The Smiley Smile Message Board

I wonder how Brian's doing after his surgery. Carnie posted a nice photo of her kids and some of his kids for Father's Day. Looks like he's still in the hospital, unless it's an old photo.

I’d be very, very surprised if they kept him in the hospital for more than a month because of back surgery. Our health system doesn’t really work that way unless there’s something seriously wrong, and even then there would be a push to get him home. Seems likely it was just a pic from a day when lots of folks were visiting.

 The other hand, I suppose he could be in some sort of physical rehab facility.

See below.

Just spoke with my physical therapist brother, who said it’s actually much more common these days to admit folks in situations like this — largely because of concerns over misuse of opiates. Given Brian’s past and possible physical fragility, they could well have kept him in. It’s also possible, my brother said, that he was discharged and readmitted because of pain or infection. Both are common.

Seems he is. See the Australian interview thread.

My Mom had back surgery a couple of months ago, very risky because of her age but necessary - without it she would be unable to walk or even get out of bed.
She got through it ; after being discharged from the hospital she was in a rehab facility for over a month before finally going home and is now receiving physical therapy visits several times a week.
While in the rehab place a whole bunch of people got sick including my Mom. Thankfully she didn't have to go back to the hospital but illness and infections, bed sores etc could cause major problems. And being older would in itself make the process take longer

It's not for nothing, as well, that Brian *looks* great in those pics with Carnie. Rest assured, if he had taken some sort of serious downturn and was readmitted, he'd look worse for the wear and you wouldn't see Carnie posting pics.

I'm also guessing they want to be as proactive as Brian's health is allowing in rehabbing, as he's due to go back out on tour in less than a month now (which would presumably be preceded by at least a little bit of rehearsal).

Where are the pictures?

instagram.com/carnie68

What's there to rehearse? Smiling and waving?

I’m just glad the guy seems to be going all out to get his back fixed. It has to be the worse at any age let alone 76. I really hope it does the trick this time.

I'm glad to hear he is getting his back fixed as well.  I saw Brian live last October and left feeling more worried about him than anything else.  He could barely walk.  It was more than being "escorted" on and off the stage, he was nearly being carried.  And I'm sure being in pain contributed to his "I don't really want to be here" style of singing that night.

Wouldn't it be nice if Brian could just relax and enjoy his senior years, instead of playing the performing puppet, being dragged out for one more performance of the songs he wrote and recorded with the BB's 50 years ago? But of course relaxing and talking a walk in the park doesn't exactly bring in the dollars. :(

Who are the handlers?

Most of that happened at the show I was at last year too.

Wow...never mind the fact that Brian himself has said he wants to stay busy

Plus I think it's not offbase to assume Brian may be afraid to stop touring, as in staying around at home too much could be risky for him possibly getting a little depressed, or for bad habits to potentially creep in. Touring and just keeping busy must be good for his soul on some level or he wouldn't do it.

Not even an assumption...he's actually stated as much!

That said, I think it's time to retire the Pet Sounds tours. Past time, actually.

Is Brian’s back issues Mike’s fault? The weight of expectation for hits and all.

(Just kidding, but blaming the Wilsons lifestyles on Mike was in the same tone.)

Just for shits I’d mark out if Brian opened  his first show back  with “Brian’s Back”

I agree, Billy, about Pet S.  , it is now overdone.

I’m hoping that he puts out a new album and tours that. Failing that, I would like songs that maybe he either hasn’t done or hasn’t done in a while

Don’t forget the Christmas tour.

It's great to hear that Brian's back is better after surgery. I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to see the Christmas tour, which is playing locally, or drive three hours to Windsor to see the last (rescheduled) Pet Sounds show. I know everyone is tired of the Pet Sounds tour, but I missed my previous chances to see it.

Gettin Hungry, I hope you can make both shows, so you don't have to choose.

Our show in Atlanta is going to be GH, but if I could hear "Wild Honey," "This Whole World," and "Feel Flows" performed in the same show, I'd be a very happy camper.

That sounds great... come to Houston Brian!

Short of starting a GoFundMe page for the two shows, I'll only be able to pick. They are just too close together to swing both. If I had an idea of what non-Christmas songs were to be included, I'd have an easier time deciding. We'll see.