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Late 80s press kit using "The Girls of Kokomo" to, I guess, promote the "Teach" program somehow? Mike apparently added some "Kokomo" themed prose for the inside of the folder....

(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/49594121_2196977717238913_3142921702728531968_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=131e69e7b723ced836d9dbfd42f7f9ce&oe=5C912085)

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(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/50302006_2196987110571307_6266130519180705792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=8b8f35bea69c59348d8c06f0e2ceff37&oe=5CCBECD7)

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Are we sure the Project Teach papers weren't just thrown into that folder as a joke? I know the above is 30 some years old, but I can't imagine such a press release (regarding teachers) being distributed in today's #MeToo and Millennial climate, for very good reasons. Nor can I really imagine it being released back in the 80s like this. It's like Drake starting some Teachers Scholarship program and putting pictures of girls twerking in the press release...It doesn't have anything to do with education!

And what exactly is/was The Girls of Kokomo?

I thought about the possibility that the docs were not directly related to the folder and pics, and were just mismatched. But the docs mention Mike and the Beach Boys, so I'm not sure what the correlation is. Perhaps the unseen portions of the docs spell all of that out.

Sleazy as this all sure seems to be, I guess at least it's a good picture of Mike. I just can't connect the dots of how something marketed as a "teaching" program is somehow supposed to incorporate or be associated with hot Kokomo babes.

Like, was the intent for the person who received this kit to pop a boner, and then decide to open their wallets? I truly, truly am at a loss and don't get it. At first glance, the association of the these things (teaching, half naked ladies, pseudo religious/philosophical quotes/Mike seemingly having a harem in the photos) makes me have a flash of the whole current NXIVM/Vanguard/Allison Mack situation. Alison Mike?

Excuse my french, but what the fucking f*** did I just look at?!?!? :brow

After a bit of a search I found another shot of that pack showing a business card. The name is Ray Upton. Must be this guy.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/beach-boys-mike-love-girls-kokomo-1829002812

https://www.amazon.com/Ramondo/e/B00EN4J3DY

I'm echoing Jay's comment and adding mine: What the hell is this?

The never-ending supply of schlock truly never ends, does it?

#lifestylesoftherichandtacky

Cousin Larry from "vacation" dresses better than Mike....  :p

Aside from whatever connection this thing had to the "Teach" program, I'm more curious if this "Girls of Kokomo" thing was something akin to Mike's more recent (last year or so) attempt to do a bunch of "Kokomo" branding for destinations/products, etc.

Note that his "Kokomo Brands" website from last year is no longer functioning.

I'm wondering if "Girls of Kokomo" was similar to his "Club Kokomo" attempts.

"So if you miss him baby
Call him on the phone
But make it quick
We're almost in a party zone"
-Mike Love, Summer of Love

So I'm guessing that in Mike's ideal world the Girls of Kokomo serve us Kokomojitos(©2018 not even kidding Mike copyrighted this) while he croons from the private stage in Club Kokomo the poetic symphony of Kokomo...I'm assuming followed up with an encore of Pisces Brothers.

 :lol :lol This goateed jackass thinks, for some reason, that he thinks of himself as "chick bait", when in fact, he did/does look more like Clarabell the Clown most of the time. Don't forget the ticky tacky  failed "Vibe Room disaster either! Weirdest pictures of Mike Love anyone?

Mike has been trying to "brand" Kokomo since the early 90's, more or less...and before these recent comments on the subject, I was going to jokingly ask is there any project Mike has undertaken under his own name or company that has NOT somehow branded Kokomo as either a concept, trademark, or lifestyle...and beyond that, seriously ask if any of Mike's Kokomo-branded ventures have been successful.

Then I read that his recent "Kokomo Brands" venture website seems to have disappeared from the web? I guess they couldn't get enough investors on board? So the streak continues, I suppose, and I wonder how many crates of unused new-old-stock "Club Kokomo" pint glasses and tableware from 1997 are spread around various fans' homes from Nevada to the UK at this point.  ;D

And, seriously though...Can anyone even try to explain the connection between a program promoting teachers and educational programs and Mike's troupe of bikini models?

I'm sure this is all based on Mike wanting to duplicate the success that Jimmy Buffet has had with Margaritaville, right? It seems almost an exact attempt at aping the very idea, much like la Bruce & Terry soundalike clone of a BBs song.

But I am also trying to understand the connection between a program promoting teachers and educational programs and Mike's troupe of bikini models. It's simultaneously hilarious (and I mean this is next level hilarious, up there with the Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous clip) and cringe inducing, and sometimes it feels like the amount of previously unknown cringey Mike projects like this which seemingly surface only bit by bit, in dribs and drabs, is almost like Mike's version of SMiLE, where fans can piece together and roll their own... joints to toke on, while they laugh their asses of at the ridiculousness of the totality of it all  :lol

The only thing I can think of at the moment is that the plan could have been to use the "Girls of Kokomo" to raise money/awareness at events. Basically, imagine the BBs doing a gig to bring in money and attention to this program. So he would do the same, but with this "Girls of Kokomo" thing. What they would *do* at an event, I can't say. Just appear? Dance to music? Hand out flyers?

I'm wondering if the "Girls of Kokomo" branding thing was a separate thing, and then he was going to use it to promote this other program. Again, similar to how the BBs were touring as a regular thing, and then also could have appeared at fundraisers/galas, etc.

And maybe he already had promo press kits for the "Girls of Kokomo" thing, and repurposed the folders for this other program.

We obviously can't see what else is in that stapled document; so maybe it spells out how it all ties in.

I do have to wonder, though, even back in the late 80s/early 90s when there probably woudln't have been as much outrage about the nature of numerous aspects of this "Girls of Kokomo" thing, would schools/teachers/unions and other organizations of that type really been into having, what, bikini-clad "Girls of Kokomo" going out to promote being a teacher?

And this is why all of the flak Mike has gotten regarding the legacy hasn't been unfounded. I cringe to think what The Beach Boys name would be like right now if the market were open to such ideas as a chain of Club Kokomo restaurants serving their Kokomojitos by the Girls of Kokomo. Because I have very little doubt that if Mike were able to be profitable with such a venture (current Pet Sounds/Brian Wilson legacy be damned), he would do it....Anyone up for some tea from Club Koko-Chai? (https://www.trademarkia.com/company-michael-e-love-4516721-page-1-2 (https://www.trademarkia.com/company-michael-e-love-4516721-page-1-2))

For better or worse, the BBs haven't ever been very successful at branding/IP sort of things outside of music releases and, to some degree, merch sold on tour (where there's a captive audience for the stuff of course).

There hasn't been a glut of t-shirts and keychains and wallets and action figures like we've seen with some other bands of the "classic" rock era.

Having a restaurant or club themed after a band seems kind of antiquated now anyway, but even if it's still a viable business model for a lot of bands, the BBs wouldn't be high on that list. (Whether we're talking actual BB branding like the few "Beach Boys Cafe" restaurants that were open in the 90s, or a "Club Kokomo" sort of thing with implied connection to the BBs without actually using the BB trademark).

Apart from random items over the years (those expensive Hawaiian shirts from the 90s, a t-shirt here or there at Urban Outfitters-type places, a Hallmark ornament or two, etc.), the "branding" issue when it comes to non-music/tour categories just isn't and never will be there.

I think the ship has sailed on seeing a "Wild Honey" t-shirt at Hot Topic.

We've also seen cases where attempts have been made to do BB-themed projects like that Beach Boys Broadway production in the 2000s, and my recollection is that that thing crashed and burned pretty quickly. There just isn't a market for BB stuff like there is for "Mama Mia" type productions or the Cirque Beatles "Love" show. (And I'm guessing the reason "live entertainment" things relating to the BBs haven't done so well because there is always a "Beach Boys" band touring all year, ever year).

Didn't Mike Love and Stamos try to get a "Mama Mia" like show going in Vegas just a few years ago? I take it that crashed and burned too.

And I agree that the market just hasn't been viable for any Beach Boys ventures outside of the music...I don't think the tacky and outdated Beach Boys official logo typeface helps at all in the merch department,either. I take it as a blessing, the music stands on its own and doesn't need any marketing gimmicks tagging along or marring the music itself. However, I would love to see an official Beach Boys Love type album, the Cirque De Sole show optional.

@OSD, I totally forgot about the Vibe Room! :lol

Agreed completely. It's interesting, rab, between this failed venture and the Murry-cowritten Breakaway failing, maybe I should start a thread on BBs ventures/songs that were lucky in hindsight to have failed for all sorts of various reasons.

CenturyDeprived, I think you're really going out on a limb to claim that it's better in hindsight that "Breakaway" failed commercially. The group was struggling financially and leaving Capitol. A hit single could have made a huge difference. Maybe Murry doesn't sell Sea of Tunes at all! Or at least not in August of '69. Who knows what may have transpired? It obviously also wouldn't have hurt Brian's confidence for it to succeed. It may not have had a lasting effect on his mental well-being, but who knows?

Pretty positive that both girls are present for the campfire segments of tv show in 1989

You should! I mean, the commercial failing of Here Comes The Night Disco Version was a godsend to the group I'd say!

@B.E., though I think any chart success would've helped Brian's confidence, it's a pretty interesting road of thought to image how Murry would have behaved had it been a success...and to wonder if in the long run it would be a positive thing for Brian. Just my two cents. I hope others chime in on this topic too.

The constant kokomo branding was a good reason for BW to stay away.... :bw

Did OSD ever sign up for the club kokomo backstage pass? >:D

Considering Murry was involved, yes, I think it would have gone to his head. But that makes me wonder if he changes his mind about selling Sea Of Tunes in '69 and how that could have changed things for Brian and the group in a very positive way. Surely, Murry selling away all of Brian's songs (and "Breakaway" failing) had a worse effect on Brian than "Breakaway" being a hit would have, no? Yeah, maybe Murry might convince Brian that he still needed him, but if Brian's confidence is up, is that really so bad? Most of us love the results of Friends and "Breakaway", don't we? Point is, we know how things turned out, and it wasn't good for Brian.

It is interesting to think about. I just feel the need to pump the brakes is all...

Or a better reason for him to come back!

The real irony is that Kokomo wasn't even Mike's idea or concept. Yet he's been trying to brand it under his image for 25 years or more.

Yes!!!! :lol :lol :lol

Yeah, the one instance of Breakaway hypothetically being a hit is a better scenario than Murry selling the tunes and Breakaway failing. But I think CD was pointing out that had Breakaway become a hit then Murry would probably interject himself more in the recording process and things down the road would become really rocky for Brian, especially the abuse from Murry coupled with his drug abuse and fragile mindset during that time. Had failures happened after Breakaway became a hit and Murry been pushed away a second time he probably would have sold the Sea of Tunes stuff anyways.

I'm glad you're interjecting your point of view, and I think it's good to look at this from all angles....so hit the brakes all you want!

All of what you both said rings true, and yes that's essentially what I think too. Regardless of what would have played out, Murry would have behaved like a toxic person in an unhealthy way, because sadly that's just how he was. Give him an inch in terms of credit/praise, I'm sure he'd have taken a mile. Reject him and he'd fight back with psychological warfare in any way he could. We know the way Murry acted when he had a flop with Breakway; he soon after screwed over his sons (out of an attempt to "help" them), basically to interject himself businesswise where he wasn't wanted in order to placate his own ego's desire to MATTER to the situation.  To be the hero to his sons' careers.

Even if there had been a hit from Breakaway, there'd have doubtlessly been the start of more dysfunction of him trying to force his way back into a more prominent role (like the early days), or at least from an advice-giving standpoint, and at this timeframe Brian (even if he'd have been newly somewhat confident after having co-penned a hit) was not in a good space mentally to deal with Murry acting even more entitled (and this time Murry with a hit to claim how important he was to further hits).

Again, I compare what Murry's likely behavior would have been to Mike's post-Kokomo behavior, where he was reinvigorated to proudly strut that his contributions MATTER; that just led to an ocean of eyeroll-worthy Mike behavior and actions (like creating this Girls of Kokomo nonsense, and hijacking the brand in order to pose with half naked women), and I can't even imagine what type of psychological mindfuckery Murry would have dreamed up if he had a hit song with Brian in 1969. Basically, working with Murry again (post when they kicked him out as manager) in pretty much any capacity, let alone a capacity where he would have been a cowriter on a big single they were gonna push, was gonna lead to problems.

And... this doesn't even begin to take into account that Mike might have gotten jealous of Murry trying to interject himself further as Brian's collaborator, and how that could have played out. Such dysfunction :/

If the parallel is what if Breakaway had been a chart topping hit, how Murry would have acted in the band dynamic afterward...Consider what really happened, and how Breakaway stiffed, then Murry basically cut ties, sold his interests with the group in a business sense, and ripped off his own son by not paying him what he was due from the sale. I wonder if there is a relationship between Breakaway flopping and Murry selling the tunes and bailing out.

On the other hand, again unless someone can give an example, I don't believe any of Mike's "Kokomo" themed plans or ventures ever succeeded, in fact I think they all either flopped, were dead before they got started, or simply folded...yet Mike keeps trying this stuff.

And just when you think you've heard all the attempts at this Kokomo branding, from the cafes to the restaurant to the clothing to the resort design services...we get an old promo packet showing a program promoting education and teaching being represented by Mike Love and his Kokomo bikini girls. It's beyond nuts, you seriously couldn't make this stuff up.

I'm thinking the teachers are all scantily clad beauties willing to "teach me tonight".

Blondie is nothing special. :) Girl like girl.

Mike vs. Murry, yuck.... :-\