The Smiley Smile Message Board

If the Beach Boys were still in their 50th Anniversary group formation I really think they would have been included in the 12/12/2012 concert for Hurricane Sandy relief. It wasn't just a East coast thing. What a great venue that would have been.

I know about Mike and Bruce needing to get back to their touring. Their band needs to eat. But what a lost opportunity for the Beach Boy's 50th Anniversary and even their legacy. 2 Billion viewers? The Beach Boys need to stay together.

I was thinking the same thing last night. They would have fit in fairly well - although it would have to be the 50th lineup.

Nahh...  Mike would have just gotten into a pushing match with Jagger over who's the better strutter

That's why he wouldn't be allowed to talk!

Seriously though, like a five song, continuous set probably would have rocked as much as Billy Joel. Something like I Get Around/California Girls/Help Me Rhonda/Good Vibrations/Fun Fun Fun. Oh...and Wouldn't It Be Nice. Because everyone loves Wouldn't It Be Nice.

I watched a majority of the concert last night and also speculated as to a Beach Boys participation. A couple of thoughts/observations/speculations:
 - Agree that it would have been a great showcase re: exposure;
 - The C50 line up would have been required (unless, perhaps Brian Wilson and his touring band);
 - Wondered about the logistics and feasibility of getting the entire C50 group on stage (set up time etc.) to do several songs;
 - The C50 Beach Boys configuration we had the pleasure to witness this past tour surpassed (in my view) several of their contemporaries on stage last night in terms of vocals (lead and harmonies). While The Who and Stones still include a lot of energy, their vocals just do not compare (probably never did!). Billy Joel still sounds strong I thought and McCartney has also aged well.
 - Did recall that while they didn't participate in this effort, they have done benefit concerts in the past such as Farm Aid and most recently M&B in October (don't recall the specific event); and I'm sure many of you can recall numerous others.

It is cool that the music industry gets together sometimes to do what it can in cases of misfortune such as natural disasters on such a scale.

I think they could have fit in nicely, and the combines bill of Beach Boys/McCartney/Who/Stones would have made this the greatest clash of the 60's titans ever. TAMI II.

and Mike could tell Jagger what a chickenspit he is right to his face.

"WE PLAYED 50 SONGS ON OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR. JAGGER'S ONLY PLAYING 15. THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S STILL CHICKENSPIT. YOU WANT 'MOVES LIKE JAGGER'? GO LAY DOWN ON THE COUCH LIKE A TIRED OLD MAN. WHAT YOU REALLY WANT ARE MOVES LIKE DOCTOR LOVE. WHENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNnnnnnn......."

Too many songs about crashing waves of water.

They could just stick to "hot wiring the hot rods"....but again, that would be inappropriate considering the rate of crime. Fun fun fun until the guy with the windex bottle and squeegie took my hubcaps away.

Like.

I thought about the BBs being part of this.  Yeah, It would have taken the C50 band and it looked like some of  the bands were playing with fewer than their usual compliment of backing musicians.  But I can't think of which BB song would have been appropriate.  Bill and Sue mentions the Jersey Shore........

Regarding the concert...
Am I alone in having developed this distaste for Roger Waters?

Jagger is in amazing shape.   

How does Roger Daltrey still scream like that?  and why did he have his appendectomy scar exposed for all to see?

Keith is starting to look like my 6th grade teacher

Alecia Keyes is truly a marvelous package of beauty and talent

I wonder how much money they will pull in for the concert?

Live Aid, 1985. Concert for relief of the Ethiopian Famine. The Beach Boys played their hits as did all of the other bands. I don't think the song selection needs to have a tie in to the Hurricaine. If so they could have done a 'rebuilding the shore/beach' thing. There are many non-surf songs they could have played.

Don't Go Near The Water would have been a good choice.

My pitch on a realistic possible setlist they could have done with an emphasis on emphasizing songs of healing:

Don't Worry Baby
Help Me Rhonda
The Warmth of The Sun
Sail on Sailor

The sad thing is that this could be the last time the major surviving rock acts of the sixties could be performing on the same bill (McCartney-Stones-Who-Waters-Clapton) and the Beach Boys weren't there for it. :( I can't see those acts all being around in five years or so when i'm sure they'll be another BIG concert like this. Considering the whole concert was basically a baby boomer's wet dream they could easily have given them Kanye West's (who was sh*t btw) timeslot.

They coulda done "Surf's Up" and brought the house down.

When I witnessed K. West's 'performance', I asked my wife if there was a way we could un-donate.

I'd never been more pleased to have a commercial break in my life afterwards.

I thought Kanye was brilliant.

He was awful. Completely out of place in comparison to all of the other artists who participated.

Blondie Chaplin was strangely missing from the Stones sidemen.

Macca was outstanding. The fireman and first responders loved the guy and he loved them.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were asked.

The boys make some shocking declines this year.

Yeah, he was black.

The Beach Boys could have easily done a mini set which had NOTHING to do with surf, water, waves, etc, and could have been brilliant. There were quite a few openly devout fans of Brian's music on that bill who cite him as an influence, it could have been awesome.

I hinted at this on the other thread, but I personally connect The Beach Boys music with the shore, specifically Wildwood Crest. This is going back a few years, but when we would spend a week's vacation there several decades ago, there was one specific diner which still had those mini-jukeboxes at every booth. And I just remember sitting there, looking at all the cars go by on a main street of the town, and playing I Get Around on that jukebox, and hearing other tables playing BB's tunes as well. They had the jukeboxes filled with BB's songs, and it just fit in and reminds me of spending time at The Shore.

So do people on the East Coast shores have a connection to the music of the Beach Boys? Absolutely, and there was many years ago an East Coast-West Coast rivalry but in 2012 I doubt any of that had any impact on booking acts for this show, especially considering some of the performances I hear people talking most about came from British acts.

It was a missed opportunity for the band to put on a great show for millions upon millions of viewers, and for whatever reasons *they fucking blew it* by not being there, for whatever reasons in or out of their control. My (strong) opinion...

Oh, I'm in a ranting mood today, my soapbox will be getting more use...

Speaking of charity gigs, I forgot to add another question:

Has anyone asked someone in an official capacity why there was no BB's participation in this event?

I say this because recall not too long ago, nary a day or so after the big anniversary tour ended, there was a "Beach Boys" charity gig booked at a country club in California where the various band members regrouped the pre-reunion Beach Boys band and played this gig for charity. And recall too there was even a bit of confusion from those promoting the show when they put out literature and press releases suggesting this was a reunion show, when it clearly was not.

So it's not like the members could not have reunited for this big 12-12 charity event, played a few songs, and that was it. I'm talking about the reunion band, too, not M&B or Brian or Al's Family And Friends - and hearing something like "backing band member X couldn't make it" isn't a valid reason.

I'm seriously upset by this, short of hearing a reason why there was no participation from a band who would have been a perfect fit for such an event.

Great points, guitarfool2002. The Beach Boys have been a mainstay in the Delaware Valley going all the way back to the Steel Pier days. They played Atlantic City several times; remember the 1983 concert, one of Dennis' last ones. Almost every year, the Beach Boys play some venue in Philadelphia. And, as you mentioned, there's a lot of Beach Boys music played on those beaches on the East Coast. 

I watched the 12/12/12 concert, and like others, I thought several times how much The Beach Boys COULD'VE and SHOULD'VE been there. But only when I read your post did I realize just how many Brian Wilson fans, acquaintances, and people who recorded with him were present. Clapton, Daltrey, Townshend, Billy Joel, Springsteen, Paul Shaffer, and Paul McCartney. I would've loved to be a fly on the wall backstage.

But, don't forget Jon Bon Jovi. Wouldn't it have been great if Bon Jovi sang his songs, then said to the audience, "I had the opportunity recently to co-write and record a song with The Beach Boys for their new album. The song is called "Summer's Gone" and I'd like to ask them to come out here and perform it for you now. Ladies and gentlemen, The Beach Boys..." And then Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, and Dave come walking out on stage, smiling and waving....and stand at their mics and sing the song (with Paul Shaffer and a backing band providing the music). And, after that they go into a set of "Good Vibrations", "Help Me Rhonda", and "God Only Knows". How great would've that been?

Bon Jovi ain't exactly the Grateful Dead in terms of credibility, Sheriff.

But it's not credibility as much as the show and the location itself - It's not exclusive to this area by any means, but a lot of folks living in the New Jersey-Philly-NY area consider Jon Bon Jovi to be a "native son" to the area, just like Springsteen and a list of other artists and celebrities, and are more protective and also feel a different connection to him (I'm not one of those, but many do and wear it on their sleeve). Their stature is much greater among people here than in other parts of the country, and I don't think people realize how strong that is in this area (I'm talking Philly-Jersey) unless they've lived here. And the audience the other night was mostly people from the NY-NJ area, so Bon Jovi was a bigger star at that point performing with another "native son" Springsteen than he might be considered by someone watching from another part of the country.

In film terms, the influence of the film Rocky in the Philly-NJ area is much, much greater among everyday folks than in other parts of the US who may consider it a great film but nowhere near as iconic as it is here. If you get Stallone to make an appearance here, he'll get more chants of "Rocky!" and more high-fives than he would even in Hollywood, it's a different type of fan connection. They even have a statue here for him, and people everyday run up the steps of the Art Museum like he did in the film - that's part of Philly. That's one example out of many.

If you put Jon Bon Jovi on stage with the Beach Boys, the audience - at least the one a few nights ago - would love it.

I would have loved to have seen Prince at the concert now that I think about it!

That is true, but a lot of the group's potential audience loved seeing them alongside Ronald Reagan, and we know how divisive an issue that is. In the short terms, in MSG, Beach Boys and Bon Jovi would have been fine. But what do you think the reaction here, or the average Pet Sounds/Smile fan, to that would have been, for better or worse?

This board's reaction? Something would have been found to complain about by someone.    ::)

We can't necessarily focus on the possible reaction from any one sub-group of fans, or even the sub-groups which exist on this board. I think with an event like that, a lot can be forgiven and a lot can also be amplified into becoming something greater than it actually was as it unfolded live - the sword cuts both ways with these events. I've heard many people praise the Who, I agree with that praise - I could watch Pete Townshend play any time, and it was great to see live. The drumming was terrific, as was Pete. If I watched it again, now, a few days later, I might hear Daltrey's vocals as a little off and it would affect the joy of the moment. But as I watched a few nights ago, I really enjoyed it in the moment. If certain fan groups (BB's and others) can't do that for reasons other than what is unfolding musically in front of their eyes, shame on them, it's their loss.

As far as individual groups of fans, Springsteen has his share of his own cultish sub-groups: Did the diehard Bruce fans react a certain way to having him share lead vocals with Jon Bon Jovi on that most sacred cow of sacred cows in Bruce's catalog, "Born To Run"? I'm sure some fans liked it, some didn't, and others just watched it and rolled with it. I enjoyed it, again it was a live moment. Same with the Nirvana "reunion" playing with Sir Paul - I honestly haven't bothered to look, but were there any strong reactions from those fan bases either pro or con what happened on the stage?

I wouldn't even try to guess the reaction from various groups of Beach Boys fans, and to be honest about it, whatever the reaction was it wouldn't really matter at all in the long run. I do know it would have been a fantastic way to cap off a year which was triumphant for the band, for the most part, and share the stage with their peers and admirers. That would have been priceless. As it stands, we'll never know and the band missed yet another opportunity for reasons we still don't know (officially)...

All I want is a reason why - officially - the band did not take part. That's not too much to ask!  :)

"They weren't asked" doesn't count.  ;D

There was some whining from the Beatles/Macca/Nirvana/Dave Grohl fan bases but overall I think it was rather positive and went better than expected.

I just want to add too that I realize I'm playing the role of the selfish-boorish fan by commenting this strongly on what could have been and what didn't happen, but I think it's also starting to hit me hard that there simply will not be many more opportunities for fans like me to see these musicians perform on stage. Especially a concert like this, the magnitude of seeing The Stones, The Who, McCartney, Bruce, etc. playing on the same bill...it hits me that such an opportunity may not come around again, and also how perfect a fit it would have been to have the reunited Beach Boys on that stage taking part with them. If the 50th Anniversary reunion had never happened, it would all be empty speculation, but just a few months ago we had a terrific reunited band traveling the world and performing and making people happy.

The music world is full of "what if" situations, somehow this one just jumped out as something the Beach Boys should have been a part of.

Besides the Bon Jovi deal, I myself would have loved to see them there. But I think a whole lot of folks, maybe even everyone except loyal Beach Boys fans would have reckoned them as being as out of place as Kanye West, and Brian would have been held up to a certain amount of ridicule, especially compared to the physically active performances of other "old" performers that were there. It is sad (evn tho I actually think it is fine), but the band still does not have the certain respect from rock fans that would give them an automatic placement among their peers. It isn't the TAMI Show days any more.

Oh, I don't know about that. The Beach Boys are known around the world, aren't they? They can still Rock with the best of them. No problem with the reception they would have received. It would have been great.

I'm so bummed out about them not being involved that I deleted my DVR recording of the concert. I never did get to see the whole show. The Stones, The Who, McCartney, Springsteen, THE BEACH BOYS........wow, what could have been.  :-\ It would have been a keeper, thats for sure.

The Beach Boys are not respected by the average mainstream classic rock listener that worships at the altar of The Beatles, Stones, Who and Springsteen. Trust me.

Anyone else getting tired of this sarcasm? A lot of people strongly dislike him, get used to it.

I remember during a telethon for Tsunami relief, Brian sang Love and Mercy for his cellist Markus Sandlund who died in the storm and it was a really sweet performance.  So yeah, I suppose they could have fit in.

Anyone else tired of mouthy, know-nothing 12 year old boys on this forum?

Kanye's one of the best artists out there today, y'all are whack. Most of the people who strongly dislike him either haven't listened to his stuff, let his personality distort their evaluation or are innately programmed to believe that all hip-hop/rap is meritless, no exceptions.

I agree. That said, that...wasn't one of his better offerings.

I think not having The Beach Boys play the Sandy benefit definitely was a missed oppertunity. They could have done Pet Sounds showcasing Dave, and it most likely would have been the biggest highlight of the entire show. My ideal "setlist" for the group would have been Sail On Sailor, Help Me Rhonda, The Warmth Of The Sun,  It's Ok, Pet Sounds, and Summers Gone.

Yeah, I know nothing, I was totally the one to point to race when people were talking about someone's (horrendous) performance.

While I agree that most people who dislike the music more or less just dislike the man, I believe they go hand in hand.
I wasn't as big into Pet Sounds until I read about Brian, his story, and why he wrote the music. As far as that goes, no
wonder I don't like Kanye.

Actually, compare him to Mike Love, he did write some cool lyrics from time to time, but his overall attitude and personality usually cloud everyone's opinions.

Listen, don't say anything about my posts, kid. I don't care if you don't like my sarcasm, if you do not get the punishingly obvious fact that any modern black hip-hop artist wouldn't have been appreciated in such a punishingly white classic-rock context (see also: Run-DMC's performance at Live Aid), and also, I honestly think your posts and outlook on music are completely laughable. "If Fun. wins a Grammy, I'll kill every teenage girl"? You should have been tossed out on your ass for saying that bulls*it.

I think the reason Kanye's set sucked is because it was pretty much just him on the stage. The songs are great, but in that context the lack of a live band really killed the vibe for me. Not enough "music" going on up there.

It was a very odd, cold performance. For some reason I thought it went well with the electronica elements of his music. Had a mid-70's Bowie noir feeling.

This is true. I hear the above mentioned artists all the time on the local classic rock station (the rare times I listen - always in the car). The Beach Boys don't figure into that format at all. But I would've been thrilled to see the BB's on the show, along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and members of the Kinks, Hollies, or Raiders.

Regarding the concert...
Am I alone in having developed this distaste for Roger Waters?
[/quote]


NO !!!!!!!!!  His ego is astonishing......... even disturbing.

Also I found Roger Daltry exposing his chest and belly rather unsettling.

Well Chris Martin was very good.

Also, Spaceman, I don't want to get on your bad side, I have a specific reason for disliking Kanye's music (which is, in fact music.)

See, I'm a huge Zeppelin fan, and I listen to them a lot, but they have one VERY good song that has just been "killed" for me. Stairway to Heaven.

It is amazing, it is one of the best songs ever written (not their best though, IMO)
But the overplaying, and over praise of the song has made it lose the "magic" for me.
The same goes for Fun and for Kanye, this is worse for a teenager these days because
of that phrase that pisses me off "everybody is listening to it!" Plus, imagine if the radio
overplaying was even worse because I also have to hear it all day at school!
I actually liked Fun, but something personal happened to me that made them connect with a pretty sour time for me.

So I have opinions, but they are skewed by the media, and personal events.

I like most of your musical opinions, especially Love You, one of the best!

Chris Martin was playing an instrument and singing good sir. Alicia Keys did the same thing.

If only Billy Joel had played a song like 'Scenes Of An Italian Restaurant', imo that would have sent his set over the top for me. anyway. Also as much as I like Bruce his band seemed a bit tired and a show like that was a time he should have played "the hits" eg. Thunder Road/Hungry Heart/Glory Days/Badlands.  :-\

I disagree.  The songs he played had a context within the event which can't be said about most of the performances.

Agreed, he's a true New Yorker!

He's not on tour with them.

I saw the Stones on Thursday in Newark, one of the best concerts I've ever been to.  Absolutely incredible.

I lol'd.

Just wanted to mention something I heard Sid Mark repeat a few times this Sunday on his "Sunday With Sinatra" radio show - it's syndicated but he records it in Philly...check it out online too.

Anyway, Sid has been broadcasting for 50 years, focusing on Frank Sinatra, and he felt there could have been some mention or something done with a video presentation or *anything* to tie Sinatra into the event. His logic was that Sinatra played one of the most famous shows ever staged at Madison Square Garden, the "Main Event" broadcast on TV as well and watched by millions in the 70's, and Sinatra and the Garden were connected in people's minds. Sid thought even a video of Frank doing "New York New York" or some kind of musical performance/tribute would have been nice for the goals of the production, and seeing that other performers were doing New York or rescue/revival themed songs, it could have fit.

Thinking about that, the same could be said of Elvis at the Garden in the 70's, maybe a video interlude or something...or a performance tribute...who knows.

I just thought it was interesting after my ranting on this and another thread about why weren't The Beach Boys included in some way, I hear Sid Mark who isn't prone to ranting about much of anything going on about why wasn't Frank included...and in all fairness to Sid, he said he enjoyed many of the performers and cited some specifically as highlights, but he still had in the back of his mind why didn't they include something with Sinatra's legacy?

It was another variation of asking why weren't the BB's there, from another devoted fan base.

Interesting. Honestly, I didn't think of Frank as I watched the 12/12/12 concert. Thinking about The Main Event concert... Obviously, "New York, New York" wasn't recorded yet, but, Frank did a stirring version of "The House I Live In" at The Main Event. That might've worked. Or, it might've dragged a bit, I'm not sure. But, there are quite a few rousing versions of "New York, New York" out there.

That's the thing, Sid was just saying there was a connection to the Garden with Frank, and also with the song New York New York itself, being such an iconic song and everything - not saying the two were connected but just that either one of them could have been in some way relevant to the show last week. He also suggested having Frank Jr. do something on the bill, and with all respect to Sid and Frank Jr. (who puts on excellent big band shows), that was taking it too far. Frank Jr. would not have fit in at all on that stage last week...

Honestly I heard him say all that, and thought my points on including the Beach Boys were more convincing!  ;D

In terms of dragging the show, I think something on video with Sinatra or the song New York New York could have fit in somewhere...considering the show ran a few hours overtime anyway and certain performers did kind of overstay their welcome on stage...I'll say no more. :)

Yes!  They could have shown a Sinatra Video with sound behind Adam Sandler, and turned off Adam Sandler's microphone

Nicely said bgas and very funny. :lol