The Smiley Smile Message Board

How many times over the years has a BB member been in the audience of a BB or BB solo member show (but not in a performance capacity in any way, simply watching the show as an audience member in attendance)? And if this happened, I wonder if this ever occurred without the BB member getting in touch and going backstage, and simply attending the show incognito?

We know of an instance where a disheveled Denny was in the audience of a Blondie solo (?) show, as Blondie talks about it in the Denny BBC doc, if memory serves.

Also, I seem to recall a photo of Brian and Denny at a Carl solo show.

-Has Mike ever attended a Brian solo show?
-Has Brian or Dave or Al ever attended a M&B show?
-Did Carl ever attend a BB show during his break from the band?
-I think there are some stories of Brian in the audience at some random ‘70s shows.

Anyone have specific examples?

I remember reading a story of Brian attending a BB show in the early-mid 90s. Post-Landy, but he stayed off to the side of the stage the whole time. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few instances like that.

David Marks describes in his book watching a few BB shows (pre-1998) from the wings and demurring when asked to play on stage (though eventually of course he did). Dunno if Dave has been to a post-1998 Mike show where he didn’t appear on stage.

Don’t think Mike or Bruce have been to a Brian show post-1998.  

Brian, Al, and Dave all technically saw each other perform solo at the 2005 Hawthorne landmark ceremony. But again, I don’t think for instance Al has been to a Brian show that he wasn’t on stage for.

I don’t think Al has been to a post-1998 Mike show either, apart from the few he was on stage for.

I think there was a review of one of Carl’s Southern California solo gigs that mentioned that pretty much all of the BB’s (barring perhaps Al?) were in the audience.

At Brian's Beacon show in NYC in 2006 -- either November 21, 22, or both -- I saw David Marks in the audience. He's a tall dude; hard to miss him.

And in 2013 I saw him and his wife having dinner at the buffet at Ravinia before Brian's show, but since he was participating, I guess that doesn't count, does it?

David was at Brian and Al's Thanksgiving '06 Pet Sounds gig at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre and did not play.

Ok, not REAL BB's but a number of the BB's Touring Band members were at the BW + Guests (Clapton,VDP Etc...) Show (for the Carl Foundation) at The Royce Hall at UCLA in 2002 - I certainly remember Mike Meros/Chris Farmer/Mike Kowalski (and possibly Scott) sat near me, and was bowled over by Mike Kowalski who couldn't believe that I had traveled so far for the show/walk and then he insisted that I had a pass for the aftershow backstage party which he duly arranged for me - Happy days

Dennis memorably attended one of Carl's 1981 solo shows in LA, and I believe Brian was there too. Ed would know which one, he took the pics.

I hope the photographer won't mind me posting these...

The Beach Boys performing at El Camino Junior College, August 6, 1994:

(http://i57.tinypic.com/280ulcp.jpg)

(http://i59.tinypic.com/fm4907.jpg)

And if you zoom in visually on the tent at the far right...

(http://i57.tinypic.com/oa0uqh.jpg)

Lee

Oh, and I guess I can add that I walked right by Ricky Fataar after the gig that Brian/Al/Blondie just did last week in San Francisco, 9/11/2015. Ricky came on stage for the Paramount Theatre gig Brian and Al did in Oakland in 2007, but he didn't appear on stage for this one for whatever reason.

It also doesn't count, but Chuck Britz was in the audience at Brian's gig at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco in 1999!

Thanks for posting that, Lee. That pic of Brian on the sidelines is really something. Wonder what he was thinking, watching his band play while being off to the side.

This could all simply be incorrect, but I read on here once that Bruce attended Brian's first smile performance in 2004 but did not perform obviously.

I wonder how many people in the audience realized that it was really Brian at the side of the stage.

Kinda strange seeing Brian wearing a baseball cap.  :brian

Brian, Dennis, and Bruce were all in the audience for Carl's show at the Roxy.

During Carl's performance it was hard to miss Dennis' enthusiastic shouting and applause, but while i recognized his voice from another part of the venue, when I looked around I was unable to locate him both during the concert and afterward, including backstage. A few years ago Ed posted pics and I realized why - Dennis was dressed in a tux with his hair slicked back, not looking anything like I would have expected.

I'll bet Brian only attended that El Camino gig 'cause it's his alma mater (and Al's)!

Correct, you are incorrect. The only BW solo show Bruce has attended is the one he performed at.  :)

You'll have to refer to my book for a complete list but off the top of my head: Brian was in the audience at a July 1968 San Diego show and a September 1968 Anaheim gig. He also attended the February 1971 Santa Monica show and was cajoled out of the audience at the December 1971 long beach show and the April 1973 Los Angeles show. He was photographed at the summer 1975 Anaheim show. He and Carl joined mike at one of the first celebration gigs too.

Left out Brian attended the 1966 Hollywood bowl show and the October 1966 Ann Arbor show

Brian looks very relaxed! Pictures 2 and 3 are different.  Also Van Dyke Parks is there too!

Curious as to where you see VDP

Of interest in respect of the Show in question (per above pics) here are some local news reports and 'Live' Footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2U92iv-Atw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-tgec97eA


On the second video check out the side tent at 4:55 mins , is that Audree ?

I believe Mike was in the audience for Brian's Roxy show back in 1999 or 2000 from which the live CD was culled.

Was anyone in attendance at the LA show in the fall of '83, when Dennis showed up backstage and Carl brought him out to wave hello to the fans? It's mentioned in Jon Stebbins' book about Dennis, but I would love to hear a fan's perspective on it as well.

Yes, I have a whole series of these photos.  The close-up of Brian is a separate shot.

If you're talking about the guy in the blue shirt with the beard, that's not Van Dyke.

I was there, and there were a LOT of celebrities in attendance that night, but I didn't see Mike.  Brian was presented with a RIAA Gold Record for Pet Sounds that night -- it had just been certified -- and if Mike had been there I think he would have wanted to be a part of that.

Lee

I'm talking about the guy to the right of the picture with the red shirt, blue hat and moustache. This would have been around the time Brian and VDP were recording Orange Crate Art.  Could it be VDP?

Great photos.  ;D

Confirmed by Andy Paley… that is him standing between the cheerleader and Matt Jardine wearing a white shirt.

Where did you get that info?

Good catch, that's absolutely gotta be her.

Lee, I read that in an article way back when. Mike said he stood near a door to watch the show. He didn't say if he stayed for the whole show, but he was there for at least a part of the show.

Mike stood near a door?

I'm throwing it out there for what it's worth.

Is it worth anything? Doesn't the whole thing sound a little...how can I put this...bizarre? Mike goes to the show, stands near a door, and for what purpose? It doesn't seem like anyone spotted him there.

Is that Melinda Ledbetter (with face obscured) sitting next to Brian?

I know, I made it up, right?

Considering the Roxy is a 500-person capacity nightclub, and numerous hardcore fans and friends were there for the two shows, I would think word would have made it around (either during or after the show) if Mike Love was hanging around.

If there’s an interview/article mentioning this, I’d be interested to see it.

According to AGD’s tour dates listing for 2000, the shows did take place during a gap in the Mike/Bruce tour schedule. But I’d say during such gaps Mike would have had a good chance of hanging at home in Nevada rather than the L.A. area.

Was Mike at the show?

At that time, was their relationship in any kind of state that it would not have been weird for Mike to show up?

Considering Mike gives the impression (to me anyway) that he sometimes goes out of his way NOT to hear or see some of Brian’s projects (e.g. the 2004 “Smile”, “The Right Time”, the “Love & Mercy” film), I would say showing up at an actual Brian gig (especially a high profile gig like the two nights at the Roxy) would be even less likely.

I said, that I read that he was. Just can't remember in which publication that I read it. It was 15 years ago. Damn, your calling me out as a liar. As Brian would say, "Well, I be god-damned".

I truthfully doubt that Mike would want to put himself in a position to witness (and then to have to admit, if he's gonna be honest) that any Brian product, whether it be a live show or a recording, could be superior to his own product. A 1999 BW show would be better than a 1999 M&B show, no? I don't really recall how their bands sounded too well in those eras. The easiest way is just to not attend, and not listen to Brian's solo music... or to always give strictly backhanded compliments. Every time.

So I would be surprised if he attended a Brian show. But hell, maybe I'm wrong and he was in fact there as an act of support, or research. I doubt it though, unless they had a better relationship in that era.

Maybe he was just trying to help people to their seats, to show there were no hard feelings and how supportive he was of Cousin Brian.

There you go!

On the other hand, maybe you're just mixed up and it never happened. Anybody else remember a furtive, baseball-capped figure pacing by a door? Perhaps muttering "Foskett, you were mine once and will be mine again! KNOW THIS!"

Surely on a board populated with folks with near-encyclopedic recall of all Beach Boys shows and interviews, someone else can vouch for this claim!

Even if it didn't happen, it would've been cute at the end of Love & Mercy to cut to Mike Love watching from a doorway... his face an emotionless mask.

Did anyone see Mike at this show? Was Mike at the show? What was the source of the info, where did it come from?

Just wanted to check if any of those questions equals calling someone a liar.



Nope.


And also wanted to offer the possibility if no one who was at the show actually saw Mike there, maybe he showed up in disguise.

Oh right. That's the pic of VDP after he ate all those jelly donuts and added 50 pounds to his face...

  Ahh, the Gold Presentation. That kicks my memory. ( couldn't remember for certain I was there) But yeah, I was. and Coach too. 
If Mike had been there, we'd have definitely heard about it

I really hope a photo surfaces of Mike in disguise, wearing a Groucho nose/mustache at a BW show.

 :lol

Let's rephrase the question: Did anyone at the Roxy show remember seeing a tall man standing in or near the door wearing a Groucho Marx disguise?  ;D

No, I did not see Mike Love that night either in the theater or hanging around bumming cigs by the back door. 

Yes, Brian and Melinda arrived backstage together in a Limo.  They were not yet married.  To answer another poster above, Audree was also present that day.

Apparently Mike has a knack for standing by doors at memorable concerts...

(https://i.imgur.com/xFcsFQv.jpg)

;)

For what it's worth, not actual Beach Boys but John Cowsill (and his wife the Bangle), Stamos and all of the Honeys were at Al's show at the Roxy back in 2012

Gold and platinum.

 :lol

This made my day.

Winner!

That probably was Audree BTW. I was at a Costa Mesa show in 92 when she was introd on stage, so she had previous..

I was there as well and stayed for the post performance meet and greet with Brian. Didn't see Mike Love, nor did I hear any conversation about him being there.

Certainly Audree attended many many shows in the past-she basically went on the road with the BBs in the summer of 73 after Murray died for example-but I don't know if she was at that particular gig

Sounds like Mike wasn't there at the Roxy, if we take the word of those who were there.

Glad that's settled.

But what about the possibility of clandestine bathroom visits, like a twist on the writing of Wouldn't It Be Nice's lyrics back in '66?  >:D  Maybe Mike managed to duck into the john at the Roxy just enough times to avoid being spotted.  ;D

Maybe people were actually too busy watching the performace on stage to notice some guy standing by a door?

Especially if the guy was wearing a Groucho disguise, he'd be hard to spot.  :lol

Brian Williams was there. 

Groucho? Or Zeppo?!

I know it's a lot of effort to read the whole thread sometimes, but to answer the question yet again, yes, Audree was at the 8-94 show in Torrance CA with Brian and Melinda. I saw them all with my own eyes. Even snapped a picture of myself with Brian. I talked briefly with Carl about his whole family being there that day. Yes, she was there.

can you post the picture of you and Brian?

I'd love to, but I'm embarrassed to say that even after 10 years of being a member on this board I can't figure out how to post pictures on here...

I made it my avatar, hopefully it can be seen...

Well the camera does add a few pounds.  :p

Maybe he had his accordion with him to play Summer in Paradise.

Hoping this doesn't dilute the Gold and Platinum status to unlistenable, but I was too… Mike was not.

Bette Midler was there as well.