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Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: Juice Brohnston on September 05, 2022, 08:11:45 AM



Title: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Juice Brohnston on September 05, 2022, 08:11:45 AM
Deep into the Beach Boys 60th Anniversary Tour, Mike takes a moment to explain how he wrote Good Vibrations, and reveal that drugs have ruined Brian to the point he has had to cancel his shows....

https://mynorthwest.com/3616424/dori-the-beach-boys-at-60-how-procrastination-led-to-one-of-the-best-songs-of-all-time/


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 05, 2022, 08:50:57 AM
I have always been a fan of Mike Love the Beach Boy.
But Mike Love the interviewee... on that, count me in the OldSurferDude camp.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 05, 2022, 08:56:13 AM
He is 80 years old though Mike. You might want to also take that into account?


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SMiLE Brian on September 05, 2022, 09:58:02 AM
Mike is a dick…


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Cabinessenceking on September 05, 2022, 10:30:51 AM
Damn what a sad individual.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: juggler on September 05, 2022, 12:33:29 PM
“He hurt himself so badly with drugs that he’s not capable of doing much. He goes out and sometimes tours, but recently canceled all his future dates. It’s sad, but between the heroin, LSD, and cocaine – they had an effect."

This is Mike Love at his worst...  talking out of his a$$ and taking gratuitous shots at cousin Brian.  I'd honestly be surprised if Brian has used heroin, LSD or cocaine at any time since approx. 1982.  So we're talking about at least 40 years ago.  And in the case of LSD perhaps even longer.  During the last 40 years, Brian has  had some periods of great creativity and productivity that obviously weren't prevented by past use of "heroin, LSD, and cocaine" and Love knows it.  This is just him putting Brian down and nothing more than that.
 
 Brian's mental issues are complex, and there are likely many, many factors at play: Brian's predisposition to anxiety/depression, paranoia-inducing effects of drugs that Love doesn't mention such as hashish, extreme overmedication of prescription anti-psychotic meds by Gene Landy.  Does ML account for any of that?  No, of course not. He simply rattles off the names of some illegal drugs that are socially unacceptable (in most circies) as a putdown.



Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Jay on September 05, 2022, 12:49:48 PM
That heroin and cocaine line was really kind of out of left field. He usually harps on the drug issue but always seems to focus on pot and acid. It's like he's deliberately trying to find a way out of any possible reunion.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 05, 2022, 01:20:14 PM
Yeah. I can REALLY see the effects drugs had on his spine. Cocaine , LSD, and heroin are well known for making someone turn 80 and require multiple back surgeries. Now excuse me, I’m about to do a hot rail off this knife so I can get arthritis and gout when I’m 96.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear Mike Love and Kreen were the same person 🙄


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SMiLE Brian on September 05, 2022, 03:31:41 PM
Where’s OSD? >:D


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: guitarfool2002 on September 06, 2022, 07:03:13 AM
Quote:

***With all their success, Dori wondered, what’s the relationship now between Love and Brian Wilson? Do the two men talk?

“No,” Love said. “He hurt himself so badly with drugs that he’s not capable of doing much. He goes out and sometimes tours, but recently canceled all his future dates. It’s sad, but between the heroin, LSD, and cocaine – they had an effect.

“But if it was just he and I at a piano?” Love contemplated. “We love each other and experienced such great success. If it was just he and I at the piano? The DNA just kicks in, but the incursion of drugs came in, and that screwed things up quite a bit.”***


This is so ridiculous and over the top it's almost not worth a reply. Almost. The fact that we're reminded regularly of how "at peace" Mike is and has been through meditation and TM, how much he loves touring and playing live concerts for his fans, and how he feels he's carrying the torch for the Beach Boys through his activities leads this same contented, happy, wealthy man to once again make public statements as absurd as this one?

Mike for years - particularly in the wake of C50 ending - has been saying the same things. And they're as wrong now as they were in the past. He holds this image of him and Brian at a piano knocking out the hits like it was 1963 as some sort of Shangri-La, idealistic paradise he thinks can be recaptured. It borders on delusion. And maybe Mike doesn't know this, but Brian has been "clean" of those drugs for at least 40 years and actively touring and making music. It's just petty, mean-spirited talk from a guy who can't keep his mouth shut and has to belittle others to boost his own ego and profile.

In this case, would we consider what he said a lie? "Not capable of doing much" is pretty strong and very definitive...and if we look back at Brian's musical resume over the last 25 years, and his touring schedules, it pretty much shows Mike is as full of sh*t now as he was when he filed that lawsuit around 2005 saying all Brian did after 1967 was stay in bed and collect royalty checks.

There's something going on here, beyond just petty word wars. I'd think someone, maybe his wife-and-manager or some historian or writer somewhere, would tell Mike to shut the f*** up, this stuff isn't helping your image, it's not helping to put fans' asses in the seats at the venues he's playing, and overall it comes off as pathetic.

Why the guy can't just celebrate what he accomplished and all the people, tens of millions, he's made happy through the years with his music and lyrics is something I guess we'll never understand. I thought the days of Mike saying sh*t like this were over, but I guess he's still holding onto whatever hate or animosity he felt for decades.

Happy 60th, Beach Boys!  ::)


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 06, 2022, 08:47:10 AM
Quote:

***With all their success, Dori wondered, what’s the relationship now between Love and Brian Wilson? Do the two men talk?

“No,” Love said. “He hurt himself so badly with drugs that he’s not capable of doing much. He goes out and sometimes tours, but recently canceled all his future dates. It’s sad, but between the heroin, LSD, and cocaine – they had an effect.

“But if it was just he and I at a piano?” Love contemplated. “We love each other and experienced such great success. If it was just he and I at the piano? The DNA just kicks in, but the incursion of drugs came in, and that screwed things up quite a bit.”***


This is so ridiculous and over the top it's almost not worth a reply. Almost. The fact that we're reminded regularly of how "at peace" Mike is and has been through meditation and TM, how much he loves touring and playing live concerts for his fans, and how he feels he's carrying the torch for the Beach Boys through his activities leads this same contented, happy, wealthy man to once again make public statements as absurd as this one?

Mike for years - particularly in the wake of C50 ending - has been saying the same things. And they're as wrong now as they were in the past. He holds this image of him and Brian at a piano knocking out the hits like it was 1963 as some sort of Shangri-La, idealistic paradise he thinks can be recaptured. It borders on delusion. And maybe Mike doesn't know this, but Brian has been "clean" of those drugs for at least 40 years and actively touring and making music. It's just petty, mean-spirited talk from a guy who can't keep his mouth shut and has to belittle others to boost his own ego and profile.

In this case, would we consider what he said a lie? "Not capable of doing much" is pretty strong and very definitive...and if we look back at Brian's musical resume over the last 25 years, and his touring schedules, it pretty much shows Mike is as full of sh*t now as he was when he filed that lawsuit around 2005 saying all Brian did after 1967 was stay in bed and collect royalty checks.

There's something going on here, beyond just petty word wars. I'd think someone, maybe his wife-and-manager or some historian or writer somewhere, would tell Mike to shut the f*** up, this stuff isn't helping your image, it's not helping to put fans' asses in the seats at the venues he's playing, and overall it comes off as pathetic.

Why the guy can't just celebrate what he accomplished and all the people, tens of millions, he's made happy through the years with his music and lyrics is something I guess we'll never understand. I thought the days of Mike saying sh*t like this were over, but I guess he's still holding onto whatever hate or animosity he felt for decades.

Happy 60th, Beach Boys!  ::)

You perfectly summed up my thoughts here. But I'd also like to add a few thoughts:

1. "this stuff isn't helping your image" - I really thought Mike got this memo a couple years ago, because it has been a couple years (I think) since this type of talk has come from him. It seemed clear to me that Mike was either told to stop, or he grew up and decided to not take potshots at his cousin anymore. But clearly there is something there gnawing away at Mike, something on the inside of him that he needs to release every now and then. It's like he can't not say something negative about his cousin - clearly there is something in him that is bugging him about Brian or Melinda.

2. "In this case, would we consider what he said a lie? "Not capable of doing much" is pretty strong and very definitive...and if we look back at Brian's musical resume over the last 25 years, and his touring schedules, it pretty much shows Mike is as full of sh*t now as he was when he filed that lawsuit around 2005 saying all Brian did after 1967 was stay in bed and collect royalty checks." This is what I don't get about people who defend Mike to their dying breath - how do you account for this overly blatant deceit?

And more to that point, Mike is perpetuating the myth that Brian is a vegetable - someone who is incapable of doing anything on his own. I will never forget Casey Hardmeyer's lambasting of Brian's life/career in his NPP review. It was disgusting to read, and yet I almost don't blame people for believing that crap because people like Mike continue to push the lie.

I go from being enraged by Mike's words to feeling sadness - I am enraged because it is a complete lie that Brian isn't capable of doing much. Yet I am also saddened that Mike can not only privately hold these beliefs but he shares them publicly to the world...I feel bad for both the world who has to hear this drivel and for Mike for actually believing it.

Brian has had an INCREDIBLE redemption story, and yet the only thing Mike focusses on are Brian's pitfalls - the negative stuff. Mike seems to never acknowledge that Brian got away from drugs, that he started making music again, that he toured a heck of a lot on his own. Mike solely focusses on "Brian's gained weight" or "Brian used street drugs" or "Brian now uses prescription drugs" and he rarely (if ever) praises Brian for the past couple of decades of success.

If I had a family member who FORTY years ago struggled with addiction, and then he turned his life around and he was living good ever since, would there be any logical reason for me to continuously bring up my their drug use? What a great family reunion that would be:

You: "Hey Rab, have you talked with Uncle Jim lately?"
Rab: "No, he did drugs 40 years ago and he doesn't do much now, so we don't talk."
You: "Yeah but Uncle Jim has been sober for 40 years and he has accomplished a lot since then."
Rab: "Yeah but he did drugs 40 years ago and hasn't been the same since."
You: "I mean, Uncle Jim is 80 years old with schizophrenia and depression issues, so yeah he's not as spry as he used to be, but he has overcome a lot and has been very successful since turning his life around."
Rab: "Yeah but he did drugs 40 years ago."

IT MAKES NO LOGICAL SENSE. Nevermind thinking these thoughts privately, I do not understand how you could publicly talk about someone like this and sleep well at night. It is so foreign to my way of thinking, and clearly most people.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: The LEGENDARY OSD on September 06, 2022, 10:08:53 AM
Where’s OSD? >:D

Here I am, SB. Just reading posts on this thread and I agree with most of them but WOW, Rab really hit the nail on the head about Mike Love. Let's face it, That crumb is NOT going to change. Plenty of people used to get on my sh*t about my negative comments about that D-bag but I had this leech figured out a long, long time ago, but I'm not going to tell them "I told you so". Every instance this jackass opens his piehole, he re-seals his horrible profile. The BB's legacy will go down very well but this pathetic loser will not. Enjoy your millions Mike and even more importantly, enjoy your stinking lousy reputation.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 06, 2022, 02:21:24 PM
"Why the guy can't just celebrate what he accomplished and all the people, tens of millions, he's made happy through the years with his music and lyrics is something I guess we'll never understand."

As usual, you nailed the question, GuitarFool. Yes, why can't he? He is the coauthor and lead vocalist for several of the best songs ever, the frontman of one of the greatest bands ever (actually, the BEST ever), a sublime harmony singer, the best bass/baritone in rock... why does he have to keep pissing on his own shoes with that absurd anti-Brian campaign?
Brian, the man without whom his career as a musician would NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. Brian showed that he was able to do great things without Mike... whatever did he Mike without Brian? Ooh, Kokomo, I get it. Then?

But it's not Mike who really irks me. Mike is a living legend, I can live with him being... let's say, not perfect. Not even Brian, or Al, are perfect, after all. No, what really irks me are the "Mike Lovers". The guys, "historians", "experts", "site administrators", "moderators", simple "fans", simple trolls, who are trying to distort history and spread the revisionist Mike Lover dogma.
I hope that truth will triumph, in the end. But it won't be as easy as it could seem. Let's keep our eyes, and ears, open.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 06, 2022, 02:22:19 PM
I personally really hope to see a redemption story when it comes to The Beach Boys.

Which is why I’m probably a bit too optimistic when it comes to Mike’s behavior - as in, I was really leaning towards the idea that Mike had had a change of heart the last couple years, turning a new leaf. And while evidence of a fizzled 60th reunion kinda made it clear that there is still some tension/problems relating to Brian and Mike’s relationship, I still kept some hope that Mike was done with the public berating of his cousin at least.

But wow, this interview tossed all those hopes into the abandoned Club Kokomo dumpster (where they belonged all along).

While some fans have claimed that Brianistas “need a villain” and Mike is our random target, I find this accusation to be completely lacking any logic: Do Beatles fans go out of their way to randomly find a villain in their favorite band? Do Zeppelin fans go out of their way to vilify a member of their favorite band? NO. Mike’s “villain” label is not something that was randomly assigned by us fans. Rather, Mike’s behavior (be it the litigious behavior, the ego behavior, or the rude behavior) is why Mike is vilified. And it’s sad that it is this way.

I’d love to click on a Beach Boys interview and not read about the litigious history, the infighting, etc. I’d much rather, one day, read about how the band came back together, forgave all the wrongdoings, and just decided to live the rest of their days in peace and harmony.

I hope this happens, because our band needs a real “happily ever after” ending. But sadly, with each passing year, it seems like this is just never going to happen.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 06, 2022, 02:35:18 PM
Well, we have their music. It's not going anywhere. :)
And no Mike interview nor any revisionist "historian" is going to make Mike's lyrics on "Good Vibrations," or his vocals on "Meant For You" and "Airplane", any worse.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Pretty Funky on September 06, 2022, 06:14:37 PM
For someone who has praised TM and positivity for over 50 years, Mike sure gives a negative interview. ☹️


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 06, 2022, 11:39:49 PM
For someone who has praised TM and positivity for over 50 years, Mike sure gives a negative interview. ☹️
Even though he repeatedly praised Brian as a vocal arranger in that interview, and a great collaborator. Even though he said Carl sang Good Vibrations beautifully. If I hadn't listened to the interview myself, I would have thought - going by the response here - that Mike spent 15 minutes saying "Carl smoked himself to death, Dennis drank himself to death, and Brian is basically comatose today because of all the drugs he did". Actually, I think if Mike were to really let loose on how he feels about working with Brian today, you guys would be even more enraged.
I'm reminded of a comment Carl made about Brian back in 1981: "he doesn't hurt anybody, but he likes to hide a lot". That's why he has people around him to handle the stuff he doesn't like doing.
Or maybe I got that quote wrong; maybe it was "he doesn't hide anybody, but he likes to hurt a lot"  :lol


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Jim V. on September 07, 2022, 12:35:20 AM
Actually, I think if Mike were to really let loose on how he feels about working with Brian today, you guys would be even more enraged.

And how would you feel about this? Would you think it was neat-o?! That he was a badass for “telling it like it is man”? You enjoy a man in his 80s throwing a diss out there against his band mate? Well I’ll tell you, if older men hating on his former mates is your thing, you’ll love this band called Pink Floyd and it’s bassist Roger Waters.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Pretty Funky on September 07, 2022, 01:44:29 AM
For someone who has praised TM and positivity for over 50 years, Mike sure gives a negative interview. ☹️
Even though he repeatedly praised Brian as a vocal arranger in that interview, and a great collaborator. Even though he said Carl sang Good Vibrations beautifully. If I hadn't listened to the interview myself, I would have thought - going by the response here - that Mike spent 15 minutes saying "Carl smoked himself to death, Dennis drank himself to death, and Brian is basically comatose today because of all the drugs he did". Actually, I think if Mike were to really let loose on how he feels about working with Brian today, you guys would be even more enraged.
I'm reminded of a comment Carl made about Brian back in 1981: "he doesn't hurt anybody, but he likes to hide a lot". That's why he has people around him to handle the stuff he doesn't like doing.
Or maybe I got that quote wrong; maybe it was "he doesn't hide anybody, but he likes to hurt a lot"  :lol

I stand by the post LS. I think you know I refer to interviews in general rather than just this one.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 07, 2022, 03:21:47 AM
For someone who has praised TM and positivity for over 50 years, Mike sure gives a negative interview. ☹️
Even though he repeatedly praised Brian as a vocal arranger in that interview, and a great collaborator. Even though he said Carl sang Good Vibrations beautifully. If I hadn't listened to the interview myself, I would have thought - going by the response here - that Mike spent 15 minutes saying "Carl smoked himself to death, Dennis drank himself to death, and Brian is basically comatose today because of all the drugs he did". Actually, I think if Mike were to really let loose on how he feels about working with Brian today, you guys would be even more enraged.
I'm reminded of a comment Carl made about Brian back in 1981: "he doesn't hurt anybody, but he likes to hide a lot". That's why he has people around him to handle the stuff he doesn't like doing.
Or maybe I got that quote wrong; maybe it was "he doesn't hide anybody, but he likes to hurt a lot"  :lol

Mike is saying that Brian is "not capable of doing much" - gee, when I'm around 80 years old I could only hope to have as much energy as Brian has had (touring, recording, etc). And at any rate, this doesn't take away from the fact that Mike is asked "have you talked to Brian recently" and Mike's response is "No, he's not capable of doing much." Straight up implying that Brian burned his brains out on drugs so badly that he can't do something as simple as use a telephone or have a conversation.

I guess I'm failing to see the connection between that ridiculous, crass interview answer (that implies Brian has the mental capacity of a 2 year old) and Carl's comment about Brian's tendency to hide back in the day.

I know there are a certain minority who will reach for unfathomable depths attempting to defend Mike's every word, but goodness, just please look at the question/answer and ask yourself if that is a rational response to "have you talked to Brian lately?"

Because whenever I'm asked by family if I've talked to a relative recently, I don't automatically bring up embarrassing/negative stuff that happened to them 40 years prior.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 07, 2022, 04:51:08 AM
For someone who has praised TM and positivity for over 50 years, Mike sure gives a negative interview. ☹️
Even though he repeatedly praised Brian as a vocal arranger in that interview, and a great collaborator. Even though he said Carl sang Good Vibrations beautifully. If I hadn't listened to the interview myself, I would have thought - going by the response here - that Mike spent 15 minutes saying "Carl smoked himself to death, Dennis drank himself to death, and Brian is basically comatose today because of all the drugs he did". Actually, I think if Mike were to really let loose on how he feels about working with Brian today, you guys would be even more enraged.
I'm reminded of a comment Carl made about Brian back in 1981: "he doesn't hurt anybody, but he likes to hide a lot". That's why he has people around him to handle the stuff he doesn't like doing.
Or maybe I got that quote wrong; maybe it was "he doesn't hide anybody, but he likes to hurt a lot"  :lol

Tom Hardy, answer this.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Wirestone on September 07, 2022, 05:27:43 AM
I mean, this person who supposedly doesn’t do a lot still released two records last year.

All you need to know about Mike is that for the entire C50 tour he watched crowds erupt in love and appreciation for Brian while he — the man who kept the touring ship afloat — stood by. And the instant those contractually obligated dates were done, Mike was gone.

He is bitterly jealous of Brian’s talent and the adoration of Brian’s audiences. He will sabotage himself willingly to keep poking at his cousin.

Which is all so pointless and ridiculous. Mike is talented too. His contributions are unarguable. Just … stop it already.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: HeyJude on September 07, 2022, 09:22:50 AM
I mean, this person who supposedly doesn’t do a lot still released two records last year.

All you need to know about Mike is that for the entire C50 tour he watched crowds erupt in love and appreciation for Brian while he — the man who kept the touring ship afloat — stood by. And the instant those contractually obligated dates were done, Mike was gone.

He is bitterly jealous of Brian’s talent and the adoration of Brian’s audiences. He will sabotage himself willingly to keep poking at his cousin.

Which is all so pointless and ridiculous. Mike is talented too. His contributions are unarguable. Just … stop it already.

One of the biggest ironies in the C50 saga is that Mike has seemed to be annoyed by those who pined for the reunion to continue. Yet, wanting it to continue is a literal acknowledgment that Mike brought/brings something very important to the group.

If fans hated *his contribution to the group* as much as he may think they do, they wouldn't have cared about the reunion breaking up, because, especially once Al joined Brian's band, Brian's band was pretty close to the "Reunion Minus Mike and Bruce." No offense to Dave, who brought a lot to the reunion too.

But the post-2012 Brian tour was tantamount to a Mike-less reunion, and "No Pier Pressure" is to a degree a "That's Why God Made The Radio 2" without Mike and Bruce.

Fans wanted Mike too, and like you say, Mike has indeed been willing to sabotage himself to poke at Brian (and Melinda).


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 07, 2022, 12:19:24 PM
I mean, this person who supposedly doesn’t do a lot still released two records last year.

All you need to know about Mike is that for the entire C50 tour he watched crowds erupt in love and appreciation for Brian while he — the man who kept the touring ship afloat — stood by. And the instant those contractually obligated dates were done, Mike was gone.

He is bitterly jealous of Brian’s talent and the adoration of Brian’s audiences. He will sabotage himself willingly to keep poking at his cousin.

Which is all so pointless and ridiculous. Mike is talented too. His contributions are unarguable. Just … stop it already.

One of the biggest ironies in the C50 saga is that Mike has seemed to be annoyed by those who pined for the reunion to continue. Yet, wanting it to continue is a literal acknowledgment that Mike brought/brings something very important to the group.

If fans hated *his contribution to the group* as much as he may think they do, they wouldn't have cared about the reunion breaking up, because, especially once Al joined Brian's band, Brian's band was pretty close to the "Reunion Minus Mike and Bruce." No offense to Dave, who brought a lot to the reunion too.

But the post-2012 Brian tour was tantamount to a Mike-less reunion, and "No Pier Pressure" is to a degree a "That's Why God Made The Radio 2" without Mike and Bruce.

Fans wanted Mike too, and like you say, Mike has indeed been willing to sabotage himself to poke at Brian (and Melinda).
I think it's Melinda that Mike really has a problem with. But if Mike kept telling interviewers that he doesn't like Brian's wife, you guys would jump all over him for that, too.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: guitarfool2002 on September 07, 2022, 12:30:28 PM
I think it's Melinda that Mike really has a problem with. But if Mike kept telling interviewers that he doesn't like Brian's wife, you guys would jump all over him for that, too.

And it would be justified too. For years the mantra "it's all about the music" has been repeated on these boards. For years we've been told Mike is carrying the torch of the Beach Boys legacy and the music to fans through his tours. If Mike were to launch a public attack on Brian's wife, or any spouse or family member for that matter, in the context of an interview promoting the music and his live shows, criticizing a spouse has absolutely nothing to do with either the music, or promoting his live shows.

Maybe you or anyone else can explain what mentioning Brian's health and previous drug use has to do with Mike promoting his live shows? Because I thought we were told it's all about the music.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: HeyJude on September 07, 2022, 12:45:57 PM
I mean, this person who supposedly doesn’t do a lot still released two records last year.

All you need to know about Mike is that for the entire C50 tour he watched crowds erupt in love and appreciation for Brian while he — the man who kept the touring ship afloat — stood by. And the instant those contractually obligated dates were done, Mike was gone.

He is bitterly jealous of Brian’s talent and the adoration of Brian’s audiences. He will sabotage himself willingly to keep poking at his cousin.

Which is all so pointless and ridiculous. Mike is talented too. His contributions are unarguable. Just … stop it already.

One of the biggest ironies in the C50 saga is that Mike has seemed to be annoyed by those who pined for the reunion to continue. Yet, wanting it to continue is a literal acknowledgment that Mike brought/brings something very important to the group.

If fans hated *his contribution to the group* as much as he may think they do, they wouldn't have cared about the reunion breaking up, because, especially once Al joined Brian's band, Brian's band was pretty close to the "Reunion Minus Mike and Bruce." No offense to Dave, who brought a lot to the reunion too.

But the post-2012 Brian tour was tantamount to a Mike-less reunion, and "No Pier Pressure" is to a degree a "That's Why God Made The Radio 2" without Mike and Bruce.

Fans wanted Mike too, and like you say, Mike has indeed been willing to sabotage himself to poke at Brian (and Melinda).
I think it's Melinda that Mike really has a problem with. But if Mike kept telling interviewers that he doesn't like Brian's wife, you guys would jump all over him for that, too.

I don't think it's particularly better or worse to dislike Melinda but not specify, versus saying outright. Mike's done both I suppose in various forms over the years.

Mike has for decades now been trying to blame Brian and judge him, and the only time he spares Brian is when it comes to the topic of Mike's relationship with Brian. There, it's much easier to blame anyone or everyone else and go on about all of the "getting Brian alone in a room" stuff. He never seems to even entertain the idea that Brian might not want to be with him (Mike) or do what Mike feels is best, or what he wants to do.

I actually try to empathize with Mike (and others), who I'm sure have weird and frustrating moments dealing with the machinery in and around Brian's life. That includes machinery that Brian chooses and needs, and also other stuff (e.g. Landy, as an obvious example) that he is subjected to.

But Mike has an idea about Brian in his head, and it's seemingly locked in at 1965 for the most part. Imagine if people did this to Mike. "Hey Mike, why don't YOU sing like you did in 1965?" "Why don't YOU write hit songs anymore?"

Mike still largely ignores the mental health aspect of Brian's story and life. I think people from that era should be cut some slack for not understanding all of this back *in* 1967. But a hundred years later, with a myriad of books and documentaries *clearly and plainly* explaining Brian's mental health issues (issues that pre-dated his drug abuse), Mike is either willfully ignoring all of this, or just choosing to harangue about the drug issue, because it's much easier to be judgmental about that.

I mean, they LITERALLY spell it out in text on screen in the "Long Promised Road" documentary, that Brian was having auditory hallucinations, etc. long before he abused drugs. I have no reason to believe Mike would bother to see the documentary. But whatever the deal is, he has no excuse any longer for being ignorant about it.

The vibe you get is that Mike thinks mental illness is kind of a bulls**t excuse.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: juggler on September 07, 2022, 01:49:32 PM
Reading through the comments, I think it's fair to say that the general reaction is simply disgust at the utter pettiness and mean-spiritedness involved.   For some reason, it caused me to recall this quote from Murry Wilson's infamous "poison pen" letter from 1965:

"I am proud that my son, Dennis, reminded you all in front of Mike that I predicted he was trouble and would be disgracing all of us if he continued to go his way." 

Of course, Murry was no saint himself, and Mike was 24, I believe, when Murry made that statement about him.  And many young men in their 20s are "trouble" and conduct themselves less than honorably.   But what's actually pretty sad about ML is that at 81, he never really grew up.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: relx on September 07, 2022, 05:44:37 PM
"And at any rate, this doesn't take away from the fact that Mike is asked "have you talked to Brian recently" and Mike's response is "No, he's not capable of doing much." Straight up implying that Brian burned his brains out on drugs so badly that he can't do something as simple as use a telephone or have a conversation."

From what I gather, other than the 2018 Sirius reunion, Brian and Mike haven't spoken since the end of C50. Assuming that is true, that means they are totally estranged, and that Brian has no interest in communicating with Mike, conceivably for the rest of their lives. I have a feeling that this is what drives Mike crazy, that he is cut off from Brian and can't do anything about it. Through all of Brian's problems in 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s, etc., Mike was always able to speak to him when he wanted, to maintain some kind of relationship on his own terms, other than during the Landy period. So, instead of Mike admitting that Brian doesn't want to talk to him--which has probably become more prevalent since Melinda entered the picture--he portrays Brian as a mental vegetable who is too messed up to make any kind of intelligent choices. This allows Mike to escape any responsibility for their estrangement, since, in his view, Brian is too screwed up to have any legitimate ability to have real feelings--of dislike--toward Mike.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 07, 2022, 06:40:08 PM
Mike is an old zebra, he's not going to change his stripes this late in life.  I don't know why some of us expect him to. Mike and Brian are better off without each other. Mike has his team - Bruce, Scott, Cowsill, Ike, etc. Brian has his team - Melinda, Al, Darian, Blondie. Brian fans should be thankful that @$$hole isn't with Brian.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 07, 2022, 06:59:47 PM
Mike is an old zebra, he's not going to change his stripes this late in life.  I don't know why some of us expect him to. Mike and Brian are better off without each other. Mike has his team - Bruce, Scott, Cowsill, Ike, etc. Brian has his team - Melinda, Al, Darian, Blondie. Brian fans should be thankful that @$$hole isn't with Mike.

I wonder who the "***hole we should be thankful isn't with Mike" should be. Even Tom Hardy does not want to risk a guess.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 07, 2022, 07:16:23 PM
However, talking strictly for myself my real beef is not with Mike himself. He has released highly questionable interviews since... well, ever. It's what he does. Getting upset about them is like getting upset when Brian answers yes and no, or Al spills the beans.
No, what never ceases to baffle me are the anti-Brian "Mike Lovers". Because, you see, Mike is just an individual... but a whole section of BB fandom so lost in a persistent decades-long delusion is food for a serious antropological study. No kidding.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 08, 2022, 03:00:22 AM
Mike is an old zebra, he's not going to change his stripes this late in life.  I don't know why some of us expect him to.

Probably due to all the praise he has given TM for the last 40+ years. Two of of the top three marketed benefits of TM are peace of mind and mental clarity - both of which seem to be completely nonexistent for Mike when he talks about modern-day Brian. And I've heard the line "just imagine Mike without TM" but how much truth is there in that? How much worse can it get than suing your cousin and his family for millions over a picture on a freebie CD? How much worse could it get than calling your cousin out publicly for bad things he did FORTY years ago? Regarding his relationship with Brian, Mike's got nowhere to go but up, and so I think it's fair for any decent person to hope and expect him to change for the better.

LS, in this thread you've said things like "you guys would be even more enraged" or "you guys would jump all over him for that, too" - I'm really curious, from your perspective, at what point is it acceptable to call out Mike's behavior?

Brian is an elderly man diagnosed with schizo-affective and manic depressive disorder; and his own cousin, in the last ten years, has negatively and publicly called out Brian's singing ability, Brian's weight, Brian's looks, Brian's history with substance abuse, Brian's supposed inability to do everyday tasks, Brian's music, Brian's wife, Brian's current prescription drug regimen.

Many fans that care about Brian do get logically enraged when they read this stuff in articles. What baffles me is that every time fans get enraged by these statements, you, Kreen, and the peanut gallery elsewhere rush to defend Mike with either one-liner drive-by sarcastic jabs, or these arguments that aren't based in any sort of reality. It's like if some Brian fans were to defend every last recorded second of Brian's career - it's not logical because there are some duds. Likewise, it's just not logical to defend every last word Mike says because sometimes he says things that are downright false or just plain crass.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: HeyJude on September 08, 2022, 06:56:44 AM
That guy several years back in that Rolling Stone piece on Mike finally had the balls to ask Mike the million dollar question, asking him if TM is supposed to be so calming and is supposed to engender peacefulness, etc., then why has he seemed so riled up about some issues (e.g. songwriting issue DECADES after it was settled in his favor) and engaged in lawsuits, etc?

And Mike's answer was essentially that if he didn't meditate, it would be worse.

It's kind of both a cop out answer and an honest one, and I believe there's probably some truth to it. I do think, however inflammatory Mike still is in interviews, I would imagine TM as well as simply age taking its toll (to be sure, Mike seems to be in very good shape for his age, but there's going to be some level of slow down both physically and in terms of getting worked up about s**t) have dictated that what we've seen, especially in the recent era, as far as Mike being antagonistic or inflammatory, is probably the "Subdued" version.

Sadly, I think the fact that, as far as we know, there have at least been no lawsuits *between* any members of the band in the last decade-plus, is really the closest we can get to Mike chilling the f**k out and just doing his own thing.

I've long compared Mike to the stereotypical judgmental parent you see in movies or TV (and in real life often), who just CANNOT resist ALWAYS bringing up something negative. Simple questions about Brian that Mike could EASILY answer with all the praise/positive stuff without volunteering, unprompted, negative stuff about Brian, Mike simply can't help himself. He's GOTTA mention Brian did drugs. Just like the parent who, even when you do something right, or even if it has been 50 years, will still add "but........"

I have NO problem with Mike talking about all issues surrounding the band's history, including drug use. The viewpoint of the members who didn't abuse drugs, and who witnessed drugs and alcohol ruin lives, is important. I don't doubt Mike truly feels drugs and alcohol have taken a horrible toll. And he's not wrong! I feel that emotional speech he gave before the CalSaga show in 2012 about this showed genuine emotion on Mike's part. I think seeing all of that would absolutely cause trauma, even for Mike.

The problem is that he can't ever let it go, ever. You ask him the time of day, and he'll answer "Brian did drugs o'clock." And *that* is simply rude and disrespectful to all the people he harangues about it. He does the same thing about Carl and Dennis. It's just gross, and more than anything, really sad. Dennis and Carl are gone. Brian isn't doing drugs anymore. When has Mike recently pointed out how great it is that Brian's been off hard drugs for like 40 years?

Meanwhile Brian has never gone down the path of raising all of the ills of Mike Love's life. Even Al has gone pretty easy on Mike over the years.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: guitarfool2002 on September 08, 2022, 07:55:16 AM
I have NO problem with Mike talking about all issues surrounding the band's history, including drug use. The viewpoint of the members who didn't abuse drugs, and who witnessed drugs and alcohol ruin lives, is important. I don't doubt Mike truly feels drugs and alcohol have taken a horrible toll. And he's not wrong! I feel that emotional speech he gave before the CalSaga show in 2012 about this showed genuine emotion on Mike's part. I think seeing all of that would absolutely cause trauma, even for Mike.

The contradiction comes into play when Mike currently promotes and performs a song with lyrics like this:

We oughta take the country to the beach boys
Trade that red dirt in for sand
Show 'em how we Tennessee boys
Catch a Jon boat buzz on a catamaran
And get a little bit of red on my redneck
Drop a lime in the bottom of a long neck
Find a boat that floats and get shipwrecked
With some local honey, mm
Let's take the country to the beach boys
I get around, 'round, get around, I get around
We'll drink 'em down, down, drink 'em down, we'll drink 'em down
You get around, 'round, get around, you get around
We'll drink 'em down, down, drink 'em down, we'll drink 'em down
Let's trade our ball caps in for sombreros
Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo
Mix up some rum with some Kokomo
Blow all our money


And this which isn't performed but was promoted as a single:

Late last night I got an S. O. S.
The fairy tale girl's in deep in distress
She says I don't know where I am
But it's near Japan
My engine's all burned out
My crew has all bailed out
I don't know where I am
But it's somewhere near Japan
And she said "thank you dear"
I think she sounded quite sincere
And when she turned to go
She said "I crave adventure don't you know"
And now she's driftin' on some Chinese junk
Her world is spinning and her hope has sunk
So I close my eyes
And somewhere near Japan
The spinning stopped and the world stood still
I broke her fall and I always will
Strung out in no man's land
Somewhere near Japan
Rescue me


So the current one is celebrating binge drinking beer and hard liquor, and the older one is about a girl strung out and trying to score dope in Asia.

Talking the talk is one thing, but walking the walk? Why make money off of and promote songs and lyrics about the very things, substance abuse and addiction, that you're consistently railing against? That doesn't add up. If the trauma were that great, he might decline to sing lyrics glorifying binge drinking.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Don Malcolm on September 08, 2022, 08:21:34 AM
Good gravy, guys, what will the folk over at the Nearest Faraway Place start saying about us if we keep bashing "Mr. Positivity"??  :3d

Sadly, Mike took the low road at a point in time when he could have earned nearly infinite points by showing even a eyedropper's worth of compassion for Brian's health issues. He could easily have set aside all of that nonsense about drugs (and avoided sounding like an endless tape loop of Nancy Reagan) by referencing Brian's current situation with some measurable trace of sympathy, and by noting that his group would add more "deep cuts" to their shows in order to "take up the slack."

He had a golden opportunity to access and transmit a healing moment. And, once again, he failed, utterly and abysmally.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chose...


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 08, 2022, 12:22:22 PM
Mike is an old zebra, he's not going to change his stripes this late in life.  I don't know why some of us expect him to. Mike and Brian are better off without each other. Mike has his team - Bruce, Scott, Cowsill, Ike, etc. Brian has his team - Melinda, Al, Darian, Blondie. Brian fans should be thankful that @$$hole isn't with Mike.


Did you *seriously* refer to Brian as an asshole?! Well at least you’re open about your feelings about Brian now.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 08, 2022, 01:43:49 PM
Quote
What baffles me is that every time fans get enraged by these statements, you, Kreen, and the peanut gallery elsewhere rush to defend Mike with either one-liner drive-by sarcastic jabs, or these arguments that aren't based in any sort of reality.

Honestly, it’s because those people are assholes. At least LS is open about it now. Not to throw politics in there but not so surprisingly many of those same people support a certain political party that believes in mocking the disabled, supports racism and homophobia (hell that’s why that piece of sh*t Mike’s Bitch was banned), and just a general hatred and disdain for anyone not like them.  So , of COURSE they’re going to defend Mike being a dick to Brian, because they think like that themselves.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: mtaber on September 09, 2022, 03:59:01 AM
Billy, that’s quite a political statement for someone not getting political.  To classify all conservatives the way you did is pretty biased.  I’m conservative but don’t support Mike Love or racism or ridiculing those with challenges, or those different than me.  I think Mike is a POS and have personal reasons for feeling that way. 


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 09, 2022, 05:11:03 AM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 09, 2022, 06:34:23 AM
Billy, that’s quite a political statement for someone not getting political.  To classify all conservatives the way you did is pretty biased.  I’m conservative but don’t support Mike Love or racism or ridiculing those with challenges, or those different than me.  I think Mike is a POS and have personal reasons for feeling that way. 
Should’ve clarified the more extreme right , but in all fairness I was pretty steamed having dealt with that type of garbage in person yesterday, because some freaking idiot still thinks the civil rights movement hadn’t happened , and that my interracial marriage is an abomination 🙄. I wish more people where I live were like you. Unfortunately, nothing will ever change here and barring a minor miracle I won’t live long enough to move. Then I read that garbage by Lonely Dickface  and I lost it.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Awesoman on September 09, 2022, 06:43:30 AM
Think some folks are going just a tad overboard with Mike's admittedly glib comments.  Even if Brian stopped using heavy drugs 40 years ago that doesn't mean they didn't have some kind of permanent effect on his psyche or even physically.  At least that's how I took those comments.  The truth is there were a number of factors that affected Brian over the years besides drugs including mental illness and an abusive, narcissistic therapist among other things.  But yeah, even if Mike's comments could be perceived as insensitive, he's technically not exactly incorrect in his assessment.  And Mike has always been kind of an anti-drug guy anyway.  His comments on Brian remain consistent to that. 


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 09, 2022, 07:38:55 AM
I would love it if just once someone brought up to Mike his own psychiatric incident in 1970, or how he was drunk off his ass during his hall of fame speech, or the fact Mike wasn’t exactly clean in the 60s to early 70s all the time either.  I absolutely despise people who act like they’re without faults while dogging others out. But hey, what’s basic human decency when you got all that money, right Mike? It seems like people like that go through life so damn easy, and the more you care about others vs yourself the more life kicks the sh*t out of you. I just don’t understand how Mike has no compassion , and if anything it seems like he’s enjoying seeing Brian not doing so well lately. If karma was a thing that applied to everyone , he’d be in for it.  But it doesn’t, so he’ll continue on badmouthing the cousin who was his meal ticket , and if he outlives him, will then cry fake tears talking about how much he “loved” Brian and blah blah blah room and piano blah blah blah. Unlike others, I dont hate Mike or wish ill on him , and in fact I pity him, to be that truly pathetic to actually hate one of the few decent people left in this shitty world .


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Robbie Mac on September 09, 2022, 08:46:45 AM
Think some folks are going just a tad overboard with Mike's admittedly glib comments.  Even if Brian stopped using heavy drugs 40 years ago that doesn't mean they didn't have some kind of permanent effect on his psyche or even physically.  At least that's how I took those comments.  The truth is there were a number of factors that affected Brian over the years besides drugs including mental illness and an abusive, narcissistic therapist among other things.  But yeah, even if Mike's comments could be perceived as insensitive, he's technically not exactly incorrect in his assessment.  And Mike has always been kind of an anti-drug guy anyway.  His comments on Brian remain consistent to that. 

My issue with Mike when he talks about Brian’s health is that he so damn judgmental. And often, he comes off like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He makes these off-base “diagnoses” of someone that he hasn’t really spent a lot of time with since the early 80’s at best. He makes these comments about Brian’s health when he should be deferring to the people who do spend and have spent time with Brian. Like, you know, Brian’s wife. One of Brian’s oldest friends was with him for some of the 2012 tour.  Mike had the opportunity to talk to said friend about Brian’s physical and mental health which would have gone a long way toward have a better understanding of someone that he professes to love. But Mike sees these people as “interlopers”, I am sure. People keeping him and Brian from going back to 1964 when everything was seemingly simple (spoiler alert, Mike: being Brian Wilson was never simple). So, Mike did what Mike does and doesn’t engage. Odd that a guy who professes curiosity about TM and Eastern spirituality is so uncurious about Brian’s health. Does he look at his nephew Kevin, who has spoken publicly about his battle with depression, the same way he looks at Brian? Is everything all about bootstrap pulling?

The only thing I agree with Lonely Summer about is that Mike is not going to change at 81 years old. And that is a damn shame. If there is anyone who needs some evolution, it’s Mike Love.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 09, 2022, 09:14:00 AM
Think some folks are going just a tad overboard with Mike's admittedly glib comments.  Even if Brian stopped using heavy drugs 40 years ago that doesn't mean they didn't have some kind of permanent effect on his psyche or even physically.  At least that's how I took those comments.  The truth is there were a number of factors that affected Brian over the years besides drugs including mental illness and an abusive, narcissistic therapist among other things.  But yeah, even if Mike's comments could be perceived as insensitive, he's technically not exactly incorrect in his assessment.  And Mike has always been kind of an anti-drug guy anyway.  His comments on Brian remain consistent to that. 

I mean, I don't think anyone is wrong in stating that drugs had an effect on Brian. Brian has stated this himself, probably on many occasions.

The part that is irritating to people is that Mike brings it up nearly every time he is asked about Brian. I mean, the response to "Have you talked to Brian recently?" shouldn't elicit some judgmental anti-drug diatribe from a guy who spent all summer promoting a song that celebrates binge drinking. It's hypocritical, it is crass, and he is downright insulting when he says that Brian is "not capable of doing much"... I don't know what Brian's usual life is like, but I'd imagine it's a bit more bustling than your average 80 year old...And more to the point, Mike complains about not seeing Brian, not talking to Brian, so how would Mike even know what Brian is like in his day-to-day?

With all that in mind I don't think anyone went overboard in their criticism. Again, if Mike were on some crusade to fight drug abuse, he shouldn't be singing on songs promoting binge drinking (which causes 3 million deaths per year). But that just goes to show how full of it he is: it's not about promoting the evils of substance abuse, it's about getting one more public & useless jab in at Brian.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 09, 2022, 09:32:26 AM
Billy, that’s quite a political statement for someone not getting political.  To classify all conservatives the way you did is pretty biased.  I’m conservative but don’t support Mike Love or racism or ridiculing those with challenges, or those different than me.  I think Mike is a POS and have personal reasons for feeling that way. 
Should’ve clarified the more extreme right , but in all fairness I was pretty steamed having dealt with that type of garbage in person yesterday, because some freaking idiot still thinks the civil rights movement hadn’t happened , and that my interracial marriage is an abomination 🙄. I wish more people where I live were like you. Unfortunately, nothing will ever change here and barring a minor miracle I won’t live long enough to move. Then I read that garbage by Lonely Dickface  and I lost it.

I have truly known racists from both parties. And I've also known very upstanding/moral people from both parties. All the division that has arisen from the recent political culture is just so sad - people from both sides can get really nasty about people they don't agree with, especially making generalizations that only stoke the fires of division. There is a great sermon by Martin Luther King jr that I implore everyone to read, it's called "A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart" (it's from his Strength To Love book), and it shows just how important it is to understand those who are ignorant and how to fight that ignorance not with hate but with love and intelligence. It's a sermon that I think people from both sides of the aisle could learn so much from. It's something I read from time to time to keep things in perspective. And it's honestly a viewpoint I should probably carry over to my rather harsh/negative outlook on Mike Love.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: HeyJude on September 09, 2022, 10:44:01 AM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

While sadly I don't think it's as clear cut obvious that like *every* other member of the band would 100% have not been involved with that Locash track, I'd offer two points:

One, I'm pretty sure it's quite possible if not probably that many wouldn't. I think it's a reach to think that Dennis or Carl or Brian would have thought that Locash thing was a quality track. Let's remember that even *while* he was in the band, Dennis tried to usually stay away from that disco "Here Comes the Night". I think they made him stay on stage and do "percussion" on it that one time they did the song on "Midnight Special"; but clearly he didn't even endorse every *Beach Boys* song *while* he was active in the band. Let's also remember that the trademarked "Beach Boys" logo was removed from the Locash artwork, and was also removed from the sticker on some versions of Mike's "Unleash the Love." *Somebody* is looking out for the name.

Secondly, a salient point is that if the band had *stayed together* and was an active group creating *new* music, they likely wouldn't have time or need to do the "Locash" track. The Status Quo thing in 1996 was bad enough, but the guys weren't exactly busying writing and recording "Sunflower 2" at the time.

The topical nature of the Locash track being weird/ironic/disrespectful in relation to the many ills that alcohol caused the band over the years is absolutely something worth raising as as issue.

Separate from that, it's a truly awful, awful track. It's not good. At all. Yes, seemingly the same fans that think Mike's "Rockaway Beach" and John Stamos singing Beach Boys songs is also "just fine" probably also don't have a problem with the Locash track.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: juggler on September 09, 2022, 01:20:04 PM
With all that in mind I don't think anyone went overboard in their criticism. Again, if Mike were on some crusade to fight drug abuse, he shouldn't be singing on songs promoting binge drinking (which causes 3 million deaths per year). But that just goes to show how full of it he is: it's not about promoting the evils of substance abuse, it's about getting one more public & useless jab in at Brian.

One of Mike's youngest kids has an instagram page that depicts and/or suggests participation in binge drinking, cigarette smoking, cannabis use etc.    If ML were really all about the perils of substance abuse, he might do well to talk about its *current* relationship to his own immediate family.    But, no, did you know that Cousin Brian snorted heroin in 1974??  Did you know that Cousin Brian did coke back stage at the Circle Star in 1980???

It should be obvious to one and all that ML's commentary about Brian and drugs is about nothing more than taking gratuitous shots at a man for whom he has very deep-seated resentments.  Mike clearly some real, unresolved hangups and grudges that he's been carrying for decades, perhaps even since childhood. It's sad that at 81 he's still far from getting over it.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 09, 2022, 01:29:02 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

While sadly I don't think it's as clear cut obvious that like *every* other member of the band would 100% have not been involved with that Locash track, I'd offer two points:

One, I'm pretty sure it's quite possible if not probably that many wouldn't. I think it's a reach to think that Dennis or Carl or Brian would have thought that Locash thing was a quality track. Let's remember that even *while* he was in the band, Dennis tried to usually stay away from that disco "Here Comes the Night". I think they made him stay on stage and do "percussion" on it that one time they did the song on "Midnight Special"; but clearly he didn't even endorse every *Beach Boys* song *while* he was active in the band. Let's also remember that the trademarked "Beach Boys" logo was removed from the Locash artwork, and was also removed from the sticker on some versions of Mike's "Unleash the Love." *Somebody* is looking out for the name.

Secondly, a salient point is that if the band had *stayed together* and was an active group creating *new* music, they likely wouldn't have time or need to do the "Locash" track. The Status Quo thing in 1996 was bad enough, but the guys weren't exactly busying writing and recording "Sunflower 2" at the time.

The topical nature of the Locash track being weird/ironic/disrespectful in relation to the many ills that alcohol caused the band over the years is absolutely something worth raising as as issue.

Separate from that, it's a truly awful, awful track. It's not good. At all. Yes, seemingly the same fans that think Mike's "Rockaway Beach" and John Stamos singing Beach Boys songs is also "just fine" probably also don't have a problem with the Locash track.

A quality track? read what I said. You think it's a reach? I never said they would like it. I don't agree about the "topical nature" point. That can never be 100% unless you were there.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 09, 2022, 01:44:21 PM
Truth be told, I think Mike’s the second craziest person in the band, Bruce being first (anyone who’s seen his mood swings know exactly what I mean). I have a strong feeling that had he and Brian’s childhoods been switched, Mike would never have gotten out of a facility once admitted. The fact that he harbors such hatred and malice towards Brian shows what a sad, pathetic sh*t he’s become in his old age.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: relx on September 09, 2022, 01:50:54 PM


The problem is that he can't ever let it go, ever. You ask him the time of day, and he'll answer "Brian did drugs o'clock." And *that* is simply rude and disrespectful to all the people he harangues about it. He does the same thing about Carl and Dennis. It's just gross, and more than anything, really sad. Dennis and Carl are gone. Brian isn't doing drugs anymore. When has Mike recently pointed out how great it is that Brian's been off hard drugs for like 40 years?

Meanwhile Brian has never gone down the path of raising all of the ills of Mike Love's life. Even Al has gone pretty easy on Mike over the years.

The truth is that Mike likely has no idea what Brian's life is like on a day to day basis. Except for 2018, they haven't spoken in a dedade, and it wasn't like they were close before then. Have Brian and Mike spent any significant time together, other than photo ops and that kind of thing, since Carl died? It sounds like they barely spoke even on C50. I think Brian checked out of Mike's life once Carl passed and the "real" BB's were essentially over.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 09, 2022, 01:57:53 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.



Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 09, 2022, 02:12:07 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.



"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 09, 2022, 02:40:14 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.

"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 09, 2022, 02:43:40 PM
Thing is, few people see alcohol for what it is. Having seen both of my parents die of liver failure due to years of alcohol abuse, having had certain things happen to me as a child due to alcohol, well , I’ve seen first hand what could happen. Everything in moderation. Mike is just showing his hypocrisy. Again , I wish someone would bring up his idiocy in 1988 directly to his face .


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Juice Brohnston on September 09, 2022, 03:43:23 PM
Mike's comments in this interview are indefensible, he should apologize to Brian. Completely unprovoked.

I had hoped Mike was going to put this to bed with his 'setting the record straight' autobiography.

Then he seemed to decide that he was going to move forward, recording new material on his own, and sort of give up the Brian/ Mike songwriting reunion.

But these attempts obviously haven't had the desired effect for him...as someone mentioned earlier in the thread, this is something much deeper with Mike, that at his advanced age, won't be fixed. It's sad, and portrays him as a sad individual, in spite of decades of fame and extremely good fortune (and hard work)


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 09, 2022, 03:51:04 PM
The sad part is, I have always championed him on an artistic level and feel he’s unjustly maligned on that level. But when he belittles Brian publicly (for issues he contributed towards!) , or makes a tasteless LGBTQ joke before a song, for instance, it immediately overshadows that. He blames everyone else, but he is his own worst enemy. And I were Brian, I’d tell Mike what he can go do with that piano in that room.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 09, 2022, 06:28:23 PM
Mike is an old zebra, he's not going to change his stripes this late in life.  I don't know why some of us expect him to. Mike and Brian are better off without each other. Mike has his team - Bruce, Scott, Cowsill, Ike, etc. Brian has his team - Melinda, Al, Darian, Blondie. Brian fans should be thankful that @$$hole isn't with Mike.


Did you *seriously* refer to Brian as an asshole?! Well at least you’re open about your feelings about Brian now.
I misspoke - i meant the one and only greatest asshole of all time, Mike Love.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 09, 2022, 06:31:47 PM
The sad part is, I have always championed him on an artistic level and feel he’s unjustly maligned on that level. But when he belittles Brian publicly (for issues he contributed towards!) , or makes a tasteless LGBTQ joke before a song, for instance, it immediately overshadows that. He blames everyone else, but he is his own worst enemy. And I were Brian, I’d tell Mike what he can go do with that piano in that room.
I'm sure Brian has already done that. "Hey Michael, take that fucking piano and shove it up your ass!" But first Mike would have to get his head out of the way.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 09, 2022, 07:21:16 PM
Mike is an old zebra, he's not going to change his stripes this late in life.  I don't know why some of us expect him to. Mike and Brian are better off without each other. Mike has his team - Bruce, Scott, Cowsill, Ike, etc. Brian has his team - Melinda, Al, Darian, Blondie. Brian fans should be thankful that @$$hole isn't with Mike.


Did you *seriously* refer to Brian as an asshole?! Well at least you’re open about your feelings about Brian now.
I misspoke - i meant the one and only greatest asshole of all time, Mike Love.


Got it. In all honesty from your recent posts it looked like you were trolling. Glad we’re on the same page. Course that’s the issue with online communication…intent isn’t always clear


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 09, 2022, 07:59:47 PM
As much as I agree with the substance of the criticisms to Mike in this thread, I confess that I am starting to find the tones uncomfortable.
I am no "Mike Lover", of course, but still a fan of Mike the Beach Boy. We all know his shortcomings, nothing new under the sun of California. And he is 81. I think this thread has gone a bit overboard. Just my half cent.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 09, 2022, 08:15:05 PM
On the other hand, HeyJude's "It's Brian did drugs o''clock" made me spill my coffee. Brilliant!


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SurfRiderHawaii on September 09, 2022, 08:33:18 PM
Defamation!  If I were Brian I’d call my attorney.

Didn’t Brian just finish a tour with Chicago?  Two albums out.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 09, 2022, 10:27:54 PM
Defamation!  If I were Brian I’d call my attorney.

Didn’t Brian just finish a tour with Chicago?  Two albums out.
Yes. Brian just completed a hugely successful tour with Chicago; and this guy that according to Mike can't do much also recorded two brand new albums last year. When was the last time Mike Hate (cause that should be his name) recorded a new album? The asshole just goes around the country year after year singing songs written 60 years ago by his genius cousin.
"I wrote a number one song in 1988 called Kokomo".
No you didn't, you fucking asshole! John Phillips wrote the fucking song, maybe you should mention that once in awhile. And it wasn't your vocal that sold that song, it was the voice of another cousin of yours, Carl Wilson.
If it wasn't for Brian, Mike Hate would still be pumping gas.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 10, 2022, 02:44:05 AM
On the other hand, HeyJude's "It's Brian did drugs o''clock" made me spill my coffee. Brilliant!

I gotta use that for a lyric. It's sure to sell a couple of copies in January! :D :lol


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 10, 2022, 06:03:27 AM
Another cent: I think something should be added in the forum guidelines against excessive use of foul language, or some mechanism to prevent it. Particularly when it's aimed at one of the Beach Boys, even if meant as sarcastic.

The autotranslation into Portuguese was not a good idea, considering any Latin (like me) easily understands Portuguese. Thankfully, it seems it is not used any more, but there is nothing in its place.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 10, 2022, 07:25:47 AM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.

"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SMiLE Brian on September 10, 2022, 02:32:28 PM
Locash?, more like lowclass song…


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 10, 2022, 03:48:26 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.

"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SurfRiderHawaii on September 11, 2022, 01:04:20 AM

Mike and his Wine Coolers.

Interesting story. I was backstage at the Eugene, OR C50 show with my date. She slipped away and I went in search. Along the way I encountered each Beach Boy.  Brian was in a tour bus front passenger seat just chilling. Next I bumped into AL who was quite friendly. We talked about the upcoming box set and I begged for WIBNTLA.  Al said he didn’t remember the track but would check it out. Next, I bumped into David. He was super nice but was concerned about his guitar tone. Next I talked to Stan Love who I had played pickup basketball against a few summers at Redondo High (he kicked my butt).

I was directed into a  split dressing room where I found Bruce. We talked surfing and the attractiveness of my date, who he pointed out was in the adjoining room.  There I found her with Mike. There was a big stack of autographed tour programs and she excitedly showed me one Mike had given her. After a little small talk it was time to leave.

Not being a dummy, I asked Mike if I could have a program too. He said nope, opened his mini fridge and handed me a bottle of water. Most of the fridge was filled with wine coolers.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 11, 2022, 09:05:38 AM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.


"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.

Sorry to hear you have lost someone. There are a hell of a lot of songs out there about drinking/drugs and partying to excess. Do we condemn them all or just Mike Love associated ones?

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post. As is the nature of the internet, we can continue to post endlessly but tbh I've yet to see you concede a point on this board so.....


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Robbie Mac on September 11, 2022, 12:44:25 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.


"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.

Sorry to hear you have lost someone. There are a hell of a lot of songs out there about drinking/drugs and partying to excess. Do we condemn them all or just Mike Love associated ones?

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post. As is the nature of the internet, we can continue to post endlessly but tbh I've yet to see you concede a point on this board so.....

It’s one thing for Motley Crüe to sing about getting wasted: they never claimed to be choirboys or any kind of role models. But Mike buddied up to Nancy “Just Say No” Reagan and routinely brings up his cousins’ histories of substance abuse. And then turns around and sings on a song about partying and drinking only because the song uses the hook to I Get Around and is called “Beach Boys”. If Mike never, ever said a word about Brian’s or anyone else’s drug abuse and still did this song, no one would care. Literally. You would get eye rolls, yes. But other than that, nothing. Whether it is fair or not, Mike makes himself an easy target when he does stuff like this.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on September 11, 2022, 12:53:53 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.


"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.

Sorry to hear you have lost someone. There are a hell of a lot of songs out there about drinking/drugs and partying to excess. Do we condemn them all or just Mike Love associated ones?

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post. As is the nature of the internet, we can continue to post endlessly but tbh I've yet to see you concede a point on this board so.....

It’s one thing for Motley Crüe to sing about getting wasted: they never claimed to be choirboys or any kind of role models. But Mike buddied up to Nancy “Just Say No” Reagan and routinely brings up his cousins’ histories of substance abuse. And then turns around and sings on a song about partying and drinking only because the song uses the hook to I Get Around and is called “Beach Boys”. If Mike never, ever said a word about Brian’s or anyone else’s drug abuse and still did this song, no one would care. Literally. You would get eye rolls, yes. But other than that, nothing. Whether it is fair or not, Mike makes himself an easy target when he does stuff like this.

Exactly


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 11, 2022, 01:33:06 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.


"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.

Sorry to hear you have lost someone. There are a hell of a lot of songs out there about drinking/drugs and partying to excess. Do we condemn them all or just Mike Love associated ones?

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post. As is the nature of the internet, we can continue to post endlessly but tbh I've yet to see you concede a point on this board so.....

But you haven’t picked apart my logic. To break it down to its simplest, I am saying that:

1) alcohol is a bad drug (and I have provided statistics/examples of this, you yourself have called it a dangerous drug)
2) promoting the use of alcohol (being it in advertisements, music, movies) can lead people to drink alcohol - that is the nature of ads, influence, and yes, even dumb spring break party songs (alcohol ads in America even all come with safety warnings)….this song in particular is literally telling people to “drink ‘em down down drink ‘em down” (ie it is promoting that people drink - and technically binge drink (something not harmless, according to the NIH and verified statistics).
3) people who publicly fight against the use of street drugs should also fight against the use of alcohol, as statistically alcohol is one of the biggest killers of human life as far as drugs go.
4) thus, Mike Love shouldn’t be singing on songs that promote the use of the drug. A few years ago Mike Love talked about how heroin use took the love and harmony out of The Beach Boys. And yet here Mike is promoting a drug that kills more people than heroin each year. I find that to be hypocritical.

Reading through our conversation you haven’t picked apart any of those points, or any association between the those points. Thus far, if I gather correctly, your argument is that the LoCash song is a harmless party song, and because other mainstream songs promote excessive drug use means that we shouldn’t look down on Mike Love for singing on and promoting one of these songs. The former point you haven’t proved what makes the promotion of alcohol in a party song “harmless” (alcohol is a dangerous drug, according to you, so how is it’s promotion in any form “harmless”?). And your latter point isn’t a valid argument (the saying “two wrongs don’t make a right” comes to mind).

One point I’d like to make, if it has any bearing on how strongly I feel about this topic, is that I am currently under the impression that Brian Wilson needed to approve LoCash’s use of the “I Get Around” theme. I could totally be wrong about that (and someone please correct me if I’m wrong). But something that one of the members of LoCash said (it had to do with them being surprised by getting approval from The Beach Boys) made me think that Brian would’ve had to approve the song. Point being, I’m currently just as annoyed at Brian as I am at Mike for this song being associated with The Beach Boys.

As for me not conceding any points on this forum, a lot of people here have either schooled me on facts or opinions (such as when I used to think Mike was the sole reason for Smile’s downfall, or when HeyJude didn’t hold back when I made the moronic statement that George Harrison wasn’t a good guitar player)…when I’m I’m wrong, and when people come to me with facts and logic I will absolutely concede to their knowledge and well-reasoned arguments. My opinions are not infallible.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 11, 2022, 02:13:44 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.


"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.

Sorry to hear you have lost someone. There are a hell of a lot of songs out there about drinking/drugs and partying to excess. Do we condemn them all or just Mike Love associated ones?

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post. As is the nature of the internet, we can continue to post endlessly but tbh I've yet to see you concede a point on this board so.....

But you haven’t picked apart my logic. To break it down to its simplest, I am saying that:

1) alcohol is a bad drug (and I have provided statistics/examples of this, you yourself have called it a dangerous drug)
2) promoting the use of alcohol (being it in advertisements, music, movies) can lead people to drink alcohol - that is the nature of ads, influence, and yes, even dumb spring break party songs (alcohol ads in America even all come with safety warnings)….this song in particular is literally telling people to “drink ‘em down down drink ‘em down” (ie it is promoting that people drink - and technically binge drink (something not harmless, according to the NIH and verified statistics).
3) people who publicly fight against the use of street drugs should also fight against the use of alcohol, as statistically alcohol is one of the biggest killers of human life as far as drugs go.
4) thus, Mike Love shouldn’t be singing on songs that promote the use of the drug. A few years ago Mike Love talked about how heroin use took the love and harmony out of The Beach Boys. And yet here Mike is promoting a drug that kills more people than heroin each year. I find that to be hypocritical.

Reading through our conversation you haven’t picked apart any of those points, or any association between the those points. Thus far, if I gather correctly, your argument is that the LoCash song is a harmless party song, and because other mainstream songs promote excessive drug use means that we shouldn’t look down on Mike Love for singing on and promoting one of these songs. The former point you haven’t proved what makes the promotion of alcohol in a party song “harmless” (alcohol is a dangerous drug, according to you, so how is it’s promotion in any form “harmless”?). And your latter point isn’t a valid argument (the saying “two wrongs don’t make a right” comes to mind).

One point I’d like to make, if it has any bearing on how strongly I feel about this topic, is that I am currently under the impression that Brian Wilson needed to approve LoCash’s use of the “I Get Around” theme. I could totally be wrong about that (and someone please correct me if I’m wrong). But something that one of the members of LoCash said (it had to do with them being surprised by getting approval from The Beach Boys) made me think that Brian would’ve had to approve the song. Point being, I’m currently just as annoyed at Brian as I am at Mike for this song being associated with The Beach Boys.

As for me not conceding any points on this forum, a lot of people here have either schooled me on facts or opinions (such as when I used to think Mike was the sole reason for Smile’s downfall, or when HeyJude didn’t hold back when I made the moronic statement that George Harrison wasn’t a good guitar player)…when I’m I’m wrong, and when people come to me with facts and logic I will absolutely concede to their knowledge and well-reasoned arguments. My opinions are not infallible.

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 11, 2022, 02:30:37 PM
As much as Mike can be a dick, I don't think any Wilson would have a problem with that crappy country party drinking song. No point looking for extra thing to bash Mike with, there's plenty already.

I don't think anyone is looking for anything extra to bash Mike with. Whether or not the Wilson's would think it's a fun party song, the point in bringing up the LoCash song is that Mike seems to bring up the pitfalls of drug use anytime he's asked a question even remotely relating to modern-day Brian. We're bringing up the LoCash song because it's insanely hypocritical to judge Brian for drug use 40 years ago whilst promoting a song in 2022 that promotes excessive drug use.


"promotes excessive drug use" - It's kind of a spring break bro country song. Stop making it something it's not.

70,000+ were killed by opioids last year in America. 80,000+ were killed by alcohol alone last year in America. Call the song whatever you want, but alcohol is a drug, and it's abuse does kill millions of people worldwide each year. Just because it's marketed and legal doesn't make it any less lethal than the drugs that Mike constantly crusades against (when it comes to Brian).

And with those statistics in mind, the repeated line "drink em down down drink em down" "Instead of Jack D, shoot some Cuervo. Mix up some rum" is promoting excessive drug use.

And to top it all off, it's just churlish to promote such a song when Dennis Wilson died due to his problems with alcohol.

Again, I'm not making up these statistics. I'm not "making something it's not". The lyrics are there, the facts are there.

You should consider a career in politics. You're reaching far too much. I agree alcohol is a dangerous drug but that song is still just a dumb ass party song.....nothing more and means nothing re:Dennis Wilson.

Dennis Wilson drank all day every day in his last years. Big difference than binge drinking at a party or whatever this song is talking about.

Look, I am really not trying to reach too far. If I am then I will concede my point. But logically in my mind, alcohol is a drug that leads to death for many people (whether or not your an alcoholic). I've had a good friend die because of drunk driving, I've seen it destroy families, I've seen more people die of the long-term effects of it. Billy shared his story above as well. And it's not really subjective when the numbers show 3 million people die of alcohol related incidents a year....be it drunk driving (which you don't need to be an alcoholic for), or fights that lead to deaths, or just alcoholism in general.

Again, my point is that if Mike is on some crusade to fight the evils of drugs, then he shouldn't be promoting/singing on a song that promotes the use of alcohol (a drug that you yourself admit is dangerous). Even if it is just a "dumb party song" - it is a song promoting the use of a drug that kills people.

I don't see the logic behind that being something akin to a political stunt. Sorry if you see it that way, and if you care to pick apart my logic I'd be happy to concede my point.

Sorry to hear you have lost someone. There are a hell of a lot of songs out there about drinking/drugs and partying to excess. Do we condemn them all or just Mike Love associated ones?

Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post. As is the nature of the internet, we can continue to post endlessly but tbh I've yet to see you concede a point on this board so.....

It’s one thing for Motley Crüe to sing about getting wasted: they never claimed to be choirboys or any kind of role models. But Mike buddied up to Nancy “Just Say No” Reagan and routinely brings up his cousins’ histories of substance abuse. And then turns around and sings on a song about partying and drinking only because the song uses the hook to I Get Around and is called “Beach Boys”. If Mike never, ever said a word about Brian’s or anyone else’s drug abuse and still did this song, no one would care. Literally. You would get eye rolls, yes. But other than that, nothing. Whether it is fair or not, Mike makes himself an easy target when he does stuff like this.

Is the issue then just about Mike being hypocritical re: his own behavior?  If so, I don't really care about that. The idea of it being a problem for Wilson's is a whole different thing. That's where the "reaching" comes in.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 11, 2022, 02:37:19 PM
Tbf I've already picked apart your logic and again you're doing what I referred to in my last post.

Ok then this is going way over my head. I do not see anywhere where you picked apart my points (specifically the 1-4 points I made in my last post) - if you could point me to the post (perhaps I missed it) where you clearly laid out your argument I’d be grateful. Or if someone else can help explain this to me - because there is something I’m just not getting then.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Intervie
Post by: rab2591 on September 11, 2022, 03:16:41 PM
“It absolutely saved me... There are many ways to relax. Alcohol, marijuana, other drugs, but they all have side effects."
“It was heartbreaking to see my own family members destroying themselves through drink and drugs.”
“[TM] gives you a sort of high without having to resort to alcohol and drugs.”
“I was fortunate to learn mediation that kept me away from the drugs and alcohol. I used to drink hard liquor, but when I learned meditation I found it deeply relaxing and was able to relax through that way — not through alcohol or marijuana or anything like that. So if you're serious about music and about your life it's really good to pick up on habits that are positive and life supporting that are good for you…”
“Alcohol and marijuana and other drugs may be relaxing or invigorating or whatever, but you can get plenty relaxed through meditation without the negative side-effects…Bruce and Alan [Jardine] and myself didn't [indulge] and the Wilson brothers did. Tragically with Dennis [Wilson] it led to his early demise…”

- Mike Love

He lambasts Brian for drug use that occurred 40+ years ago (alluding that it led to Brian having the odd inability to use a telephone - talk about reaching too far), he talks constantly about how alcohol isn’t good for you (and points to how it led to his bandmate’s demise), how it was “heartbreaking” for him to see his bandmates destroy themselves with alcohol, then he promotes that very substance in a song. I think it’s fairly obvious how hypocritical that is, how backwards it is. Which is the point. As you yourself point out, Peadar, it’s a song to listen to while partying at spring break. After reading the above quotes by Mike Love, one would logically think that Mike Love would want nothing to do with this song (as it clearly promotes something he clearly objects to in countless interviews).

I highly doubt the kids at the spring break parties are listening to LoCash’s “Beach Boys” sitting in a circle lotus position doing transcendental meditation.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 11, 2022, 09:44:37 PM
I think the simple answer here is: If Mike Love is doing it, it's bad. He's just a bad guy - an insensitive jerk that will jump on any bandwagon that he believes will put more cash - even LoCash - in his pocket.
Now look at Brian Wilson. Brian never, ever says anything bad about his bandmates - even though they've given him many reasons to verbally bash them. Brian never puts down Mike for not being willing to loosen up and enjoy a little toot or smoke once in a while; he never complains about Carl not liking his songs in 1995; he never puts down Al for being short, or Bruce for WEARING shorts. Heck, he's never even complaining about Bruce's obsession with adjusting the mike stand.
Brian's just a great guy; Mike is just the backside of someone's body.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: positivemusic on September 12, 2022, 02:29:26 AM
As absolutely disgusting and indefensible as Mike's comments have been, I do feel that citing his involvement in "Beach Boys" by Locash is a stretch. George Jones was notorious for the destruction that alcohol addiction caused him, yet in 2001, he collaborated with Garth Brooks on "Beer Run (B-Double E-Double Are You In?)," a "feel good" song about drinking (and driving). This was just two years removed from songs like "Choices" and "Cold Hard Truth," that laid bare what overindulgence can do. And, as someone who not only is most definitely NOT a country music fan, and who also feels that alcohol is indisputably the most destructive drug known to man, I never once thought of Jones as a hypocrite for recording what amounted to an early proto-bro country, buddy drinking song.
I say this not to defend Mike or that horrendous song, but because, as a political scientist, reaches such as this can have a detrimental effect on valid arguments.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 12, 2022, 04:43:41 AM
As absolutely disgusting and indefensible as Mike's comments have been, I do feel that citing his involvement in "Beach Boys" by Locash is a stretch. George Jones was notorious for the destruction that alcohol addiction caused him, yet in 2001, he collaborated with Garth Brooks on "Beer Run (B-Double E-Double Are You In?)," a "feel good" song about drinking (and driving). This was just two years removed from songs like "Choices" and "Cold Hard Truth," that laid bare what overindulgence can do. And, as someone who not only is most definitely NOT a country music fan, and who also feels that alcohol is indisputably the most destructive drug known to man, I never once thought of Jones as a hypocrite for recording what amounted to an early proto-bro country, buddy drinking song.
I say this not to defend Mike or that horrendous song, but because, as a political scientist, reaches such as this can have a detrimental effect on valid arguments.

Thanks for your input and for explaining that perspective more.

I actually 100% agree with Mike about booze (his quotes above at least). And another point about how strongly I feel about my argument: I feel like a hypocrite when I buy a beer at a restaurant or bring wine/6-pack to a get-together - because I am then monetarily supporting an industry that is making an addictive product that has ruined millions of lives. So perhaps that can shed light on why I feel the way I do. I’m looking at Mike as a hypocrite the same way I look at myself when I support the industry. If there is a drug that is causing pain in the world, any amount of promotion or support of that drug is just going to bring more pain into the world (be it writing songs that promote its use, or by handing over my cash to the alcohol industry when buying a Guinness). That’s about as simple as I can state my case. Perhaps it’s illogical to most, but that’s the way I see it.

Don’t get me wrong, I do see your and Peadar’s point about my argument being a stretch (meaning from the perspective of societal norms today I can see why LoCash’s song is seen by some/most of you as harmless). I just don’t see it as harmless…I don’t see any drugs in any amount (be they alcohol, cigarettes, etc) as a positive thing for the world, so the promotion and support of alcohol just doesn’t seem like a positive thing to me.

Thanks again for writing out your perspective, I do get where you’re coming from, and hopefully I’ve explained myself well enough for y’all to see where I’m coming from (even if we don’t agree).


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Sam_BFC on September 12, 2022, 06:32:27 AM
Alcohol is an addictive product for some people but not everyone.
I wonder how addictive it is compared to non-legal drugs; it may kill 80,000 per year compared to 70,000 for heroin, but it is also way more widely consumed.

Alcohol has been normalized by society and is not held to the same standard as other drugs. How much sense that makes in terms of negative impacts to individuals and society I do not know.

But how black and white can we be about the matter? The sugar and fast food industries also sell products that are addictive, can cause disease and ruin lives.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: guitarfool2002 on September 12, 2022, 07:44:23 AM
The issue isn't debating whether alcohol is this or that, the issue is a guy, Mike, who has spent decades talking about how "his" band was ruined by drug and alcohol abuse, how his cousins ruined themselves through alcohol and drug abuse, and how in comparison his own study and practice of TM and meditation has kept him above all that and therefore he can live a clean and peaceful life without drugs and alcohol.

If someone preaches that way for decades, and as someone earlier suggested was so "traumatized" by what happened to his cousins via alcohol and drugs that it causes him to continuously bring it up...then sing on, perform, and endorse a song whose main theme is getting boozed up and partying with booze, that's hypocrisy, and Mike could easily have declined to participate in remaking that song with his vocals.

The message of clean living that Mike preaches, using the examples of his cousins abusing drugs and alcohol as opposed to his clean living, would ring a lot more true if Mike himself were not endorsing and singing a new song about drinking the same booze that he was so traumatized about as he watched it ruin his cousins, his family, and his band. And that's not to mention his Be True To Your Bud nonsense from the 80s when he went on a Budweiser sponsored tour and rewrote yet another Beach Boys song to promote beer and performed that crap at colleges and spring break events.

It's hypocritical.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: The LEGENDARY OSD on September 12, 2022, 08:27:37 AM
The issue isn't debating whether alcohol is this or that, the issue is a guy, Mike, who has spent decades talking about how "his" band was ruined by drug and alcohol abuse, how his cousins ruined themselves through alcohol and drug abuse, and how in comparison his own study and practice of TM and meditation has kept him above all that and therefore he can live a clean and peaceful life without drugs and alcohol.

If someone preaches that way for decades, and as someone earlier suggested was so "traumatized" by what happened to his cousins via alcohol and drugs that it causes him to continuously bring it up...then sing on, perform, and endorse a song whose main theme is getting boozed up and partying with booze, that's hypocrisy, and Mike could easily have declined to participate in remaking that song with his vocals.

The message of clean living that Mike preaches, using the examples of his cousins abusing drugs and alcohol as opposed to his clean living, would ring a lot more true if Mike himself were not endorsing and singing a new song about drinking the same booze that he was so traumatized about as he watched it ruin his cousins, his family, and his band. And that's not to mention his Be True To Your Bud nonsense from the 80s when he went on a Budweiser sponsored tour and rewrote yet another Beach Boys song to promote beer and performed that crap at colleges and spring break events.

It's hypocritical.

This       :thumbsup :woot :love :rock :h5 :pirate


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Steve Mayo on September 12, 2022, 10:19:54 AM
Lord, a few of you all need to grow a set of balls.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 12, 2022, 11:12:34 AM
 Don't know about balls, but this thread showed, for the umpteenth time, that I am just not made for these times.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Wirestone on September 12, 2022, 11:16:23 AM
Don't know about balls, but this thread showed, for the umpteenth time, that I am just not made for these times.

Enjoy fandom!


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 12, 2022, 11:16:57 AM
Don't know about balls, but this thread showed, for the umpteenth time, that I am just not made for these times.

Enjoy fandom!

Tried...


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 12, 2022, 11:53:35 AM
A handful of posters on this board have created more Mike Love apologists in the past few years than probably the previous twenty. 


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SMiLE Brian on September 12, 2022, 12:30:51 PM
Be true to your OSD! ;)


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Sam_BFC on September 12, 2022, 12:48:20 PM
A handful of posters on this board have created more Mike Love apologists in the past few years than probably the previous twenty. 

Reverse psychology?

Perhaps this was Mike Love's plan all along.

Is OSD secretly working for Mike Love?

If true, this would be confirmation that there is no depth to which Mike Love will not sink.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 12, 2022, 01:05:37 PM
A handful of posters on this board have created more Mike Love apologists in the past few years than probably the previous twenty. 

Reverse psychology?

Perhaps this was Mike Love's plan all along.

Is OSD secretly working for Mike Love?

If true, this would be confirmation that there is no depth to which Mike Love will not sink.

 ;D I was kinda thinking the same  :hat - It's a "genius" plan.....Is........Mike......a.........genius....too?


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: juggler on September 12, 2022, 04:18:13 PM
Now look at Brian Wilson. Brian never, ever says anything bad about his bandmates - even though they've given him many reasons to verbally bash them. Brian never puts down Mike for not being willing to loosen up and enjoy a little toot or smoke once in a while; he never complains about Carl not liking his songs in 1995; he never puts down Al for being short, or Bruce for WEARING shorts. Heck, he's never even complaining about Bruce's obsession with adjusting the mike stand.
Brian's just a great guy; Mike is just the backside of someone's body.

I assume that this is at least partly sarcasm, but there's a kernel of truth... you'd truly be hard-pressed to find any interview 1964 to present in which Brian Wilson bashes anyone or puts down anyone.  Even if he directs criticism toward, say, Murry or Landy, he typically qualifies it by pointing out good things they accomplished (e.g., the former driving the band's early success and the latter getting him off his addictions).  With respect to Mike Love, at various points over the years Brian has indicated that he's "afraid" of Mike or not interested in socializing with him, but that's Brian being honest about his own feelings, not bashing someone else.  One truly insightful moment into Brian's character, I think, is in Larry King's interview some years back.  Melinda starts criticizing Marilyn for hiring Landy, and Brian jumps in to defend Marilyn, saying that she didn't know Landy was crazy etc.  Not too many people in a nationally televised interview would publicly contradict current spouse to defend their ex.  Brian's reputation for decades has been as someone who has a sweet disposition.  Having observed the man in person a number of times over the years, I think that's accurate.  The same was true of Carl.  I can't think of Carl bashing many people either or putting anyone down.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Join The Human Race on September 12, 2022, 06:13:06 PM
This interview doesn't seem too revealing. It seems like more of the same shtick from Mike. Wilson brothers drugs! I didn't necessarily get from Mike that Brian's recent struggles were due to taking drugs in the 60s, but maybe I'm immune to Mike's standard interview responses. It's beyond sad Mike has to go to this well so often, but this interview seems to be run of the mill for the Lovester.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 12, 2022, 07:11:29 PM
Alcohol is an addictive product for some people but not everyone.
I wonder how addictive it is compared to non-legal drugs; it may kill 80,000 per year compared to 70,000 for heroin, but it is also way more widely consumed.

Alcohol has been normalized by society and is not held to the same standard as other drugs. How much sense that makes in terms of negative impacts to individuals and society I do not know.

But how black and white can we be about the matter? The sugar and fast food industries also sell products that are addictive, can cause disease and ruin lives.
And I readily consume them at any given opportunity.
But I'm not out there bashing people that eat at McDonald's or enjoy a Pepsi now and again.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Don Malcolm on September 13, 2022, 08:45:42 AM
Some observations about the (semi-predictable) drift in this thread:

--Any SS thread dealing with Mike will wind up aimlessly rambling into ever-more quotidian quibbles over trivial and unprovable "facts."

--Steve M. has once again demonstrated the crippling effects of simultaneously thinking with one's dick and having a Viagra addiction.  :3d

--If anyone here REALLY thinks that OSD is secretly "working for Mike," they've clearly had more than one too many "big dinners"!  :hat

Mike is (was?) a great singer, a good lyricist (so long as he sticks to "boy-girl" stuff), and he has a strong work ethic. He's highly motivated to be the "last man standing" in the band. Everything else that one can say about him becomes potentially libelous, however, so we should all take care not to "poke the bear."


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on September 13, 2022, 09:03:23 AM


--If anyone here REALLY thinks that OSD is secretly "working for Mike," they've clearly had more than one too many "big dinners"!  :hat


Was just kidding around Don however Smile Brian definitely works for Mike. That Melinda ruse was clever though I must admit  ;D


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Sam_BFC on September 13, 2022, 09:31:27 AM
A handful of posters on this board have created more Mike Love apologists in the past few years than probably the previous twenty. 

Reverse psychology?

Perhaps this was Mike Love's plan all along.

Is OSD secretly working for Mike Love?

If true, this would be confirmation that there is no depth to which Mike Love will not sink.

This was a joke in case it wasn’t obvious.

Whilst I acknowledge that these latest interview comments appear distasteful and are  unnecessary, I do not feel particularly inclined to engage too deeply with the complex personal dynamic between Mike, Brian and their respective circles.

I’m supposed to be seeing “The Beach Boys” next month. I fear that we are reaching the end of the road so looking forward to it.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: rab2591 on September 13, 2022, 02:25:18 PM
Alcohol is an addictive product for some people but not everyone.
I wonder how addictive it is compared to non-legal drugs; it may kill 80,000 per year compared to 70,000 for heroin, but it is also way more widely consumed.

Alcohol has been normalized by society and is not held to the same standard as other drugs. How much sense that makes in terms of negative impacts to individuals and society I do not know.

But how black and white can we be about the matter? The sugar and fast food industries also sell products that are addictive, can cause disease and ruin lives.
And I readily consume them at any given opportunity.
But I'm not out there bashing people that eat at McDonald's or enjoy a Pepsi now and again.

If eating a cheeseburger led to a much higher probability of getting into a head on collision on the way home from a restaurant, I think society would have a different outlook on cheeseburgers. If we're really comparing the two, more people died of alcohol related incidents than of obesity last year. I don't know of anyone who has lost their home and family or who has killed themselves on the road because they were obese. But I do know far too many people who have destroyed themselves and others because of booze. Yes, binging on food can lead to disastrous health consequences, but it also doesn't put other people's lives at risk on the road, binging on food doesn't lead to 1 million+ acts of violence every year, there are no acts of sexual assault by people under the influence of a Dr. Pepper, etc....but yet all these things happen as a result of alcohol every day. And while society deems the effects of alcohol normal, I personally don't think all of those negative effects should be considered normal.

I'm not advocating we ban alcohol. I haven't bashed anyone for drinking alcohol. I'm just saying that I agree with Mike about the issue: alcohol has negative side effects for a lot of people, and it can lead to destruction of lives as the facts, statistics, and subjective evidence from nearly everyone's lives (be it people we know or know of) show.

I think that LoCash song is diametrically opposed to Mike's quotes (which I posted above) over the years where he is adamantly (and seemingly passionately) speaking out against the pitfalls of alcohol and how he has seen it destroy loved ones in his life. I guess most people see the LoCash song as a dumb party song, but the fact is it is advocating the use of alcohol - something Mike has spoken out against time and time again. Thus I find it hypocritical of him to have anything to do with the song.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SurfRiderHawaii on September 16, 2022, 03:59:32 AM
 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3)

Didn’t Mike get his masterpiece of a song into a movie called and about “Cocktail”?

It’s pretty obvious from the link above that he greatly enjoys one himself!


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 16, 2022, 07:02:27 PM
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3)

Didn’t Mike get his masterpiece of a song into a movie called and about “Cocktail”?

It’s pretty obvious from the link above that he greatly enjoys one himself!
Yes, Mike wrote a great song that became the Beach Boys biggest selling single ever - with not one note of participation from Brian, who was busy recording a giant turkey of an album with his shrink! Brian should have been working Mike instead of Landy, because if anyone knows how to make a hit record with Brian, it's Mike.

When Mike finallhy got total control of the Beach Boys, he delivered a masterpiece that everyone still talks about today, a classic album called Summer in Paradise, an album that was such a big seller, Billboard couldn't even keep track of the sales, so they gave up and decided not to track it on their charts!


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm on September 17, 2022, 04:59:57 AM
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3)

Didn’t Mike get his masterpiece of a song into a movie called and about “Cocktail”?

It’s pretty obvious from the link above that he greatly enjoys one himself!
Yes, Mike wrote a great song that became the Beach Boys biggest selling single ever - with not one note of participation from Brian, who was busy recording a giant turkey of an album with his shrink! Brian should have been working Mike instead of Landy, because if anyone knows how to make a hit record with Brian, it's Mike.

When Mike finallhy got total control of the Beach Boys, he delivered a masterpiece that everyone still talks about today, a classic album called Summer in Paradise, an album that was such a big seller, Billboard couldn't even keep track of the sales, so they gave up and decided not to track it on their charts!

  :lol


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: DonnyL on September 19, 2022, 02:30:25 PM
I mean, Mike Love has been saying these things for decades, and I assume the likelihood of him saying, “you know what? I overstated the drugs angle over the years, and I apologize. There were more dynamics at play, like mental illness, music industry pressures, and my own ego sometimes getting the better of me” is pretty slim at this point.

Brian and Carl to my knowledge don’t/didn’t really $hit talk in public interviews. Mike does, Dennis did … Bruce & Al are kind of mixed & moody. That’s their personalities I think.

IMO I think Mike genuinely believes what he says and has a chip on his shoulder. If I were playing armchair psychologist, I might say that it’s probably easier to say “drugs ruined the band” than having to confront his own contributions to the problems, along with why Brian, Dennis, etc. had issues working with him

 But I do think he’s not wrong that drugs played a part in the band’s problems, possibly being a primary driver. And I do believe he genuinely feels that it’s sad the group couldn’t maintain the glory days of 1965 forever.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Zenobi on September 19, 2022, 05:06:00 PM
I am as Brianista as they come (even the excellent Scott Totten said once that he is a Brianista).
Said this, I think "Mike bashing" has gotten really old. It is almost as bad as repeating that Brian did drugs. The trollish one liners by OSD amuse me, it's like a common joke. But OSD does not write essays on Mike's hypocrisy. By the way, I am not so sure Mike is a hypocrite. Maybe he gets the difference between ruining oneself and indulging in some creature comforts, like a glass of wine. I smoke one cigarette a month, and love it.
I am a fan, besides of Brian, of all the Beach Boys. And that includes Mike. I can't forget that in that moment in 1993 when I heard the GV box aired in a store, and I became a rabid Beach Boys fan again, in just that moment, the first thing I noticed was Mike's awesome, unique bass voice.
The man is guilty of several things, yes, but he was a driving force in bringing much joy into the world, and is still working his a$$ out to do that. At his age, sure it's not for the money.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: SMiLE Brian on September 19, 2022, 05:56:29 PM
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=596244765199333&set=a.347880756702403&type=3)

Didn’t Mike get his masterpiece of a song into a movie called and about “Cocktail”?

It’s pretty obvious from the link above that he greatly enjoys one himself!
Between that and the fridge of wine coolers…. ::)


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: guitarfool2002 on September 19, 2022, 06:47:36 PM
I am as Brianista as they come (even the excellent Scott Totten said once that he is a Brianista).
Said this, I think "Mike bashing" has gotten really old. It is almost as bad as repeating that Brian did drugs. The trollish one liners by OSD amuse me, it's like a common joke. But OSD does not write essays on Mike's hypocrisy. By the way, I am not so sure Mike is a hypocrite. Maybe he gets the difference between ruining oneself and indulging in some creature comforts, like a glass of wine. I smoke one cigarette a month, and love it.
I am a fan, besides of Brian, of all the Beach Boys. And that includes Mike. I can't forget that in that moment in 1993 when I heard the GV box aired in a store, and I became a rabid Beach Boys fan again, in just that moment, the first thing I noticed was Mike's awesome, unique bass voice.
The man is guilty of several things, yes, but he was a driving force in bringing much joy into the world, and is still working his a$$ out to do that. At his age, sure it's not for the money.

So fans expressing their opinions on Mike's comments and explaining specifically why they may think he's being hypocritical in his years of public comments against alcohol while currently promoting songs about alcohol and previously going on a tour sponsored by and promoting Budweiser beer on college campuses is "Mike bashing"? Where is the standard then for fans to express a negative opinion on something the man said or did and not have it be called "bashing"?

I enjoy the music Mike made with the band too, but I also think we as fans can be critical of things he says or does if we disagree with him.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lonely Summer on September 20, 2022, 12:28:43 PM
I am as Brianista as they come (even the excellent Scott Totten said once that he is a Brianista).
Said this, I think "Mike bashing" has gotten really old. It is almost as bad as repeating that Brian did drugs. The trollish one liners by OSD amuse me, it's like a common joke. But OSD does not write essays on Mike's hypocrisy. By the way, I am not so sure Mike is a hypocrite. Maybe he gets the difference between ruining oneself and indulging in some creature comforts, like a glass of wine. I smoke one cigarette a month, and love it.
I am a fan, besides of Brian, of all the Beach Boys. And that includes Mike. I can't forget that in that moment in 1993 when I heard the GV box aired in a store, and I became a rabid Beach Boys fan again, in just that moment, the first thing I noticed was Mike's awesome, unique bass voice.
The man is guilty of several things, yes, but he was a driving force in bringing much joy into the world, and is still working his a$$ out to do that. At his age, sure it's not for the money.

So fans expressing their opinions on Mike's comments and explaining specifically why they may think he's being hypocritical in his years of public comments against alcohol while currently promoting songs about alcohol and previously going on a tour sponsored by and promoting Budweiser beer on college campuses is "Mike bashing"? Where is the standard then for fans to express a negative opinion on something the man said or did and not have it be called "bashing"?

I enjoy the music Mike made with the band too, but I also think we as fans can be critical of things he says or does if we disagree with him.
You can sum it all up in just 4 words:
MIKE IS AN @$$HOLE.
If not for his cousin Brian, he'd have the Working at the Car Wash Blues.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: patsy6 on October 29, 2022, 02:29:38 PM
Mike bashing will never get old as long as he keeps giving us new things about which to bash him. And in the last few years he's dished up some doozies.


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: positivemusic on October 31, 2022, 09:35:34 AM
I am as Brianista as they come (even the excellent Scott Totten said once that he is a Brianista).
Said this, I think "Mike bashing" has gotten really old. It is almost as bad as repeating that Brian did drugs. The trollish one liners by OSD amuse me, it's like a common joke. But OSD does not write essays on Mike's hypocrisy. By the way, I am not so sure Mike is a hypocrite. Maybe he gets the difference between ruining oneself and indulging in some creature comforts, like a glass of wine. I smoke one cigarette a month, and love it.
I am a fan, besides of Brian, of all the Beach Boys. And that includes Mike. I can't forget that in that moment in 1993 when I heard the GV box aired in a store, and I became a rabid Beach Boys fan again, in just that moment, the first thing I noticed was Mike's awesome, unique bass voice.
The man is guilty of several things, yes, but he was a driving force in bringing much joy into the world, and is still working his a$$ out to do that. At his age, sure it's not for the money.

Agree 100%!


Title: Re: Mike's Revealing Interview
Post by: Lawrence Watson on December 13, 2022, 11:36:10 PM
I mean, Mike Love has been saying these things for decades, and I assume the likelihood of him saying, “you know what? I overstated the drugs angle over the years, and I apologize. There were more dynamics at play, like mental illness, music industry pressures, and my own ego sometimes getting the better of me” is pretty slim at this point.

Brian and Carl to my knowledge don’t/didn’t really $hit talk in public interviews. Mike does, Dennis did … Bruce & Al are kind of mixed & moody. That’s their personalities I think.

IMO I think Mike genuinely believes what he says and has a chip on his shoulder. If I were playing armchair psychologist, I might say that it’s probably easier to say “drugs ruined the band” than having to confront his own contributions to the problems, along with why Brian, Dennis, etc. had issues working with him

 But I do think he’s not wrong that drugs played a part in the band’s problems, possibly being a primary driver. And I do believe he genuinely feels that it’s sad the group couldn’t maintain the glory days of 1965 forever.

Mike is just what we call in my neck of the woods, a jagoff. Like, he says things like that, and then he wonders why people who like Brian get angry at him. After all, he's done NOTHING but tell the truth about the "tainted Wilson blood" for decades now. I have often tried to give Mike the benefit of the doubt over the years, but it just gets harder and harder when he gives interviews where he'll take a shot at Brian, or worse, take a shot at Dennis, who has been dead now for almost as long as he lived on this planet. Yes, he has a point about drugs causing problems and limiting their productivity, but what good is it now to rehash something that happened decades ago?

Now, that's not to say Brian is innocent all the time. He definitely took his shots at Mike. There is a clip that's readily available on YouTube where Brian flat out says that he can't stand Mike. Brian also took shots at Carl during the time when they weren't getting along because he thought Carl had taken shots at him. Still, it's hard to not just get irritated with Mike since, by all rights, he should feel fantastic. He still tours, still sounds pretty damn good for his age, and lives comfortably. What more could he want out of life?