If I'm Mike Love, and I and the rest of my BB bandmates are staring mortality in the face, I don't know that I could forgive myself if the the last Beach Boys gig isn't played by The Beach Boys. And with every additional gig that he books with his current backing band, instead of finding a way to co-exist with Brian, Al and David, the potential for that happening comes closer and closer to reality. They all need to make some compromises, but as long as Mike keeps control of the name, it ultimately falls on him, for better and worse.

To be perfectly honest, I think that if I'd be Mike Love, I'd be just fine touring with my regular "hired hands". Mike's already achieved everything any musician could dream of, and much more. In fact, he already did 45 years ago. So now he's 73 years old, still doing what he loves most, and for the majority of the past 16 years it's been pretty smooth sailing because he's in charge and everyone he works with is basically his employee. Yes, he could take Al or Brian on board, but we've all seen how that works out. Sure, you'll sell some extra tickets, but it turns into one big soap opera every time and somehow everyone ends up with a bitter taste in their mouth. I could understand it if Mike just doesn't want to deal with that anymore.

In My Room.

This is an LP cover that I designed for a band that a friend of mine plays in. The photo collage is obviously influenced by the All Summer Long cover. And you might recognize that red font too...

Perhaps the most obvious one:


Great band by the way. They broke up eight years ago, but they did three reunion shows last month, one of which I went to.

What is wrong with Al?  I'm sorry, but if you allow a promoter to use your name for a show, you should show up for it.

It's not like it's the first time Al has done this. He was announced as a "special guest" for Brian's European tour in, I believe, 2008. His name was even on the ticket I bought for the show in Amsterdam. But he didn't show up. After that, Al promised on his website that everyone who would send in a ticket stub would get a free copy of his solo cd once it was released. Never got that either.

In My Room.

+ Barnyard Blues

Goin' On.

Soul Searchin'.

California Girls.

Soul Searchin'.

Til I Die.

Heroes and Villains.

In My Room.

In My Room.

Darlin'.

Til I Die.

Soul Searchin'.

My Love Lives On.

Busy Doin' Nothing.

I Do.

Soul Searchin'.

Caroline, No.

I Do.

This is nuts, it feels criminal to vote any of these songs out in a second round... Those songs are all 9s and 10s. I guess I'll have to say Busy Doin' Nothing then...  'Friends' is one of my all-time favorite albums, but I do think there are several better songs on it...