The Smiley Smile Message Board

What must the Beach Boys have thought during the "Brian's Back" campaign? I was just watching some of the youtube stuff from that era (and you'll see a specific link below). Brian is terrible. Yes, Brian is back. He's writing songs. And for those of us looking back, it's fun to note his "brianisms," the quirkiness, the humor, and even the brilliance in, say, the Love You songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIgyeJQ6peA&feature=related

But when you watch the clips like this one ... it would suck to be any other Beach Boy, I'd think. "Airplane," a beautiful song ... and Brian yells gruffly. "Back Home," and Brian flips out and then yells. I don't see any fun in this (even though I know others have said it's a matter of them goofing off). It's just terrible, both musically and just in terms of human dignity.

Being a part of the band that had been touring with great success for half a dozen years or so by the time this show came around must have been just terrible. What would someone like Carl, with those great ears, think as his previously angelic-voiced cousin barked? Or Mike, a showman, with Brian making faces or throwing tantrums? Or those hired backup musicians, wondering whether the paycheck was worth being in a group therapy session.

Not a new topic, no.  But every so often I wonder how terrible the "Brian is Back" thing really was. Now is one of those "every so oftens."

Agree, Luther- it was a tasteless freak show.  Haven't checked out your link yet, but will as soon as Bowie finishes up on my iTunes.

Heads up: someone will dog you out now for typing "cousin" for "brother" after Carl.

I'm a drunk. Anyone who wants to nitpick my inebriated errors can f*** off. But you, sir, are a fine person or your forgiving nature!

When you've got the trained bear on stage, you don't taunt him or he screws with the formula/vocals of Back Home...


btw, i like how Al says: "we're gonna make you feel right at home," as Mike and Brian scream at each other....yeah, make us feel like were in the home of Murry Wilson!

Man, ya blew it Luther!  You were supposed to silently edit your post, and then I'd silently edit mine, thus concealing your alcoholic disgrace and making me an enabler.

Brian clearly doesn't belong on that stage, but I really like how Mike sort of sells the song. His performance has a lot of sincerity.  The lyrics are a little less distracting to me live, too. I wish Love You had been able to cop a little of this energy.

My alcoholic disgrace has long since been a public spectacle, sir. I'm not too worried about it. Let the world enjoy our un-edited posts in all their glory.

And also, slightly more on topic, do you think in his more lucid moments it bothers Brian to know he's been the worst singer on the stage every single time he's been on one in the past 30 years? Considering his previous virtuosity, it must. Think about it. It would kill a guy.

Oh my goodness ... that was a train wreck ... horrible.

I can even forgive Mike for looking at his watch ...  ::)

:lol


Incidentally, my comments above, as I should have said, referred to "Airplane".  (I'm also crazily drunk, posting from my knees and vomiting into a trash can between syllables).

You know, after all these years I just have no insight into Brian's mind.  The change that began in the Spring of 1967 is so complete by this point- except on those very rare occasions as late as '88 when we sawglimpses of "Old Brian"- that I just can't really answer that question, but it's a good question and I've thought about it in various forms. One thing, to me, about his current singing is that he often seems emotionally disconnected from it.

And as a sort of answer to that, when I saw this video, it went through my mind that by this time Brian was so surrounded by positivity and total approval whenever he attempted anything that he may have lost some additional perspective on himself, as happens to almost all rock stars.  "I'm Brian Wilson, I make hit records with the wave of my hand...what, me off key?  Me?"

At certain points, I doubt that anything much occurred to him. Particularly in the early instances of getting back on stage, I'd imagine Brian was medicating himself or being medicated to a large extent and just focusing entirely on getting through shows. But when he's generally aware of what's going on, as I would assume/hope he is these days, it must be tough to be unable to sing the majority of his own parts.

Well ya know, Brian did sing in the "key of BW"!!! :lol :lol :lol

Again (!), Mike was not arguing or screaming at Brian; it was an attempt by Mike to psych up Brian or keep him interested or whatever. Mike was just playing around. Nobody in the band (at that time anyway) had the guts to actually confront Brian for several reasons....

Now, to address Luther's question....It's a simple answer. You actually touched upon it in your post. It WAS therapy for Brian. It was something he had to go through; he had to confront the touring, the live audience, the singing, eventually playing the bass, etc. - all the while being stoned! You know yourself, Luther, being a musician, you can TALK about it all you want, but you have to go through it to grow, you have to experience it. I really believe, that, if Brian wasn't on "something" during the shows like you highlighted in your link, he would've done much, much better, a lot like he did in the last few years of his recent solo career.

And, you raised the question, why did the others go along with it, put up with it if you will? First, for the money, which ALWAYS drove the band. But, second, and this is what you were really asking...because they really believed in Brian. They must've seen SOMETHING still there. He was still creating good stuff in the studio, we have proof of that with Love You. But, they also must've thought that he would continue to improve "live", which he did to a point. If you listen to some of the later concerts in 1977, Brian sounds much improved (now, nothing like 1964), and playing more and more bass. And, physically, he LOOKED like he was getting better. Check him out in 1978 on The Midnight Special; he's downright skinny. Even some of the interviews in 1976 show him to be at least insightful (i.e. The Mike Douglas Show).

I guess they were trying to be optimistic; trying to be positive. If they could've kept the drugs away, and I don't know the specifics of the hospitalization right around L.A. (Light Album), who knows, he might've made it. Obviously, SOMETHING was still there, because it eventually came out in the early 2000's. So many times I see or hear Brian perform today, and do relatively well, and think, THAT'S what they were expecting with the original Brian's Back in 1976. They (the group) just didn't know how to pull it off - if indeed there was a way...

Sorry, I didn't realize that....i was convinced he was yelling at him...we know Mike's temper.

At this time in 77, who was in charge of the caretaking of Brian; Landy or Stan (Mike's brother or cousin?)

I've often wondered that actually.  Not that I can relate to being able to sing like a young Brian Wilson, but I know that if I went from having a voice like he had to the voice we see in this video, I probably wouldn't even want to sing in public at all.  However, as you said Luther, around this time he probably didn't care much about it.  He wasn't the same perfectionist he used to be, and was just trying to get through the shows.  He really didn't seem to care about how his singing sounded.

As for today, Brian can be mostly forgiven for his voice, as it has improved a lot relative to where it was in the clip you posted, and has especially improved in the last few years.  Plus, he's 67 years old, so it's really okay that he has an "old guy" voice.  And it's not as if he's alone...have you heard Elton John live the last few years?  His voice has gone downhill as well.  It's depressing, but it happens.  Brian should be proud that he has brought his voice back from cigarette-scarred oblivion to sound pretty damn good for a guy his age.  

On some level though, I would imagine it must be a bit weird for Brian rehearsing with the band and singing bass parts while watching someone else sing what used to be his parts, parts that he originally wrote with his voice in mind.  I think every singer struggles with that as they age, to some degree.

What makes you say that? Because it sure doesn't look like fun to me.

Man, this is 1977...the freak show was just BEGINNING. Listen to some early 1982 boots. :)

Oh man, that was a gorgeous song turned to hell, Brian just did not give a sh*t.

By the by, how was the attendance for a BB show around time, that link Luther posted for example, was that in front of a big crowd?

It looks like in the middle of the song, while Brian is singing and Mike is looking at and gets closer to Brian, then Brian suddenly jerks the bass and almost hits Mike in the face! I think Mike was really irritating Brian or something!

Am I the only one who LOVED that performance?

Brian seemed really into it, putting a lot of energy into his vocals, and performing 2 songs from Love You? Brilliant! Airplane was a beautiful song, not sure about the flute, but Mike did a great job with his vocal, despite acting the all round Professional Tw*t.

The rough edges were great, I would pay good money to see a show like this today. I don't like the bland performances of most BB live shows - i think after 1973, they were a pretty dull live band generally.

I used to have a terrific interview with Brian on tape from 1988, when he was out promoting the solo album.  It was one of those rare appearances of "lucid" Brian, and he was answering great questions about stuff like "Guess I'm Dumb", Derek Taylor, and "River Deep, Mountain High" and was fully engaged in the conversation.  He was asked about the high voice and why he stopped singing in that range, and he said "I just thought the time for that voice had passed."

I like those performances.  :'(

So do I. It's easy to tell it was a tough period for the group, though. Check out Carl singining "All This Is That" from the same concert, it's heartbreaking.

Some people may construe this show as Brian being ahead of his time yet again...or at least keeping up with current trends. He seems to be embracing punk with his gruff singing/screaming!!

Just a thought...

Performers often over do it on stage when it comes to singing/shouting because in many cases, it's difficult to hear the sound of your own voice. What the performer can hear, and what the audience can hear is a totally different thing!

Not saying that this is the reason for Brian going that rout, but it might be a contributing factor to his frustration there.

It's obvious to me that Mike is play acting, over-exaggerating, trying to communicate with a stoned Brian. It's like he's playing this rough, football player/coach exhorting "C'mon Brian, get up to that mic and nail it. Sing your guts out. You show 'em. Now get in there..." It's unfortunate that a simple thumbs up or pat on the back wouldn't suffice, but look at who Mike's talking to and the shape he was in.

And, like I said before, there's no way anybody was gonna get mad at Brian at that stage, or show it anyway. They were kissing his ass in 1976-77. They were just happy he showed up; they weren't gonna do anything to scare him away.

Keep in mind he was back, as he stated, to make money. I bet he was getting paid more than the sidemen on stage. At the end of the day he still chose to do concerts. If being stoned was his choice he deserved a talking to from Mike.

Damn right 'you get your ass up to that mic and take a lead' IMO.

Sing from your heart, Cousin.

Why don't you tell Johnny Rivers that?

EDIT: I just watched that clip and others from that show. That is some rather unfortunate viewing.  Proof that everybody is better off not sharing a stage with eah other.

Dennis says one of my favorite quotes of all time at the Largo 77 concert:
(paraphrased only slightly) "I would like to make a dedication to all the girls here tonight (small pause)...even Michael!"

Yes, when you've seen the Beach Boys live for as many years and times as I did, you couldn't possibly miss the changes in the bands psyche along the way. It really was amazing they lasted that long as a touring group and despite a few lean years, most nights the venue was full.

I'd take that Largo show over today's performances. Brian may have been "out there", but in a single show he sang,played bass and piano,halted the show to thank Mike Love and paraded around with his hands in the air at the end like a champion.

Whatever you say about Brian's shows these days, he mainly sits in front of keyboard and sings what he sees on a teleprompter.

Isn't it obvious Mike's joking? What's next, claimimg that Mike was furious at Alan Boyd when he playfully remarked to the camera, about Smile: "Why are you askng ME about that?"  ;D

Actually, Alan himself has hinted that even he isn't too sure whether Mike was joking or not.

I'll give Mike the benefit of the doubt,  but it's still uncomfortable to watch.

The Smile quote is even kinda funny, but I guess you're referring to Largo. I look at '77 Brian and I can relate him to the 60's Brian. I just can't do that with today's Brian. I just can't.

Now, to address Luther's question....It's a simple answer. You actually touched upon it in your post. It WAS therapy for Brian...
..because they really believed in Brian. They must've seen SOMETHING still there...I guess they were trying to be optimistic; trying to be positive...THAT'S what they were expecting with the original Brian's Back in 1976. They (the group) just didn't know how to pull it off - if indeed there was a way...


FYI - - I posted an interview with Warren Duffy who was their PR Director at that time - He talked about that tour and his perspective on each of the band members,

Posted @ http://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/pray-for-surf-interviewed-former-beach.html

Phil

edit - sorry

Every Brian show I've seen, he's played the keyboard at least a bit, plays bass in the encore set, and had a fair share of unscripted banter.  (Jeff, on "Drive-In":  "This is one of Brian's favorite songs--" "It is NOT!")

He may not be as up as when he was, y'know, COKED UP, but he's clearly there...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Well made out points. However in concert his keyboard playing doesn't seem to go any farther than the into to Marcella, Surfer Girl and maybe Walking Down The Path Of Life. At Largo he seemed to be playing and singing a lot more. As for bass playing, when he starps on the bass nowadays isn't someone in the band really providing the bass lines, while Brian might twang a note or two? I hope I am wrong!

QUOTING (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,6005.0.html)

Dunno about the keyboard, but I was keeping an eye on the bass at the last show -- it looked like he was playing a basic bass line, while Bobby Lizik was doing something funkier up the fretboard on his own bass.  But Brian was definitely playing a proper part -- it looked like a 1-3-5-7 pattern on "Barbara Ann", that sort of thing.

BTW, all this discussion of Largo is making me homesick!  That was on the far side of DC from where I grew up -- I think I went to my first proper concert there, when my parents took me to go see Billy Joel just a few years later...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

I could be wrong, but the last time I saw Brian play (last summer I think), he strapped on the bass for Barbara Ann and looked like he might have been played just the root note of each of the chords (there's only three of 'em!) But to my eyes, it did not look like the bass was plugged in to anything, which would mean it was silent.

The only piano I've seen him do at all four of the shows I attended was either the new intro to Marcella, or Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

I won't pass judgement either way, but a number of fans around me at the shows expressed serious concern over Brian's health because of his lack of movement or general involvement on stage. People were asking if he had recently had a stroke, saying he didn't look well at all.

I saw him in Chicago last fall and am pretty sure his bass was plugged in, because the guy that handed it to him had real trouble getting to him because of the cord.  During the exchange Brian split his water.

Brian's bass is pretty much inaudible regardless of whether it's plugged in. His is clearly not the bass you hear when he straps it on. That part of shows is obviously just for show, since he's just sort of half-thumping on the root notes of chords while the real bassist plays the audible, more interesting parts.

Well, as interesting as a walking bass in Barbara Ann is, anyway.

Getting back to that original 1977 video... what Brian does in between songs is completely bizarre.  He walks up to the microphone, and literally appears to have a seizure, acting like he got a major electrical shock.  Then he gets this p*ssed off look on his face, and hits the microphone as hard as he can.  The band starts playing the song, waiting forever for Brian to start singing, just vamping until the guy finally decides to come in.

This is the strangest 20 seconds of Brian footage.  EVER.

I had the impression that Mike and Brian were arguing about something. Like maybe Brian didn't want to sing it. Mike gets upset and yells at him. Just after he slaps the mic, he looks over to Al. Al nods, as if to say, its alright, you can go ahead and sing. Then Brian starts. Of course, I have no idea if that's what Brian and Mike were discussing.

Again I completely disagree. Just like Mike was playing around and goofing around, so was Brian. It appears to me that Brian was having a short dialogue with the microphone, then PLAY ACTS like the microphone is electrocuting him! He continues the playing around by slapping the mic, kind of "putting it in its place", like "how dare you do that to me". I know it sounds weird but that's how it ALWAYS appeared to me. Plus, there isn't a lot of logic when you're discussing the effects that drugs had on Brian Wilson.

Yeah, I too liked the participation and animation from Brian back in those days. He was RUNNING around the stage, joking, singing, playing all the songs on piano and bass, showed coordination just in his walking, etc. But, he was still under the influence, so, ultimately, it was artificial - and sad....

The band can't really have known at every show what condition Brian would show up in. Let's not forget the fact that at the time, Brian was a drug addict/alcoholic. He was just as unstable as Dennis at the time. I feel like the rest of the group always gets blamed for Brian. Let's let Brian take some of the credit for the chaos at the time.

I love you, man.

But in all seriousness, by 1977 Brian's appearances with the band were farcical, by 1979 they were diabolical, by 1982 they were not even worthy of mocking laughter. If the Mike and Bruce show is a "Travelling Jukebox", then the Beach Boys in 1981-82 with a dejected, addicted, uncaring Brian as "leader" were a travelling circus.

I really can`t agree that any of the band members were fooling around at that show. It`s quite clear that Brian was deeply disturbed at this time and shouldn`t have been anywhere near the stage.

Disturbed, yes, but more like fried or baked.  After seeing this clip for a second time it reminds me of the many shows I saw during those "disturbed" years when I would look around the audience and say to myself, " God, I hope these people don't recognize the problems that I'm seeing." I really thought that the end had to be near. That's what is so amazing about their longevity. There were so many incidents both on stage and backstage so many years ago and I have surely put them out of my mind. This clip resurrected those times.

Thanks for posting this. I found it very interesting. I am also a Christian, so it was cool to hear his testimony.

Something that stuck out to me is that he gives a lot of credit to Mike for keeping the band together. Most people I read say that Carl was the glue that held the group together. Of course, he didn't seem to have control of himself in the mid 70s. I also found it interesting that Al was fired several times only to be asked back the next day! I wonder who wanted him fired the most, and who backed him the most. I would assume that since Al was linked to the Love faction back then that it was Dennis and Carl that wanted him fired and Mike wanted him to stay.

This is kind of interesting, especially in the bit about Al, whom I think may still be hard to read. Sometimes a Love guy, sometimes a Wilson guy. And in this interview, just "in his own little world ... his own guy."

That the discussion gets into his problems nailing bass or harmony parts is also interesting. Seems hard to believe that Al would be the guy in that band to sometimes miss his parts. Dennis' voices obviously is gruff enough to be all over, Brian at that time sounded like sh*t. Al, the sober guy who has often shown a hell of a voice to the extent of mimicking Brian, AL is the guy who is disliked for missing parts?

Are you kidding? In virtually every concert bootleg I've heard, Al screws up the words in at least one of the songs he sings. Sometimes he would screw up lyrics to songs that were back to back. Al even forgets the words to songs he wrote!  ;D

That doesn`t surprise me too much. I like Al and I value his contributions to the band but he does seem to have an ulterior motive to alot of what he does. That`s how I read a lot of his interviews and the comments he makes about Brian, Dennis etc. even when he is praising them. I guess you can`t really blame him after being surrounded by madness for so any years though.

So do I. Does this make me a Beach Boy? Kickass!

I don't know if Al messed up that much, he always seemed pretty solid..  I can think of a few concerts  I have heard where he flubbed. There is a youtube of WIBN I think from David Frost he destroys, but I dont think any more than the rest of them. Carl flubs Good Timin on 7/4/80 and I have heard him screw that one up before. Mike screws up R and R Music on the It's Ok documentary. Besides, he wasn't even really playing the damn  bass! One song maybe in concert? Barbara Ann?

Probably, Al just doesn't have as good an ear as the other guys, which has nothing to do with quality of voice.  Your mind's ear needs to be able to 'record' pitches to really sing and retain harmony parts well.. which obviously Al could do, but just probably not as naturally as the other guys.

Even if this is true about Al, Dennis and Brian were having much more trouble then Al in the 70s. Maybe even Carl in 1977-78.

The thing that comes to mind first when thinking of Al messing up is on Honkin' Down the Highway

when does he do that?

On the album version. If you listen closely, it sounds like Al, or somebody in the group, says "sh*t".

(sing to self) Who cares if i gotta spend the night, oh merda

I can't stop thinking about the video to begin this thread. Brian is so wired that while singing(?) Back Home and Carl screeches his guitar to sound like a rooster at dawn during the wake up lyric, well, what a reaction. Brian whips his head around at him and stares, not too nicely. Totally wired. Wasn't expecting it. Wondered what the hell was that! And to think the worst was yet to come.

I honestly don't see what the big deal is in this video. Sure, Brian does shout "AAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRPLAAAAAAAAIIIIINNNNNNNE!", but Back Home seems ok to me. I don't think Mike and Brian are REALLY arguing. I think Mike is deliberately "over acting" his anger, in a playful way. Brian DOES shout out the lyrics to Back Home. But Back Home is supposed to be a gritty bluesy song! It's supposed to sound like that. To me, the weirdest thing Brian does in this whole show is right before Surfer Girl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=876Sn93CODI&feature=related

It really does blow me away knowing how much care they had taken in their shows up to 1976-77 and how poor they were at disguising their problems. Brian seemed better even in 1973-74 in the interviews I've heard. What the hell happened when Landy started with him? Dennis was the picture of health as late as the It's OK special. Why I point this out is that the declines happened so fast and so publically. I guess it never ceases to amaze me. I must admit I am riveted to this type of footage, but it's really sad knowing how great they all were.

What is he mumbling/singing?  Sorry can't tell because there is a lot of noise from fans in my room that I'm not willing to turn off right now. haha

Yeah, this is definitely Al's greatest live flaw. Even as late as the 90s and today, Al messes up words to songs that he's been singing for decades.

Same here, and I'm almost embarrassed to admit it. It's so damn fascinating. Actually, it's the real deal. It's sex, drugs, and rock & roll. This is a true picture, evidence, of a couple of brothers (including Carl?) who are on stage performing under the influence of drugs and alcohol. You read about it, hear about it, etc....But here you can actually watch it.

How would've you liked to have been Mike and Al, or Ed Carter, or Bobby Figueroa, or whoever, and be in that band....Did you notice the wives sitting a few feet away on the side of the stage? Within one year, all three Wilson brothers would be divorced.

Jay, I don't know what Brian was singing before "Surfer Girl". I used it think part of it was "Shortenin' Bread". Seriously. But, again, getting back to MBE's post, I'm riveted to it. I find that 1976-1981 period so fascinating. While I'll never find the answer (like most of Brian's career), I continue to wonder what was going on in his mind. How much was left, how much was lost...

I really do feel for the non Wilson's in the band. It must of been tough to hold a show under those circumstances. Their careers were on the line. As far as what Brian was singing, I think he was just scating out loud. He does play a riff from Boogie Woodie somewhere in the show I forget where.

Only had time to watch Airplane. Brian is obviously singing pretty badly. What strikes me is the gulf between the sheer beauty of the song, especially with the added flute part (which I have to say I really like) and Brian's clear ill health at the time. So mike's sort of bigging Brian up which seems in some ways appropriate as the song is great, but then Brian's performance is so terrible. Makes for a weird counterpoint.

I thought I remember reading somewhere that Brian gave Al one take on Honkin. Al thought he was doing a read through and Brian said that was it.
There have been a few times I have heard where Al flubs a lyric, guess I didn't really make anything of it but it is true.

I've been trying to figure it out for a couple years now. It doesn't really sound like any of his songs that I know of. So I don't think he's actually working out a new song.

Oh no, more video of the bad times. This is what is known as a train wreck by one of the world's most famous rock groups live and on stage. I'll bet none of them ever thought such footage would see the light of day. No wonder Bruce stayed gone for as long as he did.

If I remember correctly, the gig was filmed by the folks involved with the Carter inauguration, which was a day earlier. Perhaps it was for a TV special that, thankfully, went nowhere. But as far as filmed gigs go, this is great compared to a lot of other stuff out there.

This concert isn't BAD, it's just inconsistent. Brian was not himself and was crashing, Dennis was in and out of the zone, Carl was off. Michael and Al proved they were the professional working stiffs in the band. For a post-Endless Summer show, there are some surprises songwise. As far as filmed concerts are concerned, this would probably be one of the BETTER candidates for a possible DVD, but of course there would have to be some minor edits so no-one's toes are stepped on (for example, Brian always rubbing his nose). It's not the best show they ever did, but it's entertaining. It's all over the place. The Beach Boys at their best were all over the place.

Besides, any show with an eleven minute Feel Flows is worth greater consideration.