Mickey D'Amico also posted several pics from the studio. Seems like a real thing!

Jim Hines is back?

Jim Laspesa. New percussionist with the band and pal of Darian’s.

From looking at the Facebook in the last couple of days -- Paul, Darian and Jim of Brian's band are pictured (along with engineer Wes Seidman) working at United Recording.

No sign of Brian. But one does wonder what's cooking.

She's no slouch on piano, either -- Aretha could rock those keys!

Did she play on any of her hit records? A lot of times, I am unaware of the instrumental abilities of soul artists, because it seems they are always presented on stage holding a microphone (well, unless your name is Stevie Wonder). Didn't Marvin Gaye start off as a drummer at Motown? I used to see James Brown go over to the organ sometimes during shows. And I've heard at least one recording where Sam Cooke is backing himself on guitar.

Quite a few of them! Respect, Chain of Fools and Think, to name a few. Up to her last album in 2014, she would usually play on at least one or two tracks per album. 

Anyone know why Nelson is not on this tour, and who is taking his place on percussion?  Sorry if I missed the discussion

Guy named Jim Laspesa who knows Darian and the other band guys well. He’s on Facebook. Nelson isn’t on FB anymore; no idea what happened to him.

Edit: Name corrected.

As that photo from 2012 shows, Mike, Bruce and Dave wear the ball caps all the time. It's their thing.

Now, on to my grand shirt theory.

An earlier post noted that Brian threw the seating arrangement out of order. It probably the case that Brian was supposed to sit in Dave's chair, so the look would have been No stripes (Rob) -- stripes (Dave) -- no stripes  (Al) -- stripes (Mike) -- no stripes (Brian) -- stripes (Dave). That also would have seated Brian and Mike next to one another, in the center. Brian's back and reluctance to move simply threw it off.

Another clue? The photo gallery Dave Marks posted suggests he wasn't wearing that striped shirt when he went into Capitol for the day. The stripes were brought in just for the event.

Hi, Rodney!

I'm amazed Melinda is allowing Brian to do this.....my guess is, this was just done for publicity for the SiriusXM Channel, and the current album. No tour is coming, no new album, no performance at the event.

I suspect Melinda‘s role in this is pretty minimal. Any acrimony between Mike and Brian since 2012 is largely from Mike’s direction. Otherwise, though, I think your comments are spot on.

Nothing will be announced. Nothing is coming of this. This is simply an appearance on satellite radio.

Just tossing this out there. Any chance Brian could be announcing his retirement end of the year? That back surgery must have been a b!tch and possibly a wake up call.

He’s earned it.

He has also stated over and over and over again that he has no intention of retiring. For better or worse, I think Brian will be on stage until the last possible moment.

A Beach Boys album Captain by Mike love? That would be horrific. Just look at his solo album which is terrible. I can't see this getting done anyway because I just don't see Brian and Mike working together again in a productive environment. Interview them and let it be.

Mike's album is pretty good; certainly not any worse than the stuff coming out under Brian's name in recent years.

That, in a word, is malarkey.

Schwartzman is BBs fan? Cool. Did he list favorite songs?

I believe he did a top 10 countdown. Heard him introducing a BB Today ballad and talking about it as a precursor to Pet Sounds.

Heard a guest DJ spot yesterday — Actor Jason Schwartzman, of all people.

Listen, would you rather sing for thousands of cheering fans or spend another day in a PT facility? I’d just hope his team has everything possible in place to ensure his comfort and safety.

Why is he even on the road?

People are paying money and he wants to.

They broke the seal on the Christmas Album! Santa Claus is Coming to Town was played this afternoon ...

Almost all of HELP is on the Way works like that.

My Diane, too.

The directions in Busy Doin' Nothin.

Honestly, I feel as though the Beach Boys have run their course. During my fandom, there were roughly three-four instances where their profile was raised again.

93-96 -- Boxed set into Brian's return into the Pet Sounds anniversary.
04 -- BWPS completion and performance.
08-10 -- That Lucky Old Sun into Gershwin album (smaller, BW centric)
11-12 -- Smile box into 50th reunion.

I don't know what's really left. Everyone is in their mid-70s. The vaults have been mined, admittedly while leaving choice gems behind. The tours have been toured, and one doubts that we'll see the shows get notably better than they were six or seven years ago.

The most devoted fans, even those who came along relatively late, are now into their late 30s and 40s. The core fans who actually experienced it live are in their 50s-70s.

I was listening to the end of TWGMTR the other night, and it struck me, hearing Brian sing the last words of that song

-- We laugh, we cry.
We live then die.
And dream about our yesterday.

-- That this is, most likely, it. Maybe we'll get a couple of Leonard Cohen style late BW albums. Maybe there will be one more show with everyone. But the time is running out. The music has been made, the demand sated. Everyone seems a little tired.

Maybe I'm projecting. Maybe this will all stay vibrant for decades to come. I hope so. But I fear not.

Fricke writes reviews for Rolling Stone and did the notes for the PS 50 box.

All BW solo —

He Couldn’t Ge His Poor Old Body To Move
Too Much Sugar
Oxygen to the Brain

I know this might not add to the variety, but there definitely are a handful of them!

Good lord...most of the set is a bonus disc!

Exactly — I thought that was the whole reason for disc 6 (and a good chunk of disc 5)!

I hate to say this, but most of the non-Beach Boys stuff they have been playing on there quite honestly sucks in my personal opinion. I honestly do not care for the Bruce & Terry stuff, the Nodeans, or any of the other stuff that is introduced as a "Brian Wilson Production" from the early days. It's the same sh*t that I used to lump the Beach Boys in with prior to me becoming a fan, and I hope those who are tuning in to the channel don't  tune right back out after hearing that stuff.

Spring is okay! And I did hear Guess I’m Dumb.

Part of me thinks they should just do some inspired by tracks — Carnival of Sound, Sagittarius stuff. A lot of those are pretty dang good and have decent BB connections to boot.

Shyin Away into Wings of a Dove ...

Big news: First officially unreleased track played — Back in the USSR live with Ringo. Unless I’m missing the disc where that appeared.

 They seem to be playing the entire 1964 Sacramento show in order.

If I had to guess, the orchestral release this summer would reduce the likelihood of any archival 1968 releases before the end of the year.

I really doubt it works that way. The orchestral album is a mass audience product.   Sunshine Tomorrow was not.

That being said, physical media is really on its last legs right now – except for vinyl.