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For Immediate Release
 
 
THE ENDLESS SUMMER WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE BEACH BOYS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR WRAPS
 

As The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour enters its last week culminating in its final shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall on September 27 and Wembley Arena on September 28, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston will be keeping The Beach Boys’ music in front of live audiences by touring in the configuration that they have been touring in for 14 of the last 50 years.  The post 50th anniversary configuration will not include Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks. The 50th Reunion Tour was designed to be a set tour with a beginning and an end to mark a special 50-year milestone for the band. 
 
“As we move on, Bruce and I look forward to performing live for Beach Boys fans everywhere,” says Mike Love.
 
Several North American dates in October have already gone on sale and concert dates will continue to be announced for The Beach Boys which include Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Mike Love and Bruce Johnston supported musically and vocally by Christian Love, Randell Kirsch, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill and Scott Totten, who serves as musical director. It is in this configuration that The Beach Boys have been bringing the legacy of their music and the American lifestyle, with which they have become synonymous, since 1998 when Carl Wilson passed.  For 50 years Love has lead The Beach Boys live on stage breaking Guinness Book of World Record numbers for attendance and touring along the way.  The Endless Summer will continue for fans everywhere who want to see The Beach Boys live.
 

Well, everybody's going to lose their sh*t in 5...4...3...2...1......

Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected.  Here's hoping next year sees further activity from the *real* Beach Boys again, though...if not another tour, then maybe an album.

Mike, just stop touring and take a break for a while until the rest of the group is ready to tour. I can see so many things going wrong this winter with people confused about the BBs touring groups.

I didn't expect them to keep together, especially Brian. But - although it was unlikely - I had hoped they put an end to the band even if just changing the name of Mike & Bruce's show. But I guess right after this great tour they will sell more than before for a periode

wonder if they'll do the two new singles, that would be really funny/cool.

The show in Wembley will be my last Beach Boys related show unless they tour again or Brian releases another album..

I don't blame Mike and Bruce for hitting the road, what else have they to do?

That said, it's a shame they can't go out in style

Mike: "We did this on our reunion album-"

Crowd: "YEAAAAHH! BRIAN! AL! ETC

Mike: "Er, yeah, they aren't here."

Now there's an interesting question for the Twitter-Beach Boys event

I saw their show last year and it was the best gig I have been to. It's a shame I'll only get to see the 'full' Beach Boys once in my life but I'd be happy to go and see another Mike and Bruce show. You really have to give it to Mike whether you like him or not, he's helped to keep their music alive for 50 years.

Myke Luhv's style: Kahhhhhh-CHING. :p

Anyone who wasn't expecting this is either a complete idiot or hasn't been paying attention.

Doesn't bother nor surprise me. The 50th Anniversary year has been fun but I like things the way they were too. I am just glad I got the chance to see them live this year. That was something I never believe would ever happen.

I can understand Brian having a rest - but I thought there might be the slimmest of opportunities that Al & Dave may do the odd date here and there...

I really hope Al does some live shows in the future.

I said words to that effect when news of these Mike & Bruce dates started filtering through a few months ago.

Hope they come back to the UK soon, though, I'd love to see them again - to quote the sleeve notes of the Concert/Live In London twofer : "...the Beach Boys never needed any rehabilitation in England. The only thing they've ever done wrong there is not schedule enough shows to meet the enormous demand." !

Doing 180 gigs a year is Mikes idea of a good time. Brian would be happy spending 180 days a year in the studio recording 'Shortnin Bread'. Past and present band members fit somewhere in between. Thats just the way it is folks.

We did know about this. It's still sad that Al & Dave can't join, but Brian obviously needs to look after himself so another year of planes, trains and automobiles wouldn't do him much good. Wembley had better be a massive party, is all. I don't want it to end  :(

What can a poor boy do, 'cept to play in a rock n'roll band?   (though Love isn't exactly poor)

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beach-boys-to-continue-touring-without-brian-wilson-al-jardine-david-marks-20120917

Rolling Stone got a hold of the same press release.  But I don't recall when/where Brian made these comments:


However, Brian Wilson seemed optimistic about continuing with the band. When asked recently what his future plans were, Wilson told Rolling Stone, "I want to continue touring with the Beach Boys indefinitely." Still, Wilson was unsure of the possibilities of that happening. "I don't know. I really don't know. I just know I'm going to continue to tour with them," he said.

I guess we all knew that this would happen, but it's definitely distasteful for "Mike Love" to post this on his Facebook before the reunion gigs have even finished.

Back to the flea markets, bowling alleys and strip joints........

 :3d

Yeah I don't get why he (or his management?) would post it at all on FB..it's not a great story or vey flattering.  It opens it up for fans to display their displeasure with that decision...why would they invite that?  Kinda weird. 

Seeing Brian's comments about wanting to stick around is a good sign, I just hope that he and Mike have ended their brief reunion on a positive note and with the lines of communication wide open....

So the reunion is going to end soon, with Brian, David & Al exiting, the box set goes into limbo, and so does the idea of a follow-up album using some of the 16 leftover songs from the recent reunion sessions.

Failing to come through with the box set is unforgivable.

Do those Brian comments come from the RS article when this news first dropped a couple of months ago? He gave a similar 'what do you mean we're not touring again?' response.

Well, if Brian says he will continue touring with them, then that is prob what happens. Even Myke Luhv wouldn't dare refuse Brian to play in the Beach Boys. That being said there might be a winter break for Brian to come up with new songs and perhaps to plan an alternative set-list which will be slightly different from the 50th anniversary one. Mike Love knows he has no say in the creative process (Beaches In Mind testify to this) so there is not much for him to do this winter but tour with Bruce like usual. Given Brian's comment I would say it is not a far strech to imagine them touring again next summer. Maybe they would do a PS / hits tour or something? maybe an artistic tour? one can never know.

Yeah I remember those first comments he made when the story first broke and the awkwardness when RS mag told Brian about Mike and Bruce's fall show and Brian didn't know anything about it.  But this new quote where Brian says he wants to tour "indefinitely" I've never heard before.  If it truely is a new, recent quote that is a good sign that in the months that the story first broke, Brian is still optimistic about getting together with Mike in the future.  It's been several months since news of Mike/Bruce's show...no doubt all parties have had conversatins about it.  Hopefully they can regroup again soon.

I fear I'm feeding the troll here, but it's not even October, Phil...they've got the whole of October, November and December...that's 3...count 'em...3 whole months left in 2012 for them to come through with the box set !!!

Wow, that's eleven people not returning for the next Beach Boys tour.  It's going to be a big disappointment for people who don't really know the behind the scenes of the band who've seen them on this tour and will want to see them again.  They're going to expect a similar show and get something only the slightest bit like what they saw only so recently before.

To correct the official statement...Bruce Johnston is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

I really don't think people not in the loop will notice or care.

If I get out for a moment of the "make me cool by being cool" fan plea, I must admit 2 things:
1- the M&B show has been great for the last 2-3 years.
2- this reunion tour will increase significantly the audiences for a m&b show.

Not to open the old debate about the Beach Boys name rights, but I'm gunna anyway.

The Beach Boys can never be THE Beach Boys without a Wilson. Luhv is irrelevant, and that imposter clown he drags with him doesn't really help. I will never consider Bruce a true Beach Boy, David scores higher in my book. Perhaps even Ricky and Blondie score higher as well as at least they were cool and had good connections with Carl, who was the penultimate Beach Boy.

Imo it would be distasteful of Myke and Bruce to tour under the Beach Boy banner again, especially since Brian (face it, he is the real crowd draw) has made them a sh*t-ton of gold the last year. They should be forever grateful, but maybe they are too proud...

Looks like oldsurferdude has gotten to you.

I knew this was always in the making, but I think once the touring license is up, its time for Mike and Bruce to retire the BBs name. The whole group can tour with Brian coming in and out as he wants to.

I don't really understand the logic though.  If this last tour went over so well and they're all getting along, why not just stay together?

Probably because Mike and Bruce want to tour more frequently than the rest of them.

Keep drinking that Kool-Aid.

But don't they realize how many fans they alienate that way?

Permission to say "told ya so" - again.  ;D

Again? You've been wrong about almost everything related to the reunion from Day 1.

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

Didn't Brian vote FOR Mike & Bruce touring as The Beach Boys?

Probably Al wants to go back to his ranch and performing with his kids.

I think that this reunion has allowed for future reunions to occur. They got along, had a hit album, played to hundreds of thousands... Can't see this not happening again in the near future. Hey, Mike loves working with Brian; and probably Brian feels the same way towards Mike. Why can't they get together again after this?

Mike Love was great during the reunion tour.  He really was.  And Bruce was real good on a song or two. And so was Totten. And Cowsill was fantastic.

But......

No Wilson, no Jardine, no Marks = no Mikie.

I think Bruce Johnston is in the Hall of Fame...as is David Marks, if I'm not mistaken. They weren't inducted with the band originally in 1988, but the hall frequently goes back and corrects omissions like that in additional private ceremonies.

The Hall of Fame makes dumb omissions like that sometimes.  For instance, Doug Yule wasn't inducted as part of the Velvet Underground which makes no sense.  He was there longer than John Cale and he deserves recognition (even if he is responsible for the "Squeeze" album, which for those who don't know is pretty much the equivalent of the Beach Boys and "Summer in Paradise").

But when I think about it, the five core members were the ones who contributed the most during the peak years (which in my opinion is between 64-67).

I don't know why this has to be a "I told ya so and you're an idiot for not knowing this would happen." I for one was fully prepared for the strong liklihood of this happening, but the quality of this tour has changed things for some fans. I think a lot of old, grizzled, skeptical fans who have in the past disapproved of Love's use of the BB name had kind of become resigned to it in more recent years. Then Mike improved his live show, winning over more fans, and then was a huge part of this reunion tour, and then that reunion tour became not just a nice novelty, but an actual kick-ass live show that is amazing regardless of the context of it being a reunion or an anniversary. Mike hasn't been in the good graces of more BB fans this much in decades. Given that, I'm still not surprised that Mike is going back out on his own, not only going back out, but publicizing it in a way that suggests he's not terribly interested in another reunion tour of his magnitude. I'm not surprised, but I think the high quality of this reunion tour has made a lot of even previously jaded and grumpy fans very happy, so now they are more disappointed than they would have been had the reunion never happened.

I think it was Mr. Edelson that posted a really eloquent and to-the-point post a few months ago that really spoke to why Mike shouldn't just revert back to his old tour.

At the same time, everybody should also remember that Mike licenses the name from a group that consists of Brian, Mike, Al, and Carl's estate. I don't know what kind of "votes' have taken place in recent years, but if Al and Brian (and Carl's estate for that matter) both firmly decided they did not want Mike using the name, they could prevent it at some point, whenever the current license is up.

This pseudo-press release about Mike continuing with Bruce and without the other seems much less like a happy announcement, and more like a warning, basically saying "Hey, if you buy Beach Boys tickets for shows after 9/28, this is what you'll be getting."

Whatever you think if Mike continuing with the name, this "announcement' is objectively not something that reflects positively on Mike. Why they also "officially" announced this prior to the end of the reunion shows is also puzzling, as they now open themselves up to awkward questions about why they are going to cheap out on the tour again and have shorter shows, fewer band members (both main members and backing members), and why they are leaving the most well-known member of the band (Brian) and the the guy with the most in-tact voice (Al) behind.

Everything seems pretty muddy. It seems likely that Brian doesn't want to do the type of touring that Mike wants to. It's unclear what Al or David want. But it also doesn't seem like Brian (or Al or David) are ready to just revert to what this was in 2011.

But being saddened about this turn of events doesn't mean one isn't aware of the realities of all of this. It was probably going to happen, and there probably won't be much of any long-term ramifications for Mike and Bruce. Maybe some bad press for a time, maybe a few more confused venues promoting the shows incorrectly, but who knows....

Bleccch. Still hoping we get another album and tour..........

Unless I have got the last 5 months wrong, this has never been billed as a reunion tour by the group, just a 'Celebration' which to me means normal transmission will resume soon.

However I'm willing to bet some time in October we will have a story in a local paper about some dumb@ss who thought he was seeing the celebration Beach Boys rather than the BB Lite version. You just know its going to happen! :thud

yeh, we were expecting something like this, but it's still sort of weird coming on the heels of the reunion.

it's really just a poor business decision overall ... i mean, great in the sense that Mike & Co. can capitalize on the reunion and take home a bunch of extra $$$, but ...

the reunion hoopla is still in full swing with the greatest hits comps, reissues, box set, DVD, whatever may come ... and to go out on a non-50th Anniversary tour while all of these things are being promoted as 50th projects is a PR nightmare.

perhaps, at last, we will see the BB lawsuit to end all lawsuits: 'The Beach Boys' will sue 'The Beach Boys' on the grounds of public confusion with regard to the use of the trademark !

It's no use with him. Myke Luhv is delusional-he thinks he really is the Beach Boys. He and bruce can barely sing anymore so they have imposters who hardly sound authentic when they could have Al and David but no, they cost too much for the Lovester. Bottom line? No Wilsons, no Beach Boys.

While I understand your "No Wilson's, no Beach Boys" line, I think Mike & Bruce, as well as Brian, Al and David have proved beyond a doubt that they can more than barely sing. Give credit where credit is due.

Brian, Al, Mike, David, and Bruce can always decide to reunite for another tour after the 50th tour ends. Stranger things have happened.   8)

It's not just the loss of Brian, Al, and Dave though.  Brian's band which made up the majority of the people onstage is gone too and let's face it, the guys Mike and Bruce have with them do not have the same kind of musicianship and even though it should be seen as a separate entity than the 50th anniversary tour, it will pale in comparison anyways.  They're not a bad band, don't get me wrong, but this past year, the Beach Boys have been a completely different group, giving the music a live experience that it hasn't seen in years (except for Brian's solo tours) and now all of the sudden, we're back to the casual and painfully irrelevant fun time band just like that?  It just doesn't feel right and while I respect Mike for wanting to keep it going, it will always seem like it's not enough now that we've witnessed what it could be under the right circumstances.

I agree with you, with the exception of Scott Totten and John Cowsill...they are badass.

Yeah I like them too.  Cowsill especially is great on drums.  But I'm not a huge fan of Totten when he sings lead vocals.

Don't care if it was to be expected. Still really sad and depressing. Nevertheless it's been an awesome year to be a Beach Boys fan. Even though I would kill for one more studio album, TWGMTR ranks as one of my favorite albums of all time, and the concert I saw in May was the best I've seen. So, really I couldn't have asked for more, and what we got I never thought would ever happen.

For Smelly Armpits:

Cowsill's a badass.  No doubt about it at all.  And Totten held all the 50th reunion rehearsals together and directed the band with the same demanding pickiness and attention to detail as Brian use to exemplify as a producer in the 60's. So he's an effing badass too. Give those guys some credit, eh?

Smelly Armpits.  :lol

:lol

My username came from an offhand comment I made to another member here.

I dunno. It's still a mystery to me. The three shows I saw online are mid October shows - one in Waco (at a 5K seater) and two gigs in Biloxi. And mid October to boot. I just don't understand why the chinese fire drill to get back on the road, when you could easily do it in mid to late November. Heck, call 'em Christmas shows. Doing it on the heels of London, with greatest hits, a DVD and a boxset in the offing seem mercenary.

And I know it's all PR rah-rah, but these press releases that speak of how these shows will prove 'the music lives on' are just jive. Of course the music lives on...it lived and breathed this summer as it hasn't in decades.

Guh.

Excellent management. Now, if anyone bitches about Alan/Brian/David not being there, Mike can point to Rolling Stone - and the 'net - and say "can't say we didn't tell ya". And rightly too.

Yup... 60th... 75th... 100th.

As long it doesn`t interfere with the possibility of the group doing more recording in future, I don`t see this as being a big deal. In recent years the Mike and Bruce shows have been excellent and musically similar to the recent reunion tour. If they were to pass through my town (they won`t) then I wouldn`t hesitate to go to see them.

Er.. have you been to one of the reunion shows? Mike's voice is in top shape.  ??? And regarding Bruce - his voice is naturally getting thinner with age when it comes to the range he's known for (see his rather weak "Wendy" this year). But apart from that... he too is in good form. ASMTYD, DG ('57), FFF, etc..

Mike and Bruce's band does not include Jeff Foskett. That would get people on this board interested if we were in like March 2012.

Last reunion tour was probably better then the Beach Boys with Ricky & Blondie. If you listen to live recordings from the early 70's, you'll hear the band takes their time to tune guitars, talk at lenght in between, often play too long intros, I mean they could play tight and heavy, but they probably forgot to make a coherent show.  
This year's reunion band played very well, and - like never before - could use so many different instruments from the backing band. Also: no idle waiting between songs, except for good music it was also a good show, I mean like in a good movie, just keep the listener being amazed and entertained.

Now this is artistic GOLD, but now Mike & Bruce are going their way: probably make more money with a smaller band?

Tuning instruments mid-show just happens. Not sure why you'd fault a band for doing so.

'Fault a band' is a bit of an exaggeration. But you don't wanna loose your audience, maybe they gonna buy some drink or just leave?
You could use sidemen. And I saw sideman handle over brand new tuned guitars between songs.

I wasn't alive for it, but from what I've been told, that was most bands in the 70's! haha

that's just because it was the 70s, not that they were like, irresponsible or something. bands back then didn't have like 15 guitars that could be switched in and out at every available moment.

What a strange thing to pick up on - Would you rather they played increasingly out of tune?

For the whole reunion tour I often wondered if the tour was put together very quickly (and thankfully very, very well) because of the bookings that Mike & Bruce already had for October (and didn't they also have to cancel some shows earlier this year?). So contracts were already signed for the Mike&Bruce show to play after the Beach Boys tour. I'm not surprised that Brian didn't know this (see Rolling Stone) as this is Brian. Plus no one ever said that it would be certain they'd continue together.

Personally I hoped for (and I mentioned this in this thread) that this would be the last Beach Boys tour. You know, go out on a high note. I'm not very fond of Mike&Bruce going out as "The Beach Boys" no matter how good their band is.
I'd rather have them billed as "Mike Love & Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys" or something to that effect but of course it wouldn't work very well.
One thing though is that the Beach Boys have done fantastic shows that exceeded our expectations and was so good that it'll be hard for Mike&Bruce to get on this level again - no matter how good their band is; the Beach Boys are missing (same goes of course for Brian's tours).
The setlists on the Beach Boys tour were great but I don't think Mike&Bruce will go this way and play the setlists they have done in the last years (which were cool of course); dunno about TWGMTR being included.

After the whole media and press attention the Beach Boys got, it is certain that Mike&Bruce will have some more sales and attention at least for a while because people will believe this is the Beach Boys with Brian (as someone else already mentioned, Brian reuniting with the others is the reason it was/is such a success and not the reunion of the other members). It's not like it wasn't announced but those are not hardcore fans as we are and probably have heard about Brian and the boys being back together, maybe even bought the new album but don't know about the business side and wouldn't think of reading up on that topic. All they know is "Beach Boys reunited with Brian to celebrate their 50th this year, have a new album with Brian and they are giving a concert here".

Music critics and magazines of course will also be on the roll dismissing Mike&Bruce's show. And although I don't think it is fair from a musical point, the criticism of using the Beach Boys' name I share.

Status quo ante.  Andrew is correct.

Much greatness poured forth from this tour.

First, they still "got it." (Never a doubt in my mind!)

Second, musicians from each of the bands worked together!  Wow! 

Third, resurgence of interest and appreciation for the music.  Win-win!

But, many who don't access to the regional areas of the tour were disappointed not to see the Touring Band in their more "local" community event venues.  One season won't be all that bad.  And, the music got to more far-flung areas with the Touring Band.  What is really cool is the creativity during the long separation.  Al put out a great album, Brian released work as well, and the younger guys are working on their own cool stuff as well and seem less "in the shadows" than their predecessors.

Lastly, they appeared genuinely delighted working in front of very appreciative fans.  Now, it is time for a breather.  My instinct tells me that we have not seen the last of them touring as group.  Brian looks as if he is more than delighted to be Mr. Beach Boy!  Stay tuned.

To all you wonderful British-based fans: Just rock out next week!  At "this year's" grand finale!   ;)

Why couldn't that press release at least end on a positive note and say something like "Keep an eye out for possible future plans with all original members of the Beach Boys in the near future.  Stay tuned!"

At least make it sound like the last few months actually MEANT something to them...

What would those plans be, though?

A "Love You" tour?

You're right...why mention plans if there aren't any?  But considering all parties have all voiced just how great the reunion has been and how they wish it would continue...why not have the press release reflect that a little? It wouldn't hurt.  I mean, I'm looking at it especially from Mike's position.  Mike's getting the brunt of crap thrown at him for this so you'd think he'd be looking for something to include there to "soften" the blow a tad.  It's just weird that he didn't take that opportuity.  You know like, "We're returning to the old format...but we could regroup again in the future!"

Think you are on it 100% fact-wise, attitude-wise, and otherwise-wise, filledeplage...let's savor the year we've had. This time last year all of this would have been a 100,000-to-1 shot. Blessings should be accepted and acknowledged with gratitude and humility. Let's be joyful and have some faith that the Boys just might have figured out a way to make their complicated situation work for them. In short: miracles can happen!

That is a very good question. But this "announcement" makes it seem like the reunion is over, period. Which it may be. But unless they're trying to set up the next reunion project as a surprise by letting as assume it won't happen again, all this announcement does is reflect negatively. AGD is right, it's a good "CYA" item I suppose in terms of setting up expectations.

I wish I could think of a less ham-handed analogy, but this announcent reads like an e-mail from your bank that states "Good news! Concerning your $5000 balance, as we go forward, you will see that the $3000 you deposited this month is no longer there, but the original $2000 you started with is still there rockin' out some good vibrations and keeping the spirit of your bank account alive!"

I'm sure it won't functionally interfere with future reunion activities. But if they had any even slight idea that they might do something else together, I would think such an annoucement that firmly states exactly who is and isn't in the touring lineup going forward wouldn't be needed. Unless, again as AGD pointed out, this is just something to back them up when or if people start complaining about future scaled-back shows.

I think you make some good points concerning why they are so quick to get back on the road, and to play those types of venus and cities. Nothing against those venues or cities. But it is odd to go to an over dozen-piece reunion lineup with 5 Beach Boys playing Wembley Arena to a 7-piece band with 2 Beach Boys playing a casino in Biloxi.

I know that we don't know the details concerning these October bookings, but based on what I've heard and what I've observed, I think it's at the very least very debatable as to whether the Mike/Bruce show absolutely *had* to do these October gigs. There may have been little or no consequences to cancelling those shows.

The recent announcement also doesn't read as if this scaled back lineup just has to knock out a few random shows they were previously obligated to do. It reads as though after September 28th, it's back to the way it's been for 14 years.

Maybe Mike will see the light once he & Bruce hit the road alone. My crystal ball can foresee another full band tour, come next year.

Yeah, I'm bummed that the reunion seems to be coming to an end (at least temporarily), but I will still be going to all the BB related shows in my area, (M&B, Al, Brian) and enjoying them!  Mike & Bruce put on a killer show, and the band has a sound that I actually prefer to Brian's band.  Brian's band, while technically excellent, has less of a "fun" sound and more of a "serious" sound than Mike's, for whatever reason.  I will also be looking forward to going to shows at smaller venues, and not having to deal with large stadiums and exorbitant ticket prices.  The reunion was fun while it lasted, and I took (almost) every opportunity I could to see shows in my area...went to 3 out of 4 shows within 150 miles.  Every show was worth the $$$ I spend on myself and friends, but looking forward to a lighter, mellower experience in 2013.

+ 1

And to clarify: the "fun" sound that the Mike/Bruce band brings is due in part by John Cowsill, in my opinion.  His energy is contagious and the way he bangs out those tunes, really get through you.  The band configuration on this past tour was impeccable--and to me, was the best way to have this music performed. 

I will still go to any BB related concerts in my area but I know I will be thinking stuff like wow I just heard Bruce croak through the bridge of Surfer Girl instead of BW, I didnt hear BW on Sloop John B I heard 5 people singing the lead, I didn't hear Al nail WIBN or Rhonda, I had nice versions but not them. I didn't hear Dave wail on guitar. I enjoyed Mike and Bruce's band and they sound good, but I think part of that enjoyment was because I had forgotten how much Al adds to the sound, how awesome the guitar solos can be, or what a treat it is to have Brian there in many ways.  When I first saw Mike and Bruce after '98, I compared them to the Carl/Al group and was disappointed. I kind of moved on and forgot and just accepted them as Mike and Bruce now and gained more enjoyment for them but now I have comparisons again....and that's gonna affect my enjoyment.

NO FOSKETT NO REUNION. PERIOD.

GOOD LUCK MIKE YA SLACKASS

It's funny; I've always been disapproving or, at best, kind of ambivalent about the Mike/Bruce shows, and I haven't gone to see them. Based on how good Totten and Cowsill are, and that Mike actually sounds pretty good overall vocally, I'd probably consider seeing that show now based on nothing but being pleasantly surprised by them.

But, maybe it makes no sense and sounds petty or too finicky or too simplistic, but I'm almost more apt to not see the scaled back BB show now not because I object to use of the name (or insert the other arguments people have used since 1998), but simply out of almost a protest to signify how much of a missed opportunity it is not not continue with this reunion lineup.

I admit it, it's literally a case of holding the Mike/Bruce band to a higher standard (calling itself the BB's mind you) in light of something I didn't know was going to be so good until I saw it, and that is the awesome reunion lineup. As I said before, aside from it being the novelty of a "reunion" and a 50th anniversary, it's just an awesome live show.

I don't even feel like this tour was a bigger production or a bigger hassle or expense. I saw the reunion lineup at the same venue I saw Brian play in 2005, and I don't think the tickets were much more expensive than the the most expensive Brian tickets I've bought. Bring the reunion on again, same venue, same lineup, same price! I'll be there!

I wonder how much longer Mike and Bruce can keep this touring pace up.

One would think not much longer. I know it's good to keep active, especially in old age, but Gosh Darn - Mike and Bruce are like machines or something. I just hope Mike doesn't have a heart attack mid-"WHEEEEEEEEEIN" on stage one of these days because he pushed himself too much for too long.

That's a bitchin' way to go.

I think Mike would like it that way.

Some thoughts in no particular order:
I don't think this is surprisning at all. Mike has always loved to perform. Brian not so much if at all. One guy wants to be on the road alot; the other hardly at all.
Mike and Bruce are keeping the Beach Boys name as an ongoing band in the public's mind as they have done so since Carl's passing. And, the non-touring members do benefit financially from the touring "Beach Boys".
This Tour was fantastic but was meant to be a "limited engagement" from the outset. I'm sure we all kind of hoped otherwise after seeing how good they were live but I think it had little chance beacuse of all the variable involved. What the tour did do, however, was show that they can put it together and do it in the future (health issues aside) if they want to do so again. Hopefully they will.
Perhaps Brian will eventually get back to the studio and put together material for a follow up album that all the guys will come together in the studio, make and release. They don't need to continue to tour to do so.  
There might be a question as to whether the crowds would continue to be so large if one knew that this was to be an ongoing thing.
Many of the groups that have recently reunited for a special tour have then stopped touring and the individuals, if they want, then continue to then perform on their own. Its akin to what's happening here.
I do wish that Al and David would perform with Mike and Bruce from time to time now that they have moved beyond past issues.

Also:
 - I wonder how, if at all, California Saga - should they stay together - will enter into the equation. Will Al hook up with them beacuse his sons are in it? Will Brian have any interest?
 - As others have said, I'll continue to go see Mike and Bruce or Brian and his band or whatever related acts come my way as it is always a fun time. I think Mike and Bruce is more a "sing along"; Brian is more of an event as he often performs something different than before. In either case, its about the music.

In fairness, wasn't Doug contractually obligated to squeeze out (multiple puns intended)  another VU album no matter the fact that he was the only one left? ..... And it ain't half bad for what it is either.....

And fully agreed that the guy deserves to be placed in the hall of fame immediately!

I don't think California Saga is going to be a regular ongoing concern. Carnie is too busy being a professional celebrity, Billy already started another Beach Boys cover band with Ed Carter and Bobby Figueroa, Christian will be in the Mike & Bruce lineup of the Beach Boys, and Ambha's still in high school.

also, California Saga is far more niche-interest level than any of the bands out there. Acoustic covers of "Friends" songs? That's not going to sell many tickets.

I have no idea if Al and/or David would like to continue touring with Mike & Bruce as The Beach Boys. With all due respect to Al and David, I don't see how any solo activity they engage in could as exciting and fulfilling as touring as Beach Boys. I don't know what David's plans are, but, I highly doubt that Al is working on a new album. And, how many shows does he play a year with his group/family - 4 or 5? So, I would like to know what happened with those two guys.

Now, with Brian, one thing I am absolutely sure of. If Brian Wilson wanted this thing to continue - IT WOULD CONTINUE! Brian may at times do things that he really doesn't want to do. But, when Brian wants something, he usually gets it. If he wants to tour with Mike & Bruce, and wants Al & David to join along, it will happen. If he wants to record again as The Beach Boys, they will record again.

Yeah, Mike & Bruce are going back to the smaller group/smaller venue touring - without Brian. But, if Brian said, "Hey, let's do some more...", they would jump to it. They might raise tickets prices, T-Shirt prices, sound check prices, hell, they might even charge you to pee. But, it would get done.

But didn't Mike say he was looking forward to next summer with Cal. Saga opening for the Beach Boys?

Yeah he did but it was probably just an empty promise or optimistic wishing/hoping.  Cal Saga can regroup any time they want once they clear out their schedules.  They're not really a true group....they got together and performed less than a handful of times.  They came together to do their part in the 50th Anniversary shenanigans and it looks as though they've moved on.  I'm sure we'll see them again at some point but not a regular basis...

The website for Austin's Backyard venue, site of the October 6th Mike & Bruce show, actually STATES that Brian, Al and Dave will not be participating. Sounds like they have fielded some calls on this issue. I've had emails from half a dozen people asking if I knew this concert was coming and I've told each one that it might be "The Beach Boys" but it ain't The Beach Boys.

Just to clarify, only the "corporate" members benefit financially as far as I know, so if David's not on the tour, I don't believe he's making anything. Also, the "corporate" members only split the licensing fee, not the entire wad of money the tour generates. I'm not saying anybody was saying otherwise, I just continue to read comments occasionally elsewhere that suggest Al and Brian make the same amount of money sitting at home as they would if they were in the touring BB's, and that is of course not true.

Don't get me wrong, even simply the licensing fee is a nice little chunk of change for sitting at home.  :lol

You know, the way he said it, when he said it, sounded to me like if he was talking about a BBs tour for 2013 with the current reunion lineup. Let us not be over dramatic. Just remember that a year ago we couldn't dream what would happen this year. I'm sure getting any prospect of getting together or doing something as a group (promotion, recording, touring, whatever) has been made easier after these wonderful days. Just think that these 5 guys could not be gathered for the Landmark, or thr Lifetime Grammy, for instance. I'm sure social occasions will find the group united.

the professor is still in China, where he caught the BB on CNN asia, in a good interview. brian said that the harmonies were a merger of masculine and feminine concepts and were ethereal. i thought this was a wonderful formulation, and i was happy to get a blast from of BB in the middle of some very foreign travel around the amazing realm of china. (I am here to give lectures on English literature).

I got this post reunion news just no and am crestfallen but not surprised. i too will be checking every day for news of a new album, which I consider the most important "next thing." More box sets, dvd, etc. will all be welcomed, but the idea of the boys back in the studio making another album is the benchmark of love and harmony for me. I will got go crazy to see M and B, which I have seen once, but i will not turn down a chance.  They want to play almost every day, and it makes sense that B, D, and A want a rest from this.  We as fans will never be content unless they are together showing their love for each other and us every day for the rest of their lives. I will patiently await the next information and output.  But yes, the word that "something new" is in the works will be most welcomed, and the dire sounding press release said nothing of the sort, and I read it twice. . . .

back soon. best to all

I really don't understand all the chatter. When this whole thing was announced by Al on Coast to Coast after his album came out, Al has been right on. He said a tour, probably 50 dates in 4 countries, an album, and that's it! Alan said just exactly what happened a year in advance. Make that a year and a half. AGD was right about the finality of it all. Try to get over it, it's ova. That's not to say Brian has more to say. The M & B shows start their run again, just like I expected.

More basically, it might be nice to have the other boys represented in the press release, to make it clear that they're all on the same page with this.  Something like:  "It's been a wonderful tour, but after four months of barely seeing my wife and kids, I'd kinda like to put my feet up for a bit," says lead guitarist David Marks.  "But I'm always up for sitting in with the band, next time they come out to New York."  Or "This is the biggest tour I've done in fifteen years, I'm up for another one but not just yet, y'know?" says guitarist Al Jardine.  Or "Mike's on tour and I'm back in LA working on stuff, it really is like the good old days," says Brian Wilson.  "He's doing his thing and I'm doing my thing, and maybe we'll do another thing together and maybe we won't, but either way we'll keep doing things, y'know?"

Cheers,
Jon Blum

First this is the Beach Boys and you can't ever say never again with certainty. Second this is what Mike and Bruce do, why stop if they want to keep on playing? Third haven't they given us more this year than we ever expected? Most of my favorite bands and artists are either retired or dead. We got the tour and the album and they were both good. I hope for more but they owe us nothing.

The reunion tour - despite what Brian was saying for most of 2011 and a good few weeks of 2012 - was planned well in advance... and yes, a handful of M&B Texas symphony shows were cancelled in February. The C50 tour always had a finite lifespan.

However, given that whenever the BB do something as well as they have this summer, there's always the possibility they'll totally futz it up by trying to carry it too far, I really hope they don't try to, er, 'do it again' (ya see what I did there ?). The tour was amazing, the album astonishing. Let it stay that way.

Can't understand why this is a surprise to anyone.  It's been in Rolling Stone.

Heard it from Mike himself in my July backstage report.
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,13842.0.html

Personally, I'd be ecstatic to see the BBs go back to the old ways - let Mike and Bruce tour while Brian works up music in the studio.

This is what happened when Jimi Hendrix tried to play a song without stopping after the previous song to tune up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd9YdQg_uu4  ;D

The press release reads like it was kinda thrown together imho. But that's just me.

I'm not surprised at this news, but I was optimistic that they would take a break and tour as the full band next year (which can still happen).

Maybe Al and David will join Brian in the studio working on the 'Rock n Roll album' while Mike and Bruce are on the road.

If there is a new album next year featuring all five members then I think they'll all be back for a tour. I remember Al saying on (on CBS or Charlie Rose) that he could see doing a tour with all five members every few years or so.

Exactly my thoughts. This would be a nice ending for the band. But that's why I personally don't like Mike & Bruce touring as "The Beach Boys".

An article about Mike's/whoever's statement:
http://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/09/18/i-look-forward-to-performing-mike-love-takes-the-reins-as-the-beach-boys-split-again/

I don't think Mike would be so eager to relinquish control in the studio these days. After all, he is executive producer of TWGMTR and has equal footing in most matters with Brian (and JT) on the business end of C50. For him to suddenly go 'f*** it, good evening Intercourse, Pennsylvania' and leave Brian completely 100% in charge of the music without his input (lyrical or whatever) just doesn't seem plausible.

That headline is telling - 'The Beach Boys split up again' is what less informed folk are going to come out of this with.

I am having trouble correlating the information in this thread with southbay's report about the grammy show where Brian said they would probably be back in the studio the first of the year. it was also reported that mike and bruce did not chime in positively about that.
can we nail this down, or is it simply going to drive us nuts until we see a formal plan for a follow up album?

According to Brian, they will be back in the studio after the new year. I think it is quite possible that he might work on new material while Bruce and Mike are on the road, and we could once again end up with something like TWGMTR, where you really have a Brian Wilson album with harmonies by the group, and a few lead vocal cameos by Mike, Al, and a little Bruce.  Brian himself seems to be more into working on "Beach Boys" stuff than solo stuff and I'm sure everybody around him is aware that the band's latest album has done much better than any BW album besides BWPS. Maybe Mike and Bruce aren't so into it, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind having another new album of material on the chart.

Why not? It worked well enough back in 65-66.

Except when Brian stayed in the studio in the 60s, there were five Beach Boys onstage, not two.  Of course, that same lineup can't be recreated but it would be nice if at least Al and Dave went along.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-beach-boys-reunion-mike-love-tour-20120919,0,7915483.story

Will Beach Boys reunion end on a sour note?

Even on a day designed to celebrate 50 years of the signature harmonies of the Beach Boys, the notoriously fractious group couldn’t avoid striking yet another discordant note amid all the good vibrations. 

A day before band members gathered at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles to take in various accolades, singer and lyricist Mike Love caught his fellow band members by surprise in announcing his decision to resume touring with his latter-day incarnation of the Beach Boys -- minus creative leader Brian Wilson or original members Al Jardine and David Marks.

The move by Love, who legally controls the Beach Boys name and who has sued Wilson and Jardine over various issues throughout the years, raises major questions about any future for the reunited edition of the quintessential California band. It's played more than 70 performances this year on four continents and released a warmly received new studio album for the first time in more than two decades.

“The 50th anniversary tour was designed to go for a year and then end,” Love said at the Grammy Museum just after he, Wilson, Jardine, Marks and Johnston were presented with triple-platinum awards signifying more than 3 million copies sold of their 2003 hits compilation, “Sounds of Summer -- The Very Best of the Beach Boys.

The framed awards were presented by EMI/Capitol Records executives Bill Gagnon and Jane Ventom in front of the Grammy Museum’s new Beach Boys exhibit, “Good Vibrations -- 50 Years of the Beach Boys,” which will run for the next year. Record label executives would love to keep the reformed band going as the reunion album, “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” gave the Beach Boys the highest chart debut in its history when it entered at No. 3 in June with first-week sales of 61,000 copies.

Love indicated that he’s being protective of the Beach Boys’ legacy.

“You’ve got to be careful not to get overexposed,” Love said. “There are promoters who are interested [in more shows by the reunited lineup], but they’ve said, ‘Give it a rest for a year.’ The Eagles found out the hard way when they went out for a second year and wound up selling tickets for $5.”

That left other band members confused and disappointed.

“Brian is very bummed,” Wilson’s manager, Jean Sievers, said Tuesday.

Wilson himself said this year’s tour, which includes two final performances later this week in London, has been “very tiring,” but he added, “I’m really looking forward to doing another album.”

Love said that he sees recording and touring as separate matters, and that his decision to return to touring without Wilson, who is his cousin, or Jardine and Marks, who started the Beach Boys when they were teenagers growing up in Hawthorne,  wouldn’t preclude more recording together. “I’d be interested [in making another album] if I could write some songs with Brian,” Love said.

Love’s announcement generated dozens of mostly critical responses on Rolling Stone’s website when the news appeared Monday.

The shift in the touring lineup also has caused some confusion outside the group itself. Texas club Nutty Jerry's had booked a Beach Boys show, which has since been canceled. Love's manager Jay Jones said it was Love's decision to halt the show because it was being inaccurately promoted as part of the reunion tour with the original members.

Nevertheless, group members smiled for photos during the platinum award presentation and genially answered questions from the museum's executive director, Robert Santelli, before an enthusiastic crowd of about 200 people, including a few who flew in from Florida, New Jersey and Kentucky.

Following a Q&A session, a stripped-down version of the touring group using acoustic instruments performed five songs. The set showcased the distinctive, multilayered harmonies that propelled hits such as “California Girls,” “Surfer Girl,” “Help Me Rhonda” and “I Get Around” up the charts in the 1960s.

Wilson has his own group, the Brian Wilson Band, which has been accompanying him on tour and in the studio since 1999, and with which he has made several new solo albums. Love and Johnston have continued touring as the Beach Boys with their own support musicians, two of whom -- guitarist-singer Scott Totten and drummer John Cowsill -- were part of the 50th anniversary tour, along with several members of Wilson’s band.

The Grammy Museum exhibit includes various pieces of musical and personal memorabilia from over a half century of the band’s existence, including the surfboard once owned by drummer Dennis Wilson, who drowned in 1983. (The third Wilson sibling, Carl, died in 1998 of cancer.) The surfboard was pictured on the cover of two Beach Boys albums.

The exhibit also includes a high school theme paper Brian Wilson wrote outlining “My Philosophy,” in which he stated that he hoped to make his mark in the world through music. “The satisfaction of ‘a place in the world’ seems well worth a sincere effort to me,” the 17-year-old future architect of the Beach Boys sound wrote.

Santelli also said he plans to present a six-week course next year at the museum exploring the Beach Boys’ legacy that will be open to the public.

Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times

I'll add to my original report that in my opinion, from my personal experience with him, is that Mike Love is a Major Jerk!

(PS - There is a board moderator editing my posts.  Probably Mike Love)

Myke Luhv...that's all, just Myke Luhv.

"Brian is very bummed"  :-\

 “I’d be interested [in making another album] if I could write some songs with Brian,” Love said.

Get ready for an album full of Beaches In Mind x 12. It's on his terms now.
For the love of Mike, please let Brian collaborate with anyone else for the lyrics. We now know that even Bon Jovi can write lyrics that satisfy us!

I'm not sure what Mike's obsession is with touring and touring exclusively under the Beach Boys name. It would've been nice to see the current touring lineup continue, but with less dates and possibly without Brian sometimes. As others have said, this was kind of expected but still a little disappointing. I doubt it's anything cold on Mike's part, just going about his business as usual, and who knows what restrictions and conditions Brian's people threw Mike's way in concerns to the band's future with recording and touring. Not saying I agree with Mike's decisions or whatever, just saying these people have had internal conflicts before and it wouldn't shock me if some of them persisted.

Al's dedication to the band in the form of "No more solo stuff, it's all about the Beach Boys now" could be promising. At worst, a new Brian/Al/David/Wondermints group could be promising.

Brian sounds trapped by Mike Love being a control freak about touring. Brian sounds like he is just trying to make things work without conflict. I wish the independence of the pet sounds/smile Brian Wilson would come out one last time and Brian would have tour as he wanted it. He is the founder after all....

He, Mike, Al, Carl, and Dennis were the founders, not just Brian.

It's ALL about what is best for Mike Love (aka-The Mike/Bruce show):

A) He is the total center of attention
B) He gets to cal all the shots
C) He probably makes much more money that touring with the real Beach Boys
D) He's addicted to the "side benefits" of being a rock star on the road,

What might these "side benefits" be?  :lol

This can't be good..... ;D

The idea about not watering down the band's name by going right back out on the road is interesting. However, this reasoning would only work if Mike was going back out on the road under a different name. He's been diluting the "Beach Boys" brand for decades now (and Al and Carl and the rest were part of this too going back to the 80's and 90's), and that's one of the reason they aren't playing Anaheim Stadium like they were in 1976 or indoor areans like they were as late as 1980, and so on. A lot of factors play into venue sizes and whatnot, but even Carl back in the 80's commented that they were diluting the name by doing 100-150 shows per year, every year.

If the BB's had simply ceased touring in 1998, and then the 2012 shows were not only the first "reunion" gigs, but the first gigs of any kind under the BB name since '98, they would have probably been playing larger venues. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy seeing them at the Greek Theater in Berkeley instead of a baseball stadium or basketball arena.

Again, this is the strange world of BB politics. I don't think the current state of the band is crystal clear to anyone. It sounds like Brian, Al, and David would probably like to continue with the lineup, but not do 150 shows per year. As many have said lately, Brian and Al can attempt to pull the license at some point here if they feel that strongly about Mike not going back to his version of the BB's. But that wouldn't exactly foster a closer bond to then pull together for another album and tour.

I can envision them moving between the Mike/Bruce lineup and a reunion lineup, but it will eventually get confusing for all of the machinery of the touring industry, namely promoters, agents, venues, and so on.

Mike going back out and doing a 150 shows in 2013 will not help build demand for a 2014 "reunion" lineup. And you know what? These guys are too old to try to do it every "two or three years." I hope they live another 50 years each, but they won't be able to do this freakishly amazing sounding live show for another 20 years.

He get's the senior discount on the Denny's Grand Slam breakfast when traveling.

I gotta wonder if maybe Mike wasn't that happy with TWGMTR. He's only the lead singer on a third of the album, and the lyrics (besides "Spring Vacation" and "Beaches In Mind") aren't exactly Mike Love fun-in-the-sun type fare. Even though I think Mike has grown up a bit and became a little wiser over time, I really don't think he sees any point in The Beach Boys besides the '62 to '65  hits and "Kokomo". And he will also giving lip service to Pet Sounds and if he's feeling nice, "Heroes And Villains" and "Wonderful".

I do think he wanted The Beach Boys to make a new album and be back in popular culture to a degree, and he's fulfilled that. So now I think he's realized he can either not tour so much and continue The Beach Boys as a viable recording group, or he can just tour the hits with Bruce to low brow know-nothings. I think it's obvious which Mike would prefer.

And I wouldn't be so big on this if it wasn't for that quote by Brian's manager that he is bummed. Why would Mike not want to keep Brian with the group? Personally I think if Mike wants to play hardball, Brian, Al, and Carl's estate should say, "you know what Mike, we're not gonna license the name to you anymore...unless we are onstage with you, it's not The Beach Boys. We wanna record and be a real band. Are you in?"

I wish there was a Beach Boys forum where people actually liked the members of the band.

What the f*** are you talking about?

Confusion:

http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/2012/09/19/the-beach-boys-to-perform-at-benefit-at-the-santaluz-club/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RanchoSantaFeReview+%28Rancho+Santa+Fe+Review%29 (http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/2012/09/19/the-beach-boys-to-perform-at-benefit-at-the-santaluz-club/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RanchoSantaFeReview+%28Rancho+Santa+Fe+Review%29)

Brian's people just tweeted that LA Times article. Passive-aggressive marketing? Gotta love it.

We try to, but Mike Love is just an unlikable person. Brian, Al, and David seem cool though. Bruce is a mystery.

yeah I thought that was really interesting. they also posted it on the facebook page.

I'm not sure what to make of Mike's comments.  He has a valid point about overexposure but then here he is going out on the road almost immediately with Bruce with The Beach Boys "banner" next month.  If he was SERIOUSLY worried about having too much attention---why stay in the game?  Him saying that promoters said to "give it a rest for a year" is probably him putting the blame on someone else.  It seems to me that it is he himself who wants the break for a year.  He wants to go back to the tour/band/life that he knows so well.  There is no doubt Mike enjoyed the last few months but it looks like he's gotten used to being the full time parent of The Beach Boys' name instead of having a few other people come in and share it with him.



You're probably right.  To me, all I needed to hear on what Mike thought of the album when he said a while back that when he wrote the new songs for the album...he wrote songs that didnt sound like they were written in a "hospice"--a sly reference to the Life suite on the end of TWGMTR.  For a guy who likes to keep things upbeat and remian "Mr. Positive" I can see how songs about summers and friends being gone is not on his priority list.  He probably wants to specifically write more songs with Brian so he has a say on what type of songs are written.  Mike didn't oversee the Life suite since they were cowrtitten with Joe Thomas, now I think Mike wants to take a little bit more control.  Before he does, it seems he just wants a little break from all this.



Right.  I don't get it either.  I'd hope that Mike is aware of Brian's feelings and it is with a heavy heart that he must tell his cousin to hold off on anymore plans until after the new year.  I hope Mike holds to his promise and Brian is still interested in more BB work in 2013.

...and so the 50 year saga of The Beach Boys ends with more villainy from Mike Love. Depressing, but not a surprise.

Bruce seems much more unlikeable than Mike. Mike comes across as misunderstood and genuinely out of touch

Bruce, I get an unpleasant vibe off him, I imagine he's incredibly two faced

Was just going to post about that. That article has been posted on Brian's official Facebook page. Doesn't smell very good if you ask me.

Also be sure to check out the good old "Mike bashing" in the comments. Hadn't read that in a long time.

"Mike Love is a douchebag"
"I wouldn't pay $5 to see Mike Love without Brian"
"Love has always been my least favorite beach boy"
"Mike Love seems like an awful guy."
"He's a complete ass. I hope nobody supports his lame pseudo Beach Boys anymore."
"Mike needs to hang on to his ego."
"mike love is a sook"
"Mike Love's a dick; always was, always will be."
"mike love is garbage."
"Mike Love is such an asshole. He ruined everything."
"Mike Love proving to be the world's biggest douche"
"Leave it to Mike Love to screw things up. He is an ego-maniacal A-HOLE. He could screw up a Chinese fire drill."
"he has to be the biggest prick in the history of Rock 'n Roll."
"Mr. Ego himself, Mike "The Buzzkill" Love"
"Mike Love - the world's most egotistic douchebag"
"Once again Mike Love proves what a raging douche he still is after all these years"
"Mike Love is a dick, straight up."
"Mike love needs to eat a big fat dick"
"Mike Love is an asshole and HAS always been an asshole!"
"Mike Love Sucks"


And my personal favorite so far "It's giving me douche chills."

This whole thing is a shame.

Brian shared the article on his Facebook page a couple of minutes ago...

I'm not sure what to make of this. By now Brian must have known about Mike and Bruce's plans for the near future and presumably has been pushing forward with new solo projects for 2013 as well. Maybe it's just that he would have liked to continue working with them (but according to Mike that is still being considered). Maybe it's just Brian's mood changes...

Indeed ! What's this all about? A Mike & Bruce show or a Beach Boys concert? And if it really is in Mexico, would they play tehre after having done their last UK show just two days prior?

Maybe it's just Mike & Dean.  ;D

At this point, I have no doubt it's a Mike/Bruce show.  An additional "reunion" show would have been announced by now and listed on their website.  After the two UK shows...the Reunion Celebration tour officially concludes.

I respectfully TOTALLY disagree with your points.

Like I admitted in an earlier post, I have no idea how the coming & going of Al Jardine and David Marks was handled and is being handled.

But as far as Brian Wilson is concerned, if Brian told Mike that he wanted to tour with Mike & Bruce, there is no way - NO WAY - Mike would refuse. For 51 years, Mike has lived to work with Brian Wilson in any capacity. I believe his estrangement from Brian over the last three decades has been killing him, personally and professionally.

This "Brian is bummed" is a joke. Brian's probably mentally and physically exhausted and is looking forward to nothing more than a recliner for a few months. If Brian wants to resume touring with The Beach Boys, he/they will. If Brian wants to record another album with The Beach Boys, he/they will.

These misguided posts about Mike controlling everything are also a joke. Mike's "power" can very easily be changed. All major decisions concerning The Beach Boys are subject to a vote. And guess who has a vote? Brian Wilson. If Brian doesn't like what's going on, he has the power to change it. And, you don't think Brian - and his wifeandmanagers and TALENT has any influence over the others' votes? Mike has this supposed "power" because it was given to him, it was literally handed over to him - by votes, votes submitted by Brian Wilson.

Slightly more from RS mag now:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-wilson-holds-out-hope-for-new-beach-boys-music-20120919#ixzz26xAK79cn

On whether the group's solo projects might prevent them from making more new music beyond this year's That's Why God Made the Radio LP, Jardine said, "The Beach Boys is the real deal. I'm not interested in that other stuff." And Wilson got the biggest response of the night when he said, "I wouldn't mind getting together with Mike [Love] and the guys and making an exciting rock & roll album."

Added Wilson, "I'm sure by early next year we'll be ready to rock."

i think you might have a point there. Brian could be bummed because the tour will be over soon and he enjoyed it so much. It doesn't mean he's bummed that Mike & Bruce go out soon on their own again. In fact it was clear from the very beginning that there would be more shows of Mike & Bruce. Brian's a sentimental kid of guy so that might be what's going on with him.

Who is moderating your posts? Isn't me...

http://www.nme.com/news/the-beach-boys/66208

!!!!!!
Apologize if this was posted before. New to me.

Again this is much ado about nothing.

I don't like to Mike bash, but it's things like this that make it too easy (and with valid reason). On this tour, Mike seemed geniunely happy to be with his fellow Beach Boys, and made a lot of us think of him in a different light. If he didn't want to cheapen the name, he wouldn't go out AT ALL. He probably does make a bigger percentage going out in the M&B configuration, and I do understand he has somewhat of a duty to his son and his 'other' band.....but damn.

On a musical level....He praised Pet Sounds (and to some degree) SMiLE. It's hard to pinpoint, but I think maybe he can't see beyond the audience reception to the hits. They are all positive, the reaction he gets from them is positive, he's Mr. Positivity! If he's all about the fame and/or money, shouldn't he see that Pet Sounds is rated #2 on the all time albums list, and that it's the most well known and influential Beach Boys album? Does he honestly not see that we want, crave, need more of that? There is room for both, but an all Wilson-Love album surely won't have anything like the suite on it, not at this rate.

Exactly. Brian doesn't think before he gives answers to questions. He gives programmed answers. Brian, like the rest of the guys, have been bending over backwards to be positive. It was reinforced in him before the reunion began. So, when he's asked how he feels about the tour coming to end, he says he's "bummed" - which is actually being nice and complimentary. That's another way of saying that he enjoyed himself. He coulda said, "I enjoyed the tour, but I'm tired, my back is killing me, I'm tired of singing "Sail On Sailor", and I just wanna go home and sleep for a few months..." Do you really think he wants this tour to continue? Really?

All along we have known that this will be a one off tour and there have been many references recently about Mike and Bruce going off on their own. Unless that changed behind the scenes why is this now a problem and why are Brian's PR people trying to stir things up? I just don't get it. This tour has been successful because of the nature of it, Mike does have a point and although I'd love to see them again, I think for their legacy they must leave it here. Maybe Mike's promoters comment has something to do with the very strict VIP packages which left them feeling like they had no control? I don't know. But I still don't get why these tweets and Facebook messages are being put up.

It's a quote taken out of context...I have a strong feeling about it. I think Mike's statement about not wanting to oversaturate the market with reunion shows was kind of hinting at the truth. People think it's done... then a surprise new tour happens this time next year (or early 2014 more likely) to support a surprise new album and people turn out in droves because it is so 'unexpected'. I wouldn't be surprised if after the Q&A, Mike told Brian not to let the cat out of the bag. This is all a ruse.

Exactly. It's how they handled this tour and LP. If they work together again that will be great, if not I am just glad they did something of such high quality. The truth is that we are more likely to see something done with them together again now because this went so well.

If I had to guess, based on seeing the Touring Band since they evolved post the tragic loss of Carl, I would guess that they were booking two years out.  That kind of demand was likely a result of lots of work building a band with two members to make it work, and build out from.  Each year the Touring Band got better and better and on their own.  Brian built a band, as well as Al.  They are all fabulous and indisputable crowd pleasers.  

Everyone wants to know...What happens next?  I bet Brian is bummed.  He seemed to get into the whole scene more with each performance, and that was a man in profound pain.   Now, maybe that is on the mend.  A back takes lots of time to recover and rehab.  The long view is the most prudent.  He can enjoy being in less discomfort and not have to be guarded about every step he takes or any twisting motion that might put him in pain.  

What is wrong with fulfilling commitments, and working independently with the big picture still in view?  And, absolutely, "oversaturation" of a market, which is struggling is always an issue.  Nothing wrong with prudence.   Those less well known market areas, like local theaters are waiting for them to return.  If one is not sitting  at the table, speculation can be ridiculous.  They are all adults and can figure this out.   ;)

I found out first hand.  But not wanting to get sued, ................

It IS being taken out of context. That's what I was trying to explain in my above post.

I cannot believe some of the things I am reading, that Mike PREFERS to tour as Mike & Bruce. In some minor ways, yes, it might be preferable for him. But, I will continue to beat this drum.

Look at the people we're talking about here - Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, and Brian Wilson. I'm thinkin' 'bout this whole world...In the whole world, who are the biggest fans of Brian Wilson? Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. In the whole world, who would love the most to tour with Brian Wilson? Jeff Foskett. :p

Brian's people opting to post this article feels kind of spiteful, and it's far from the first time they've seemingly acted that way.

My original post said ML was a "Dic..head" and it was automatically changed to "is a skull of Dick Reising."  Guess that's something automatic on here???? Thought is was done by somebody. It wasn't - Sorry, my bad!

I'll repeat a question that has been raised by one or two others:

If this is all much ado about nothing, why are Brian's 'people' publicising articles that talk of the reunion ending on a 'sour note'?

In addition to my earlier post, I hope this 'issue' or the the fact this is being made public doesn't spoil the UK gigs. I would hate to see a band at war and the fans split between the Love and Wilson camps again. That's why I don't get the timing of this press release.

On the other hand, maybe open warfare and gangland-style slayings would boost the press and BO.

Met Bruce (very nice to me), David (very nice to me), Al (very nice to me), next to Brian (he looked exhausted and was trying to sleep, probably the back).
Mike Love (a jerk, not misunderstood in the least.  That's the dude!  His reputation is well deserved!)

Interesting quote in the billboard article. Sources connected with Brian are quoted as saying " we could have easily added another 12 uk dates".

I wonder who was against that

Yeah, it's the word filter. I had changed it to 'Skull of Richard' (because 'Dick' is a variation of 'Richard') several years ago but someone else changed to this. :lol

I know the anti Mike comments are flying around but I actually think this is a massive mistake on the part of Brian's camp. The timing, wording, way they have made this public is all wrong to me and whether or not it's true I don't really see what it is going to achieve. Totally confused by all this and just hope it doesn't affect the gigs next week.

I don't know if they even think that far. It's us fans that make a big deal out of it. They might've posted it on Facebook because it's an article that seems to be important for fans. Plus it has some nice pictures of the boys and talks about the Grammy Museum performance

For the same reason there was all the denials about the reunion. Controversy creates cash.


And, that.

I have no doubt that they've figured it out.  But out of all the ways to go about sharing with fans that the reunited group is put on hold indefinitely---this is surely not the best way to go at it.  I mentioned earlier (as well as others) how they possibly could have broken the news about this so I'm just still a little uncomfortable with how it was handled.  I'm just hoping that all their plans for the band comes into fruition in 2013.

Whether it was Mike's intention or not, the conditionality of that statement is pretty jarring.

What worries me is that coming into the last leg of this tour, the Beach Boys legacy was intact and soaring. Now it seems that this press release alone might undo all the positive vibes from fans, critics and the band and leave the BB where they were before all this - as a band who are constantly feuding.

I think they published this now because tickets for the post-Celebration shows are already on sale and they need to be on the safe side regarding possible complaints.
Still, it leaves a bad aftertaste.

Hmm....that's a slightly overly-dramatic view on the situation.  It really doesn't look like there are any real feuds going on in the band.  Sure all our shorts are in a twist but that's because we're all mega fans who want the band to continue on forever.  There is some backlash on FB about the story but that shoudln't really effect the huge crowds coming to see them in the UK.  Afterall, these are their first shows of the tour.  In that position, I wouldn' be harping about arguemnts or feuds...I'd just be ready to rock out.  And I think that's what he UK audiences will be doing...

This is all I can say about it  :wall

I don't know, but I have a feeling that something's not exactly right, as if they're not telling us everything. Or maybe I'm overthinking it...

We seem to have direct evidence to the contrary. Now, there may be reasons for Mike doing what he's doing, but it sure seems like he prefers the certainty of his own band and directing his own tours. And who would fault him for that?


We'll see. It didn't sound like a joke to me, and Jean is a straight shooter.

They were only ever planning to do the reunion for this one tour and Love/Johnston were going to continue touring afterwards in the same way that they had been beforehand.  I don't think anyone from the band has indicated otherwise.  As long as they can avoid suing each other, they will not regain their reputation of constantly feuding with each other.

As for the possibility of more recording, the fact that the band is apparently getting along makes it possible I guess, but they keep talking of a possibility, meaning that there are no definite plans.  For that reason, I'll only believe that a new album is going to be made when Andrew G Doe starts hinting at it in his way.

Is Mike's license for touring valid indefinitely or does it have an expiration date?  I wonder if he's continuing to get as much dough as he can until the license is up for renewal and others can vote him down.  I have nothing against Mike per se, but it does seem he's devaluing the name if there is possibility for another tour with the full reunited line-up.

"I don't want to work with The Beach Boys again. I don't like Mike Love. When Carl died, that was the end of The Beach Boys." Now, flash ahead a few months...."I'm looking forward to singing again with the guys and writing songs with Mike..." Is that the kind of evidence you are referring to.

In the words of the late Ronald Regan, "There you go again." Come on, Wirestone, you follow Brian more than anybody. You should know better than to let these new comments serve as "evidence". Maybe I should ask, is that the evidence you are referring to?

This is a compliment. I'm not being sarcastic. You are really good at handpicking certain quotes and using them to "prove" a point. Now, I know everybody does it, but you are really, really good at it. We do agree on one thing - We shall see. That'll be the evidence.

I wonder if Brian is trying to get as much dough as he can when he votes to give Mike the license as he (Brian) sits at home and collects a check for every show that Mike & Bruce work. I wonder if Brian cares about devaluing the name when he places his vote.

What's the big deal? We knew it was only a temp arrangement from the start. Mike wants to tour 150 days a year, Brian would rather cut off his left testicle than commit to that kind of schedule year in year out.

The LA Times depicts the situation as the other BBs being caught off-guard by Mike's decision. That can't be so. They had to be aware. We were.

In the middle of all this chaos, I'd like to admit I'm a huge Insane Clown Posse fan and everyone will forget this amidst said chaos. Long live concrete.

Yeah the way they're spinning it does make it sound worse than it is but it's nothing we haven't heard before.  I just didn't necessarily want to hear it again!  ;)

There's no doubt Brian fed everyone a line about the reunion for much of 2010-2011. But we're clearly in a confusing time right now, and the actions of Brian's people -- the words from Jean, the posting of the article to FB -- do suggest that there is some push and pull between the factions going on.

To ignore that and say that Brian clearly doesn't want to tour with the group, etc. ... I just don't think that's supported by the current evidence. Not saying it's not true, but Brian certainly seems to have been overjoyed with the way the reunion went. He's said so. Mike seems to be pushing to limit the amount of reunion touring. He's said so. So it's not odd at all to speculate about a split in agendas.

How could they not be aware if it has been known to the public since July-ish? Something seems a little off, but then bits and pieces are being thrown here and there so I don't think we'll really know for sure what is going on post reunion until they have a straight explanation.

Confusing? Yes.

Push and pull between the factions? Maybe, but I really don't think with Brian. Al and David got bumped, but, again, that was probably decided months ago, and they both knew it was coming.

I'm not ignoring what Brian has said (positive things) about touring; I'm going with my gut, and history.

You're right, it's not odd to speculate considering the confusing statements coming out. That's what we do. :-D But, speculating is one thing, jumping to conclusions and blaming people and taking sides and proclaiming evidence is another thing. I'm not ready to go there - yet.

I dunno. I know the world of the BB's can be strange, and they can seem unfamiliar with very common, obvious things. But I'm not prepared to think that we knew or know more about what was *going* to happen or what is going to happen than the other band members.

It's true, these articles are painting a picture where Brian, Al, and David don't seem to want to end the reunion, while Mike has some sort of mixed feelings about the prospect. I don't think it's totally far-fetched that perhaps things were (or are) still up on the air, and maybe Brian/Al/David knew Mike had a few gigs booked, but maybe there were indications they were going to do more reunion stuff sooner rather than later, and perhaps Mike or his camp made a more declarative statement about his immediate future plans than the rest of the guys were aware of.

There are little pieces here and there that suggest Brian and Al want to continue. Brian seems positive at the moment. Al seems even more adament about keeping on with the reunion. On the other hand, Mike has in past months expressed at least a passive bit of shying away from having a huge, expensive backing band and all of the big machinery involved with this big tour, and he also seems to place a condition (writing with Brian) on doing another album. Given the portrayal in the Rolling Stone article a few months ago about how Mike felt about the closing "suite" of songs, it's not unfathomable that he's not interested in another melancholy, Brian-centric Beach Boys album.

I don't buy for a second that "Brian is bummed" is just a total joke. That makes no sense at all, whatsoever. Maybe they didn't mean it so dramatically, like Brian just felt like "bummer, okay, what next?" If that's a joke, it's the most subtle, dry, non-joke joke they could have made.

This article does also give us a bit of information regarding those who have been suggesting that these upcoming Mike/Bruce gigs were some sort of contractual obligations that they couldn't get out of. The article states that Mike made the decision to cancel the "Nutty Jerry's" show due to the confusion. That doesn't mean there weren't perhaps some financial consequences to that, but it demonstrates that Mike is able and willing to cancel a show after it's been publicized.

I think saying that Brian, Al, and David got "bumped" would be the wrong way to put it. Any "reunion" activity would simply require everybody to agree to it. It doesn't sound like anybody got bumped or dumped. Rather, it *may* be that some folks in the band had/have a desire to continue it, and other members either aren't interested or have mixed feelings about it, thus passively not allowing it to happen.

The comment about some sort of tour industry person saying they should give it a "rest" for a year sounds strange. As I said before, "oversaturation" of the market is a real thing to think about. But I just can't imagine some industry person saying "You know Mike, you guys should wait a year before doing another reunion tour so that you can build more interest and demand. But in the meantime, you should also continue to book 100 to 150 shows next year under that same 'Beach Boys' name, just with shorter shows, 60% less actual Beach Boys, and a backing band half the size."

Agree. You said what I meant better than I said it.

That sounds about right to me, too.

What I've always said -- and Mike seems to leave the possibility of this open -- is that the band should keep doing these full-sized reunion shows every couple of years, even if they're mini-tours. The musical combination is too good to abandon. But I can understand a desire to scale things back.

Frankly, if they manage another album, a reunion tour behind that would make a lot of sense. But that likely wouldn't be out until 2014 or so.

On the other hand, if Brian and Al really wanted to, they could always deny Mike a license for the name when it next came up. Wouldn't that be something?

Mike would go nuts if he got the name taken away.

Be careful what you wish for-it's all there just as you want it on the ridiculous BBB board-you'll find it real comfy over there.

Mike has made clear in interviews that he was not used to the big touring entourages of the reunion tour, and that he prefers to tour with minimal people and simpler logistics.  Of course a smaller and simpler tour means more money for him.  Secondly, it's clear Brian has been in the driver's seat for this tour - witness the RS article where Brian wanted to add some "deep cuts" to the song list, Mike was not enthused and yet they appear in the show a few nights later.  mike wants control back, after having it for years in his version of the Beach Boys.  Brian's band members seem to dislike the show business shtick of John Stamos (RS) and of course Mike thrives on it.

Now the possibility of future recording.  Again, Brian called the shots on the album, and I think it's clear mike was disappointed he didn't get to write more songs with Brian, instead of Joe Thomas.  He seemed to express this in the RS article as well, when he commented on Summer's Gone that he didn't write that and that it was too dark ("too much cumulus" I.e. clouds) for his taste.  He must have thought he could have done better with the lyrics but didn't get the chance.  The album is a commercial success and he's not getting the royalties on most of the songs.  So mike positions himself that he'll do anther BB album IF he writes some songs with Brian, and I suspect he means MOST of the songs.

I interpret this as a push and pull between Mike and Brian, with the others as bystanders - but bystanders who very much want to continue touring with some version of the Beach Boys.

Spring Vacation shows why Brian doesn't write songs with Mike much anymore, Mike seems to have lost his lyrical skills.

I dunno how much legal stuff and politics and whatnot go into it, but while the "corporate" structure as we understand it seems to indicate that they could vote to take the license away at some point, I'd also have to believe that Mike would not be so bold as to use the name if he had an indication that the others were firmly against it, because he would risk having it taken away.

As has been said a million times, these scenarios were all considered by all of us before the reunion started. But I would have thought something a bit more tidy and formal would have happened. Maybe not just a continuing of the reunion lineup, but something a bit more orderly and well-explained for fans than following up reunion gigs at Royal Albert Hall and Wembley with non-reunion gigs within days or weeks in Biloxi, preceded by a statement from Mike that seems to not directly match up with what some of the other guys feel about future reunion prospects.

It's interesting that only certain individuals in the band and their camp have seemed to continue to toot the "The reunion was a set amount of time that ends on September 28th" horn. As I believe Howie Edelson pointed out months ago, Bruce seemed almost gleeful in stating before the tour started that it had a *definite* ending period after which no more shows with all five BB's would happen.

Hopefully some clarification or more comments from the band members will surface.

To make matters worse I just read an article that said the UK gigs were canceled, I went back to it 5 minutes later now It's gone..

I don't know what to think  ???

Thing is, I think all these articles are blurring the question of ending "the reunion" as opposed to "the reunion tour".

In Sydney, David and his wife were very much looking forward to getting back home to New York, because this was the longest and most intense tour he's been on in...  ever?  Certainly since he was a teenager, I'd say.  He toured regularly for a bit more than a year in 1998-99, but that was a less packed schedule.  I don't think they're up for the Mike&Bruce endless-roadtrip lifestyle.  Al, similarly...  it's been fifteen years since he was doing the long hauls.  And Brian?  About twenty-five years since he last did a tour this big.  I figure they're all up for a break from the road.

Mike, on the other hand...  He tours.  That's what he does.  You know he'd be going out on the road again even if he didn't have the Beach Boys name behind him.  And he's hardly going to sit on his ass till after they get a new album out.

But at the same time, you've got Brian already talking about doing another album, Mike saying he's up for it if he can write with Brian, Al saying he wants to concentrate on working with the band...  that doesn't sound like anyone wanting to end the reunion.

The only issue is whether the Mike/Bruce group touring between reunion gigs cheapens the band name.  Me, maybe I'd resurrect the Endless Summer Beach Band for a bit...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Mike using some other name to tour under would maybe make things more palatable and less confusing for promoters at present. But I don't see it happening. Nobody buys tickets to see the "Endless Summer Band" or "America's Band", etc. Yes, they could get some bookings at smaller venues and get some tickets sold with good promotion. But using the BB name increases possibilities a million fold.

If Mike had ever considered retiring the BB name, it would have happened long ago.

Some of those lyrics were Brian's, including the much-maligned 'easy money/ain't life funny' line (which I happened to like)

Really?, the whole song sounded like Mike in his element.

Yep. Brian wrote those chorus lines. Also the phrase "Beaches in Mind."

If this was like 1976, i'd be totally cool with a Wilson/Love album. But it's 2012, there's not enough time for this. The suite shows that if Brian and an understanding lyricist are put together, magical things can happen.

They wouldn't be the Beach Boys if they didn't find a way to accomplish something so beautiful and record-breaking and then screw it up at the very end. Mike wants to be seen by his public, Brian wants to make new music. Is it 1963 or 2012?

But I think any talk of these issues overshadowing 2012's incredible success is blowing it way out of proportion.

I do think it was a bad call on the part of whoever is running Brian's social media to send out that article. They should have at least softened the title.

Has this been picked up on any threads. Going by the band picture it looks like the Mike and Bruce show restarts Sept 30.

http://www.usfcc.org/

http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/2012/09/19/the-beach-boys-to-perform-at-benefit-at-the-santaluz-club/

Brian wrote a decent amount of lyrics for the album, which is kind of surprising  (that may explain a bit more of Mike's statement...). One rule of thumb... if you hear something that rhymes in the manner of 'My friend Bob/he had a job', it's Brian.


And the verses (not choruses) of 'Private Life of Bill and Sue' and part of 'Shelter', as well.

I gotta say I just don't get it. Any of it.

Why on earth would Mike and Bruce not want to continue on with the REAL Beach Boys, instead preferring to go back to their pale facsimile. Is it really about money? One would venture the guess that they think the picture is perfect as it is and they should leave things on a high note, but it's not like Mike and Bruce are leaving to do something else. They are basically "leaving" but taking the name with them. So that can't be it. Do they not think the new material reflects upon The Beach Boys in the way that they think it should? That is a real possibility. Do they just not really like being around the other guys enough to continue working with them? And Bruce in particular, what is up his ass? Is he that much of a Mike Love asslicker that he really will just follow whatever Mike does. Why would Bruce not want to continue singing new Brian Wilson harmonies he claims to love so much? And what's up with the giddiness at the tour being over by September so they can go back to their halfass group? For a hired hand, Bruce sure doesn't act like he appreciates this gig all that much. I bet there's guys named Blondie and Ricky that would HAPPILY take his place. And maybe THEY would actually contribute to the shows!

And Mike, yeah, I'm sure he wants to write with Brian again, and if they do indeed do a new album I would assume he will get to co-write a few songs with Brian. Does it really offend him THAT MUCH that he would rather not do any new Beach Boys recording than allow Brian to creatively express himself with other people? What an egotistical prick, if so. Maybe we're all just thinking too much into this, and they are negotiating a deal where the do another new studio album and maybe some touring, but it really seems like Mike and Bruce don't want to do it, especially given the fact that people were saying they looked uneasy when the rest of the guys were talking about how they wanna keep things going. This is the greatest American group of all time, with one of the greatest composers of all time ready to continue on with their legacy, but they'd rather go play county fairs. I honestly don't get it. I know this sounds wacky but maybe it's even a bit of resentment for at least Bruce (and maybe Mike) that Brian's band is made up of a bunch of lazy slacker, socialist hipsters (besides Foskett of course) who don't know what it is to work hard on the road (taking all those days off!). I know that's crazy but this is the same guy that thought an interviewer had this huge political purpose behind the interview when all he was asking was if music could help people in these tough times.

I do not know the details of Mike"s licensing agreement. He has had a good run with it. The other BRI shareholders get a percentage of his touring revenues. If they are content with the cut they get' I would think they would let Mike.keep on using the group name. If they are not, they could ask for a review and either rescind the license agreement, modify it, or award it to another party.

This is great news.  Hopefully Mike and Bruce will play our county fair next summer just like in 2008 & 2010...those were really fun nights.

Do I wish that the full band would continue touring?  Yes, of course.  The 50th tour was quite a special thing, and the show I saw was fantastic (6/1 in Bezerkley, CA).

But, I'll take Bruce and Mike any day rather than no Beach Boys concerts at all.

I don't think anybody advocated for an alternative where there were "no concerts at all." It seems the two alternatives in this scenario involve either a Mike/Bruce band or a reunion lineup (or both I suppose). But it doesn't appear to me that we were on the verge of having no concerts at all, and Mike and Bruce swooped in to save the day and continue the "endless summer."

No comments from Brian/Al/David have suggested they wanted to end all BB concerts after 9/28. As I mentioned previously, only Mike and Bruce have, strangely, been the only members to continually reference the "limited" nature of these reunion shows, sort of cutting off the expectation of fans or maybe even the other band members as soon as they could.

Tickets start at $195

I guess the thing that supprises me most of all is that this has come as a shock to so many!

Without knowing the numbers a 'Celebration' gig with 5 members and a total touring party of what, 40 was mentioned at one time, compared to a slimmed down 'M and B' show, is going to cost a sh!t load more for a promter.

You can get away with it this year as the media was all over the band, but that would not have lasted much longer IMO.

This is a Mike and Bruce BB's benefit concert a short distance from Mike's home.  But the description "We cordially invite you to join us for 'The Legacy Concert for the Children' with The Beach Boys as they wrap up their 50th Anniversary world-wide tour" most definitely adds an element of confusion as to which version of The Beach Boys will be appearing.

Mighty weird. Several days of interviews, TV and radio, then 2 gigs in London with the last show on the 28th. Next day Mike and Bruce say see ya and fly back to California for a charity gig on the 30th.

The band has not been together since about March. No time for rehearsals it would seem. I sure hope someone records it as it should be interesting to say the least.

Al, you are an absolute Don. Keep it clean.

Mike's business savvy concerns about 'saturating the market' with concerts would be fair if he wasn't touring under the monicker of The Beach Boys constantly year in year out since 198x and intended to go right back to his version of the group doing 180 concerts a year under that monicker... saturating the market.

So I don't quite understand what he means, unless he has a problem playing The Royal Albert Hall or The Beacon Theatre or massive stadiums all over the world. Typical.


Also, just shed a little tear at the '12 more UK dates' thing in the Billboard article. 12 UK dates probably would mean they wouldn't have to play Wembley to get that cash back. Which means they could do venues where the vast majority of us have a chance of actually seeing the band. And not having to pay exorbitant prices. And... and.... *weeps*

Can't help but agree with this - when it comes down to it thousands flock to see these concerts, especially in the UK where there's no real 'over-exposure', and no-one comes away disappointed. Let's face it, the BB/BW show running concurrently has been really quite good....

Yap, both touring bands are pretty awesome.

P.S. Welcome to the board!

 ;D Thank you, nice to be here!

Thanks Billy, I thought the lyrics on spring vacation were all Mike Love's due to the swagger of them and the old song references. But I meant by my first statement that Brian isn't interested writing with Mike all the time because of Mike's ironclad summer,fun and girls lyrics he writes.

Yeah, it seems like Brian specifically chose Mike to write lyrics to the two songs on the album that were intended to be summer/fun/beach kind of songs.

But additionally, wasn't Brian in the process of making this album before the others were brought on board? it's basically a Brian solo album that has a few Beach Boys songs on it.

That's what I think, too. It's not terrible timing that the management gave out that press release now. It is uncomfortable because the first Mike&Bruce shows are very soon after the last Beach Boys concert (if true, the first one is two days after the final Beach Boys show). But since it seemed that they had real problems to get any UK-dates for weeks they couldn't know it would all be so closely.

The one thing that really makes it uncomfortable to me is this:


It's back again to always said about a new Beach Boys album. He wants to write with Brian - which of course is his right - but this makes it seem that that is his precondition. Maybe that is why Brian and Joe Thomas first went to Capitol to get a contract and only then asked Mike. It's kinda obvious to me that Brian doesn't want to write songs with Mike on a constant basis (like a whole album). Mike seems to say that a Beach Boys album will only happen if they co-write. I'm not saying that is a fact but it seems like that to me.
I can understand the reservation to let Mike write too much lyrics when I look at his contributions to TWGMTR (the album). I'm sure he can come up with some good ones like for "Daybreak" but his mind is stocked in thinking the Beach Boys have to...well, go with the formula and reduce the Beach Boys to a certain topic. It's frustrating to get the impression that he denies a big part of their legacy - I don't know if he does (and it's not like the melancholy side of the BBs is less loved than the positive, in some cases I'd say it's the other way around).
Imagine Mike writing lyrics for "The private life of Bill & Sue". It'll be full of sunsets on the beach, having "fun in the sun", etc. And Brian certainly doesn't want that or he would've done it otherwise.

So, that is my problem with that stuff. Mike wanting desperately to write with Brian and to be in control about the topics. He did great vocal work on the new album and contributed a very nice song. I'd say let Brian decide what to do musically (and therefor in terms of songwriting).

Imo Mike was at times a very good lyricist (Fun Fun Fun, The Warmth Of The Sun, Let The Wind Blow) but never on a constant level, at least not since the Endless Summer years. His strength imo was/is to come up with great hooks. That's where he's great in. If he can come up with some cool new ones, that would be cool. Give them to Brian and let him write a song around them.


   


Well, many of the songs were always explicit intended to be Beach Boys songs.

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

.

Would've been an improvement for that particular song.

At work today someone told me that he'd just heard on the radio that Brian has announced that he is starting work on a new Beach Boys album and it's going to be a 'Rock and Roll' record.

OK, once I got past the standard comments about M&B's band being a pale imitation (they're not, get over it), there's no real substance (oh, and the band were playing county fairs when both Carl & Dennis were still alive, casinos & Vegas too) beyond the ritual M&B kicking so beloved of the Bloo. As you say, you just don't get it. Any of it.

Please point out to me, Sir Andrew, where I'm wrong? Bruce hasn't acted giddy about the the him and Mike going on tour again after the C50 stuff? Bruce isn't up Mike's ass? Mike hasn't stated publicly that he wasn't too happy with some of the material on TWGMTR? I personally think the man has a really misguided view of what the public wants and what is "commercial". He is quite out of touch with reality as far as thinking about what the public/fanbase wants as far as new Beach Boys music.

And yes, the M&B band is instrumentally good, the best they had been for a while. And Christian has a good voice. But truthfully, to me, it is a pale imitation of the group who was on the stage this summer. And as far as county fairs, I don't care if Carl and Dennis were part of it, its still lame.

And as far as a new album goes, we should just discount everything Brian says? Why is that?

I totally don't get it. At all. But you do. You get it. Because you have insiders talking to you. So it's much easier to "get it" when you know from the inside what is going on. And unlike Phil Cohen, I'm not jealous that you don't spill the info. You are given it in trust. But if you are gonna bash those of us who aren't given that same inside info then I'm gonna call bullshit on you.

I can't speak to what the other posters intend in their comments about Mike's band. For me, I've pretty much gotten over the ill feelings about Mike using the name for his tour.

I think, for some, the disappointment about Mike going back to his tour isn't about the same tired arguments we've heard since 1998 about Mike going out. It isn't about some generic hatred of Mike. It's about the missed opportunity of keeping this reunion lineup together. I don't know if "pale imitation" is a good term to use, and certainly any touring BB's long ago ceased resembling the "classic" version any fan has in their head of the band. But Mike's band is actually going to be a lesser article in comparison to the very "reunion" band they haven't even finished touring with.

I don't think the "this was a set reunion with a fixed ending" argument means anything, because they could do more projects together. Nobody arbitrarily set in stone that the only way to do the reunion was for it to have a definitive, no-going-back ending.

We know AGD has stated that his take on it is that this should be the final album and tour. I think many disagree, and not out of some sentimentality or to hold onto something. It's because they did a pretty good album, and an *amazing* tour. Once I saw the show in person, it utterly changed my perception of whether they should keep going. They absolutely should, because they've put together a VERY special lineup, with an amazing setlist (length and content-wise).

There's little functionality to "going out on top" right now. Firstly, as this current debacle proves, something will always sour it after the fact. More importantly, barring some huge phenomenon we can't see coming, the BB's story in history has already been set pretty well. In 50 or 100 years, nobody will be talking about how their "50th Anniversary" tour had them going out on top. They'll be talking about the classic albums and songs. It won't spoil their legacy to do another album or two and another tour or two.

Has anyone else noticed that Brian's official facebook keeps re-posting all the 'tensions in the band' new stories regarding the future of the group?

That's something I can't agree on totally. People are still talking about how great the '93 unplugged-shows were. That was 20 years ago already. A big finale on a high note (no pun!) will certainly have a big influence on their legacy in some way, beause it brought them back to the public's eye and made them "relevant" again (plus the Smile-box and the new album). They wouldn't end it all being seen as they were when Carl died, a lame nostalgia act. Imo

One other thing about where Mike's band plays these days. It's absolutely true that the BB's even in the early 80's were doing casinos, fairs, etc. As I mentioned before, they were all complicit in "diluting" the name by touring so much all year, every year.

But Mike continuing on has only continued to dilute things, and doing so with a band that has less and less resembled even the touring BB's of the late 80's "Full House/Kokomo" era has diluted things more. If he had even at some point scaled it back a bit, maybe do fewer shows, or go out every other year, they'd be playing probably a larger balance of more "presigious" venues, whatever that means.

Another way to put this whole current lineup debacle is this: One of the main things I always felt Mike kind of had in his favor in recent years in using the BB name was the sort of "Hey, we're making it as authentic as possible" argument. Namely, Brian wasn't interested, David Marks bailed in 1999 showing he wasn't interested at the time. Other than Al eventually strongly hinting he wanted back in, Mike was doing the best he could do in terms of willing participants. We couldn't blame him for Carl not being there.

But this isn't true anymore. We have proof a better group, and a willing group, is there waiting to do something together.

True, it will all be part of the legacy as big fans understand it. But I'm talking more about the "masses." The story in terms of what the masses are willing and interested in knowing about has already largely been written.

My story as a fan right now would be a missed opportunity in light of such a kick-ass tour they put together.

Would those who think the band should call it a day now, while they're ahead, after a superb album and stunning live tour, also have made the same call after 1977's Brian-led creative high, the Love You album?

It's sad how spiteful the people that run the Brian show really seem, especially in the last decade or so. They can play the predictable, tired "It's all Mike's fault" card all they want, but the fact is doing stuff like this makes things much worse and doesn't make them look any better to anyone with half a brain.

I think if we're all patient, guys, this entire BBs saga will be over soon enough......

But are they willing? To tour?

I am having real problems with these very recent quotes and stories coming out. With the Beach Boys, there has always been two sides of the story, the one that the public hears, and the truth.

I have no idea if David Marks wants to continue touring with Mike & Bruce, but I would think, I would speculate, that he does. I can also think of a couple of reasons why Mike & Bruce wouldn't "need" him. I think if we're honest we could probably come up with those reasons. And I'm not saying those reasons are right or wrong.

When I think about Al, I can see him saying one thing to Mike & Bruce, and then coming out and saying something entirely different to the press. He has PROVEN to do that many times in the past. So, what's the truth with Al? Does Al even know what he wants?

I've already spoken at length about Brian. Brian, with very rare exception, gets what he wants. For 51 years. Wherever Brian ends up in the coming months, that's probably where he wants to be. Or, where Melinda wants him to be. And I mean that in a good way. She has done a great job recently looking out for his best interests.

So how do we know who is willing? By what we are given in these articles? I've been hit over the head too many times. I'll wait it out this time...

It's definitely true, we don't know exactly what they want or what they are willing to do. But Al's most recent comments suggest he wants to continue with the BB's. In fact, while the first few years after Carl's death had Al being more feisty and negative about Mike's band or the prospect of playing with Mike, Al has seemed in more recent years to be perhaps the most enthusiastic about doing more group stuff. The one time I met him in 2005, even then Al seemed to be pining for a reunion, commenting that he wanted to put it back together for another go at it.

Brian seems to be into doing more. David hasn't specifically spoken to this, or at least his comments haven't been published specifically about what he wants to do in the future. I would guess he's game for more recording at touring at some point here.

So I'm definitely open to the possibility or maybe even strong liklihood that some or all of Brian, Al, and David aren't on the same precise page as Mike and Bruce about how they would like to work going forward. But there seems to be a willingness to do more work together.

To put it another way, I don't think Mike and Bruce have been dragging Brian, Al, and David kicking and screaming into doing shows together. I don't think it's likely that Brian, Al, and David have emphatically stated they're done and ready to hand it back over to Mike to go back to his touring.


One obvious possibility here is that they would have to do some sort of compromise. Maybe Mike's idea is a cheap, streamlined 150 show-per-year tour, and Brian's is lots of recording and maybe 30 or 40 shows with a huge backing band. Maybe Al's game for more shows, but not 150, and not with a small backing band. These are just random examples for the sake of this discussion. Maybe instead of just going back to his own thing because the others aren't game for that exact scenario, Mike could hold back on booking the small shows with his scaled back band, and maybe they could all commit to a 2013 summer tour, maybe a bit smaller than the 2012 tour.

As we've been saying, we don't know who wants what. But I don't think reverting to the Mike/Bruce band and not continuing the reunion should happen only because the current band is too big and bloated, or because they don't want to do gigs all year round all over the place.

Was never, ever going to happen, and that's not me saying so based on any insider info I may (or may not) have: it's simple common sense and reasonable business practise. It's called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'. Everyone came on board knowing that the C50 tour would have a finite lifespan, and that knowledge made it easier for all the past nonsense to be, if not forgotten, then laid aside for the duration. Personally, I don't believe the statement that they could have easily booked another 12 shows in the UK, because were that true, then they would have. No-one in this band ever turned down guaranteed income and from what I understand, it was hard enough booking two dates.

That's what I'm thinking...this Mike/Bruce tour is to bide some time...

Brian says in Rolling Stone that he wants to make his Rock n Roll album with the Beach Boys next year. So no big deal, it's a win, win (except for David who is not part of BRI.)

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-wilson-holds-out-hope-for-new-beach-boys-music-20120919

"And Wilson got the biggest response of the night when he said, "I wouldn't mind getting together with Mike [Love] and the guys and making an exciting rock & roll album."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-wilson-holds-out-hope-for-new-beach-boys-music-20120919#ixzz272r1hMhk

*******************

Mike and Bruce tour, Brian and Al get their cut, Brian works up a new album (Pleasure Island) and all the Boys come in for vocals/David overdubs/........

Only thing I'd like to see is an invitation to David to keep touring.  I seriously doubt if Brian and Al want to tour year-round.

Are we talking 'booked' as in arranged or 'seats sold'? My impression from Bruce's comments were it had to be done by mid-August due to M&B commitments. Putting that aside and the disruption of the Europe leg due to the Olympics, I think they could have sold out quite a few more large UK venues.

Willingness to do more recording? Yeah, I can see that. That wouldn't take the time or effort (physically and mentally) of a tour. I think we're all on pretty much the same page when it comes to recording. And, I think I almost believe Brian when he says that he wants to do another Beach Boys' album. :-D

It's the touring, continuing this tour or a future tour that is the big question. You mentioned above that you think they might be "on the same page" going forward. If it's touring, they have to be. ALL OF THEM. And that's why this tour was successful. They were all there! If you change the dynamic, even if it's one member, you are opening the door for problems. If Al and/or David would join Mike & Bruce - and Brian didn't - I could see that imploding. There just seemed to be everybody going out of their way to make this thing work, almost for Brian's sake, or very least because he was there. There was almost the attitude of "I don't want to say or do anything that could blow this thing".

I don't want to sound corny, but The Beach Boys did present themselves as a TEAM in the interviews and the shows. You take one or two members off of that team and now you have a couple of individuals. It's no longer The Beach Boys, it's Mike and Al and David and whoever.....That's when the problems begin.

I suppose it's kind of a semantics thing, but maybe "keeping the lineup together" isn't as good of a way to put it as "continue the current tour and lineup into next year" or something.

Based on the comments of the some of the band members, they either did not fully believe this reunion had a "finite" life span (or at least didn't believe its lifespan was set in stone as ending in September), or they have changed their tune and might like to continue, while others are more skeptical.

I think where the disconnect is happening between various fans of differening opinion is the factor of how good this tour was. That is the basis for fans who otherwise would be totally hardened and skeptical and assume the worse actually being hopeful, or maybe wishful is a better term. This tour was WAY better than most fans assumed it would be, and probably than the band itself thought it would be. Given the current situation, the band or some of the band may still not be fully aware of how good this show is. Or they (meaning Mike in this theoretical scenario) don't care how good it was/is. If that is the case, then that sort of opinion deserves a bit of cranky disappointment from fans.

More importantly, and more realistically, someone should have at least told them that the high profile of the tour would result in some bad (or at least manufactured drama/scandal) press if they just went  back to the Mike/Bruce band. We fans know how this was likely to happen, but that isn't stopping the press from having a good 'ol time writing stories as if Mike just fired Brian, Al, and David from the band and took his ball (and bag of money) and went home.

AGD, apologies for not knowing this, but have you seen a "C50" show yet in person? Don't worry, I'm not going to pull the "If you haven't seen the show in person, you just don't know man!" card. Well, maybe a tiny bit.  :lol I think it was only after I saw this show in person (after having seen and heard numerous recordings) that I really actually longed for this lineup to continue for awhile longer. Setting aside the realities of the economics and politics of the band and touring, you'd have to be a pretty hardened fan to not go to one of these shows and, even if you ultimately stick to your guns and say they should retire, maybe just for a bit feel like you'd love to see that show again next year, and maybe the year after that......

This was absolutely my reaction, too.

I am in some ways far crankier than AGD, and I thought the reunion wasn't the greatest idea to start with. But I was transformed by the experience of the shows.

They were amazing. Both of them. And I really came away feeling that this was the way the band needs to go out. At full power, with all the surviving members, doing an amazing set of songs. I know it might not be possible. But f*** that. This lineup deserves to be what the Beach Boys are.

Full stop.

Don't worry about Andrew. His sarcasm has made him the Bruce Johnston of the message boards of late. I half expect him to be wearing shorts to the London gigs next week. :lol

NO LOVE



Brian Wilson and Al Jardine both say they were "shocked" by Mike Love's announcement on Monday that Love's pre-50th-Anniversary-Tour lineup of The Beach Boys -- which includes Bruce Johnston, but not Wilson, Jardine and David Marks -- would resume doing shows following the band's London dates later this month. Jardine told us at last night's opening of the Good Vibrations: 50 Years of The Beach Boys exhibit at L.A.'s Grammy Museum that he'd just spoken to Love a few minutes earlier: "I said I really do feel you need to rethink it, because there's so many opportunities left for us, and I'd really appreciate talking to you about it -- and he was agreeable to that."
 

http://www.wcsx.com/news/Story.aspx?ID=1776232

Yes, yes, I know Al sometimes says stuff in random interviews that leaves us with a kind of "huh?" reaction, but this comment certainly indicates that, whether they were on the same page or not about post-tour stuff at the beginning of the tour, they are certainly not on the same page now about how they feel about future prospects.

Again acknowledging Al's sometimes head-scratching comments in interviews, that comment seems to me to suggest that they did not at all have any sort of iron-clad mutual understanding or discussion about anything that was going to happen after the end of this scheduled tour.

Only in the Beach Boys universe could we now have, potentially/allegedly, Brian and Al yearning to do more stuff with Mike.

I'll go ahead and say what somebody, some fan out there must have briefly thought of, and that's the bat****-insanely unlikely idea of Brian, Al, and David taking this band back out on the road and doing their own tour.  :lol

It's funny that you say it's never, ever going to happen, but the man who wrote all the classics, the man himself, Brian Wilson, wants it to continue. As does Al Jardine and David Marks. I think I know why you're so sure though. I might be totally wrong (although I think I'm right), but I'm pretty sure your "inside source" is probably Bruce Johnston or somebody close to him, which is why you are so sure about this not continuing. And it's also probably why you stood up for him even when he decided to insult an interviewer, and when he's insulted fans. You don't wanna bite the hand that feeds you. You'll deny it. But you also probably can't admit it even if it is true. Also funny you couldn't answer me what was so very misinformed in my other comment! Regardless though, you're still a great guy to have here Andrew. But I just don't think you are quite on the level with all this. Seems like you are in the corner of one of the groups, which is odd, because usually it seems to me that you usually dispassionately judge the facts.

You`ve misquoted Andrew there surely...

He stated that it, `WAS never, ever going to happen`. You`ve changed that to the future tense.

Andrew is surely right in that there is no way that this tour was ever going to carry on indefinitely with Brian and the other guys wanting to play 100+ shows every year. That`s why Mike and Bruce going out again was always extremely likely.

It doesn`t mean that the recent configuration couldn`t do a much smaller tour next year or some recording though.

There is reason to be joyous about the reunion tour-it made the Myke and Bruth show incredibly more obsolete than it was before the 50th tour. Don't give a sh*t 'bout any license or who gets paid what-M&B are the most devious fraud act in the entertainment industry. Anyone who claims to be a "hardcore, balls to the wall" fan and subscribes to the authenticity of this masquerade because of this "it's all about the music" crap is severely off course.

Didn't exactly misquote him. From the beginning he has said that the reunion would not keep on. Brian Wilson on the other hand has been saying he wants it to continue though. Isn't that weird that even though Brian Wilson wants to keep it going, it supposedly won't? I'm not saying the tour should carry on indefinitely. However, maybe they could come to the agreement that they should act like a real band again and not have two versions of the same group out there. That instead of grubbing more money up flogging the the name around, instead Mike and Bruce could actually try to write some good material and contribute to the next album? How about that?

I have no problem with Mike and Bruce going out and touring as "The Beach Boys" if Brian, Al, and Carl's estate think that it's okay. However, if Brian is bummed about it and Al's trying to convince Mike not to do it, since they wanna keep the group going, I think that is what's messed up. If Brian was ready to get back to his solo career then I'd say fine. But when 3/5 of the group wants to continue with The Beach Boys, but the other two don't but then go on tour as "The Beach Boys" well then....that just doesn't make any fuckin' sense.

Al has been all over Facebook wanting this to go on.

Kudos to the person who made this!

(http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/551905_4564099299656_384245056_n.jpg)

There`s nothing weird about it and it makes complete sense.

Mike and Bruce play 120+ concerts every year. They always have and until they drop they probably always will. Brian doesn`t and never will.

Therefore while Brian may want the current group to continue, what would that entail? Taking several months off now while Brian maybe rests, writes some songs and plans a new album perhaps. Meanwhile Mike and Bruce would be twiddling their thumbs at home. That was never going to happen. That doesn`t mean that Mike and Bruce and vehemently opposed to doing some recording in the future or that they would never play again in the recent configuration. It just means that they aren`t going to sit around at home waiting for that to happen.

You may be right btw that Bruce has spoken to AGD. But as Bruce has been saying this in the press since the tour began that needn`t be the case...

I don't think it sounds corny in any way. I can agree with that quote.
All in all I think you, Sheriff John Stone, and I have the same thoughts but come to a different end result at times. Not to talk down other members/posters in this thread (please don't think that way guys!!) but your posts seem like having a real process of thought which I can follow very much compared to mine, although - as mentioned - I come to a different result. But that is probably the problem about it all in some way...

I'm not blaming Mike and Bruce for wanting to continue on. But if they want to tour as "The Beach Boys" now, or in the future, they would probably be well served not to piss off both Brian and Al, since those 2 are much more powerful BRI-wise than Mike and Bruce since, there are two votes between Brian and Al, but only one between Mike and Bruce. So if they do wanna do some touring and not piss anybody off, and not "dilute" the brand name as Mike claims he doesn't wanna do, then they can go out as the "Endless Summer Beach Party Spirit of America Band". Or maybe they could work something out with Al and Brian where those guys can work on new material with Dave while Mike and his lackey can go on tour if they want.

The Endless Summer Beach Band doesn`t sell the required tickets. It`s not an option.

You`re right that Brian and whoever can work on new material as Mike and Bruce tour and Mike seems open to that. Which is one of the reasons why this announcement isn`t that big a deal.

A few comments/thoughts on the topic (which may to an extent reiterate what others have already said):

 - There's a disconnect between Mike and Bruce who want to play 100 or more shows a year and probably Brian and Al who want to do less (not sure what Dave's position would be). So, what would happen when M & B say "the Beach Boys" are booking that many shows and the others say something like "we'll I'm not doing all of them". (Remember, Mike has the license...[and, I wonder if there must have been some agreement to the license to let the name be used in the 50 Year Celebration configuration] ). The principals are obviously not of the same mind on this topic.

 - Stepping back for a moment, its interesting to consider whether the problem here is that BRI allows the name to be licensed. On the one hand it is a revenue stream to the BRI member/owners. On the other hand it permits less than all to go out under the name and therein creates the issue at hand.

 - In this sense the Beach Boys are perhaps a bit unique from other "super" name groups. In other cases the most dominant performer usually tours when that group is on tour and when (s)he doesn't perform the name isn't used (The Who; Rollling Stones; come to mind; exception may have been Fleetwood Mack in the late 80's early 90's but Mick was part of the touring group, Stevie et. al. not). Here, there are 2 key people who are of different minds on touring.

 - In some other cases ownership of the name wasn't clear and resulted in litigation over its use.  Here, the name is owned but available for license - which causes this issue. The touring entity probably sets the rules as to how to participate (ie. if you aren't going to do all the shows, you aren't a part).

 - All this creates an interesting situation to say the least.

FWIW, from what he said in Sydney, Dave's position would seem to be that he's up for doing more with the band, but that this tour was a pretty long and intense slog -- he might be up for another tour like this (or shorter), but not the full-blown year-round endless summer...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

The Beach Boys in concert going from main members Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, and David back to just Mike and Bruce is called 'not diluting the magic of the brand'?  Since the addition of Scott Totten and John Cowsill, the Mike and Bruce shows have been really great, but the reunited Beach Boys shows have been pure magic.

How does over saturating the market and going from pure magic to really great qualify as 'not diluting the magic of the brand'?  The 'magic of the brand' is definitely suffering in the public's eye when reports have Al, David, and no less than Brian Wilson interested in continuing, but being told they don't currently have that option.

The one on the bottom looks like a promotional photo for a bad CBS buddy sitcom.

This is a good one.  And right on the money!

We do have four parties -- Brian, Al, Carl's estate and Mike. Assuming that Brian and Al don't want to tour as much as Mike, it would be difficult for them to refuse him the license on financial grounds, especially if they get paid a percentage of his revenue. But there are creative matters and egos involved now, which means it's harder to consider dispassionately.

The main dynamic in all of this is Mike and Brian. If Brian wants to end this, he can. He would surely have Al on his side. If he wants to force Mike to change, he probably could. But nothing in Brian's past suggests he would be quite so aggressive as this. He knows how to deal with Mike. He knows Mike lives for this.

So what happens? Brian rests and records. Mike and Bruce tour. Al stews, and possibly plays with some other combination of the guys. At a certain point next year, the invitations to record and / or write come in. And we might see the machine move. But I guess I just can't see Brian ever saying that Mike couldn't use the name on the road. I don't think he'd do it, even if he wants to tour and record with the group indefinitely. And I don't think either Mike or Brian think of Al as crucial enough to change their plans for the group.

Oldsurferdude is the real BBs fan through the years. Brian Wilson is the BBs with the help of Carl, Dennis, Al ,Mike, David, and Bruce. Mike Love isn't the real BBs alone and really is an annoyance when Brian doesn't tour with him and call him out for being a loudmouth

Here's another article:

http://www.montereyherald.com/living/ci_21596502/beach-boys-tour-ending-bad-vibrations

It's interesting. While I doubt Mike cares much about the backlash they are seeing right now, which will probably blow over at some point, it's certainly not a positive thing.

I think it probably would have totally flown under the radar, at least in terms of these media outlets, if Mike had just waited until the new year, or even just later this year, to pick up touring again. I think some of what makes this just appear so negative is the idea that he's literally going back to his old band within days of the reunion ending.

I'd be curious to know how much Mike's PR folks/agent saw this negative press coming. As I said, long-term, it probably isn't going to be a huge deal. But as I said before, I don't know if anybody in Mike's camp explained to him that he had more positive buzz from even longtime curmugeonly fans than he had had in decades for doing this reunion tour. I know, he probably doesn't know and/or doesn't care. 

at least with the Mike & Bruce shows there's a chance you can meet the band without dropping another three paychecks on the ticket.

I think this tour has reawaken the love for the real BBs and Mike's touring outfit is unprepared for this sentiment.

I'm also finding it interesting that a lot of comment suggesting the disconnect between Mike/Bruce and the others is based on upon the idea that the others don't want to do the 120 show per year slog. That may well be true. But why does Mike/Bruce or any BB lineup have to do that many shows? I don't get using that idea as a baseline for this. Don't get me wrong, some of the reasons at least that Mike does so many shows are well established. But there's nothing anywhere that says that many shows have to take place.

Maybe were all forgetting Mike has a few ex-wives to pay off  ^-^

Mike doesn`t have to but he wants to. It`s what he does and has been since the 60s. He`s not going to stop until he drops...

This shouldn't be news at all. We knew this a few months ago, the reunion was never billed as a permanent thing and we all knew the London gigs would be the last ones. What has changed, apart from the fact that Brian's camp want to push this?

They have put on a wonderful tour, released a brilliant album and gained more respect from the public - why risk carrying on and losing that touch?

I love the Beach Boys and would love to see them more often, but I also don't know why this has been made into a new story.

God love Al. Seriously.


70 worldwide dates a year would arguably be pushing it, especially since it hasn't been kind to Brian's health this time round. But I'd love the reunited Beach Boys to adopt something like B-Dubs touring schedule, whilst plugging the gaps with recording. I don't like the accusation it's naive to assume that the band would stay reunited, especially since this year has delivered incredibly.

I think the reasons behind Mike's incessant touring are that he really does love it - he's been doing it for 95% of his adult life, after all! But there's also money, and we know carting 17 musicians around and a massive video screen hurts the coffers. And he has publically complained about that.


But quite frankly, he should shut up and just have to somehow live with the fact he's in the greatest surviving pop band in the history of time outside of McCartney and he has to present himself accordingly, not as guitar/bass/drums/chintzy keys playing the Des Moines Civic Sewage Facility. Wirestone's correct, the band have been crying out for this kind of presentation for years. It's almost as if he's afraid of his legacy or something.

Really?


So do you think that if Brian really wanted the following, Mike would go with it?:

I know you have a smiley face attached but...

A lot of those financial obligations that Mike was responsible for have expired for a number of reasons - ex-spouses re-marrying, settlements, children reaching a certain age, death, etc.

Mike Love ain't hurting for money anymore.

I think the pre reunion band may have counted on continuing after the tour.  Mike may be looking out for Christian.  But it continues to bug the sh*t out of me that Al can't be a part of the band FROM NOW ON!!!

ffor mr, that is the sticking point and points to plain old greed on Mike Love's part.

While we had to assume nothing beyond those London gigs, some band members while the tour was still going on were at the very least saying that indicated they were open to doing more together. We should never have assumed any additional shows, but I don't think we should have assumed there was no chance at more shows either.

No, I don't think Mike would go for it. I think we can all agree that, most likely, Mike wants to do a cheaper, streamlined, 120+ shows-per-year schedule. The question I ask is why he should be granted that priveledge. That he has been doing it this way for 14 years is not a good enough reason, at least now when a better band is potentially waiting, ready, and willing to do more together.

Welp, this is a bit depressing.

Yes, this is an opportunity for Al to put up or shut up. I'm not ready to include Brian in this yet, because I don't think he wants to continue touring. But, Al, if he feels so strongly about "keeping this thing going", could/should gather the necessary support from Brian and Carl's estate and change the arrangement.

Like I've been saying, I've not ready to put a lot of stock in these quotes being put out. But, if a meeting was called and a vote was taken to change the touring arrangement and use of the license, then I'll be a believer. I'm looking for action, not words. Al talks a good game...

While it's true that we just don't know the true innerworkings of the coporate structure and meetings and votes, I think the evidence we have at our disposal points to Al having very strongly opposed Mike getting a license, or at least an "exclusive" licence, back in the 1999-2000 time frame, and he was outvoted apparently.

Nobody in the BB camp is going to be able to lobby or convince any others to change their vote. I don't think so much honus should be put on Al to "end" Mike using the name if that's what he were inclined to do. Al can want anything, but if he's the only vote, then it doesn't matter.

Also, what may be happening is that Al wants to continue the reunion lineup, as opposed to simply wanting to destroy Mike's tour. If that's the case, then having a bunch of corporate acrimony and pulling Mike's license wouldn't foster a relationship that would lead to more reunion stuff. It would sour the whole thing, just in a different way.

The only reason and only likely result in trying to pull Mike's license would be if they decided that it's either the reunion lineup or nothing at all, period. As I've previously mentioned, Brian may want to continue the reunion in some form, but I'm much more skeptical about whether he or his camp is adament about it to the point of voting to pull Mike's license. Similarly, I don't think Mike would have made this annoucnement to go back to his tour if he thought it would actually tick off Brian and Al to the point of changing the licensing set up. Either that, or Mike is just making a risky power move of some kind.

After thinking about it:

We all knew before the tour that it would be just for a short periode. What has changed since then, though, is that the band members surprisingly express the will to continue - that's something nobody did think about before and that's the problem now.

"The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" - Mike Love, 2012

If Mike meant this truthfully (and I don't think he did lie) then he knows that The Beach Boys are better in being The Beach Boys than his band. He certainly doesn't wanna go out with Bruce again because he thinks the band would be the Beach Boys' equal. He does it because that was probably what had been agreed on before the reunion. I don't know if he was prepared for what comes up now (that is, the other guys wanting to go on). I don't see him saying that Al can't join them but since nothing has been talked about at this point why shouldn't it be made clear that after the last Beach Boys show it'll be only Mike&Bruce on the dates that list "The Beach Boys"? That way nobody could say that it wasn't clear who would be on stage in October (for example)

I think this is a good point. I wondered if maybe Mike on this tour would at least warm to the idea of all of the Brian-centric indie nerds finally giving him some props. Mike hasn't been this "cool" with a new set of fans, and more in the good graces of "hardcore" fans, in ages. But I think it's clear that he doesn't know and/or doesn't care about that kind of stuff. He still states in interviews that the BB's beat the Beatles in the 1967 NME poll, and that the BB's are the top on "oldies" radio along with the Beatles and whoever else. He still brings Stamos out to remind fans that the BB's were cool in 1989 and were on "Full House."

When they did the Bonnaroo show, they were playing the closest thing to some sort of hipster/indie crowd, yet Mike didn't think twice about still playing something like "It's OK." This was a crowd that, if recordings are any indication, applauded louder for "Heroes and Villains" than anything in the setlist. Mike doesn't care about being cool, or rather, he defines cool differently. Nancy Reagan liked the BB's. That's why the BB's are cool to Mike. I'm not even judging whether that's right or wrong, but it just *seems* to be how they feel.

This is all true. It seems pretty likely that the "announcement" was made to avoid confusion (or worse, maybe even legal, ramifications) from promoters, venues, and ticket buyers.

But I don't think the statement they put out reads like "Hey, just so you know, Mike and Bruce are going to do some more gigs coming up here." It reads more like "If you were even thinking or hoping you'd see another reunion lineup show, don't even think about it!"

I'm not willing to believe with 100% certainty that these guys had an ironclad understanding of what would happen after the reunion tour. The assumption is they all knew it would go back to how it was in 2011 and before. But in the world of the BB's, maybe somehow somebody didn't put that puzzle together.

Either way, things have changed, and that may or may not mean anything to the principals involved here. But the tour was of a much higher quality than many of us expected, and surprisingly, Brian and Al seem to want to do more stuff together. That things have changed should mean that Mike is open to changing his plans. That is where some fans are having issues with his "decision."

As to Al joining Mike's band, I think that might get somewhat complicated. Firstly, there is the simple interpersonal relationship issues that would potentially present. More to the point, I don't know if Mike and Al would be on the same page financially with such an arrangement. My total guess is that Mike would only consider having Al in the band if Al became salaried, or didn't equally share in the whole pot,  as opposed to the pre-1998 setup.

Keep in mind, one of the reasons Al and Mike had disagreements pre-1998 had to do with how Mike wanted to produce BB shows, meaning how the money was allocated due to how the shows were being produced (the actual production company running the tour). This is addressed, only in small detail, in Jon Stebbins' excellent David Marks book. Maybe Al would be more willing to work under that production setup now, maybe not. I certainly doubt Mike, after having run in this way for 15 or more years, would be willing to change that setup.

I don't know, I think the members of the band would have been in denial if they really thought that after this tour, Mike would have sat at home for 6-12 months and wait until everyone else was ready to go out again.  Al admits that the group is tired.  They need the rest.  Well they can have it.  The thing is, Mike and Bruce don't need that much time to recharge.  They live on the road.  It's what they do.  It's kind of silly for us and Al and Brian to think that Mike would suddenly change his game plan and take extended hiatuses just to accommodate a few other members who aren't used to touring on a regular basis anymore. 

I didn't want to hear Mike remind us that the Mike/Bruce show would continue on but it needed to be said officially.  That way, they don't get any heat for misrepresenting themselves when they book future shows.  Mike and Bruce will be on the road until the rest of the group is ready to work again.  No sense in sitting around and twirling your thumbs when you can still get out there and do it with a bunch of other guys who are just as able to do the job.  The reunion tour was such a departure from the norm for Mike...it was impossible to assume that he was going to adopt that new lifestyle permanently.

How about Mike takes a break from touring and spends some time with his daughter?
http://m0derndayhippie.tumblr.com/post/13490342235

Part of the issue to me is the timing.  He is going to go on tour with a different band in a few weeks.  I would think it could be a problem if they are on shows to promote the new "Isn't It Time," and then the band performing in concert is completely different..... or maybe no one outside of Beach Boys Nerdum cares, or maybe they won't promote the single at all.

I wonder if the M+B band will play TWGMTR or Isn't It Time in their shows?

Yikes, thats sad to read.

Probably not... unless in the unlikely event that "Isn't It Time" is a number one hit, in which it will become Mike's favorite song.

Welp, this just got more depressing.

that's probably the only serious thing she's ever written on that site. the rest is pictures of people smoking weed or cigarettes.

That's tumblr for ya. A really good friend who does post some cool stuff tred to get me into it. I really tried but couldn't. ;(

But yeah.

Being Mike's kid must be rough when you think how often he is on the road. I guess he should spend some time with his daughter this winter.

Well, I mean, it's not for us to judge Mike on his parenting (his business decisions are a different story) but I just found it strange reading that.  I mean Mike is in his 70s, he has a shitload of money, he doesn't really need to tour.  It would make a lot of sense if he settled down especially having such a young daughter to care for.

I dunno. I suppose if I knew that Mike was going to do another reunion tour/project with Brian and Al (if Brian and Al want to) after doing some touring of his own, then I'd be somewhat less disappointed.

But that announcment doesn't read like they are just announcing what they are up to in the near future. It doesn't shut the door to more reunion stuff, but it seems pretty firm in re-asserting the Mike/Bruce lineup as what you get with a "Beach Boys" ticket for the forseeable future. The few comments we have from the principals seem to suggest Mike is kind of lukewarm about more touring. While it has been somewhat subtle, and sort of covered up by the amazing sight of seeing Mike agree to this tour, he has said a few things that indicate he has mixed feelings about even the one tour they've done. Specifically, the cost and the huge operation and the huge backing band.

I hope it's not the case, but I think what we got on this tour and album is the absolutely most passive and agreeable they'll ever get Mike to be. I could picture him asking for more demands if they were to do more stuff, like more co-writes and less Brian-penned stuff that, as Rolling Stone reported, makes Mike put a gun to his head in mock suicide, and probably a scaled-back tour operation.

I'm not saying there's not room for compromise on both sides. I think the touring band is pretty perfect as is, but if Mike wanted to drop a member or two, or scale back the backstage amenities or something, it might still be worth keeping the reunion band together. It's difficult to say.

Good points. As I mentioned before, if he had just waited until the new year, or even just a couple months, it would have been less jarring and probably wouldn't have gotten him a fresh new series of news articles painting him in an unfavorable light.

Not only does the timing literally cause confusion (e.g. Nutty Jerry's), but it does make it appear as pretty greedy (whether it truly is or not) to jet back onto the road touring literally days after the reunion shows. When you start adding stuff like comments from the others saying they want to do more reunion stuff, that's when the "We knew Mike was going to do this" arguments just aren't enough.

The professor is back from China.

Al's statement said Mike was willing to talk it over.  I hope that they do and that they formally supplement that "public notice" style bulletin (which I think they were obliged to post) about Mike and Bruce touring with some sort of comforting follow up statement (as we all have been crafting for them) saying, essentially, "M and B will carry the flag for the while while Dave Al and Brian rest up; then the BB will be back in the studio in January making a follow up to TWGMTR and planning more events as 2013 roles on, so stay tuned!!"

Mike is right about saturation; he is also right about wanting to write songs with Brian, as we all love the album, but many songs are JT songs, and Mike longs for some old school family purity; he quite rightly wants more of an "our album" feeling than he, Bruce, Al and Dave were able to achieve on TWG, in which they came late and supplemented, in many cases, existing tracks.

Maybe we will get some more of this great Beach Boys lineup in the future.  Or, maybe Bobby Ewing will simply step out of the shower ;D

I hope it all works out for them, all this entire business is a bit disconcerting but I won't mind so much with Mike+Bruce using the Beach Boys name if we are given notice the boys will continue at some point with a new album or a new tour next year. :-\

Anyone else find this whole thing fun to watch in spite of it all?

Mike does not deserve in any way to write with Brian. They haven't been a real songwriting team since probably 1967, and if I'm being kind, 1979. Brian might wanna work with him sometimes, but if he doesn't, too bad. Brian is the leader in the studio and the band does what he wants. I'm sure Mike will get to co-write a few songs and that should be enough unless he steps up his lyrical game to the point where maybe Brian would wanna use him on different types of songs.

Mike is greatly overrated as Brian's song writing partner, he did write some great songs early but time has shown he can't write well anymore. Alot of his song writing credits are sketchy ones from the lawsuit. People forget Brian wrote with a lot of different people in the early years.

I agree to some extent but not to the overly exercised "does not deserve" rhetoric. Mike is not finished, and I like SV just fine. But when I imagine him writing again with Brian, I am hoping for more a "Kiss me baby" level of excellence that what they obtained in BIM and in any of their brief moments of collaboration on TWG. One can be deep and romantic without being dark, and one can write without name checking and without overtly indulgent nostalgia. As the professor once said in a post, Mike can get away with that only once, in the context of a reunion album. Now it's time for actual creativity. Mike has to step up. When I said he was right, I ought to have said that I understand his impulse and ambition; accordingly, I hope, as Mike does, for a magical result from Wilson-Love collaboration. Thank you two for prodding me to clarify. Bottom line is they have to do another album.

Mike could have some decent lyrical talents left, but he chooses instead to stick to using kokomo as blueprint for success. He just doesn't see that song was a fluke success.

Exactly. The title track is nostalgic and doesn't name check all their old hits, etc. and it works very, very well. And that's why Mike's lyrics on SV and BIM sound even worse, because they are on an album with a song that really does it right.



I agree. For a person who uses the word creativity as much as Mike does he doesn't show very much of it in his recent work.
I'd like to mention again though that I think Mike's greatest talent are hooks and not lyrics.

I just don't agree that he's right about saturation. He's correct in theory, but only based on the assumption that attempting to not oversaturate the name would include NOT touring under the name.

Before the tour started, some media outlets even interviewed tour industry people, whose main deal is simply following tour trends and perception of bands in the industry, etc. I recall one interview where they basically stated that Mike touring as the "Beach Boys" sans numerous surviving original members for 13-plus years, has created a sort of lower value to the band and its brand in the industry. This has a bit less to do with the average Joe who goes to the shows and doesn't know who is who and doesn't care, and a bit more to do with venues and promoters and whatnot. It's not that they haven't been able to get bookings year after year; we know they don't have problems with that. But they have dipped a bit in the last decade or two in terms of the prestige (and sometimes size, and as a result revenue) of some of the venues they play.

To put it another way, if there were no BB shows of any kind after September 28th until the "reunion" lineup reconvened in the summer of, say, 2014, they'd probably sell more tickets than they would or will if Mike tours his BB's in 2013 for over 100 shows.

What the fuck, people.

Was just listening to the acapella intro to "Pacific Coast Highway." There. That's why they need to keep working and singing together.  ;D

I was curious as to the actual number of shows that Mike and Bruce did play over the last couple of years. Anybody have those numbers?

I don't think it will happen, but you know what would be cool? If this incarnation of The Beach Boys got together in December for a short Christmas/holiday tour. I'll bet the wives would like it, too.

Myke Luhv-The King of All Unchecked BB Saturation. (see R&R HOF speech).

It should be remembered though that Brian came up with the titles to those two songs. It would be interesting to see what lyrics Mike would come up with if given a non-surf theme to write about.

Does this mean BW has really been JR all along ?

So who actually casts the Carl vote these days when it comes to BRI business? Anyone know?

Has anyone seen Al's FB recently (not the fanpage)? He's sharing articles about it and posting stuff like "Let's keep it going" and "Please keep your comments coming if you want the FIVE Beach Boys to keep touring!"

It would not surprise me if it all goes t!ts-up between Mike and Al within days of the last London gig, if it has not already done so. :(

Been posted?  Note the name of the article in the URL:  "beach boys split"  ;)

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/showbiz/beach-boys-split/

A blindsided Wilson said, "I'm disappointed and can't understand why he (Love) doesn't want to tour with Al, David and me. We are out here having so much fun. After all, we are the real Beach Boys."

Don't know if anybody caught this article from the CNN website, but it has a quote from Brian about the whole thing:

"I'm disappointed and can't understand why he (Love) doesn't want to tour with Al, David and me. We are out here having so much fun. After all, we are the real Beach Boys."

It's also mentioned once again that Brian wants to work on a new rock 'n roll album, but that he doesn't know who he's gonna be working with on it, although he hopes it will be The Beach Boys.

I gotta say this is unbelievable that this story has went this far and that Mike hasn't worked something out with Brian and Al and put out a press release saying at the least, "yes, Bruce and I are going to do a few shows as The Beach Boys, but just a really quick little thing before we head back to the studio to work on a new album with Brian, and then hopefully another tour with the Brian, Al, and Dave." Or, if he wants it so, "after our last show in England, I will not be working in the foreseeable future with Brian, Al, and Dave. I thank them for a great time this year but it's time for Bruce and I to hit the road again!"

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/showbiz/beach-boys-split/

EDIT: Justin you beat me to it!

The line "After all, we are the real beach boys" strikes me as something the real Brian would never say. Unless I misunderstood the meaning.

Mike brought this on himself.

I have no sympathy for the incredible amount of hate he's getting

There's a strong element of heartbreak about this. What a bummer mood to be hitting London with.

Wouldn't it be great if this was just another trick that all of them are pulling on us again?  Just like Brian did to all of us all last year when he denied that a reunion would happen and how disinterested he was in participating in it?  What if this whole thing about Brian being disappointed is all another act just to get the media and fans off their backs so when they do reform in the future....it'd be another surprise and another huge success because we never thought it'd happen again. 

If this was all just one bit act...I say "bravo." 8)

You mean, Mike & Bruce might not be doing the hayrides after all?

Well, what if all this "drama" and disagreements about the direction of the band was all manufactured just for publicity?  It'd be really something if in an alternate reality, they actually all had sat together and agreed that they'd reconvene with the reunion next year but until then the Mike/Bruce show would go on in the interim.  So in the meantime, they created this fake "drama" to stir up the media (and fans) in thinking there were "bad vibrations" which would make it look like they split under bad terms.  The huge payoff to this would be when they come back on tour and we all go nuts all over again because we thought it'd never happen again considering the way this tour had ended.  Hook, line, sinker!  If this scenario was true, Mike is sort of the hero of the group because he's putting himself up as the "villian"/"bad guy" just for this plan to actually work.  Whatta guy! :smokin

I'm not saying that's exactly what's happening here but it's fun to think about.  A small part of me thinks this is the case though.  It's sort of weird that Brian is so vocal about this situation.  It reminds me how vocal and adamant he was last year that a reunion was definitely not going to happen.  Shades of that are creeping up here a bit.

I think Mike`s stood up to much worse in the past.

In some way I agree. After years of  distancing himself from the Beach Boys he all of a sudden sees himself again as one of them. But on the other hand it wasn't very different with Smile.






It's not about the theme, it's the results of lyrics. Don't you think he could've written much better stuff for the same titles?

With regard to Beaches in Mind I would say that apart from the `Fun, Fun, Fun` reference, not really. The lyrics are respectable enough and on a par with many of the band`s fun in the sun songs. It`s the music which kills this one for me.

The `Good Vibrations` reference in Spring Vacation is awful but apart from that how else could the song really be? I`m not saying the lyrics are good but it could have been so much worse as at least Mike avoided another Summer of Love fiasco by talking about hot young girls by swimming pools. Thankfully it`s catchy enough to overcome the lyrical failings imo anyway.

I really wonder what the early, gospel version of 'Spring Vacation' that was supposed to be called Lay Down Burden and sung by Carl would even have been like.


But yeah, that's the worst song on the record by a considerable margin. Brian and Mike should be ashamed of themselves.

I only say this due to people saying otherwise and not in defense of Docta Love: I really don't think the title track is THAT much better at the nostalgia thing than "Spring Vacation" or "Beaches In Mind", lyrically speaking. Definitely better, but not by a great deal. If Mike had written lines like "Cruisin' at seven/Push button heaven" or "Spreadin' the love and sunshine to a whole new generation!!! WHOLE NEW GENERATION!!!" there would be no end to the amount of sh*t he'd be given over it.

But Brian is associated with them in some manner, so they're "quirky" and "Love You-esque". Brian is incapable of being awful, only quirky and Love You-esque, or if he ever has been awful, it was the fault of Landy, Capitol, Mike Love etc. because Brian is just so lovable.

I don't know about others but that's not what I try to bring across. Since the first time I heard "Forever she'll be my surfer girl" I was very opposed to the lyrics.
I wouldn't mind if Mike wrote the lyric to TWGMTR, in fact I would praise hime for that song. But he didn't write it, so...




I agree that the music isn't very well done either. It could have been a better recording if they had worked more on that song, because it sounds like a rehearsal to me (although there's an awesome sound aroun 0:58 that blows my mind, guitar, harmonica, fuzz... IDK).
The lyrics are ok but not very good either (worse than "It's ok"). Mike (and Joe Thomas) surely could've come up with better ones.
The whole middle part ("We'll find a place in the sun...") is terrible in every aspect. Lyrically and musically. It sounds like they just put a part from "It's a beautiful day" into BIM (including the Fun, Fun, Fun reference !). Just terrible.

You are absolutely correct. I love how Brian always gets a pass on stuff like this.  I guess we'll know in a few days how serious all these reunion/new album/Mike & Bruce back on the road stuff is, once they hit the stage in the UK. How they interact on stage, along with new interviews, will tell if this is a real issue or just dramatics.

This was posted by the "The beach boys/brian wilson fan page" site on Facebook.

Justin - you are such a passionate fan.  Bravo! To assume that anyone is "playing a trick on fans" presents is just foolish. Post the death of Carl, and the three way split, I think much growth took place with guys who leaned on one another from the inception of the band.  That is a good thing.  They now have a skillset that is enviable.  Each built a band and acquired business acumen.  And, as I mentioned earlier, it may be that the Touring Band had booked dates before the reunion happened.  There may be contractual obligations all around.  And, one can only imagine how exhausted they'd be, even if they were still in their twenties.

What cracks me up is that the Touring Band is now sought after - after enduring all sorts of slings and arrows about artistic selling out and diminishing the value of the music.  Now, all parties have seen that Mike built a great band, has extraordinary business sense, and has created good will (in the business sense) in a global context.  And even the old band, and by that I mean the Carl (full band era) had lean years but kept touring, which kept the music and the brand out in the public eye in a continuum.  A lot of the 60's and 70's bands have bitten the dust from sheer laziness and refusal to go with the flow with a change in markets.  And fans have become very faithful annual (or more) spectators. 

But, I'm not on Facebook so I can only read what might be posted here for information.   I wish that fans would let them sit down and take a rest, which always brings better decisions, coming back to the table to make good decisions.  Good decisions are usually not made when all parties are exhausted.  When people make the decisions free from pressure and with fire to work,  creativity abounds.  And each of them have skills where they can do some work and composing or lyrics or concepts, independently and bring them back to that mythical "Round Table."

They worked so beautifully together this summer. They were a joy to watch, and even more, to see their respective bands become so passionate in their concert work.  One could have only imagined the likes of Bragg and Cowsill, and Bennett and Totten and Gregory, Von Mertens, Nicky, and Mikey work together on a BB stage.  It was amazing.  Jeff I guess is a vice-principal.  :lol

For me, that video wall gave young and old a sense of history.  And that was the frosting on the cake.  They will probably get there, when they are ready to "Do It Again!"  ;)

As fans, we have now analyzed this from every angle, real and imaginary. We have, free of charge, re-written press releases for them and mediated their emotional and legal affairs for them.

We are done, I think, and now it's time for the BB to speak to us and to clarify it all. The danger right now is that the bad vibes are making it harder for me to do what I do every day (you too): put on BB music and build the day of activity around it.

what happened to "long as we can all stay together"?

Separation anxiety...they do care about each other... :love

This has gone from constructive criticism to simple Michael bashing. It was known BEFORE THE TOUR BEGAN that it would go back to the way it was BEFORE THE TOUR BEGAN. This should never have come as a surprise to anyone, but Brianistas were never that perceptive.

I've skipped several pages so disregard any unintentional repetition. It is a none issue, Mike has the license by the others' consent. He agreed to the reunion tour, tour done, back to license. I don't see Mike breaking it up for selfish reasons. If he did and the others want to tour, they can modify the license situation when it comes due. For now Mike deserves the license, he has the license, he put up with a lot a crap to get the license. He also has a loyal band mostly sitting on the sidelines.

That said, I have to believe that if Brian really wants to tour it will happen just like the reunion tour because Brian gets what he wants and gladly. David has toured with Mike in the past. I don't know but Mike may not want to take on a certain member who caused considerable turmoil and probably crapped in his own license nest with the others. [co-Al-ugh] Mike's call while he has the license I suppose.

This thread goes from one extreme to the other....The Brianistas and Dr. Love Fan Club and as always the truth is in the middle somewhere.

All good points!  My little theory was just something that popped into my head...nothing that I am truly pushing as reality.  Just a fun little "what if" in the midst of all this he said/he said stuff.  :smokin

Like it or not, I do agree with Mike's plans that the reunion band should take a break.  I mean honestly, it's been a grueling 3 months....they deserve one.  The Mike and Bruce show will never go away...it's a permanent fixture so I'm cool with Mike and Bruce carrying on in the meantime.  I am just hopeful that Brian will still be interested next year in doing more shows.  I hope he hasn't soured on working more with Mike because of all this mini drama going on at the moment.  

I'm with you that this tour has been a joy to watch.  I was just watching some performances on YouTube last night and it got me missing seeing this band.  I hope I'll have another chance to party with them again soon.....

It was known, but I think most thought it was a strange decision. With Brian and Al also coming out now saying they think Mike should rethink it, it seems worse. Mike's doing this just kind of cheapens everything - the reunion, the album, his band, and any potential reunions in the future. If he and Bruce could tour under "The Beach Boys Band" or something, it'd be different.

Don't get me wrong - I see both sides of this. I still say Brian's people repeatedly posting articles about this strikes me as the same spiteful bullshit and hate-mongering they've been pulling for the last decade. It's embarrassing and hurtful to anyone in the fanbase with half a brain.

The whole thing is, as I said earlier, just depressing.

Not that you care, but I've always found the fact you so casually bash great sections of the people who come to this board -- when you serve as a moderator -- to be fucking disgraceful.

Not to sound hypocritical because I really don't take quotes from Beach Boys as fact ( I used to, for about 30 years), but, I want to hear from Melinda. During the tour, she and Mike's wife spent some quality time. I don't underestimate that.

LET'S NOT FIGHT, GUYS!   :grouphug

You're right. I don't care. I can take it as well as I dish it out. I'm sorry if I hit a nerve.

FAAAALL FRUSTRATION
BAAAAD VIBRATIOOONS
BUMMER WEEEATHEER
WE HATE EACHOOOTHER

 :lol

Well played, sir.

True.

But you can't defend Mike releasing the press release prior to the tour ending and apparently releasing it without even discussing it with the rest of the group

Once the tour ended it was known that Michael still had the license to use the name. I'm sorry but I don't see what's making the fan base go absolutely ape over this. I don't know if it's idealism, good old fashioned ignorance, or just the fact that people look for reasons to hate on Michael.

I'll defend the decision mainly for this reason...who's to say we won't get another tour with all five of them? I think they should take Carl's advice and tour with this lineup maybe once every year. Build up demand. I'd say it worked this time. It'll work again.

Well, I could defend it.  The Touring Band has very proximate commitments.  Just suppose you had booked them and saw all this stuff online?  Would you wonder if they would be breaching the contract?  Of course.

You have to assure people you are going to perform (pun intended! ) on the underlying obligations.  

I've always referred to the Mike & Bruce Band as "The Touring Beach Boys"

Where is Carl Wilson when you need him

He died a year or two after being the main force behind thwarting an attempt at a reunion album with all members.

I don't envy the verbal lashing you'll receive for this one...and only because it's the truth.

Just sayin'. I love Carl, obviously, and it wasn't at all meant as a slam on him, I just don't know if he could have helped this situation much. But then things would be vastly different if he were still around, anyway.

I agree.  I don't mind what Mike does on his own time or with the "brand name".  I just don't want these guys to permanently go their separate ways again.  What we saw this summer was just too cool, these guys belong up there on stage together.  As long as Brian is physically and emotionally able to commit to being on stage in the future and as long as the rest of the boys are willing, I would just love for this thing to continue on even if it's every other year or something like that.  I just like the feeling of being able to buy tickets to see The Beach Boys with all the surviving members up on stage together.

Buried in those posts is the comment that Brian "turned over" ownership of the BB's name (or at least presumably his share) to Mike during one of the past lawsuits. I've never heard this before. I wonder if this is accurate. I would highly doubt that Brian literally gave Mike his stake in the BB copyright, but I suppose it's possible in one of their settlements that Brian agreed to vote with Mike in perpetuity on licenses.

I'm still skeptical of this scenario being true. If so, it *would* explain Al being so helpless and powerless in various BB name-related issues of the past.

I do also recall, however, that buried in the lawsuit from a few years ago between Mike and Brian regarding "Smile" and the free giveaway CD and all of that, Mike's lawyer claimed that Brian's camp at one point threatned to have Brian tour with Al and under the "Beach Boys" name. So I'm still doubting Brian has no power in the use of the name.

Interesting, and slightly sickening, stuff.  :lol

Carl is still tops in my books.  I think it's key to remember the situation now is different from the way things were towards the end of Carl's life.  I'd like to think that if Carl had beaten the cancer and was still with us that he would see things in a different light today.  I'd like to think that he'd be proud of how far Brian has come in the last decade or so as far as being able to conquer at least some of the demons that were plaguing him for many years.  Who knows where he'd be as far as being part of The Beach Boys?  Maybe he would've quit along with Brian years ago?  Maybe he would've carried on?  I guess we'll never know except that through his contributions to the group, his spirit will always be a huge part of whatever the band does collectively or individually.  

Some fans don't like the decison specifically because the other three guys want to keep the reunion going. It's pretty simple; that's the one fact that is irking some fans. It's not what a lot of us expected. If Brian didn't care, and was back to his sort of ambivalent attitude about Mike using the name and Brian wanted to do more solo stuff, then it would be more palatable to see Mike go back to his own tour.

No, I totally agree and don't resent him for putting a halt to those recordings. Just wanted to say that things were never so simple with these guys, especially as time has gone on. I do think an album with the original members would've happened sooner or later.

Oh look, there's a petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/to-mike-love-we-want-al-brian-and-david-to-stay/

This whole thing is giving  me a headache, which is the last thing I need right now! Carry on now...

Al just linked to it on Twitter.

And facebook, wow.

He called it a "Petition to Mike Love"

wow  :o

Now, that is bullsh!t. Especially considering the phrasing "for your final years of touring". Of course they won't tour another 50 years but still. And I don't like/think it's a good idea that Al's Facebook people posted it

Al pushing a petition?

It's official: all of this is turning f*cking WEIRD.

To: Mike Love,

In order to preserve the validity of "The Beach Boys" as a whole, and not as a "money saving, stripped down version" that only contains 1 original member, and 1 member that joined in 1965, we ask you to re-instate the 3 other members to the touring group for your final years performing.

It's the right thing to do, and it's what the fans want!



What the hell is going on around here?  I'm in a bizarro world?  All this stinks of something.  Something's up here.

Who manages their FB and Twitter? I thought the media was already bad enough with this but their people doing stuff like that online just adds fuel to the fire, if there really is a fire and not one created by the media.

So, Mike makes this announcement shortly before this reunion tour ends.  Brian's people make a big deal out of it, on FB and elsewhere. Brian and Al both happen to say something during the Grammy museum thing. This petition pops up, and Al links to it on FB. Doesn't any of this seem odd to any of you? Yeah, we all knew this was only a temporary reunion, yet all of a sudden it's being made into a big deal in the press...by the members themselves. Go  back and read previous interviews from the very beginning of the tour. This is all a marketing ploy.


^ This...is possibly very close to the truth. There's definitely some posturing going on (by all sides).

It's a bunch of bored Brianistas involving themselves in a whole bunch of conspiracy theories.

It's just so weird that Al would be endorsing that petition even if he didn't create it.  The petition's wording is very aggressive and not exactly subtle.  I'm surprised that Al would want to acknowledge it at all--let alone stand by the comments made there.

Oh yeah, most definitely.


Maybe the point IS to throw fuel on the fire...gets us talking, and so when they tour together again, the novelty of them performing together again is still intact. It's like those furniture stores that have yearly 'going out of business' sales.


Ehh...remember...Controversy creates cash. This is a ploy, by all sides. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike not only knew about the petition, but suggested Al link to it. 

And Mykahnistas were?  :whatever

All that's missing is a Bowie-style announcement from Mike at the end of the Wembley show: "Not only is it the last show of the tour....".

You mad, bro?

Yeah...my earlier post on the last page suggested the very same thing.  I thought I was looney just thinking it but it's looking more and more plausible.  This is all nuts!

Considering how gullible much of our company is...it would not really be surprising.

One last thing...did you notice that Mike linked to the Rolling Stone story about this?

Yeah they're all linking and sharing these stories all over FB.

Either this is so obviously a ploy to make it seem things are unraveling in the group or the person(s) in charge of each of their Facebook accounts is so ridiculously thick he/she doesn't know how destructive these posts are to the band.  I can't imagine it'd be the latter. 

I know Al said he doesn't know how to use his iPhone...but this is getting ridiculous!!

It's all Al and Brians fault at the end of the day folks. Remember the BB official clips all quoted Al saying 'one final time'?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2dTaamcyeM

Brian we all assumed his heart wasn't in it and would either not start or could not last 50 plus gigs.

They have both back-tracked it appears.

Who gave them the right to enjoy themselves and want to keep it going? ;)

There he goes again!! ::)

Hey, it's an objective assessment based on sixteen pages of gobbledegook. :)

Shut 'em down.

If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black? If you ever even hinted at something nice about Mike, the Earth might just stand still. I think Justin has this just about right; it is either a clever ploy, or their individual managers are dumbest motherhumpers in the music business.

Should any of this really be a shock?  This is the Beach Boys we're talking about.  Since when have they ever done anything cleanly?  They've been a musical soap opera for 50 years...why stop now!!

And the fan base swallows it...hook, line, and s(t)inker.

WTF David's fan page posted the petition too. This is just getting ridiculous.

...and now Dave has shared the petition link...

edit


beat me to it

This is the worst trip i've ever been on.

Sixteen pages summed up in nine words.

You know I think we all just need to chill a bit at the moment because this is all getting kinda heated. I'm almost certain we're guaranteed another tour and album for next year at this point considering how well the public response was this year. Either way i'm just happy i'm going to see one of the best bands of all time next week with my favourite musician Brian Wilson! :)

It would be kinda funny if each Beach Boy's FB is run to include all major headline articles. That's what I thought when Brian first started posting the coverage about these, that they just post any and all articles. It seems that Billy C. is on to something, though, now that the other (non M&B) BBs are posting them too.

can we get another petition going saying please stop this sh*t!

I'll sign this petition...

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Scan-of-original-poster-1939-300px.jpg)

I don't think this is a calculated publicity ploy -- my mantra remains "never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence".

Having said that, though -- I think it does make the thinking behind the original press release a little clearer.  Why make such a deal about the reunion lineup ending?  So that, if they do manage to pull another album and tour together down the line, it becomes an event too.  A re-reunion of sorts, rather than just "Fleetwood Mac are out on tour... again!"

Cheers,
Jon Blum

They're probably gathering around the computer at this moment looking at Facebook and laughing at how gullible we are!

Hey, this thread and the Facebook pages have been great entertainment at work today! Farce on a Fawlty Towers level.

;)

It's not that shocking to say I've seen this picture a lot today

 ;D

(http://www.thatericalper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Dennis-Wilson-flips-Mike-Love-the-bird-while-brother-Carl-looks-on-in-astonishment..jpg)

I feel sorry for the UK fans looking forward to the London gigs. Its all going to be a bit forced and false watching those guys onstage later this week. :(

MIKE LOVE: "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

It's probably all Brian's doing.  Another example of his odd sense of humor.  Next thing you'll know he'll have us all buying large bags of sand from LOWES and importing frogs from Sweden to inhabit the large sand pit which used to be our living room.

I will be surprised if any of the BBoys are in charge of or involved in what happens on their social media. If it is their social media.

I just want to add that I think Al Jardine is the one  indespensible voice of the surviving members, and even if Brian and Dave don't continue, it is high time Al was back for good.  Mike is losing his voice.  Al can sound like any number of Beach Boys in the mix and sometimes on lead vocal. He sounds as good as ever. I would think Mike would welcome having someone share the load and keep the quality up.   Just adding Al back into the Mix of "Mike's band" would make it so much more the Beach Boys.

That is all I have to say on the subject.  The rest is up to Mike and Al.   I wish them peace.

Great post Donald but we all know with Myke Luhv, it's all about dollars and cents not quality nor authenticity. Call it the Myke Luhv/China syndrome-if he can get imposters to try to sing cheaper than the real deal, he stands to make an even more obscene profit at the expense of the fans. Hope that Al and David end up with The Brian Wilson Band or even better, rip the name from Myke and have Brian call it what it really is-The Beach Boys-and watch Myke Luhv come a crawlin'.

A question:
Can Mike tour under then BBs name without Brian's and Al's agreement?


If the answer is no, then there shouldn't be any arguing among group members. This seems like a publicity game of some sort. Maybe it's just that they're pulling to get the best out of it all. Maybe it's just about creating momentum for a re-reunion announcement.

Maybe they all want more cash for their efforts?

^Exactly.

These are probably the reality of the situation. The owner of the license can determine to what extent the others can participate - all events; a percentage of the events etc. This is what the BRI licensing terms set up. Many of us have opinions as to what the next correct move should be; and there are numerous options (ie. keep touring; don't tour and oversaturate the market; part tour - part do studio etc.). If the principals don't agree, you start from the basics (the license rights) and go from there.  This is the structure they set up before - we shouldn't criticize anyone for working within it.

Quick FYI: the 1st 2 paragraphs to my prior post were taken from other posts but I didn't attribute them to those who posted the comments because I'm not that proficient yet in doing so; I'll learn.

^ Fixed for you.

This is all so awkward. Dave's wife manages his Facebook page, so it's not like it's some bored intern who doesn't know better. And the way the petition is worded is so miserable. It makes it sound like the rest of the guys are begging to go to the fall Mike+Bruce gigs.

I guess we should all be thankful these guys didn't have access to FB in the 1960s-90s,.

That actually would have been great..

Imagine Brian's facebook updates..

"Writing in the sandbox"

"Eating Steak"

"Mike's not loving the new album, thinking of calling it off"

Like

Brian Wilson needs your help to chop lumber and feed the chickens in Farmville

I never expected the reunion to continue beyond this summer, the guys don't like each other, it's that simple. But if Brian, Al and David want to go out with Brian's band playing Beach Boys music, I'd be fine with that. It would certainly be as valid a BB's band as Mike's.

Like

You know what? Even if this were just a clever marketing ploy with the full consent and participation of Brian and Al, it still wouldn't matter. A good number of the fans who have been following this in the last few days will still blame it on Mike or his manager(s). It will still be Mike's fault. The guy can't win to matter what.  ::)  ::)

Agreed!

Suddenly, the whole reunion sucks because what we were told -from day 1- that would happen, happened.

Mike Love held the hero title for like 6 months. Which is an unheard-of record form him.

Now it's back to normal. We only need a Blondie and Ricky petition thrown in.

Dr. Lenny - You hit the nail on the head!

I can't get my head around all this vitriol.  What seems to be clear is that many people don't understand what "previous commitments" mean.  My guess is that there are previous bookings which are specific to the Touring Band. 

They use different venues than the C50 band.  Would the C50 band fit on some of these stages? They may have hospitality arrangements.  Non refundable airline tickets, benefactors and sponsors for charitable organizations, schools or colleges, hospitals, etc.  We don't know and speculation is ridiculous.  A good business person is good on "their word."

Can people lobby for future shows with the "principals?" Of course, and it gives the band a "read" on a potential market.  That is useful information.  But, if one can find an old Larry King show with Brian and Melinda being interviewed, you will see a different position.  The licensing agreement was touched upon, And, it may be argued; that was THEN, and this is NOW.  And, the game may have changed with this reunion as the Polar Ice Cap has melted.  Surf has frozen over.  The old Round Table of King Arthur has been resurrected with our Knights in Shining Armour!

But, that might not change the prior commitments.  And, honestly, everyone has "eaten their words with a fork and spoon." Mike was correct that the "sum was bigger than the parts." But, that does not change anything, in my view, IF there are prior commitments.  Is there middle ground that is not driven by fans? Probably. 

Is Brian finished with any commitments he might have?  He has been in big demand. We don't know and it is none of our business either.  Are Al or David otherwise committed to projects?  We don't know.  There is a lot to look at.  They all need a good vacation.  Even if the "work is fun, fun, fun."   ;)

What a bummer, so glad I got to see them a few weeks ago.

And Mike and Bruce have kept a dignified silence actually

No, not for sometime now.

Yes, they have.

Are people considering those who are holding tickets for these shows with the Touring Band?  

tbh all I care about now is that Myke and Bruce will NEVER go under the name 'The Beach Boys' again. Why? Because f*** them that's why.

Put it this way, if Brian, Al and David toured, it WOULD be the ONLY valid Beach Boys in existence period. Brian and Al could pull the license, of course Myke Luhv would start legal proceedings and both him and BJ could go on singing at car washes and senior centers.

Is this how anyone wants the story of the band to end?  Two opposing camps?  Angry words? 

For the Mike-haters, yes, that is exactly what they want.

This. Brianistas hate the Beach Boys.

If I were a gambler, and I wouldn't put a quarter in slot machine, (even with BB pictures) I'd bet that this is not over, but that stuff "in the pipeline" (pun intended!) has to be fulfilled.  And each entity has built a band and a business.  There is always middle ground for compromise.  All or nothing is not reasonable.  

Suppose Brian was to be offered a "solo" opportunity that did not include the band?  He got a "solo" Kennedy Center award.  He has an award for Mrs. O'Leary's Cow.  It is so complex that it is mind boggling.  It would be like re-marriage, post-divorce.  Or going steady, post breakup, proceeding with care and diligence.

Isn't there a way to make everyone happy?  Or, come to a middle ground?  Is there no confidence in their ability to figure it out without all this angst and hating of one party or another.  That is schoolyard stuff.

Then, they are big boys and will figure out their options.  I take whatever I read with a grain of salt.  It was a fantastic tour, beyond words, and with extraordinary effort from all involved.  It should not be soured.  Those contract holders need "reasonable assurance" of performance.  It is only fair to them and to those thousands of ticket holders.  I remember a cancelled show when I was left with a ticket and great disappointment as a teenager.  Maharishi - 1968.

Many times it has seemed like it was going to end that way, but things worked out eventually with the band. I have a feeling they won't be arguing that much by the new year.

What other choice is there? The reunion had an end date. Venues booked the non-reunion group. Is the promoter to take a loss by sending a more expensive group for a smaller group contract or are the Boys supposed to take a loss? I don't really know how it works. I suppose they could do whatever they agreed/agree to do.

There is something very basic about this whole mess that I don't understand. If it is true that Brian, Al, and David want to continue touring with Mike & Bruce, specifically continue along immediately after the C50 dates are over - HOW DID THEY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO GET PAID?

The Mike & Bruce dates were booked several moths ago. The promoters know how big the venues are, the tickets have already been sold, and, most importantly, Mike & Bruce know exactly how much their take (and the band) is going to be. It's been that way (the dividing of their take) since Carl passed and Al was dismissed.

So, now, Al wants to tag along. OK, and I guess he wants to get paid for it. I mean, he's not gonna sit in for free. How about Brian and David? I'm sure Brian will take a big pay cut. ::) SO, WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? You could replace a guitar player, I guess, with David. But, you can't replace a keyboard player with Brian. But, is it right to abruptly dismiss Mike & Bruce band members? Would Brian do it to his band? Or Al? David already knows what it's like to be abruptly replaced.

It's almost like Al wants to invite himself and his friends to the party, a party that he wasn't invited to. Now, if the person throwing the party (Mike & Bruce) knew a little sooner that his friends (Al, Brian, David) wanted to attend, he could've made arrangements way back when.

I know many Mike haters will say that Mike & Bruce should take the money out of their pocket, maybe take less of a cut. Remember, this is the Mike & Bruce show, not one of the C50 concerts. I highly doubt they're making big bucks at these smaller gigs, enough to afford Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and David Marks. I'd like to ask Al that question. Where does he think the money is going to come from? Maybe the promoter could set up some more folding chairs...

EDIT: Sorry, Cam. I read your post right after posting mine. I think I repeated you're points.

Only the one who tours with his butler.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/552758

Your contempt really knows no bounds, does it? It's certainly not constrained by any facsimile of reality.

Put it this way, if Brian, Al and David toured, it WOULD be the ONLY valid Beach Boys in existence period. Brian and Al could pull the license, of course Myke Luhv would start legal proceedings and both him and BJ could go on singing at car washes and senior centers.
[/quote]

 Y'see I wouldn't call BW and his musicians 'The Beach Boys' either. The real sense in anyone calling themselves that surely came to an end after Dennis died, and certainly after Carl. Is Paul McCartney The Beatles? Is he more The Beatles if Ringo joined him? The fact is they are all excellent at what they do. You're lucky if they're doing 'car washes and senior centers', concerts are gold-dust here and on the few occasions they're here Mike and Bruce do an excellent job of bringing the stuff that is always the beginning of BB fandom to new audiences. Is it really a competition?

I agree.

I wouldn't even call it contempt; I find much of this situation hilarious. My remarks are merely directed at those who knew even before this reunion took place that Mike and Bruce's band would be going back to their duties once the reunion tour was over. It was not even an OPEN secret! It was known even during the reunion tour. Of course, people are still struggling to find reasons to bitch about it, like they had "no idea" it was going to happen. I'd like to think that the Brianista community isn't that stupid. Considering how much they dissect every press release and Brian/Melinda post on the blueboard, one would think this current situation would be a non-issue since it was known for months.

It's manufactured outrage. People looking for any reason to point out the villain.

Every story needs a villain. Mike has been "given" that role with the BB and he's done some things to reinforce it, like or not . Right or wrong it's not gonna change. A few can rant on a message board but ultimately the sides were decided many years ago. It will take many years to undo, long after any BB are alive I suspect before history gets rewritten.  That's how history and legacies work.

 Y'see I wouldn't call BW and his musicians 'The Beach Boys' either. The real sense in anyone calling themselves that surely came to an end after Dennis died, and certainly after Carl. Is Paul McCartney The Beatles? Is he more The Beatles if Ringo joined him? The fact is they are all excellent at what they do. You're lucky if they're doing 'car washes and senior centers', concerts are gold-dust here and on the few occasions they're here Mike and Bruce do an excellent job of bringing the stuff that is always the beginning of BB fandom to new audiences. Is it really a competition?
[/quote]

If the group includes all surviving members who WISH to participate, call them the Beach Boys. You can't call Brian and Al touring together The Beach Boys even if they did have more "original" members than M&B's band. If Brian decides to tour solo for some of the time, fine, but that should be a Brian Wilson solo gig and he should be able to be in whichever Beach Boys gigs he wants.

I would prefer to hope that the reason most people are a little disappointed with recent events (not so much the what - which we all should have expected, but the how) is because really we all love The Beach Boys and want to see them get along and continue recent triumphs as long as possible (minus odd chaps like oldsurferd00d).

the real story is not that Mike Love did this bad thing or that Mike Love had the right to do it and Jardine/wilson/Marks have no right to bitch and that Brianista this or Mike Lover that.... the real story is that this reunion which no one ever dreamt would ever happened but did happen and was great is disintegrating into anger and dispute just like so many times before.

Let me see if I'm clear about all this. So, it is OK to call this reunion band The Beach Boys, but the band that toured from 1984 through early 2012 is not The Beach Boys, correct? They were not The Beach Boys because Dennis passed away, and 2012 is OK, because why? Seems like a weird argument. Dennis is still gone and now so is Carl, but that is OK in 2012, but not at anytime prior?
Now, if Brian, Mike, Al tour, but no Bruce or David, now what do we have? I really do not get why we argue this stuff. I never hear complaints about The Who. Roger and Pete periodically tour under the name and they are missing one half of the original band.

About an hour ago this was posted on Al's official Facebook:

"Al Jardine shared a link.
about an hour ago
"I’m disappointed and can’t understand why he (Love) doesn’t want to tour with Al, David and me. We are out here having so much fun. After all, we are the real Beach Boys. --Brian Wilson"

This is madness, and I can't read these posts anymore until we get "information" instead of conjecture. What we are looking for is confirmation that the press release and the M/B shows are planned and understood as a necessary fulfillment of legal obligations and will not break up the band or prevent them from future tours and from making the next album. I suspect we will see some new release and clarification to that effect, as they all must be seeing how (publicity stunt or not) that this is having a negative effect on fandom. I am not listening to the album now because it's bitter to do so, with all the talk of harmony and reunion undone. All we can do is wait.

But why they are fighting this out publicly instead of handling it internally is a mystery. I see the wisdom in not saturating the market, but I do not understand why they would risk bad press by revealing this embarrassing disunity. We have written a dozen better press releases for them in these pages. . . . .I am at my limit.

  Maybe we were all saying the same thing here - are we? (if it even matters, as you say).

Basically -  the 'original' 5 Beach Boys no longer exist, they have added and subtracted members throughout their history - why should Mike and Bruce have any less validity as Beach Boys than Brian/Al/David or any combination of the lot of them.  Either there's some group called the BBs or it ceases to exist as a name - they're all contributing to the legend, so who cares?

That's the smoking gun right there. 

The mudslinging on FB is a tad over the top and with each new link one of them posts on their page--the more obvious it is what they're trying to achieve here.  A few large media groups have picked up the story and the fanbase is on its head.  Mission accomplished. 

The press coverage in the UK should be interesting. I'm guessing they'll lob slightly tougher questions about all this if given the chance  -- all the platitudes about togetherness would fall flat if they continued the standard tour PR line.

Gawd, I love the Beach Boys! Never-ending drama!

We're going to spend all of 2013 reacting to Al Jardine interviews and premature announcements, aren't we.

The ones that are suffering through this are the fans as well, it gives a sour note considering myself and many other BB fans are seeing them next week. :(

:lol

It's like they can't help themselves.

Here, here!  

It all seems like selective memory to me.  People make up their own rules for who should/shouldn't be called a certain name...who really cares?  Mike and Bruce or Pete and Roger go on the road under the shorthand of their band names...will the name on the ticket somehow change how much you enjoy the music being played?  I'm so glad I'm not boggled down by these type of "issues."

I do have to say though, the Beach Boys is probably one of my favourite long running soap operas. :hat

I hope that someday when we look back at this we'll have a good laugh. This has to be some joke. The mudslinging on FB is getting really old now. Why can't they just tell us what is REALLY going on and then we all can go on with our lives.

Yeah, I agree. I been following this all year. Actually also all these years of comments and rumors which lead to this year's tour. This fits that pattern. Its going to happen...... Oh, no its not going to happen.... (Brian) Oh I have no intention.... Than learning it was being planned for years.
 
This fits some fans simplified perceptions of the group to a tee. Too much so to be real. At most there maybe some negotiating deals behind the scenes for moving forward. But this is clearly manufactured in terms of what we are seeing. Maybe it will raise ticket sales or get the actual group memmbers a larger percentage of grosses from the concerts. "Hey look how much the fans want this to continue!"

THe band is likely enjoying all this attention and so am I!

The fans who are going to attend the UK shows have the chance to show the Boys their opinion about all this. So make signs, tell them want to see them united in the future!

There you go Justin. Mike, Bruce, Roger and Pete; Beach Who?

Lets all just sit back, relax, see what happens. In the meantime i've got a DVD boxset of Red Dwarf with my name on it! :smokin

That set tides me over in between Doctor Who episodes.

i was hoping Al, Brian or David MAY hint at something at Wembley, since it's the last show. that would be great to see! ;D

Al's going to make everyone in the Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena sign the petition after the show

I think the focus got lost a little bit in these 19 pages.  It's not that Mike and Bruce CAN'T tour with their band. They have the legal right to do so , can't dispute that. The question is SHOULD they being do that? Is that in the best interest of the BB as a whole.

Of course Mike & Bruce should tour. They have commitments to honor. Now, next year is a different matter.

yes, and all they have to do is tell us that, confirming the album work upcoming as a united project with tours to follow once the boys are rested and healthy, while M and B carry the flag for a while, and we will all calm down. . . .

Sign me up for that show!  Hopefully they practice "Barbara Ann" a bit more! (http://youtu.be/u8hKo42x-eQ?t=51s)

It's different with The Who because Roger and Pete are the only living members, they're also arguably the core members of the group, the guy who sang lead on most of the songs and the guy who wrote most of the songs.

Now Mike Love is a very prominent member of The Beach Boys but the fact is, there are two other living original members of the group who are just as prominent as he is (well, one who's arguably more prominent) and they are seemingly being shut out.  That's what irks people.

This is all certainly very bizarre. Are Brian, Al and Dave so insulated that they weren't aware of the Mike and Bruce shows coming up, when it was common knowledge months ago? So Brian wants to tour constantly like Mike does now? Al thinks spreading a petition around that outright insults Mike is a smart way to get into his good graces? Is everybody broke? Are they just bored to death? Is this some kind of half-baked scheme to manipulate fans?

What in tarnation is going on with these old bastards?  ???

My oh my, they ought to turn it down a few notches if they want to keep this whole thing going on any kind of 'believable' level  :lol

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zCh05rhSHiw/UF-TOLpTjAI/AAAAAAAAQYo/aaUV2QWCswY/s512/Al.JPG)

Critical mass.  In terms of the people who contributed to making the music we love, a tour with five of them is a better representation of the group than a tour with two of them.  Especially when two of those five are the two most identifiable Beach Boys voices.

A tour with Brian, Al, and Dave still wouldn't be quite enough to be "The Beach Boys" for me (though it would be one hell of a show)...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

BRIAN WILSON made ALL the music and is the true enigma and genius of the group, the one and only who made them go anywhere. When BRIAN dies, the Beach Boys as a term will die with him. Yes, Dennis and Carl were the heart & soul of The Beach Boys, but as Dennis himself said: 'Brian Wilson is THE Beach Boys'. They went on to be more than his messengers, but in the end Brian is the only being who can claim TRUE ownership of anything associated with the iconic name 'The Beach Boys'. Even back when he didn't tour with them, he was always there and always contributed their best music, ALWAYS. Even in his darkest hour. The notion that anyone can deny THE Brian Wilson a right to tour with and/or use the name 'The Beach Boys' is utterly digusting and illigitimate imho.

CAPS INTENDED.

Brian doesn't own or have exclusive rights to the group. Brian helped deny Al, so it's been done.

It's just sad that they're willing to apparently throw away all of the goodwill they generated through the reunion tour.  Everything has to come to an end at some point.  The question is do you push on until the engine finally blows or do you retire gracefully to the museum.  The group has been presented with a golden chance to retire gracefully.  For years we've had Mike and Bruce, Brian and Al (with David truly being the "lost" Beach Boy).  In 2012...all of the differing camps were brought together and the Beach Boys lived again (as much as they could without Carl and Dennis, that is).  They released a solid LP...they put on a solid tour.  Let's face it...the clock is ticking.  They're not going to be able to do this for ten more year...even five starts to really push it.  Do they want to go back to the Mike and Bruce show...and the Brian Wilson show...and the Al Jardine show...all touring by themselves?  They all have a right to do what they want.  Personally...I wouldn't mind if they'd go the route of the Stones.  Let it be the Beach Boys ONLY when the five living members decide to get together for a tour or an LP.  Anything else should be done under a solo banner.  If they had not gotten back together this year I'd have absolutely no problem with things remaining the same...but because they did get back together and because they did remind us what the Beach Boys could still be...it's going to be a bummer if this is it.  Of course, if they end up getting back together again they could still make this right...but knowing the history of the band and considering the ages involved...they cannot afford another period of bad blood.  Time just won't allow it and what we saw in 2012 will be it.

He denies himself the chance by licensing to Mike. What Mike does is partially Brian & Al's own doing through BRI. A Brianista, such as yourself, should understand that.

Dafuq?! This just keeps getting crazier and crazier...  :-\

Nope.

This whole "feud" is to build demand for any future products or tours. But it is backfiring with the fans "fighting" the BBs "feuds" when there really isn't any.

I get the impression Al has been sitting at his computer all day with tears in his eyes

I hate to see all this. Yet, I'm fascinated to see the outcome. I foresee a group hug sometime in the very near future.

I haven't seen David weigh in on this, has he?

I seriously doubt Al is posting this stuff but I suppose he could be condoning it. I could understand it from Al, you know since he sort of staged a coup against BRI and lost the rights they were trying to give him. I'm not sure I understand Brian, maybe he isn't fully clued in or he hasn't thought it through or he is just shooting from the lip.

Or Mike is just being a dick. They are all getting to that cranky old man stage.

Yes, Brian DID make all the music that mattered and that provided Myke Luhv a damn good living.

Sorry for the misconception, Carrie. Thanks for clearing it up. Can you please shine some light on what has been happening this week and who is doing the Facebook posting these days?

Mike co-wrote most of The Beach Boys' biggest songs. For f*ck's sake, you morons.

For Mike, yes you are correct, but for the fans, the rest of the band had to write and best of all, perform up to Brian's vision. Personally, I don't think Brian's music would have been as popular without the rest of the Beach Boys. In hindsight and with Brian's solo work, we see just how important the rest of the guys played in their overall sound and success.

Mike's "response" to Al's earlier "Good Timin" post above?

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IyHiESHy6VM/UF-gYcKSWJI/AAAAAAAAQY4/9qVrbl4xepI/s551/ml.JPG)


In your "dreams' Al! 

We should all remember that there are probably at least 5 people in between the "Post" button on Facebook and Al Jardine or Mike Love.  They themselves aren't actually the ones posting these articles/links.  Let's not get carried away and actually think that Al or Mike are actually sitting at their desks putting up YouTube links trying to jab one another through the most obnoxious, childish way possible.  They're not teenagers in high school who use FB to talk about how much they hate their parents.  This is all very calculated.

Many? Yes.

Most? Nah.

I personally find this a whole load of usual media bollocks (some guy has taken certain Band members quotes etc...and made them his own who is obviously not educated in the politics/licence issues of BRI)  with FB etc being the apparent base for manufactured mud slinging by possibly some Blueboard tosser who has never listened or even heard of 'Mount Vernon' (good god yes I have met a few in the past who honestly don't know of it , but think that 'Saturday Morning In The Shitty' is the best song ever YET they still get back stages passes for some of Brians UK Shows)  , I was hoping that this whole scenario was going to be a fan based only topic in the UK but sadly it gained a whole half page in The Sunday Express  >:(
It really ( whether truth or not , and I guess the later ) does take a shine off of the last gigs this week , does it not ?? Anyone fancy some great tickets (third row for Wembley) at £10 each ??

I am a big supporter of The Mike & Bruce Band ( seen them many times ) and also the BW Band ( seen them very many times )

I am a massive fan of THE MUSIC thus this thread really needs to be closed , please  ::)

I think your "Many" confirms Ian's post well enough.

+infinity

Seriously. THIS.

So the group is his to run away with now? When other legitimate BRI members protest and vent their hurt feelings?

Only in a land where sense and human decency have lost meaning would such a comment be 1.) made and 2.) supported by any professed fan of the group.

Just a little BIG question , how many gigs have The Touring ( Mike & Bruce ) Beach Boys got lined up ? And have the ticket buying public been warned ? And do the majority of the ticket buyers care who is one stage ?

Well at this juncture NOT MANY , and YES and NO

Jeez, Mike has contracts to honor and BRI has a licensing contract to honor. It has nothing to with human decency, only honor, and that is important too.

Yeah, WTF, who needs BW for Christ sake. If it hadn't been for Myke Luhv, Brian would have been a complete f*ckup and never scored one hit. We need so many more deep thinkers like this.  ::)

My memory is a little rusty but wasn't it Al who stated before the reunion became official that he wasn't interested in doing a full blown tour but was just willing to do a one off concert special?

Weird, entertaining......but weird.

Looks like sh!t just got real. I feel like I should be sitting by the computer with a bowl of popcorn while checking Facebook! The guys must really be getting a kick out of this. I'll bet by the time I come home and check this place again they'll be more FB posts and more comments about how ridiculous this is getting. I'm betting this thread will grow about 2 or 3 pages by tomorrow evening.

Bruce just posted a video on his facebook page, directed at Al...

The "Problem Child" video

I think it'll grow 2 or 3 pages in an hour!

:lol

Absolutely! Pet sounds would have been a stinking mess w/o Myke Luhv as would most of Today, Smile, etc, etc. Yeah good ol' Myke surely saved the day for both Brian and all the fans. What a guy!

I think Mike's problems and bad rep started once Brian retired from touring. Mike started giving long monologues between songs and screwing up lyrics on purpose. Brian never put up with that when he was stage leader.

Maybe. But it's also an Al Jardine signature lead. So it may be a gentle nod to his band mate.

At this point, I'd expect big news coming from London next week.

Nobody is saying that without Mike, Brian would be nothing. We're saying that Brian was/is better with the rest of the band. They ALL need each other to put out their best work. This is coming from someone who *likes* Brian's solo work, mind you. As good as the Brian solo show was I saw (and the recordings of other Brian shows I heard were)...him in 2012 with the rest of the Beach Boys was MUCH BETTER. If you don't like Mike, fine, but your entirely one-sided view of things is extremely  inaccurate and at times childish.

I guess I'll throw my opinion in again. Here is what I think the 5 principal members should do. With the few upcoming Mike and Bruce shows, if Brian, Al, and Dave wanna be part of it, then they should be allowed to. If that means a pay cut for everybody, so be it. If not, let Mike and Bruce do the shows with their band, and then resolve not to schedule any more shows until this is worked out. If they decide that they will be continuing on with the Brian, Al, and Dave, then they can decide whether they will allow Mike and Bruce to still do side "Beach Boys" shows. That is that. All they gotta do is figure out if they wanna do another album together with Brian early next year, and if they wanna tour together. If Mike, as I suspect, doesn't want to, then he can pay the consequences when the license for the name runs out. If he decides to tell Brian and Al to get lost, then they can deal with that the next time it's up for renewal. Then we will see everybody's true colors.

I think these guys should be really honest with themselves. Either The Beach Boys become a full-time concern again or they don't. If Brian and Al actually do want to keep on making new albums and touring with the group they should be allowed to. If Mike does not want to work with them, then he should have the name taken away from him, and he should go see how much money he would make on his own, or as the "Endless Summer Beach Band". Seems like he would come back to The Beach Boys pretty quickly after finding out the answer.

I get the feeling that a lot of people think that Mike DESERVES to have the name. That, to me, makes no sense. He is not THE BEACH BOYS. Brian Wilson is not THE BEACH BOYS. None of them are on their own. Only together are they. Mike can use the name 'till the contract is up, but after that it should be like any other "democratic" band. It's up to a majority of the members.

And lastly, I don't know who is in charge here, but "The Real Beach Boy" is probably the WORST moderator ever. He does not even try to maintain any modicum of "moderation" and starts more sh*t than he controls. And lastly, your clueless if you think "Brianistas" don't want the band to continue. I'm a huge fan of Brian, but I understand he, and the rest of the guys are a lot better together than they are solo. So I hope they can work out a way to stick together, and hopefully put out another album next year.


No, it was the opposite.

Where do you, a mod get off with the adolescent name calling. It's an opinion-can't deal with it, don't read it.

*gasp* Someone has a different opinion? It's time for me to meditate.

Told ya my memory was a little rusty.  ;)

Adolescent name calling? You're the one posting 'Myke Luhv' and 'Brooth'! If you read carefully, I did not say you are childish, just your spinning around the original post to suit your point.  But, hey, if the shoe fits, wear it. It's not the opinion I can't deal with, it's the putting words in other peoples' mouths.

school starts tomorrow; the BB have split up: summer's gone, gone like yesterday. . . . ..

oldsurferdude is just a troll.  Don't feed him.

This facebook airing of grievances is bizarre to me, and simply indicates that there must be something brewing below the surface. Something below the veneer of Summer Weather, We're Back Together. And heck, the excellent RS article hinted at that (which is what made it such a compelling read). As in - what, only two public performances of Our Prayer?

In other words, the fault lines have always been there.

What I'm personally quite concerned about is Mike's telling statement how he'd love to write with Brian again, or more specifically, a whole album.

I grew to tolerate and somewhat enjoy the hackeyed lyrics to Spring Vacation and Beaches, but I don't want a whole album of that. Not unless Mike ups his lyrical game. And if that makes me a delusional Brianista, then so be it.

But a lot of those were Brian's lyrics! In fact, Brian wrote more lyrics on the album than Mike did , which needs to be made clear.

Spring Vacation may have banal lyrics but hell if they don't work with that melody. They work almost too well.

BRIAN WILSON
UBER ALLES
BRIAN WILSON UUUUBER ALLES
UBER ALLES
BRIAN WILSON
UBER ALLES BRIAN WILSOOOOOON

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

Just about there ...

"The Godwinns was a gimmick of the professional wrestling tag team composed of Dennis Knight (Phineas I. Godwinn) and Mark Canterbury (Henry O. Godwinn) that they used in the WWF. The team has used other gimmicks before they joined the WWF and had a gimmick change in the WWF shortly before disbanding. Their WWF gimmick was that of two cousins who were hog farmers from Arkansas."

???

Brian Wilson made ALL the music for Feel Flows, Long Promised Road, Big Sur, Only With You, Disney Girls, Trader, and....... oh, nevermind.

Hey you, tatoo-"...but your entirelyone sided view of things is extremely inaccurate and at times childish." Who is it directed to, Newt Gingritch?? And by the way, who made you the Pope?

I'm talking about your viewpoint as expressed above, not you personally, although intentional misspelling of names is pretty childish...that's MAD Magazine-grade stuff.

Good comparison...both of you like to twist words around to suit your own needs.


Good idea.

OSD is not a troll.

He's a LONGTIME fan who, I ...... THINK....... has something of a dislike for Mike Love.

This is all profoundly stupid.  Well done.

the idea of these septuagenarian rock stars monitoring each other's facebook statuses and squabbling like teenagers is ever-so-slightly amusing.

Murry Wilson likes this.

More than just slightly. Probably practice for the new album... Farmville Sounds

You know who else liked wrestling and non sequitur? Hitler.

Reductio ad Hitlerum

(http://s10.postimage.org/3zpx650x3/bbs.png)

this has been what's been sent out in the official Beach Boys newsletter from beachboysband.net at least since the beginning of August.

Here's my best guess:
Brian knew about the Mike/Bruce tour a while ago. He already responded to it in a Rolling Stone article months ago. This is (good willed but clumsy) attempt to keep the act together for these upcoming shows.

We know Al and Dave don't run their FB pages (Al probably couldn't even find his own website much less his FB page). It looks like the same person is running both of them. My guess is he's pretty young and unprofessional. Once these shenanigans get back to management (who have bigger fish to fry right now in the U.K.) they'll be taken down.

Everyone is saying this, but I find it difficult to believe this is going on unintentionally. I think the simplest explanation works here, which is that everyone knew the plan, but the three non-included guys hoped to continue it, or have some hint from Mike that he was interested in picking back up later. With the press release dropping before the final shows -- and kind of stepping on them, from some folks' perspective -- I think Brian and Al and Dave's reactions are very natural and real. They aren't angry at Mike, exactly, and they aren't actively blocking him from doing shows -- but they seem like they'd like for him to give a sign that he has a commitment to the full group. Which it seems like he was willing to play along with for the duration of the summer, but not beyond.

"We know" Al and Dave don't run their Facebook pages? says who? do you think some nerd in an office gets paid ten dollars an hour to update Al and Dave's facebook? I'd be really surprised.

Paid?  HA!  Prolly record label interns.

What the f*** is even going on here anymore? Things have gotten so ridiculously convoluted, especially with all the weird delays on the new reissues and now with all the reports in the remasters thread about albums randomly showing up for sale online. And there still hasn't been a boxset announcement.

I'm so burned out on news/rumors about the reunion. Just put the releases out and retire.

I can't believe all of this.  The rights to the BB name was given to Mike, I have no idea when it expires or even if it does.. BUT  The guys that I saw 2 weeks ago WERE THE BEACH BOYS..  and even though Mike and Bruce have been touring like they have since Carl died, I don't understand that if they could have everyone back together again they wouldn't jump at the chance.  Mike has gotten great mileage out of this deal, time to share maybe...

Why would Mike and  Bruce want to go back to what they were??  The money?  Surely they are loaded enough.  Maybe they just love it, but again surely you would love it more with a more genuine lineup, and not having to do small venues etc.  It's gotta be an ego thing.

I know this isn't going to go down too well with some people, but Brian needs to step up for once and not let things just happen.   Just my opinion.

I think the success of The Beach Boys actually getting along as people surprised a lot of fans, and probably themselves. I know the vibe here was 'oh it'll be fun until Brian and Al stomp John Stamos to death onstage during Kokomo'/'Mike falls asleep during a Pet Sounds song' or w/e, which is probably why the thing had a finite lifespan.

I mean, Al is the guy who said 'we're doing this for the last time' and now he's campaigning for more. I think he was surprised by how well the band got on and managed to put out a successful album and tour without acrimony. Although Brian & Mike seemed a bit prickly during recording sessions, if the RS article is an indication (Waves of Love, say) but Brian coming out with tonnes of praise for Al  and giving him From There To Back Again probably sweetens that a little. And hey, they're all getting older and Al probably just doesn't want this to end. Can you blame him?

But yeah, I think we're all just acting out because now it's really over. And it ain't even over yet, with Wembley and the Albert Hall!

One of the most sensible posts on this thread !

Wrong.

Maybe we should wait to see if Mike actually issues some sort of  statement refusing to ever perform with the others again before people start falling over themselves to bash the guy?

Brian just posted a picture of all the band and crew at a dinner party he threw in London to celebrate the tour. There's two persons missing, guess who!

I've said it before...but I almost have to laugh when I read all of this nonsense.  They have been one of the longest running soap operas in rock history.  Their story is full of petty squabbles...backhanded business practices...mud-slinging...court battles...and on and on.  The fact that they've managed to continue making incredible music (most of the time) throughout is pretty amazing.  A part of me thinks just wrapping it up cleanly after the reunion tour would have been too easy for this group...too out of character.  Personally, I wish they could have just truly buried the hatchet and gone out on a high note...but if this is not going to be the case (and it looks that way right now) then maybe collapsing back into name-calling and finger-pointing truly is how they're supposed to end.  Very sad...but when have they ever done anything cleanly?

ha ha! Just saw that.

Something might actually going on with the group feuding. Unless Mike and Bruce hiding in that picture.

Mike was taking the picture, and Bruce was bussing tables
:lol

If we were to stage a parody of what a Facebook-based fight between the Beach Boys would look like, I don't think we'd go this far. What the hell is wrong with these grown-ass men?! Gotta love them.

Good to see Scott T there, though. Wonder where he's at in all of this.

ETA: This dinner was last night, let's guess between 6pm and 9pm in London. Al's first post was looks like it was posted around 7pm-8pm and last post was around 11pm-midnight BST. The post from Dave's account came some time in between then. So maybe they were conspiring their Facebook offensive over dessert?

The problem I've found with this whole thing is that it shows one of the biggest problems of social media, it allows things to be said in the heat of the moment without any thought. I have a feeling that if Alan had thought through posting a link to "Good Timin'" with a dedication to Mike, he probably wouldn't have done it. As it is though it's beginning to turn into the kind of arguments that teenage girls have with each other on Facebook, all we need is for Brian to call Mike a bitch or link a post with a Justin Bieber song or something and we will be there.

Just a thought, Imagine if The Beatles had had Facebook during the "Let It Be/Get Back" sessions  :lol

I am going to school to teach all day, and I want so good news by the time I come home tonight at 7, please. This issue is reaching critical mass; are we not less likely to buy all the new album versions, the upcoming DVDs , the greatest hits collections, etc.?  I feel utterly betrayed by all the philosophical talk of perpetuality (perhaps a coinage) and spiritual unity and joint consciousness that we see throughout the films and promos, etc. Real students of spiritual doctrine and non-attachment would have approached each other and the fans with compassion and calm and wrought a solution free from grasping and the control over a selfish result--to casually apply some language from the Gita, which several BB have studied.

I will myself wait for the miraculous coming of the dawn, if it comes.

Note that Scott Totten and John Cowsill are both present at the dinner, so there can't be any truth in the rumour that Mike & Bruce were playing a Beach Boys Band gig at Battersea Working Men's Club.

… unless Brian's headhunted them for his own band…

All I can say is this is really sad.  You know part of me just wants to throw the towel in on this group right now.  I'm so sick of their daily drama.  It's actually getting to the point where I'm not sure if I want to listen to their music right now or not.  I'm tired of the theatrics, I'm tired of the dirty laundry out there for everyone to see and quite frankly I'm tired of them.

The Boys are now at the Mermaid ready for the gig according to their Twitter. In response to my question of "Are they talking?" they replied "Yes they are!". Just thought I'd let you know and see what you make of it, if anything!

Everything in terms of drama and theatrics is/was created by us fans. There's no hint from any of the members that things are turning bad only comments that they want to continue touring plus the comment by Mike that he and Bruce will play some shows that are already booked (and were since probably before the reunion tour). Plus we heard that Mike was willing to talk about more work with Brian, Al and David

Some pics just in.....

http://instagram.com/p/P9mwIVCRIl/

http://instagram.com/p/P9o9OcCRJq/

Thoughts anyone?

Bruce is just out of camera shot wiping his snots on the table linen

They obviously hate each other !  ::)


Thanks for the links, CarlTheVoice