here, really. Bruce is a Republican. Who cares? Moving on.   

Well said!

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Add Some Politics To Your Day
South Bay Socialist
Our Capitalist Club
She Believes In Welfare Again
Give Me A Handout Rhonda
I'm Bugged At My Old Man (because I hate success)
Girl Don't Tell Me You're A Socialist
Busy Doin Nothing Except Adjusting My Mike And Clapping
Never Learn Not To Hang Up The Phone

, esp. the last two

[Jim V.]

Bravo to the reporter for having the guts to share what he heard. Bravo. I would've done the same thing. In fact, once it goes online, I'm going to share the link with every Beach Boys fan I know. Wake the world and let them know what this entitled Santa Barbara jackass thinks about them.

He opened his mouth. He deserves full blow back.

Why the hell are you on a fan forum to begin with?

Likely because he's a Beach Boys fan and likely was drawn in by the writing of Brian Wilson and the performances of the group. And he also realizes Bruce Johnston is one of the least essential Beach Boys, and he thinks he's a d*ckhead. Any questions?

The journalist is a terrible writer. Even more, a crappy interviewer. I can't blame Bruce for being a bit perturbed by the whole thing. As I said earlier, the eavesdropping bit is the best part of the article. Though, now I understand why he just didn't hang up after the interview.

Ooooo I love this. This is like when a magazine gives The Beach Boys a bad review: "That magazine has always stunk. Stupid hack writers!"
Then another magazine gives them a good review: "Man, I always knew the writers at that magazine did good work!"

Why is this guy a jerk? Because he wanted to know if Bruce thought that music had healing qualities in times like this, like other members of the group do? What a horrible question. Maybe he should have asked him how it feels to be making a bunch of money doing f***-all besides wearing short short and clapping! And playing his obligatory solo number that most of the crowd doesn't give a sh*t about (even the hardcore fans).

[Autotune]

Bravo to the reporter for having the guts to share what he heard. Bravo. I would've done the same thing. In fact, once it goes online, I'm going to share the link with every Beach Boys fan I know. Wake the world and let them know what this entitled Santa Barbara jackass thinks about them.

He opened his mouth. He deserves full blow back.

Why the hell are you on a fan forum to begin with?

He's stating his opinion like we all do.

Ugh, I thought my song-title puns would have killed this thread......

Ha! No.

And a few more things:

1- kudos to shelter (great nickname!) for translating the article.

2- with all the difficulties of translation, it still sounds like a somewhat tense or antagonistic interview.

3- Bruce sounds deffensive and/or aggressive. And the interviewer comes off as a dick, although his tone must have been arrived at after the facts and may not reflect the spirit of the actual conversation.

4- I can't and I won't backslash Bruce for his words after he thought the inerview was over. He did not misbehave as long as he thought the interview was going on. Just like any of us.

5- I have no idea why Mike's name has been brought into this thread. I don't think he's misbehaved in interviews... well EVER, probably. Surely, he's said things that some people may not agree with, but that's an entirely different matter.

6- this thread proves that KittyKat may not be Bruce after all.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Can the 30 or so people who have written here just agree to let the other two people on this thread who think that the interviewer was a dick and did not have the right to print this have their opinion so we can move on.

[Mike's Beard]

I wonder if the reporter repeated the whole interview? What was written certainly doesn't sound like a full ten minutes worth of conversation to me.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Seems fair enough that Bruce gets grilled for direct quotes on tape if it's cool to crucify Mike for 45 years over some heresay

[Cam Mott]

If this guy published these comments because he was offended he seems even more like a dick. This still seems like an off record situation rather than a not for attribution situation.

[Dave in KC]

Bruce could care less. He is not shy with his opinions. And I know this first hand by him sticking his head in my car with my family aboard and admonishing me for actually running into the band when they were checking into a hotel in KC. Remember Bruce? I'm sure you do. Come to think of it, I've had several personal contacts with BJ. In a bar after a concert in Austin in 1969. The car thingy in the mid 80's, and for a long time before a concert in Wichita in the early 90's, when he pleaded with me to get the weather report as storms were threatening. Bruce, if you do read this board then I have two words for you. EAGLE, NEBRASKA.  June 1989. We nearly all perished that night. So I can say with some confidence, Bruce could care less what you think.

[Doo Dah]

Bravo to the reporter for having the guts to share what he heard. Bravo. I would've done the same thing. In fact, once it goes online, I'm going to share the link with every Beach Boys fan I know. Wake the world and let them know what this entitled Santa Barbara jackass thinks about them.

He opened his mouth. He deserves full blow back.

Why the hell are you on a fan forum to begin with?

Because I love the Beach Boys, and I'm not screamingly biased in Bruce's favor. Like you, mensa. What an ignorant thing for you to say.

[oldsurferdude]

Bravo to the reporter for having the guts to share what he heard. Bravo. I would've done the same thing. In fact, once it goes online, I'm going to share the link with every Beach Boys fan I know. Wake the world and let them know what this entitled Santa Barbara jackass thinks about them.

He opened his mouth. He deserves full blow back.

Why the hell are you on a fan forum to begin with?

Likely because he's a Beach Boys fan and likely was drawn in by the writing of Brian Wilson and the performances of the group. And he also realizes Bruce Johnston is one of the least essential Beach Boys, and he thinks he's a skull of Dick Reising. Any questions?

The journalist is a terrible writer. Even more, a crappy interviewer. I can't blame Bruce for being a bit perturbed by the whole thing. As I said earlier, the eavesdropping bit is the best part of the article. Though, now I understand why he just didn't hang up after the interview.

Ooooo I love this. This is like when a magazine gives The Beach Boys a bad review: "That magazine has always stunk. Stupid hack writers!"
Then another magazine gives them a good review: "Man, I always knew the writers at that magazine did good work!"

Why is this guy a jerk? Because he wanted to know if Bruce thought that music had healing qualities in times like this, like other members of the group do? What a horrible question. Maybe he should have asked him how it feels to be making a bunch of money doing f***-all besides wearing short short and clapping! And playing his obligatory solo number that most of the crowd doesn't give a sh*t about (even the hardcore fans).

Post of the month!!

[DonnyL]

Bruce's 'flubs' have become pretty entertaining. it's always good to have a little controversy. maybe the guy was being a dick. sometimes, people make pretty extreme 'liberal' comments with the assumption that they are 'objectively moral' or something.

[Jason]

Bruce could care less. He is not shy with his opinions.

Well said. More folks should be as content as Bruce clearly is.

Come on, shouldn't you be above provocative comments like that, especially considering that you're a moderator?

I'm not going to bite my tongue due to my position on this forum or because others don't like my opinions. Never have, never will. I'm entitled to an opinion as much as anyone else. It's nothing personal. If anyone wants to make it a personal issue, I'll happily take it to PMs. Folks had their shots at me and that's fine. People aren't going to agree on everything. Let's keep it that way. The board will be better off.

I agree, that was uncalled for by this Real Beach Boy guy who has some larger-than-life image of himself and his country.

I really don't, but you can think whatever you want.

[Pretty Funky]

Bruce could care less. He is not shy with his opinions. And I know this first hand by him sticking his head in my car with my family aboard and admonishing me for actually running into the band when they were checking into a hotel in KC. Remember Bruce? I'm sure you do. Come to think of it, I've had several personal contacts with BJ. In a bar after a concert in Austin in 1969. The car thingy in the mid 80's, and for a long time before a concert in Wichita in the early 90's, when he pleaded with me to get the weather report as storms were threatening. Bruce, if you do read this board then I have two words for you. EAGLE, NEBRASKA.  June 1989. We nearly all perished that night. So I can say with some confidence, Bruce could care less what you think.

Dave. Whenever the topic is Bruce and his weird ways, I always come back to your car story. Classic!

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

Fair enough.  Point being, magically eliminating government does not magically eliminate the problems inherent in managing a society.  Some kind of institution needs to be in place to regulate, enforce laws, etc.  Any powerful institution, government or business, unchecked, has the potential to be abusive, and all other things being equal power (and abuse) tend to follow the money.  My basic problem with libertarian and much mainstream conservative thought is the inability to grapple with that reality -- and that government "not being better" than business is a good argument in favor of having each as useful counterweights to one another, rather than weakening one to such a degree that the other takes over.  Once you get to that reality, then you can start to have a civic discussion over how to order that balance and arrange those institutions better, but until we see the whole picture and acknowledge it, we can't have a realistic debate over what form of government or society works best.  Otherwise, reflexive anti-government (or anti-business) rhetoric is all fantasy talk to me and I can't take it seriously.  Fair?

Completely fair.  I particularly like that you say "inability to grapple" because I think it should be a grapple.  The answer isn't obvious.  And you're right, that we can't have a good, honest debate about things with which people aren't willing to grapple.  There's a strain of Utopianism in mainstream politics, be it the left or right.  But it's never going to be pretty.  Like James Madison wrote, people aren't angels.

Certainly Bruce isn't an angel...