The Smiley Smile Message Board

Interesting. Will probably cause dissention here. I say no more. (and he was gone...)

.

[brain fart]

Considering I can't pay $10-$15 for an imported magazine, for one article no less (still trying to get a fixed-rate 40 year loan to pay for the shipping for the Uncut Beach Boys guide), anyone care to scan or otherwise point to this article?

They teased it on their website a few days ago, but at least their tease seemed innocuous enough.

Haven't read it either. :-\ Maybe I'll stop by a store with imported magazines on the way home (and read it there ;D).

Which is exactly what I did. ;D

Is there anything that wouldn't?   :lol

True, dat.

Good. It's about time somebody else caused some dissension around here.  It was dangerously close to getting boring with the same old people doing it.

More of an interview with Nicky Wonder.

Who's that? And do you actually have the interview? And a scanner?  ;D

Don't know if you're joking in asking "who's that?", but Nick Walusko, Brian's guitarist (and guitarist with Wondermints when they were still going) has often been introduced on stage as Nicky Wonder rather than his given name.

I have the mag and a (broken) scanner but also have to dash to an art class… hopefully later if the mods permit such things. :)

:-[ embarrassed - not joking. I really haven't paid any attention to the backing individuals in either band. I should have searched instead of asked.

No, you shouldn't. There's always something you don't know, and the search function on the board isn't great. I didn't ask if you were joking as a way of putting you down, but because I'm on the autism spectrum and sometimes get that kind of thing wrong. But you have nothing to be embarrassed about.

From the Uncut site

And, as a poignant appendix to our Beach Boys Ultimate Music Guide, Bud Scoppa visits Brian Wilson at home in Beverly Hills, on the eve of a 50th anniversary boxset of Pet Sounds, an autobiography and what may be Brian’s final tour of Europe. All seems calm. “Brian right now is really happy,” confirm Blondie Chaplin, Al Jardine and more. But what is rock’s most storied genius really like? Uncut enters Brian Wilson’s study to find out…

I had a glance at the article in a shop today  ;D.

Apparently Brian hasn't written/ completed a brand new song since Shelter and The Private Life of Bill and Sue back in 2012  :(.

We also get stunning revelations like that he often listens to 50's/ 60's oldies satellite radio, he goes for a constitutional walk every day (unless it's raining). Oh, and he might record an album of old time rock n' roll covers later this year.

Actually, the article does give an enlightening if imo slightly sad snapshot of his day-to-day life, and made me realise properly that Brian's an old guy now. And good for him for getting there against the odds.

Also, he says he hasn't spoken to cousin Mike since 2012, which mildly surprised me, as I previously guessed they had some form of contact at private family gatherings, even after Mike's decision to tour without him and Al. Guess that wounded Brian more than I thought.

Not all that surprising. Brian goes through patches of creativity, and long patches of writers' block (although remember as well that Brian sometimes exaggerates, and may have written one or two since then and just forgotten them).

Well then, let the dissension properly commence

 

What's most interesting to me of the summaries posted so far is that apparently nothing on No Pier Pressure was an entirely newly written and recorded song. I'm not shocked that there was older material on it, since obviously the man has been mining his own archives for longer than I've been alive. But nothing. It seems usually there's something new with each album, or so I thought.

That said, it doesn't much bother me. We know he's still got other unreleased material. (Paley sessions songs, for just one example.) If he felt like putting in the effort, we could still get some albums of "new" material ... even if the new material is old. And if not, oh well. I think it's safe to say he had a pretty good run.

Lack of contact with Mike isn't that surprising. How much contact they did have between 1997 and 2009 or 2010? Some to be sure, a few public appearances, apparently a Thanksgiving here or there, but I would guess pre-2006, especially in the early-mid 2000s, they may well have had very little contact, and even less in-person contact.

For that matter, I'm guessing while Al and Mike have had at least a hand full of conversations, perhaps over the phone, the early 2014 Ella thing may have been the last time those two guys were in the same room either (and had they been between September 2012 and the Ella show?).

I would assume enough touch-ups and arrangement changes took place in the 2013-2014 timeframe on NPP that some of that would amount to "writing." Certainly, it sounds like the Musgraves and Sebu input was new.

I would also guess some of the recordings (and the musician credits would seem to support this) came from the circa 2010-2011 Joe Thomas recording sessions that also yielded a few TWGMTR tracks. I think Chad Cromwell on drums is one tell as to those sessions.

I think it's been a LOOOOONG time since Brian finished an album and/or tour, stopped, and then wrote nearly or fully an ENTIRE album *completely* from scratch and then recorded it.

I don't disagree with any of that, and that [disagreeing sentiment] wasn't my point at all. Rather, almost the opposite: that according to PhilSpectre's post, the article claims that nothing on NPP was entirely new. I am entirely positive that there was new writing and recording on it, but that nothing on it was entirely new is mildly surprising.

 I haven't gotten my hands on the article yet, so I am presuming these answers are coming from Brian and not someone else (i.e., Joe Thomas, Melinda, etc.), so with that disclaimer...
I wouldn't put too much stock in any of it--this is an INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN...it's just what Brian happened to say that day. Ask him the next day and he might say he wrote 3 of the songs brand new for NPP and he talked with Mike on the phone last week.

Now that I agree with.

 Given accounts from those involved in the recording of the album, Brian's statement is almost certainly untrue.

On NPP I'm pretty sure "One Kind Of Love" at least is a new composition. As for a wholly new, written from scratch BW solo album - and this is in no way a criticism - I don't think there's been one, as all of them recycle songs written some time before to a greater or lesser extent. Same with the BB, I think, although Friends may come very close.

I remember reading on here somewhere that a lot of TWGMTR, and possibly NPP, may have come from writing sessions from as far back as 1998. 

I know it's pretty common for legacy artists to use older ideas that they're stockpiled.  Tony Iommi, from Black Sabbath, has said that he has piles of tapes of unused riffs.  I'm sure some of them have been used in recent work. 

When Van Halen did their comeback album in 2012, they included a song called She's the Woman, that was originally demoed back in the late 70s. 

Well, that explains a lot of things, answers a lot of questions. Brian's honesty is refreshing after reading those recent Mike Love interviews...

I've always sensed it was Brian's renewed interest in combing through those circa 1998 compositions that led to him working with Joe Thomas again. Whether by happenstance or by legal/contractual agreement, it appears Thomas held all those demos tapes all that time, and his cooperation was required to work with them (and he would also need to on board if he holds half of the songwriting credits and copyrights).

That would make sense.  It would also explain the similarities of some songs like Lay Down Burden and The Right Time. 

Brian has said consistently for a number of years he has writer's block.

Even if the "no new songs" bit is some level of hyperbole, if Brian is not churning out a ton of songs from scratch these days, it might be another reason he might not be inclined (even if he hasn't been asked or approached directly) to do the "in a room alone" thing with Mike.

I know we've had "how much *music* can or does Mike write?" discussions in the past, but I sense in a Brian/Mike collaboration, Mike is mainly working on words and maybe sometimes offering slight tweaks to melodies or changes Brian comes up with. So Brian would probably have to carry most or all of the *musical* load in such a collaboration.

I don't want to start a "writing the music is harder than writing the words" bit, but I'd say it might well be harder for Brian to come up with a full song (chords and melody from scratch) than it is for Mike to add words to something that has already been written.

I sense Brian's past work with Joe Thomas hasn't been a clear "one guy writes music, the other writes words" situation (the same with Scott Bennett I would guess too), so Brian could sometimes use a full words&music collaborator rather than just a lyricist sometimes.

I think perhaps the key part of Brian's statement is the bit about writing a *whole* new song since "Shelter".  Something like "Our Special Love" we know was first created and recorded during the actual tour, after "Radio" was released -- but Peter Hollens wrote his bit ages later.  So Brian is still writing songs from scratch, he's just not completing them without a partner -- whether that partner is one of the big-name collaborators or someone like Joe or Scott.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

have to think the guy is 74 years old!  how many others out there his age are also writing, recording and touring really good material?
he probably also has no inspiration or aspiration in these times to write songs.  we know he has tones of unfinished pieces, demos and fragments that he can
draw from, but going down that road, we would probably end up with another GIOMH.  I would think Brian is propped up by his wife and partners
to keep 'drawing from the well' but if he can't do it, he can't do it.  Gosh, the guy is probably enjoying living and doing his daily walk, out for tea, and
listening to the golden oldies.  who would want to go and work hours and hours in a studio at 74?
I think he has contributed enough time to that when he was 24.  I know we all do, but we should not keepin expecting Brian to deliver more goods as much
as we all want him to do.

It's true, Brian could have easily truly retired a decade or two ago. Still churning out product is pretty amazing.

Many of Brian's responses suggest he was in full-on auto-pilot mode.

READ BRIAN'S MAY 2016 FEATURE IN UNCUT MAGAZINE AT https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7srz4BaYXq0ZS1JRlBlUVd4RGc/view?usp=sharing

You're welcome,
Mark

Well thank you.

Thanks for posting that. Nothing earth-shattering there. The interviewer is just being sort of purposely obtuse as to the nature of a typical Brian interview. He thinks when Brian gives an odd answer, pushing the point harder will somehow make it go better.

The pic of Carl and Dennis is dated incorrectly. Says circa 1970 but looks specifically like the 7/4/1980 show.

Reading the interview, and the part about Mike being competitive with Brian, made me wonder how much of Brian's competitive streak in the '60s was due to Mike. I hadn't really thought about that before. Obviously Murry was a factor, but I gotta give credit to Mike for stirring that motivation up in Brian as I imagine he did.

Nice. Thanks for putting this interview up!
I still don't know though what should cause any dissension. Maybe the fact that Brian calls the band "my group, The Beach Boys"? Don't see anything wrong in there.

yeah me neither

Yes, thank you, MarkJason, for posting the interview!

I think my favorite question/answer was:

Bud Scoppa: What's your favourite memory of Mike?
Brian Wilson: Working with him on lyrics. Writing songs with him.

...and when Brian says about Mike, "He's a great person."

   

 :lol

it says 'red tiled roof and balconies ringing the second storey palms and pot plants'.  Uh...'pot plants'? Did I read the correctly?

For years I've been thinking the best thing Brian did after BWPS is the Lucky Old Sun vocal intro, but in the demo it's all Scott voices, what makes me question if wasn't him the guy who wrote and arranged it. Anybody knows for sure?

Al's story about recording Come Go With Me with Brian coming down in his robe, does that add up chronologically? Was the home studio still around for when CGWM was first recorded?

No. :old  OLD Fart. :lol
--------------------------

My favorite part of the article?  And I quote..."  Palms and pot plants are arranged around the grounds."   :smokin
No wonder Brian likes cheese pizzas so much.  :banana

In a much earlier interview, late 70s I think, Alan stated that they rented a mobile unit at Brian's house, but only he showed up to use it, so he pleased himself. No mention of Brian  showing up.

Pot plant = plant in a plant pot. Potted plant, whatever. Hadn't realised it was primarily a soley British expression. It's a British mag so they'd use a British phrase. Nothing to do with grass (not the lawn stuff… not as in law n' order… oh you know what I mean!)

Ah, thanks! I have a vague memory of having read that before now that you mention it.

Mark - thanks so much for the work involved in sharing and posting. 

Among the most interesting for me is this, second column, on p. 27, in the main article, under "How does he feel now?"...'It is also believed that he was far less forthcoming after a 1967 story in Cheetah magazine by Jules Siegel recounting the aborted Smile project, which Brian felt was a betrayal of trust, he's rarely opened up since the late '60's.'"

Brian's reflections...very candid, I think.

Thanks again for posting.  ;)

Well, not a very insightful interview. Some people might have a chance at approaching Brian in a way that makes him open up and deliver more of himself, but this guy just came in and started plucking through his questions. Brian was quite obviously not interested at all.

the Wilson family home is architecturally a homage to the region’s spanish heritage, with its white stucco exterior, red-tiled roof and balconies ringing the second storey palms and pot plants are arranged around the grounds.

That jumped right out at me, too.  I thought "Good grief - Brian's growing pot again!"

In face, the Uncut interviewer seems to enjoy pointing out Brian's lack of interest with being interviewed.  It's true, unfortunately, as I imagine Brian's biggest issue with interviews is the the repetition of same answers he forces out each time.  He doesn't like to pretend he's enjoying himself, as we've seen in various uncomfortable public appearances since Love and Mercy's release last year.  Many journalists are simply too young to have an appreciation and grasp of Brian's long career and accomplishments.  I wonder how frequently he'll do interviews this year.  Wish he didn't have to.

Maybe he is!

I live in the UK and don't use the term 'pot plant'.  In the scene in question I would say 'plant pots', which would mean plants in pots or potted plants.  Who knows!  ;D

I wonder when was the last time Brian toked up on a weed stick? Possibly the Landy era?