The Smiley Smile Message Board

I have been looking back over pictures of Brian from say 2009 to present. Brian has really aged in the last 2-3 years (yes I know he is getting older), but he really seems to be frail as of late. Am I off my rocker, or does anyone else notice this. Has me a little concerned.

When you stop and think about it,  Brian has been "back", this time, for over 15 years!   some of The various pics we see of his "recent" solo career are over 15 years old.   Some aren't .     

A LOT of the pro-style photos we've seen of Brian over these past dozen years or more have been...'brushed'.  I recall even 11 years back that Brian wasn't walking smoothly.  He is gettin' on age-wise.  And he has put on a few extra lbs.  [so have I since I quit smokin']

On the other hand...he seldom looks like a deer in the headlights anymore and he seems a fair bit happier.  I 'think' he's doin' OK.

About to start his summer tour... I'm sure he's just fine. :)

He looks older but, then, he gets a little older every day. And he looks more and more relaxed and comfortable to me.

I think he's aging normally-- it's just that we do have all those old and old-ish (SMiLE was 11 years ago!) photos to pore over. I think everyone is looking older. I've noticed the same about McCartney. I saw a photo of him from 2007 or so and thought, "Wow, he looks great." Then I realized the photo is 8 years old, and it's just that he's aged and in recent photos, he looks 8 years older than he does in the 2007 photo (surprise!).

These guys are in their 70s, so I think they're doing OK.

On the other hand, Ringo appears to have aged really well, and he's older than Paul. I was concerned about Brian when he wasn't walking well at the C50 concert in Montreal, and I was informed of his back problems at the time.

That's true about Ringo. He looks like he's in great shape, especially considering that he had health problems early in life. Of course it's easier to cover up age if you wear dark glasses all the time and (presumably) dye your beard!

Other than his constant battle with depression and auditory hallucinations, the only thing I'm worried about  is his back problems, which Carl also had in the later days.

John Fogerty has really aged well. Go to one of his concerts. He is still running all over the whole stage. Also, he sounds great!

I noticed that big time at the L&M screening a couple of weeks ago. Cusack helped him on stage to his chair. I know he's been having back problems recently, though; I think he actually had back surgery right before or right after the C50 tour.

Wow, never knew that... Do you have any sources to back this up?

Nope, that's why I said "I think". :)

It was discussed widely on the board.  Brian also responded to the concerns on his Facebook page at the time.

John has kept his weight down.  Looks close to his CCR vintage fighting weight.  THAT helps.  He still sounds and PLAYS [and writes] great too.  Pretty talented guy.  Belongs in THIS conversation. 

Fogerty's had some work done clearly but he does look good.

Brian has been touring solo consistantly since the Clinton administration. Three presisdents aged a lot while they were in office too! And Brian is still serving. :)

Not sure if this is an obvious question or not but what kind of work has Mike had done? Botox?

I wouldn't be surprised, Mike does look rather wrinkle free for a 74 year old.

I reckon Bruce has had something done, but it's the kinda procedure that you don't really notice.

He had his shorts lengthened. ;)

Better than having them shortened!

Brian clearly was uncomfortable with his back in 2012 when The Beach Boys appeared on Jimmy Fallon's late night show. Brian needed help getting to the chair...and who helped him? The guy he wanted to have help him, whom he reached out to. Said guy immediatelly assisted in the nicest way. Watch it on youtube...(it's Mike Love).

Bad backs run in Brian's genes. Carl, Murry, Mike, Buddy...

Back problems lead to lack of exercise, which leads to weight gain, which leads to other issues. A difficult cycle, especially for an older gent.

This Merle Haggard lyric about aging always stuck with me from "Hungry Eyes"

"I remember daddy praying for a better way of life
But I don't recall a change of any size;
Just a little loss of courage, as their age began to show
And more sadness in my mama's hungry eyes."


I think when people start getting on in years (Brian's age) the 'loss of courage' line is accurate... I've noticed in Brian over the last 10 years he seems to be much more at peace, happy, content, calm, relaxed. 

Which is a good thing.  You can even hear it in his voice, in something like "One kind of love", he has such a sweet, tender voice in parts of that. 


Personally I'm not concerned about his health.  Or even his weight!  Yeah I wish he was in a bit better shape, but if you've ever checked out many old pictures of him, he's a very big boned, tall guy.  When a big guy like that keeps weight on, yes, that's unhealthy, but when you get up in your 70's and 80's, you start having problems KEEPING weight on.  Brian doesn't have that problem.  He's old, yes, but he still has thick forearms, and a lot of bulk. 

He's a big guy, he's always been a big guy, and since he's STILL a big guy I think he's probably in pretty damn good shape for him.   When you start seeing him thinning down that's when we can start worrying about him.