The Smiley Smile Message Board

There are some pics up at Yahoo News from the Capitol thing. Here's the link that will get you the latest pics:

http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=beach+boys&c=news_photos

And here's one of the pics:

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r774501517.jpg?)

More picks from Yahoo News. No pics yet of all five together.

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r752156559.jpg?)

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r685919071.jpg?)

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r468003059.jpg?)

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r3164930038.jpg?)

Very good to see them all together. Thank you !!

Two more pics from Yahoo News, including one of all five together, and one of Brian and Al.

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r309815986.jpg?)

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r863885596.jpg?)

More from Yahoo News. A better shot of all five, and one of Brian and Mike.

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r2064410823.jpg?)

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r3634715767.jpg?)

Brian: "Outta my way short-stuff..... time for my steak and 40th Anniversary cake!!!"
Al: "Nice to see you again too, Bri."

Wow, I never realized how short Al was until seeing that picture.

Glad to see Brian and Mike together smiling.

short...? Shortnin bread?

Brian: "Forty years since Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations?!?  That blows my mind, that's a long time."
Mike: "Yeah well you spent three of those years in bed and another ten-plus years under the care of a crazy doctor, so for you it's only been 27 years."

Ya know, those fake-ish gold record award things you see on Ebay aren't usually much to look at, but I wouldn't mind having one of those framed award things on the wall.

Apparently, this was also an opportunity to push the "Good Vibrations" reissue CD single (the tracklisting of which I posted a few minutes ago on another thread), another "Pet Sounds" reissue, and, according to prevoius news stories, there is some sort of other compilation album coming out as well as vinyl reissues or something or other.

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r2573547372.jpg?x=232&y=345&sig=.4ILQt38D.aFzdIqhi9CLw--)

At least they seem to genuinely like being with each other in these shots.

Brian: "I know how much Al hates this goat so I'll scribble a B and a W plus some wavy lines over it..."

Now if THIS group decides to put their legal squabbling behind them and go out on tour, I'd pay good money to see them!!

Did anyone notice how old Mike looks compared to Brian and Al?

Not to be a downer, but these guys don't neccesarily get along at all. How often to ex band members get together for these sorts of things and actually really make a big negative scene? I remember Jeff Beck did that when the Yardbirds were inducted into the R&R hall of fame. But these pics in and of themselves simply means these guys put on the smiles for the cameras. Mike and Al were together at that grammy luncheon in 2001, but Al indicated afterwards that it wasn't a pleasant experience, at least in terms of being there with Mike.

As others have said, apart from any reunion talk, I hope they can come to some real peace with each other. But the pics without any stories don't mean much. Hopefully Jon Stebbins will have some details about what if anything substantial that was said.

I don't care about reunions.  I want to see healing and good relationships.  These photos don't seem strained.  I am hopeful.  Let's see what the others who were there said.

At the landmark it was quite clear that they get along well. At least Al, Dave and Brian. Dave and Al will also tour together

I'll admit I'm a little teary looking at these pictures.  Even if it was just putting on for the camera, at least it's something, you know?  It's a step.

I agree, Josh. Totally.

Josh, were you and/or Alan there?

AGD said : Everyone was happy to see each other, no apparent animosity. I'm sure we'll see photos soon.


That's what he was told...

EDIT:

And this from Phil Cooper from the BBBritain-Board:

Brian, Mike, David, Al & Bruce posed for pictures and had a great time being together again, they were at ease and clearly enjoyed the company of each other.

The day went off extremely well, and in the way that every fan would have wanted it to.

I am sure you wll read and see more about this event in the future on their respective websites, but just to let you know that everything appeared to go very positively, and if I may quote the great author Jon Stebbins; "it looked like the beach boys".

Neither of us were there.  I'm not tight enough with the Capitol people at the moment.  I thought about going over to that part of town to see what I could see.

As far as them getting along, I think it was pretty genuine.  There were people there who knew and hung around with the Beach Boys for long periods of time who could sense fakery if it was present, yet nothing but good things from them.

We have some details about the GV CD single, but do we have any more info on the 40th anniversary "Pet Sounds" release, or what some recent news stories termed some sort of new compilation album as well as some vinyl reissues?

Will there be any cross-promotion between these upcoming Capitol releases and the material at the beachboyscentral.com website?

Seven wives will do that to ya!

Wow

Lovely.

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r468003059.jpg?)


Hmm, not to sure about that

Brian looks the happiest of the bunch in these pics. But anyhow great to see them all together again

Yeah, i was just about to say... how is it that Brian looks the youngest of them all?

I think now that Brian has his solo thing going he has a level of authority and control he hasn't had in a while.  Hopefully this will rub off on any reunion effort.  And all of them just look happy to be there.  Nice Day.   :D

Hmm, Brian, Bruce and Al look like they are 64 years old, and Mike looks like he is 65 years old.  ;D

Mike ALWAYS looked way older then the others

Posted this comment elsewhere but it does warm my heart to see em together

Here is a news story from Yahoo that includes a few quotes. Seems a possible reunion is not neccesarily the most far-fetched thing in the world. It also sounds like the upcoming "Pet Sounds" reissue is going to be some sort of package that includes the CD and DVD-Audio. I certainly hope they either include a lot of substantial "new" material, or they simply stick the CD and DVD-Audio into a box without anything new so recording completists don't have to buy it again. Yeah, right. :)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060614/people_nm/beachboys_dc_2

Some excerpts from the story:

The three original band members have not performed together in years. But, asked about the possibility of sharing the stage again, Wilson replied, "There's a chance of that."

Added his cousin, Love, with whom Wilson was often at odds in later years: "We've got tough management."

"I want to thank everybody involved that helped us get that album ... going and going," said Wilson. "And I thank the Beach Boys themselves for being great, great artists to produce. I'd rather produce those guys over any other artists in the whole world."

Johnston, who became part of the group when Wilson quit touring to focus on studio work, paid tribute to Wilson's brothers and fellow founding band members, Dennis, who drowned in 1983, and Carl, who died of cancer in 1998.

"I wish Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson could be here with us," Johnston said, to which Love added, pointing up at the sky: "They probably are, because this is pretty close."

Organizers said the last time the original Beach Boys appeared together in public was around the time that "Stars and Stripes, Vol. 1," a collection of Beach Boy covers performed by various country music artists, was released in 1996.

Capitol Records, a unit of EMI Music Group, also announced plans for a 40th-anniversary release June 27 of a deluxe CD single of "Good Vibrations," featuring five versions of the band's seminal 1966 hit and its original U.S. B-side.

In late August, Capitol also plans a 40-year commemorative reissue of the band's landmark "Pet Sounds" album in a CD/DVD package that includes mono, stereo and digital Surround Sound mixes of the music, plus previously unreleased promotional and documentary footage.

Reuters/VNU




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No kidding!  I hope it's just age and not illness.  Dave and Al are looking healthy.

It gladdens my heart to see these guys all together in one place. Thanks for posting the photos!

Today was the first time since Carl died that I looked at these guys and they looked like the "Beach Boys" to me. Just the way they interacted as a group. It wasn't like I was watching five individuals...but a very exclusive club. I can only relate it to how the Beatles seemed in those early press conferences...the collective brain thing. When the five of them were with each other today it was obvious it felt good to them. Brian Wilson was having a great time...he was joking around and smiling the whole time. He and Mike seemed to have some very warm exchanges, and Mike made a point of telling the gathering that Brian was the reason the Beach Boys did great things. Brian made a point of saying the BB's were the greatest artists he could ever imagine producing...the ultimate vehicle for his music. I handed David the photos of Carl and Dennis and suggested he pose with them...and Mike got into the spirit and soon Al was there...they all wanted to make sure Dennis and Carl were included in the day. Dave made a comment to the gathering of how they were like brothers to him, and Brian seemed to affirm the statement with a nod of approval. I was blown away by the comeraderie they all displayed. When a clueless Capitol exec. asked David to step out of the shot so the "original" four could pose...Bruce, Al and Mike nearly threw the guy over the side of the building. Two of them shouted "f*** that...that's bullshit...get back in here David". It was like that all day...al for one...one for all. I never would have beleived it...but I saw it with my own eyes.

Great comments, Jon. Thanks for sharing them. Can we expect a more detailed report soon, or is there much more to tell about the event? Any exchanges directly between Al and Mike? Did you hear anything relating to what Bruce talked about on the BB Britian board about he and Al discussing a reunion, if only in a theoretical sense? Were you able to talk to the other BB's besides David?

I'm glad to see that it appears they all genuinely were getting along. Given their history, I'm sure they never will have a perfect, buddy-buddy relationship. But perhaps they all have finally just run out of steam when it comes to the contention. I don't think we'll see Mike drop his lawsuit tomorrow simply because they all got along. But whatever happens, I'm glad to hear that this was a bit more of a proper reunion-ish gathering than, say, the grammy thing from a few years ago.

Hope to hear more details, Jon, if you have any! :)

Another news story with more quotes. I'm not sure how to interpret Mike's response to a question about whether the hatchet had been buried by saying the hatchets are in his back.

The also indicates that the previously heard-of CD "The Warmth of the Sun" is indeed a follow-up to "Sounds of Summer", and that it apparently will be released next spring (no doubt to usher in the summer). Here's the link:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-06-14-beach-boys_x.htm?csp=34

Some interesting excerpts:

"It's always good to do this while we're living," Jardine quipped to reporters before the event, in which band members were presented with framed plaques each containing two platinum vinyl records.

The reunion of the Beach Boys came after decades of animosity between Love and Wilson, who are cousins.

Love sued Wilson in November, saying Wilson "shamelessly misappropriated (Love's) songs, likeness and the Beach Boys trademark, as well as the Smile album itself" when Wilson was promoting 2004's Smile. Love previously sued his cousin in the mid-1990s, seeking more songwriting credit on the band's back catalog.

The two shared a friendly rapport Tuesday, standing side by side and patting each other on the back. In thanking his bandmates, Love lauded "my cousin Brian Wilson, for his incredible abilities that gave us all this amazing life."

When asked if all hatchets have been buried, Love pointed to his back.

"The hatchets are right here," he said with a laugh.

Loved added that between the band members "there's issues that arise, and you resolve them over time."

Of the reunion, he said: "We've been together, just in different configurations and different situations. But this is a great one because everybody's in a celebratory mood, everybody's on their good behavior and everybody's enjoying the fact that our records have been recognized even 40 years after we first put (them) out."

...and to think that I spend my holiday in California... an walked around on the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Vine EXACTLY a month ago....if I had known that....if if if ...

oh well... I wasn't invited anyway...

fortunately we have the pictures (and a great report of Jon S., thanks!). Let's see if this happening results in a positive follow-up....

Kind of reminds me of...

(http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/images/print/beach_boys_40-md.jpg?)

They may have been alright together for this but as for the band reforming things could well get back to square one.

Looking at these pics, I think ladies and gentlemen hell has just frozen over...







I am so happy. I never thought this would happen at all.  :)

The driver.

You can see him say that in the video (see the other thread), and he laughs and says "Just kidding" after saying it.

Right - the guy was their local driver for their Mexican beach photo shot.  Years ago somewhere when I first saw this picture, it was tagged as Murry, which hardly seemed possible.  Then it was later - evidently - properly ID'd as their driver, which makes much more sense than . . . Murry.  Kind of a cool thing, actually, sticking the local guy in the shot.

As for the Capital pictures, Mike doesn't look that much relatively older to me, as others have mentioned. The one who looks oldest in my eyes is Al.  But they all look fine to me.  Great in fact.  Alive and well.  Ready to rock and roll.

The hatchet thing was a joke but there's always a bit of truth when people joke around like that.  I don't think Mike files lawsuits just to be an ass, I think he actually feels like he was wronged, or he wouldn't have sued.  So he probably does feel like Brian's taking advantage of him by somewhat, in someway (whether it's just of not) cutting him out of the SMiLE thing.  He sued Al for using the BB's name that Mike has to pay a fee to use... so he probably feels like Al was trying to kill him too. 

Yeah, i was gonna say: what's with all the "Mike looks old" things? To me, Mike looks probably the best preserved of all of 'em, with Bruce in close second and either Brian or Al looking the oldest!

This is good news because it confirms what I've believed for sometime: these guys love each other and we are the only ones who don't understand and have our undies in a bunch.  If nothing else happens, I hope they continue to get together even if just for a "pop".

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r3634715767.jpg?)

Brian:  Is this where the hatchet goes then, Mike?

Mike:  Cut the nonsense, Bri, and just scratch my back.  I already told you my lawyer isn't here.

(http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9013763.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9013767.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014058.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014057.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014080.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014068.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014089.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014093.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014096.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014102.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9013778.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014094.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9013761.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014051.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014066.jpg) (http://web.wireimage.com/images/Thumbnail/9014091.jpg)

Great pics and stories. Was anyone else from here at the event? I'd love to hear more accounts.

I bet Jon Stebbins has some more cool things to say. Gotta wait....

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20060614/2006_06_13t204507_450x342_us_beachboys.jpg?x=380&y=288&sig=HCQI0DKb4VZH9.YIu6rJQw--)

Bruce: 'I write the songs'
Brian: No, I write the songs

(http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20060613/i/r752156559.jpg?)


Who's that hot chick over there? Number 8 ?

Great pics, Jasper. But do you have them in a bigger size?

I'll have a link to all my photos from the event and some commentary up soon. The feeling that overwhelmed me was that I was seeing "The Beach Boys" yesterday...it was the first time it felt that way to me since about '79.

I'm so glad you knew it all along -- even though you and us ("we", as you said above) are the only ones who don't understand their true feelings.(?)

However, I'm not really sure Brian understands why Mike is suing him over SMiLE.  And I'm not sure Al understands why Brian voted against him touring under the Beach Boys name which while making Al happy and generating income also happened to be giving purpose, pleasure, and income to Brian's daughters, Carnie and Wendy, too.

But I'm glad you're congratulating yourself on your brilliant insight even though you had your undies in a bunch because you thought they didn't get along and didn't love each other.

Love and merci,   Dan Lega


PS -- I'm really glad to see all of them hang out together, too.  I'd pay to see them in a reunion concert in such a thing happened.  I also think that if they are going to get together to do Pet Sounds in concert then they might as well do SMiLE in concert, too!

Uuuhhhhh.......O....K.....?........

"They" understand they love each other, "we" don't understand they love each other.  Suing, touring, income...what?

I got what you meant, Cam.  You've had the hunch for a while that they get along fine, but to the outside world it appears that they must hate each other with all the lawsuits, etc. going on.

Guys, it's a floor wax AND a dessert topping...

Seriously -- Cam is right to say that the lawsuits would make it hard to see that there was true love there.  Dan is right to say that blood is thicker than water and in most cases family ties will rise above pettiness.  Why is there another either/or here?  Do you really think that Brian hates Mike because of the suits?  Or vice versa?  There are hard feelings, but I think that there is room for love as well.  I have seen anger and bitterness, but never outright hatred there.  Closest I saw to hatred was Mike/Denny in 1978/9 or so, and even then I am not sure.

When they are together, in private and certainly in public, as I said in another thread, they rarely have many contentious moments. But I think it's a stretch to assume they all actually get along fine, as if the contention has just been misperception from fans. They may get along fine when they are face to face, but there are still issues between them that they usually air via lawsuits, or interviews, etc.

I don't mean they hate each other, but through the years and to this day there is still some strain. Not so much on a personal level. I think today they are all a bit like John Lennon and Paul McCartney were in John's last years. As long as they didn't talk about the bad times, or the Apple business mess, and just talked about raising kids, baking bread, etc., they got along fine.

But there is surely still some resentment, jealousy, hurt feelings in regards to previous lawsuits and the sordid history of the group, etc.  Some of the guys feel it more than others. Again, I'm not saying their warm meeting yesterday was "fake". We can wait and hear what Jon Stebbins and any others who were there say about what was discussed, but I would imagine the guys got along because they didn't dredge up old painful stuff.

I think this is as warm and conciliatory as they will likely ever get, and the fans are not in the wrong by being warmed a bit by seeing such a meeting. I don't pretend the meeting means a reunion, or even that they don't still have some major issues with each other. But it is warming to see them put that stuff aside and not only do an obligatory photo op, but actually get along on a basic level and maybe even elicit some of the old spark that got them together in the first place.

Excellent post, HeyJude. I share many of your feelings, and you expressed them well.

At least they didn't pose for the obligatory picture with the five of them holding a surfboard!

Wow, great to see and read all of this...

Now please someone get them in a studio or on a stage a.s.a.p.

Some or all of these side issues may or may not be true, I'm not speaking to that; to me the reunion shows they love each other.

It may be that they love each other, but I don't see how this Capitol arranged reunion "shows" they love each other.  They were courteous and friendly, but I don't think any of us has the knowledge of what's going on in their heads and hearts to make the leap that this event either validates or proves anyone's feelings towards each other.  I would agree that it shows they don't hate each other to the point of being unable to interact with one another in a normal, cordial manner.

Bicyclerider, you've done a good job of summing up what I was trying to say. I would actually be so bold as to say that I have no problem assuming that these guys actually do love each other in some way. However, I agree that this reunion doesn't show this one way or the other. Certainly, the pics alone don't show this one way or the other. I've seen people who actually hate each other get along this well in public before. Again, I'm not saying they hate each other. I'm not saying the pics aren't warming. As I said, my own gut feeling is that they love each other. But this is based more on a basic assumption based on their history and family ties, not the reunion pics. I certainly don't take this reunion assemblage as some sort of "a ha!" moment which finally and conclusively proves their real feelings about each other.

http://www.mikelovefanclub.com/reunionfamily.jpg

With the wives (except Mrs. Johnston)