The Smiley Smile Message Board

You know, with all this talk about Michael Jackson and the mysterious doctor and the prescription drugs, I think of how lucky we all are that Brian is still with us. It's a miracle that he made it through. I think Brian once said he could relate a bit to MJ. An interesting thought.

Really? When did he say that? Anyone have a source?

You are sooo right Amy!!! Thank God for Brian Wilson & that he is still with us. And I hope he is with us for much much longer.

We Love YOU BRIAN! :kiss

I really wish I could find it. I think I remember reading it, but unfortunately I can't remember where.

Yes, it is. I think they must've felt pretty much the same way for most of their lives. They were both exceptional geniuses on lonely heights. They were both considered wackos by the public. Neither of them ever really matured. They both had to deal with the pressure of being the centre of attention in a successful band with family. And they both had to tour pretty much against their will, because the people around them said it was a good idea.

I'm sure MJ and BW could've related, they must've been on the same page in a lot of ways.

And we ought to be extremely grateful for the people who have surrounded BW for the past decade or more, in contrast to MJ's circle.
In the UK we had to put up with the dreaded Uri Geller all day yesterday as he apparently lives not far from London. BW hopefully escaped all that nonsense.

I was amazed too that that Geller type apparently was a close friend of Jackson's.

There you go: "Index Magazine", 1999! Link: http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/brian_wilson.shtml (http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/brian_wilson.shtml)  ;D

(...)

CAROLE: This may sound a little obscure, but do you ever feel an affinity with Michael Jackson?

BRIAN: Yeah, I do. I actually do have that feeling about him.

CAROLE: I just say that because he played in a band with his brothers, he's very musically talented, and he had a very painful family upbringing, particularly his relationship with his father.

BRIAN: Yeah, there are a lot of parallels between him and me.

CAROLE: And there's a tender, fragile side to him that I also see in you.

BRIAN: I know, he's a very very fragile person, but he's got this energy and this great dancing style.

CAROLE: If you could give him a special message, what would it be?

BRIAN: I'd say, "Welcome on to the bandwagon. Our music is for you!"

(...)

I've been following the Michael Jackson coverage, and I saw/heard that his family tried "interventions" on a number of occasions to get Michael Jackson away from some of the people who were hurting him - financially, medically, and psychologically. Obviously, the family was unsuccessful.

I think, ultimately, Brian Wilson was fortunate that his family was successful in getting Brian away from Dr. Landy. At the time, it was very ugly when you saw those press conferences and interviews with Stan Love, Carnie Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, and Brian himself. It was sad that they had to get a conservatorship for Brian, thus declaring him incompetent, but, it probably saved his life, or his mind (with Landy's prescriptions).

I guess the Jackson family would've had a much harder time in legally getting control of Michael Jackson. Think how ugly THAT would've gotten. But, it's starting to look like a number of "enablers" weren't doing him much good...

Yup. I'm interested in the role of his cardiologist, not out of feelings of sheer sensation. In principle MJ may have been physically fit. He never used street drugs. On the other hand, he seemed to be fond of prescription opiates for a long time now, and in some obituaries there was talk of a certain fondness for soothing wine too. That's not too good for the body, esp. when you are training like mad for a series of 50 concerts... perhaps MJ could not accept his own getting older, and overtaxed his body strenuously, too much, in a desperate attempt to still do all those famous routines.

Brian was lucky to have escaped the regimen of Landy. No need to rebuild him into a copy of Schwarzenegger anymore at age 55. Let him enjoy a big fat burger every now and then, he deserves it.

He seems quite fractured in that interview.

It really seems like Brian has a lot of fear (of death mainly) that he has trouble facing.

I remember reading that interview when it first came out and, re-reading it now, it strikes me as just Brian being honest. Everyone has fears, but most won't blatantly express those fears in an interview. Brian seems fairly engaged by the questions; most interesting is his casual dismissal of God as an actual entity. As odd as our Mr. Wilson might be, his eccentricities pale next to those demonstrated by Michael Jackson. I would say that Brian is a lot more introspective than Jackson who was desperately hiding behind a wall of denial.

If the latest rumours are true, Jackson was shooting himself up with Demerol in addition to taking Xanax and Zoloft; it's no surprise his heart stopped.

I see what you are saying and I agree.. he is being honest.. like michael he escaped his fears by using drugs for years and years, but without that escape I think it's been tough for him to face that fear.. like all of us.  It's just that brian is so much more aware of fear than most people, so it is hard for him.

Wow, I just heard that AEG , just a week ago, finalized the insurance package for his O2 shows. The fifty of them. The promoters are still going to get paid. This opens a whole new can of worms.

Am I wrong, or did The Beach Boys present Michael Jackson with one of his many grammies for Thriller..

I think I've seen a video somewhere

Yes. Today the BBC told us that someone very close to MJ confessed that he (she?) for years emptied MJ's stomach with a pump on a regular basis when he had overdosed once again. If that is true, then indeed Demerol (an opiate, like morfine), Xanax (a heavy sedative) and Zoloft (an antidepressant) could have formed a fatal combination. Now. Or ten years ago.

It is inappropriate to compare Brian and Michael to decide who 'wins' here. But I agree that Brian could somehow face his anxieties, and also the childish side of his nature. Because of that, he could plump into 'Love You' with gusto. Michael was much more into denial. He wanted to look 25 forever, and paid dearly for it. But it can't be a blame game. If all the allegations about him being sexually abused multiple times in his early youth (by 'friends of the family'), then is is a miracle at all that he made it to 50.

I believe it is here somewhere. Haven't watched through it right now:


EDIT: Damnit ! Wrong link as you probably realized. Here's the real one, sorry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBNeS3ZWmwo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBNeS3ZWmwo)

and part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2WwwLkOxp0&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2WwwLkOxp0&feature=related)

oh MAN! Brian starts to say "Phil Spector" instead of "Phil Ramone" for best producer nominations at 6:28! classic!  ;D

Also, dig Brian's piano key belt!! ha!

That had to be one of the first public appearances of The Beach Boys after Dennis' death.

Yeah, that's the one, pretty crazy.

LMAO at Mike kissing MJ's hand.

BTW, Who would of thought Brian would outlive Michael when that aired the first time

Brian's funny, "THERE'S NO WINNER!" and then everybody but Carl plays along!

You have to wonder if that was the only interaction they ever had, and whether Michael was a fan.

I just hope that Paul and Ringo regain the rights to the Beatles' catalog!

I just can't get past the fact that Brian Wilson has outlived Michael Jackson.  Who saw that coming?

Hoo boy,
Jon Blum

Yup. Michael as a young guy celebrated his greatest triumphs exactly at that point in time when Brian was at his very lowest point, on the brink of death. There is a deep tragic irony in this...

Brian looks pretty good here! Thin.

That's true, and it's scary to think that it very well could have been Brian.  We're lucky to still have him. 

Unfortunately Michael will forever serve as a cautionary tale...it would have been awesome to see him achieve his big comeback and have a latter-day renaissance like Brian has had.