The Smiley Smile Message Board

From my understanding (as a fan but not as learned as most folks here)  Mike and Bruce gained the rights to continue to tour with the BB backing band as "The Beach Boys" after Carl's death and I assume they pay a royalty to Brother Records to be able to do so (similar to how Paul Kantner and David Frieberg pay Grace Slick and Bill Thompson to use the Jefferson Starship name) .   I am assuming this licensing is ONLY for tours and they are barred from recording material as The Beach Boys without Brian and Al being in the group which would explain why their "NASCAR" album wasn't released under the BB name.   
Am I on the mark here?   If not correct me.   
Thank u for any input. 

You pretty much nailed it. I would definitely like to see Mike and Bruce put out a live CD, since their tours the last few years have been noteworthy.

Would a live M&B album be called "Mike and Bruce of the BBs: Live at the Monte Carlo" or would they be allowed put it out under the Beach Boys name?

If the recordings weren't tampered with (and it's unlikely they would be because in this circumstance there is NO Joe Thomas), I'd like a live album if it featured a good number of deep cuts, songs not on the last 'live' album, or different arrangements. They should really bust something out like Big Sur 4/4 or All I Wanna Do to make it something we all have to get.

I don't know if there's really any point. Especially with the latest live album from C50 pretty well stocked at all the local record stores around here. It would definitely be strange.

Not exactly - Mike & Bruce, after a few shennigans, were awarded an exclusive license voted on by all corporate members of BRI... and yes, a set percentage comes off the top of the concert grosses straight into the BRI coffers, where it's redistributed to the aforementioned corporate members: Alan, Brian, Carl's estate and Mike. Regarding recording, yes, that's always been my understanding.

And thank Christ for that!

Again, they surely wouldn't be allowed to call it 'The Beach Boys' which is probably one reason why it has yet to happen.

It would be nice though as I have soundboard recordings of their 2008 UK tour where they played about 20 rarities and they do sound excellent. No tampering and no need.

Andrew pretty much summed up the conditions, from all I've read.  It appears to function as a "touring license." As long as the conditions are fulfilled, they tour with the imprimatur of BRI.

That said, there are plenty of non-autotuned videos on YouTube that one could set up on a media streamer (go Roku3 with the YouTube app!) or another brand-x streamer.  I have one on now, and Carl hilariously is doing an irreverent "Life is for the living" on one of those rarities where Brian does Deep Purple.  Prior to that I could hear a "tinny" Autotuned C50 clip. Give me the amateur stuff.  It really represents the real deal. 

We already have a "work-around."  And, it works for me!    ;)

Now what about Brian doing that California Barbie doll song by himself and calling it the Beach Boys in 1987. Did he have to get permission to do that?

Lots of things were different when Carl was alive. The whole current business structure only came into being after he died.

Did they need to draw up a new contract for this venture?  :-D

(http://www.trbimg.com/img-5126480b/turbine/sf-beach-boys-slot-machine-20130221/400/16x9)

Pretty sure it was Mattel that slapped the Beach Boys tag on it. But, yes, there's an interesting tale in there.

Actually, that bit is wrong.  Slick and Thompson own the Jefferson AIRPLANE name.  Kantner owns the Jefferson Starship name which is why he uses it, despite the fact that the current JS has WAY more in common with the folky/hippie/psychedelic style of Airplane than the guitar/bass/drums, real rock and roll of either of the classic JS incarnations.