The Smiley Smile Message Board

Here's a heads-up to whet the appetite for what could be quite a year for BB/BW fans...

Spring edition:
Mike & Dean, Al Jardine EP release, Beach Boys TV & Film appearances Pt II (by Ian Rusten), Jan Berry Carnival of Sound album, Billy Hinsche 1974 tour DVD, TAMI Show DVD

Summer edition:
Al Jardine, Beach Boys Party! album sessions by Craig Slowinski (with contributions from Josh Hoisington)

Fall edition:
Sunflower 40th Anniversary Issue

Winter edition:
Brian Wilson [TBA]

From the spring issue, ESQ will be printed by Krause Publications, publishers of the noted collectors magazine Goldmine, and will be teamed with same. A press release will follow in February. Also from the spring issue inclusive, I'll be a full-time, fully-fledged contributor to ESQ. Thanks for the invite, David.

Bringing Andrew on board with ESQ was a natural fit. Your research — along with Ian Rusten's and Craig Slowinski's — has made ESQ a better publication for the fans. Spoke with Al today… Look for his EP in the coming weeks on iTunes (available as download only). Also received the advance screener of the T.A.M.I Show today… Fully restored with the Beach Boys!

Good news there!  '
This means Brian's handlers have assured you his new album has definitely been scheduled for release; 8 or 9 months  minimum, in advance of the actual release?
What label will it be on? ( Oh, you probably can't spill the beans) 

He's with Disney… It's posted on his website.

Ahh yeah, I knew that; my bad. 
So what's the release date?

I'm guessing (and that's all it is) late summer/fall.

Ish.

This is outstanding news for ESQ fans. Andrew and Craig bring the publication to a whole new level. As a contributing editor for Beatlefan, I've long hoped that ESQ would follow Bill King's excellent example of groundbreaking coverage, in-depth news, and top-end professional retrospectives. AGD and C-Man are undoubtedly the men for the job.

Personally, I hope in the near future THAT's what takes precedence over the Dean Torrence, "PT Cruiser," Adrian Baker, and Hey Stevie fetishes, etc.

The new blood is a very welcome addition for the upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.

I don't read Beatlefan, so I wasn't aware any of Bill King's decisions. Andrew's an incredible talent, as is Craig (and Ian Rusten). Outside of the writers nothing has changed at ESQ, and, with a Mike & Dean article coming up in the Spring edition it's a bit difficult to get around Torrence… Regarding the other names… Not sure I understand how a review that's a quarter page in the back of the edition, or a news blurb in the front of ESQ deserves the term "fetish."

David -- worth checking out:

http://beatlefan.com/headlines2.htm#currentissue

As a long-time subscriber, (joined when Richard K. Edgil and Phillip E. Mast were the then current managing editors) this is tremendous news. I look forward with much anticipation to great writings!

I am ? sh*t, and I never knew...  ::)

Just wanna say it's truly an honor to be offered this opportunity, and to be able to contribute something that's considered worthwhile by the more discerning elements of the fan base.   To be able to do so alongside Ian and the legendary AGD is an added honor.

Legendary too ?  I can't take much more of this - did I suddenly die, and no-one told me ?  ;D

OK, you suck.  ;)

I understand that overzealous fans have chipped your initials into the display in Hawthorne, alongside the Beach Boys plaques.

Now, this I'm used to, this I can handle.  :lol

Does anyone know if the BB are planning to come to Germany this year?

Andrew, you are truly an éminence grise among BB/BW fans, and a witty and skilled writer to boot. Would that all bands have experts as knowledgeable, accessible, connected and outspoken.

This is good... what chances of going bi-monthly,. so we're not kept hanging on?

If we had the budget we'd do it. We don't have the budget.

I had no idea what eminence grise actually meant, so  I wikied it: 
>>An éminence grise (French for "grey eminence") is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or unofficially.<<

And from Dictionary.com:
>>gray eminence 
–noun a person who wields unofficial power, esp. through another person and often surreptitiously or privately.

Also, éminence grise.


Origin:
1940–45; trans. of F éminence grise
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source |Link To eminence grise
ém·i·nence grise  (ā-mē-näɴs grēz')   
n.   pl. ém·i·nence grises (ā-mē-näɴs grēz')
A powerful adviser or decision-maker who operates secretly or unofficially. Also called gray eminence.

[French, the power behind the throne : éminence, power + grise, feminine of gris, gray, shadowy.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Cultural Dictionary

éminence grise [(ay-meh-nahns greez)]


A person who wields power behind the scenes: “The king's brother-in-law is his éminence grise; he has enormous influence, though he is rarely in the public eye.” A French term meaning “gray eminence.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source  <<

We are truly blessed! 

David, Andrew, Ian and Craig: sounds like a good team to me! No reason at all to end my membership.  :-D  Can't wait for the next series of ESQ's in 2010.

Darn...

Just as an aside David, what do you do 9-5? I'm sure we're all really grateful that you devote so much of your own time to ESQ.

Re. announcement: hip, hip hooray

Eminence grise is also used to refer to "a respected authority; specifically : elder statesman."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eminence%20grise

As it was in this case.

Ha ! That's what you say now!! But the #1 answer from your selected source ?
1 : a confidential agent; especially : one exercising unsuspected or unofficial power
2 : a respected authority; specifically : elder statesman <the éminence grise of classical music>  :jedi

Well done David.  The addition of AGD, Craig, and Ian will continue to emphasize the serious historical / collector's perspective of ESQ that was part of our vision back in 1993 when we took it over from Rick and Phil.

I wish I had the time to contribute as well, but between trying to grow a management consulting practice, raising a 12 year-old son (not coincidentally named Brian!) and keeping my wife happy (a big chore!), I no longer have the time to devote to ESQ.  Plus Brian is already a 10-handicap golfer, so I need every spare hour I have to work on my golf game so that I can keep up with him!

For the time being I will still try to stay behind the scenes as a "silent partner," keeping the ESQ financial books and making sure the bills get paid.

Lee

PS: In the consulting world we call an experienced consultant with immense credibility a "grey-hair" -- deriving from "éminence grise."

Interesting...  ;)

It's always been ESQ's desire to focus on the historical lineage of the group.

I'm a contractor for design, layout and writing (same type of stuff I do in ESQ).