The Smiley Smile Message Board

I have put this in the Media/You Tube Section , but no doubt it will get 'lost' there , enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VY3zbCt24

Well so much for me deciding to sleep earlier! ::) I have to watch this now! ;D

Lot of ego on that stage

Mike mentions how much he likes "Wind Chimes" from Smiley Smile...nice!

So play it on stage!!

Interviewer - So Brian whats going through your mind when your singing "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times"

Brian - Er nothing, it comes outta my throat..(Band cracks up) it comes up through my throat outta my mouth, into the audience....

Al - Very touching Brian

Classic Brian love it

Mike apparently doesn't have anything to say about Mojo Mag's pick of "Surf's Up" being the number one best BB song.

LOL Bruce has some fun at his own expense at the end and actually addresses the Obama gaffe!

...just added to the Brianisims thread. Classic  :lol

I wonder why Mike said "let's move along" when Bruce was talking about "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"...@15.15

Brian apparently doesn't have much to say about anything.

I thought he said, "Let's moo along...", but I could be wrong.

Was I the only one wishing I was there because there's so much I would like to hear in person? ::) In fact I really wish they could get a hardcore fan to ask some questions!

I think he was making light of the fact that Bruce couldn't "sing" it.  Sort of, "alright Bruce, funny. Let's keep going".  Or Mike's really that jealous of Brian. Which is entirely possible.

Yeah, he did say "we can MOO along."

It's pretty obvious that Brian wasn't totally into this whole idea, which is too bad.

I know what to expect from Brian and this is even making me a little uncomfortable. I can't imagine what the comments are going to be on this video.

Is it just me, or does Al have the funniest (sarcastic?) facial expressions when Mike is speaking?

I think Al truly hates Mike Love.  TRULY.  He's just smart enough to deal with it for the better good.  I don't think Mike hates anybody, he's an equal opportunity offender.  I think Al loves the Beach Boys with all his heart, but feels Mike has really, really wronged him in an unfixable way. 

Yeah, so Al must've been completely shocked when Mike went out of his way to mention that the No. 1 song, "Help Me, Rhonda" featured a lead vocal from Al Jardine. But, it wouldn't explain why Al continues to mention that he wishes the tour would continue on after these scheduled dates. That must be his way of dealing with it for the better good.

Think what you want.  I'm just saying, in my opinion, Al hates Mike Love.  He'd have him murdered if he could get away with it.  

That he's willing to tour with him for a couple million dollars doesn't prove that he likes him.  

I think Al still isn't over the Cotton Fields jab at the Knebworth show

Yeah, but Mike did make a little jab, saying that they couldn't take "Rhonda" out because Al sang lead, implying that they have to leave it in there, if not because of its popularity, at least to stroke Al's ego.

I know, I was shocked that Al didn't walk off the set when Mike made that little joke, er....jab. He probably hung around to collect his check.

I just spent significant time backstage, away from cameras etc...(Hollywood Bowl and Irvine) and ALL the guys seem to be enjoying each other's company. Particularly at Irvine, Al and Mike stood, kicked back, sat together off to the side of the stage watching their kids sing during the Cal Saga set. They were genuinely relaxed, laughing WITH each other, having normal, not tense, conversation. No signs of animosity in the least. Looked to me like they were having a really good time together. Just the two of them.

I think it's obvious there's still tension between them, but since Mike has more 'stature' (NOT a short joke) than Al, he doesn't feel threatened by him.  The same thing would be going on with Mike and Brian, except Mike knows that Brian is the whole f'n show.  So it humbles him.  

With all that said, I think it's a testament to Al's good nature that he's willing to let things slide for the better good.  

Beach Boys are on!

Ron, I will say this about Al. He does seem to be a little more, I don't want to use the word "outspoken", but saying things to make a point. And, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It appears that he's grown (no pun intended) since he had his own solo career, and he does seem to be advocating for certain things, not just being the subservient 5th member. Hey, all's good! I'm enjoying everything.

Hm. Brian looks like was having an off-day :(.

The interviewer was a little too awkward during the interview.  He said he was really excited to be there but was quite bland and showed no real levels of enthusiasm when talking to the guys.  An okay job but if he was such a music geek I would've assumed he would've had more challenging things to ask. 

Brian amazes me because although he seems so completely not there when he does answer a question, his brain fires the most random comments and snipets at ridiculously RAPID fire.  I mean that questions about always wanting to be commercial...Brian answers saying that "I Get Around" was very commercial.  What? Really?!  Not "Surfin' USA" or "Good Vibrations."?  He amazes me that he seems to be totally on top of it yet still slightly somewhere else in these kind of situations.

Mike: So that's my nature, to be, uh, words. Classic!

I  thought this was a great interview, gave time to all the members and they all seemed to enjoy themselves. Well you know, except Brian. But that's why part of why we love him.

As for these guys not liking each other, whether it be Mike and Al. or Mike and Brian, or Mike and ______... The Beach Boys are a family. Maybe not blood anymore, except for Mike and Brian, but when you spend 50+ years around each other, and you fight and make up and fight and keep coming back, you're family. They're brothers and that's what brother's do, tease and poke each other, get on each others nerves, try to one-up each other.

To me the 'tension', as some of you call it, just comes with the territory. There are a lot of easier ways to make money at age 70 than than going on a world tour. They're here to celebrate the legacy, the music, each other, the fans (and make some serious bank). What's it to you? Hallelujah!

When i was back stage in San Diego last month I thanked them for their generosity in continuing to share their music.  I love their faults, their false starts, their quirkiness, their absolute refusal to try to be 'cool', their angelic harmonies, their cheese, their sentimentality, and their egos.

They've provided the soundtrack to my life, and I love them all. God bless the Beach Boys.

Yeah, it's very strange.  You want to just lump him in with other people that you would consider disinterested, or 'out of it'... but he appears to be 1. Hearing and understanding everything that's going on, and at the same time 2. Doing something completely differnent in his mind.

So he can answer any of the questions, but the whole time he looks like he couldn't care to be there.  When they ask him a question he answers it before they're done asking it!  And like you said, it'll be completely random.. but then he backs it up. 

I think, ultimately, the best answer is he may be fucking with us. 

I love the idea that this could be true! :lol

Brian seem off in this interview and the one on Rolling Stone's site. He reverted to looking  at his watch at about the 16:00 mark and seemed halfway off stage before the others got off their seats.

"What was it like to reunite after 50 years?"
"How has the recording process changed since 50 years ago?"
"Who were your influences?"

I don't understand why interviewers ask such placid questions, until I realize that they're probably scared the Boys would walk out of the room if you brought up the wrong thing.

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?" "What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?" "What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer? Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich? How did you meet him? What about the album you produced for American Spring?" "Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?" "What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?" "What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?" "When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer? When did you acquire one? What was it about a Moog that attracted you?" "What are or were your literature interests besides Arthur Koestler's The Act of Creation?" "Is there anything you haven't done with music or songwriting that you wish you had?" "What is the progress on your biopic and the one for your brother Dennis?" "Are you aware of the image clash your band has between the surf songs and the experimental symphonies?" "Do you realize/agree that your music is more relevant today than when you were at your commercial peak?" "What was it about Phil Spector's style of production and arranging did you take notes from besides the obvious tape echo and combining of instruments?" "Why did you and the band put down the Smile sessions as meaningless noise for so many years?"

"Mike, why are you so obsessed with things being "commercial"? You seriously think commercial viability is something you're supposed to keep in mind when you're judging music? Do you see dollar signs when you close your eyes? Why do you think people won't come to your concerts if you leave out Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA from the setlist in favor of cuts like Cabinessence or Surf's Up? Why do you keep bringing up how you wrote the very prolific lyrics to Little Deuce Coupe and Surfin' USA? Are you aware that Surf's Up was a pun?"

"Bruce... uh"
"Al... um"
"David... err"
"...Well, what happened to Van Dyke Parks' participation in the Smile Sessions campaign?"

Now THAT's an interview I'd pay to see.

Brian would either 1.) flee screaming or 2.) give gnomic answers to every one of those questions. I'll demonstrate:

"Brian, did you intentionally change your voice in 1975?"

I don't think so. No.

"What do you think of this quote from yourself that explicitly details the lyrical meaning behind Cabinessence? Do you remember anything about it?"

No.

"What were your aspirations between Smile and Endless Summer?"

I can't answer that question.

"Could you tell me about your collaborations with Stephen John Kalinich?"

He's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"How did you meet him?"

Through my brothers.

"What about the album you produced for American Spring?"

I don't remember. To tell you the truth, I don't remember much about that.

"Were you producing other acts with the conscious intent to get away from The Beach Boys?"

What was the question again? No.

"What did you think when the band tried to finish Smile in the early '70s?"

I didn't know they did that. I don't know.

"What did you learn from your collaborations with Van Dyke Parks?"

Van Dyke's a cool guy. Really good with words, you know? Poetic.

"When was the first time you saw a Moog synthesizer?"

I don't remember.

"When did you acquire one?"

I don't remember.

"What was it about a Moog that attracted you?"

I don't know. I can't answer that question. Hey, I've got a plane to catch. Great interview. Bye.

I've asked Brian quite a number of those things and he gave me direct and lucid answers.

Brian, is that you? ;D

"There was a huge change in your voice when you listen to recordings made before and after your comeback. Why do you think this happened?"
"Does it sound like something you would have said? Do you agree with your own words from 1966?"
"Because you can't remember, or...?"
Enough for me.
"Do you remember the sessions?"
Oh well.
"Are you sure?"
Enough for me.
"His style of arranging is pretty wild. Did he ever help you with any of that?"
Oh well.
f*ck you, yes you do, that would be like forgetting the decade your child was born in.
;_;

Take it from someone who has interviewed Brian -- if he doesn't want to play, you aren't getting anything.

I thought I had it figured out. I had 15 minutes. He shut me down in six, and that was with all the follow-ups I could think of. The man is fearsome.

Is David mixing up Al and Bruce?

He says Al came back when Brian stopped touring and played bass and sang the falsetto, he must be suffering alzheimers for making MASSIVE mistakes like that. I dont thinkg Bruce really enjoyed that. He was the one who was brought in to fill Brian's role.

I dig that at the end Bruce admits he googled himself and saw all the internet critisism about his comments on the presidential race. Hilarious!, guy has got a sense of humor bringing that up!

Buy a good book about the BB history and read it. Dave is absolutely correct. Brian left the road in 1963, and Al came back to replace Brian, playing bass. The tour line-up was Mike, Carl, Dave, Al, Dennis.

When Dave left later that year, Al took Dave's guitar role and Brian replaced Al on the road. In 1965 Brian left the road again and that was when Bruce came.

Yeah, sure, and the Beach Boys didn't play any of the instruments on their records either
Beach Boys 101

It doesn't look like that when he's being asked in front of a camera. Most people expect essay-length responses to the most nondescript inquiries. With Brian or anyone else with his sort of attitude, you can't simply fire a shot in the dark and hope you strike oil. This isn't a guy who gives speeches.

Look at this interview. This is how you talk to Brian Wilson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1va4JjgfY#t=133s
Most would stop here and accept just that. They think to themselves, "well, that doesn't really answer the question, but it's good enough so let's move on..." He doesn't.
It's virtually the same question, but asked with a more direct approach. Is he going to say "I dunno"?
You couldn't hope for anything more than that... That's exactly how a musician influences another. It's always the little things. The question is finally answered concisely. What else is there to say?

Another good example, where the interviewer asks about Brian's quintessential arranging and production:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1va4JjgfY#t=264s
With anyone else, it would have ended there. The question isn't really answered, but he did give a statement. Oh well, it's pointless to try again, right?
There we go; he does it consciously. Mystery solved.

Wow. That post should be a MASSIVE embarrassment for you. Dave was absolutely correct.

I've definitely noticed lately that Brian would like to be asked about specific songs or specific moments more than just very general questions at this point. Maybe that's just the way his mind works, that every song and every moment is self contained.

I noticed that. Every time the interviewer directed a question at Brian, I thought Brian would ask him to repeat it, since it didn't seem like he was paying attention. But no, Brian was able to answer everything, albeit in his own unique way.
There was one part in the beginning where Dave was answering a question and Brian was STARING him down from about a foot away. Really creepy! But yeah, I don't think Brian wanted to be there, but he kind of played along.

I noticed this as well.  Boy, if I were Dave I would have been extremely uncomfortable having the great, imposing Brian Wilson staring at me like that.

There's a video from the 5/28 show of them doing "Add Some Music" in aother thread.  Al screws up some of the vocals while he's standing around the Piano.  Brian just stares him downnnnn... and downnnn...... and downn...... like "really Al?  Really?  I'm watching you, Al.  Don't mess up, Al.  "

I think Brian didn't even mean anything by 'staring' at Dave.. he was just looking at him, for whatever reason being interested in what Dave was saying at that particular moment.

Great post Cool Water - you're my kinda Beach Boys fan!

yes sir  :'(

I laughed my ass off when I saw Brian staring like that at David. Fantastic picture !  ;D

I'm sure no one else thought this, but when the woman in the audience asked the Beach Boys what they listened to and they couldn't answer because there wasn't enough time, and then Bruce said his thing about "air and food" I thought he was referring to the French electronic band Air as a band he listens to!

It seems Mike did say "Moo" - when it first came out, Brian's version, one of my kids, in high school at the time, amused by that track, and sang along with it, while en route to school.  

It is very cool that Bruce mentioned it, as a Grammy winner; I was sort of waiting for its' mention, while this tour is evolving.  Glad he did. I wonder if it is possible to slide it into the setlist, since it is a recent award winner; Brian's band members do have it solidly down.  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow is sort of mythical.

As a matter of fact.....
(http://s14.directupload.net/images/120607/78zrt474.jpg)

It doesn't look that odd unless you know that he was like that for a good...30-45 seconds? And David just kept talking! One thought I had was that David is on Brian's right side, so maybe he couldn't hear him that well.

I agree he's just staring at him giving him respect and hearing him.  It's just kind of awkward, which Brian has never been good at.

In my business from time to time we go to this auction, there's this great auctioneer there, but he's a little awkward.  He'll say things like "Thank you Big Daddy....." when you bid... or after you win, he'll pat you on the chest.  Just strange stuff, but he doesn't mean anything by it , lol.

That's amazing.

Yeah, but when others are talking, he closes his eyes or looks in the other direction. So it was just strange.


If he did that to me, I'd sock him in the eye!

Brian used to look at Dennis like that. An intense kind of WTF is he gonna say next? I'm thinking Dave kind of represents that "little brother" element to Brian these days. Dave's seen that look a zillion times before, he's not phased by it in the least.

Well... yeah... lol.  I wouldn't blame you.  But when he does it to a guy, it's kind of funny.  He's a nice old man.  

Edit: Just realized, he's actually on t.v.  If you watch that show "Auction Hunters" or whatever it's called, the Auction house in Atlanta that has a t.v. show, he's the guy that says "You bougggghhttt ittttt" in the commercial for the show.  The guy's a hoot. 

I know exactly what you mean. I had 10 minutes with him and we were finished in 5. It wasn't a bad interview at all actually, but from what I gather Brian was doing a "radio tour" that day and just wanted to bang those suckers out. I don't blame him really.

I'm happy they spoke about smiley smile :) sometimes i wish i was the interviewer i would've asked them all types of deep questions about smiley smile,wild honey,etc. :)

Poor Bruce doesn't know how to say "nuclear".

Instead of pronouncing it "noo-clee-er" he pronounces it "noo-cue-ler", which puts him in the company of great thinkers like George W. Bush and Sarah Palin (ha!).

... and Barack Obama, who thinks there's 57 states.  Two more to go.