https://uk.yahoo.com/news/im-celeb-fans-furious-iain-lee-came-third-102914056.html

Right now I have Mike's book ogling me from a bedroom shelf. It's been there for weeks. I suspect I just have to pluck up enough courage to open it and start reading and it'll be okay. As long as I finish it before June, when I'm attending a concert by Mike, Bruce and the lads...   

Ha, that's the deadline I've given myself too.  I'll probably read it after Brian's, both of which come after the stuff I'm reading now.

Read Ulysses in college, and bits of it after (with the annotated guide, it helps).  Always mean to go through the whole thing again fully.

Not sure I agree about song lyrics counting.  Lyrics are tied to particular notes and melodies.  I see it as the realm of music.  It's not like for like.

Amused to see his lack of acknowledgement.

Could be they were on the same belt and skill level and thus were matched to spar each other, regardless of size/age difference.

Doesn't anyone feel that Brian's touring days are winding down?  The current tour was said to be his final European tour.  I know those sort of official statements don't always turn out to be true, but given his reduced participation (fewer leads in the first set, sharing leads with Matt Jardine during the PS set), it seems it's about the right time.

I see Mike has posted on Facebook.

"Happy birthday Cousin Brian.. Thinking of you today and couldn't help but walk down memory lane, reminiscing on all great music we've created that has brought so much joy to so many. I wish for you today and always, Peace, Love, perfect health, bliss! You da Man!

Peace,
ML"

When I click on the 'shop' I can't see this stuff.  Doesn't matter, I'm not planning to buy anything.  But does it mean these items aren't actually for sale at present/any more?  (EDIT - uhh, never mind, I'm pointing out something already said in the original post).

Can't recall seeing the 'Love' in his logo written that way before, but maybe I'm misremembering.  Either way, I like it!

1. It's clear that the CATP master is in poor condition
2. Besides spots of tape distortion and numerous pops/clicks, the only audible difference is the presence of much more low-end, like somebody turned an EQ knob as far as it could go

Ta.  I guess I'll pick up a copy.

How's the CATP mono version?

Am I right to assume (before I go purchasing) the CATP mono version comes on the 2CD set?

Mike opined to Val Mabbs of Record Mirror that Bruce “left because he wasn’t too happy about things.  It was decided that because of a couple of feelings harbored by different members of the group and the way things went with Bruce developing a solo career it made it more or less an uncompromising situation.”

It's interesting how Bruce "going solo" might have been a contributing factor to him leaving and/or feuding with Jack. Not that the going solo thing being a cause of tension would be a unique case to this band, but there may be possible parallels to the strife Denny encountered from within the band (not sure if it was coming from more than just Mike) when Denny himself wanted to do a solo tour.

I wonder if it was discussed if Bruce would potentially have a solo career in tandem to being in the band at the same time. I can also see how the political mindset of a guy writing Disney Girls (which I love, by the way) could be at complete odds with someone pushing the band in a vastly more left-leaning political direction.

Do you think Bruce has always been a country-club "Obama is an asshole" bring back the 50's kind of guy? Seems so strange that he could be enveloped by the culture going on around him and not alter those opinions at all 

There's quotes from him in the '50 sides of the Beach Boys' books about being a conservative guy and writing Disney Girls as a response to seeing kids smoking spliffs at their shows.  I suppose that's about drugs and lifestyle, rather than strictly politics, but it seems he wasn't much into the counterculture of the time.

Other than that, wasn't the plan to replace Bruce with Billy Hinsche from 1969?

I don't understand.  I don't use PMs, but figured people bitching in them about other people is par for the course.

Yeah, agreed that it's an interesting premise.  I think the Boys, depending on the focus and who was leading the band, could've stayed interesting and successful, but probably only moderately successful, both artistically and commercially.  I dislike Pink Floyd, but I can't really imagine the Boys coming anywhere near their achievements in the 70s.

[must do shows that feature a lot of fun and sun songs,]

Just out of interest, but from the blog post -

"That license has various conditions attached — Love must pay a (hefty) fee to BRI, must use only male vocalists, must do shows that feature a lot of fun and sun songs, and so on — in order to make sure that Love’s band don’t damage the value of the Beach Boys brand name, so Love definitely doesn’t own the name."

How is the bit I've bolded worded in the license?  Is there a proportion of fun songs noted?  Are any songs named?  I suppose I could just ask, where does one see this license?

["It really saddens me to write this, but shame on you BW Management - and I would love to see some form of recompense for the fans, who have lost such a lot through your poor judgement.Surely, even a "residency" at The Royal Festival Hall in London for a few nights, with a show or two in Scotland and maybe Birmingham, would have been the best decision made and would have saved face?A Jam Session/Charity Gig with our lovely Beach Boys Britain Musicians and Brian's Musicians would be the icing on the cake, to heal some very open wounds right now and I would be delighted to work with you on this.Sent with Love and Respect. "]

 Suggesting a lawsuit by using the word "recompense" somehow doesn't count as encouraging a lawsuit?  The usual spin.  I knew it would be coming.  

You're taking the word, 'recompense', out of context.  The lines that follow it clearly show her talking about the recompense being shows or a jam.  Unrealistic, perhaps, but she isn't talking about financial repayment.

"It really saddens me to write this, but shame on you BW Management - and I would love to see some form of recompense for the fans, who have lost such a lot through your poor judgement.

Surely, even a "residency" at The Royal Festival Hall in London for a few nights, with a show or two in Scotland and maybe Birmingham, would have been the best decision made and would have saved face?

A Jam Session/Charity Gig with our lovely Beach Boys Britain Musicians and Brian's Musicians would be the icing on the cake, to heal some very open wounds right now and I would be delighted to work with you on this.

Sent with Love and Respect. "

Also, we discussed the tour cancellation because you brought it up.

My impression is that it was cancelled on behalf of a White House event. I guess one can be offended that one is prioritized beneath that. I don't think I would be.
I think I'd be irked at the loss of funds, but I just don't think I'd have a similar level of outrage that I've seen over this. But, to be fair, I'm more passive about money than most people.

Yeah, there was the mental health campaign, where they announced a partnership with the Campaign to Change Direction.  That news came out long after the outrage quoted here.  Besides, I'm not entirely sure the tour was cancelled for that reason.  I should have thought they could've fitted it all in, if the motive was there (Brian played a benefit concert in November, while the UK tour would have been in September).  Would they have cancelled a sellout run of evenings at the Palladium or Festival Hall, let alone a sellout night at the O2 (20,000 seats).  I kinda doubt it.

Actually, if memory serves me correct, I believe the official reason for the cancellation of the UK tour had something to do with the 'overwhelming success of Love and Mercy' it didn't make a lot of sense, and most people pointed to the poor ticket sales in relation to venue capacities as the real reason. My opinion...it was poorly handled by management, and some UK fans were upset by this.

Yeah, I don't think it was ever officially claimed that the mental health campaign was the reason for the cancellation, more that it looked like that was the reason in hindsight.

The official reason didn't make sense, but I guess they thought that was better than having headlines in the papers going 'Brian Wilson tour cancelled due to poor ticket sales'.

My impression is that it was cancelled on behalf of a White House event. I guess one can be offended that one is prioritized beneath that. I don't think I would be.
I think I'd be irked at the loss of funds, but I just don't think I'd have a similar level of outrage that I've seen over this. But, to be fair, I'm more passive about money than most people.

Yeah, there was the mental health campaign, where they announced a partnership with the Campaign to Change Direction.  That news came out long after the outrage quoted here.  Besides, I'm not entirely sure the tour was cancelled for that reason.  I should have thought they could've fitted it all in, if the motive was there (Brian played a benefit concert in November, while the UK tour would have been in September).  Would they have cancelled a sellout run of evenings at the Palladium or Festival Hall, let alone a sellout night at the O2 (20,000 seats).  I kinda doubt it.

So you think they cancelled because it wasn't going to be profitable?

Shows sometimes get cancelled because of poor ticket sales.  I think it coincided well enough with the mental health campaign that they could cancel the shows and come out of it all looking okay.

My impression is that it was cancelled on behalf of a White House event. I guess one can be offended that one is prioritized beneath that. I don't think I would be.
I think I'd be irked at the loss of funds, but I just don't think I'd have a similar level of outrage that I've seen over this. But, to be fair, I'm more passive about money than most people.

Yeah, there was the mental health campaign, where they announced a partnership with the Campaign to Change Direction.  That news came out long after the outrage quoted here.  Besides, I'm not entirely sure the tour was cancelled for that reason.  I should have thought they could've fitted it all in, if the motive was there (Brian played a benefit concert in November, while the UK tour would have been in September).  Would they have cancelled a sellout run of evenings at the Palladium or Festival Hall, let alone a sellout night at the O2 (20,000 seats).  I kinda doubt it.

I just don't really get the outrage. The Austin festival was cancelled. I lost the cost of my hotel room and ticket (the festival claims it will be refunded, but they don't seem to be getting around to it.)
It's annoying, but it's part of life.

I didn't see the thread over at the BBB board, so not sure if there was superfluous amounts of outrage about.  I made a post or two here when it was cancelled, but wasn't that bothered.

Is that the Austin festival that was cancelled because of the weather?  The difference is that Brian was booked into venues in the UK that he couldn't possibly fill.  Then the shows were thus cancelled.  It was a scenario that shouldn't really have happened.

Wonder if this differed from venue to venue? I had tickets for Leeds and my refund covered the price of the ticket AND the agency booking fee. Only thing not refunded was the postage, which was about a quid, not worth bothering about. Maybe some venues didn't return booking fees, but I was surprised when I had mine returned and at the time attributed it to Val's call, made on all our behalfs.

I recall not getting the booking fee back (£12.10), though I doubt Val's post would have had much influence either way.

I'll say it. It was blackmail and manipulation.

Can't see a threat of punishment therein if the BW management doesn't comply = not blackmail.

Maybe the recompense she means isn't financial, but playing some shows instead?


"Surely, even a "residency" at The Royal Festival Hall in London for a few nights, with a show or two in Scotland and maybe Birmingham, would have been the best decision made and would have saved face?


A Jam Session/Charity Gig with our lovely Beach Boys Britain Musicians and Brian's Musicians would be the icing on the cake"

Email the venue's box office and ask for show times.

I tend to assume Brian himself has standard commercial expectations.

I loved hearing Al do Shut Down.  A nice, more casual feel about it.

I thought the sound was a bit ropey down in the stalls.  Granted, I was off to the side, so had the skewiness of hearing mostly the speakers that were placed there.  I guess the middle of the stalls might be better, unless you're overhung by the balcony above, but I wondered overall how good it could be compared to the Royal Circle, which had a much clearer, precise sound, and was nicely balanced during the PS set.

Regarding Brian's aging and performance, I thought he struggled a lot on Friday with the ballads on side 1 of Pet Sounds, the sense of which was only heightened by Matt Jardine taking over so many lines.  Sure, Brian can often veer in vocal quality between songs, but this was the first time ever I kinda felt uncomfortable listening, particularly on That's Not Me.  I put the deficiencies down to age, which happens to everyone, not any other reasons.  For a sec, I felt I could see the Telegraph reviewer's point of view.  Funnily enough, he then kicked back in with I'm Waiting For the Day and it was great from there on in.  I did notice that he didn't struggle quite so much on That's Not Me on the following show.  I think with these kind of ballads, he just has a breath issue with getting the lines out.  They're harder work.

No comments on the Telegraph.  They stopped 'em recently, which is all well and good, cos they were bloody awful.