The Smiley Smile Message Board

Looking back (with Love), what is Mike's legacy in the history of R&R?
Surely one of the most recognizable voices
Co wrote many songs vital to the American songbook
As mentioned on the board, quite possible the record holder for playing live to the most people.
Happy Birthday, Dr.Love

Happy Birthday, Mike. 

Al posted a nice birthday message to Mike on his facebook. 

I don't think he -- yet -- holds that record. BB King's career was longer, and for much of that time he played more shows a year than even Mike ever has, averaging between two and three hundred shows a year (and like MIke he played pretty much any venue that would book him, from arenas on down).

I do, however, suspect his legacy will be looked on rather more kindly than the current perception of him. In a few decades' time, once none of the band members are with us (and of course I hope that will be *many* decades), the fighting and lawsuits will have been forgotten, and assuming any music from the rock era is still listened to, the music will be all that survives.

And Mike's an integral part of that. My own tastes don't run as much to the fun-in-the-sun eras of the band, where he was most important, but even on records like Smiley Smile or Carl and the Passions, he's an important element in both songwriting and vocals. And I think it's very likely that the earlier stuff will still survive.

Mike's skills are as an entertainer, rather than an artist, and entertainers never get the respect that artists do. But he's an entertainer who's been an important part of the creation of some very fine art, and I think that will be what he's remembered for long after everyone's forgotten "wheeeeeen" or how many times he's been married or who did what in the end of the 2012 tour.

But I hope we won't have to consider what his legacy is for a long time, because I hope he'll be out there touring -- and either adding to or detracting from that legacy depending on your point of view -- for many more years. And I hope he has a great birthday.

Many happies, sir. Your voice and your lyrics are an important part of the soundtrack of my life.

I wish Mike the best on his 75th.  I suspect that some of his less popular moments, such as the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame speech, will be part of the discussion about him for many years into the future.  Of course, his moments of greatness as a songwriter will always command the most attention.

For interested residents of Germany: In the ZDF videotext there's 7 pages about Mike for his birthday today. A couple of wrong dates, but defensively and with tongue in cheek referring to the Brian/Mike antagonism with mentioning of the upcoming autobiographies. NPP is also mentioned.

Brian only got 6 pages for his 70th birthday! :o

Well said. 

Oh my...looks like someone here still believes in:

The Easter Bunny
Santa Clause

and the Tooth Fairy.   :o

Only took eight posts. 

Well geez, as unlikely as it is, can't we at least *hope* he's not out there detracting from his or the group's legacy?

I hope he and everyone lives a great, long life. But if one believes he's detracting from the band's legacy, I don't think the topic of retirement is out of line.

Or, you know, trying to do something to *not* detract from his or the band's legacy. There's always that.

Al actually posted a pretty cute birthday message to Mike on Facebook. Just the slightest sardonic tone to it, if one chooses to read it that way. But still a nice gesture. Birthday wishes seem to be all they share on Facebook.

Perhaps someday they can have an open dialogue, promote each other's projects, etc.

Would have only been 2 if the phone hadn't rung.

I don't think the shows they've put on in recent years in any way detract from the band's legacy.  

Some of the recent quotes / soundbites.....eh......

But, there's plenty about that in other threads.  

Just to be clear, I don't believe he's doing anything to detract from either -- the two shows I saw last year were as good as one could imagine -- I just realise that a sizeable number of people on the board disagree with me.

Hi all

Happy Birthday Mike!!!

One wonders if Mike had been kicked out of the BBs by Brian or Al, or made to feel that way (multiple times in the case of Al), if Mike would be as gracious and still publicly wish them happy bday.

I applaud Al for putting politics aside. I'd crown Al the new Mr. Positivity for that.

I hope Mike has a happy 75 and that he finds the happiness he seems to be looking for. I also hope that Mike thinks of gracious people like Al Jardine who make healing gestures, and considers that a Jardine-like positive response towards others in the BB world could positively influence Mike's future public interviews - and his reputation - for the better. Keep your interviews clean like Al Jardine, Mike!

Happy Birthday, Mike Love, and thank you for all of the good vibrations and fun, fun, fun you've provided to millions and millions of fans around the world over the last 54 years!

I guess Jerry Lee Lewis also has a couple more shows on his back... and he is still going

Happy Birthday Mike, been listening for 50 years this summer and it never grows old!

The history books have already been written and all seem to follow the same bullet points. None of the boys have anything to worry about...

"The Beach Boys exploded onto the music scene with songs about sun, fun, California girls and fast cars. Rising to the challenge of the British invasion, the group (particularly its leader Brian Wilson) met the Beatles head on with complex and introspective songs about teenage loss and yearning, culminating with the landmark album "Pet Sounds". Mental illness, internal disagreements and substance abuse wreaked havoc on the band in that album's aftermath, resulting in their psychedelic masterpiece SMiLE getting shelved for nearly 50 years. Between that time, there were breakups, reunions, and some occasionally brilliant if not downright odd records, but the group continued as a fan favorite live attraction in multiple incarnations. When they were firing on all cylinders they were as good as any of their peers, if not better. As drummer Dennis Wilson once said "The surf was up when we were around". Indeed."

That seems to be how it goes in all of the history of Rock books I see these days. I'm fine with that.  :smokin 

Happy birthday Mike! Am I the only who think's he's actually gotten handsomer with age?

Happy birthday mike!!

Happy birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday, Mike. 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🍿🍨

Happy Birthday, Mike! :pirate

CONGRAT'S, Mike!!! Birthday interview?:

              MIKE'd                                             {haiku'drome by john k}

   ->" Now; I AM a ham!

(:U.S)   ~OM~ ... o.k., O.K.!

    'He'?  Male Ego, gee!

Lam* eh?  ******' KOKOMO!

  Sumahama?   I ** WON!"<-

A shame to see on Mikes FB post that Brian declined to attend his birthday bash (and no sign of either Bruce or Alan in the pictures), but David, Marilyn, Stevie K, Dean, Justyn, Gerry and Dewey... and Stamos were all there - and I think I recognise Diane, Annie and Barbara too, amongst many others..

Would anyone in their right mind believe that somehow Brian would even think of going to myKe luHv's party?? Did they wear birthday hats? Bet they had face painting, too.  :lol

I'm never big on these "so and so didn't go to so and so's party." Why would we expect these guys with contentious relationships to go to each other's birthday parties? Mike couldn't be bothered to go to his *own* tour wrap-up party in 2012. Why would I expect him to go to Brian's birthday party? And Mike insulted Brian's wife in a recent interview and gives generally unpleasant interviews about Brian these days (fondly noting they were buds in 1959 doesn't count). Why would Brian want to get in the middle of that?

Mike can't be bothered to see L&M or listen to a new track by Brian and Al. Al and Mike can't even get on the same page to do one gig together. What makes us think they want to socialize?

I'm not trying to stoke the flames of discontent among these guys. There may not be a ton, I dunno. But it isn't surprising they don't all attend each other's parties. I certainly would love for them to all get along and network with each other both for the band's brand and for their own peace of mind. But I can conjure plenty of reasons why they wouldn't socialize just based on what we *do* know. God knows what else is at play that we *don't* know.

Since Mike and Bruce apparently have a Johnny Carson/Ed McMahon type of relationship, I'm not surprised if turns out Bruce wasn't even there.

For that matter, as Brian and Al are less than two weeks from a PS world tour, they may already be in rehearsals.

Or a clown?  :o

It's pretty egotistical for Mike to constantly want BW to come to his parties and award ceremonies after dragging him through the mud in the media.

Yep. I can't imagine why Brian and Melinda would attend a party celebrating a family member who just publicly belittled and insulted Melinda in the manner that he did in the recent interview... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe Brian and Melinda could have attended while wearing custom-printed t-shirts with quotes from recent Mike articles.

I do applaud the extended family of Wilsons and others who did attend, who are probably trying their damnedest for things to not get even worse, and to heal the wounds between the camps, which obviously the birthday boy seems to be completely incapable of even *trying* to do.

I applaud them as well. Worth noting about David Marks is that he should be commended for not playing politics. He does gigs with Mike and Al. However, also worth nothing is that David isn’t regularly dragged through the mud in interviews with other members. If Mike said something about Dave’s wife that Dave felt was untrue and unfair, Dave might not be hanging out with Mike either, I can only guess.

probably.

All kidding aside, I think Mike added a lot to the band in the 60's, especially.  Somewhat in the 70's.  He continued to be a good live front man through the 80's, and is to this day.  He still wrote a good song now and then in the 80's, or helped write them.  I love "Goin' to the Beach."  I'm of the opinion the Beach Boys ceased to exist after Carl died.  But, and it's a Big But.  Mike's Beach Boy Band serves a purpose.  Keeping the Beach Boys name alive - he certainly brings in new fans.  I also wish Brian would have (could have) used his vocal talent on some of his solo tracks over the years.  I've always supported the idea that Brian's 1988 album could have been a new beginning for the band, they were all still in great shape, and those are some of the best songs ever written.  There are places on No Pier Pressure where a Mike lead or harmony vocal would fit right in.  Brian was recreating the 60's Beach Boys on many of the tracks.  Something should have been worked out for him to be there.  When I listen to "Our Special Love," I hear Mike singing Peter Hollens lines.  Mike should add the song to his set.  I would like to hear how he would sound on "Saturday Night" - Nate sure didn't do it justice.  Too bad Brian's girls were not listening to more classic Beach Boys numbers.

So, I like Mike, and hope his birthday was a great party.

Seems every mention of his name starts arguments from some fans around here, tho.  Even in a Birthday wishes thread.  Let the politics slide for a day, or forever.  Okay?

Hey Jude you made me laugh today.....If you only knew!

It's a shame Mike felt the need to mention Brian not being there.  He didn't mention Bruce or Al not being there.  Maybe they weren't invited!

I must have initially skimmed Mike's long, meticulously-detailed recounting of his own surprise party, because I missed that he did actually specifically feel the need to mention that he was told Brian was invited but declined. Classic Beach Boys-style passive-aggressiveness.

Mike's still putting on good shows at 75.  Not many have had that kind of longevity.

Happy birthday, sir.

I can only assume the intention is to get the readers "outraged" at Brian and Melinda. I can think of no other reason for him to go out of his way to publicly call attention to it, unless he is afraid he's gonna look like a bad guy lest anyone assume they weren't invited. A tragic way for family to communicate.

The funny thing is, if the point was truly and innocently simply to make sure everybody knows they did invite Brian, then does that imply Al wasn't invited?  :lol

I actually went on Mike's FB page and looked.  It was impressive, maybe short of everyone vomiting overboard on the one boat - but I've been there, done that when I used to sail regularly off Marina del Rey in my own sailboat, so I'm totally empathetic.  Please, don't go to the lav!  Hang over the back of the boat - feed the fishes - the lav can't take it.  Obviously, the ocean leaves you with the inability to prepare.  It looks like his wife made amazing efforts.  Very nice on her part.  I also love Hong Kong, so good for him.

Anyway, I did notice the photos of the attendees - someone seem to think they saw Diane - I think probably not.  Otherwise, it looked like the usual folks.

As far as Brian's lack of attendance.  He's a little busy these days, and that was well-known for a long time.  Of course, it's also very hard to catch Mike, like when he was invited to the L&M screening originally.  Funny how this stuff plays out.  

That's a good point. I highly doubt Mike would have not invited Al, since Mike obviously invited all his other C50 lineup BB bandmates.

It's amazing how Al is seemingly completely forgotten or overlooked by Mike time and time again in interviews, as though he is a complete non-issue in context of the band, who matters not one bit to anyone.  Sucks to be Al, I guess.

I really do think Mike is trying to communicate with Brian somehow. Does Mike think Melinda is essentially imprisoning Brian, forcing Brian to not attend Mike's party, not telling him about it? I can only assume that Mike's desire from posting about Brian's non-appearance is hoping that Brian either reads Mike's post and Brian somehow gets "outraged" at Melinda, or that public opinion of the readers of the post makes everyone feel sorry for Mike and direct their hate to "evil" Melinda (and that this public "outrage" would get back to Brian somehow, and cause Brian to break free of his "chains").  

No other explanation of mentioning/shaming Brian in this manner would make any particular sense to me. Who would ever go out of their way to publicly shame someone for not attending a private party? This shaming doesn't happen for no reason. Mike's up to something.

So beyond dysfunctional and sad. Mike will seemingly never allow himself to believe that Brian would EVER say no to Mike unless someone else is forcing Brian to do it. Would Jackie and Mike appear at Brian's birthday party if Brian were to publicly sh*t talk about Jackie in interviews? And mere days later? Of course not. It's ridiculous for Mike to expect otherwise.