As far as the touring, yes I agree to a point but it's also about Mike being the number one guy on stage carrying the Beach Boys flag representing the brand. I think that aspect of the shows alone is priceless to Mike which is why he has paid millions to hold the name.

Yes, Mike loves to be on stage touring as The Beach Boys, but it's also important to note that Mike has made far more by holding the license to The Beach Boys name for touring purposes than he has paid to BRI for said license.

Is this true?

I thought Mike "won" the right to use the name but no matter what, Brian, Al, Mike, and Carl's estate all received an equal slice of the revenue?

Great performance. The early 5 man line-up on stage were pretty tight.

Hell yes they were tight.  They really were a great live band during that era.

Rockin' the man.......

That is FANTASTIC, congratulations!

Look, people here can have their own opinions, but as a FACT, Stamos has not been a blight on their career or history. Stamos has not affected how rock historians look at their body of work. There is a big difference whether one believes something and whether it is actually so.

Not a fact.

The holier than thou "historians" don't decide what you or I think about the band - if you read Rolling Stone and decide what albums to buy based on their reviews only then I get it but a majority of people are not that way.

Stamos has not affected how "rock historians" look at their body of work - if by that you mean their catalog of music then you are partially correct, although "vintage" historians about lost their mind when SIP came out with John's Forever included on it.

Stamos has not been a blight on their career or history - Uh, many people consider Full House the band's "jumping the shark" moment.  There are lots of people who think more about Stamos and the Beach Boys than the Hawthorne era of the Beach Boys.  His association with the band has undeniably altered how people perceive the group and understand this: to some people that's fine and I'm cool with that.  As I said before, I don't dislike John as a person so don't label me a hater, LOL.

I'm happy people dig the show that M&B do but I believe some of the issues with everyone's arguments are rooted in when you became a fan and for me, that is especially true.

So, one song on one album blights a 50 year career, huh?

I know Stamos will be mentioned in articles, but still, his appearances do not factor in their in history of studio or live performance. I get it with you, you don't like him, again I get it. To call his appearances a blight to their history is way, way overblown. Even if it did, it's been going on for close to 30 years. Unless their is a blow out between him & Mike, it isn't going to change. When I go to a show, I go to see the band and to hear the music live. I really do not care who tags along with them. Musically, Stamos has never ruined a full performance. At the shows that he has appeared that I attended over the years, most of the audience liked that he was there. Believe me, if they didn't Mike would have him off the tour quick. At this point touring is their bread & butter and Mike would not jeopardize that if the audience was annoyed by the appearances.
I seriously worry about fans who still at this point want to change who the Beach Boys really are. You can't change history. All you can do is accept it, continue to love the music and move on.

Ha, don't worry about me and as of today, who "really are" the Beach Boys?

I don't think Stamos is the worst thing Mike has done to annoy the audiences or the fans but again, that's cool.  When Carl checked out that ended things for me.  As I've said before, people can like whichever version of the Beach Boys is out there.  Al, Brian or the Mike and Bruce show.

As I noted before, we disagree on things and that's o.k., I don't like it but accept it.  I've never stopped loving the music and that's a tribute to the Beach Boys of the 60's, 70's and 80's.

As I kid I could never make out what Mike was singing during Shut Down - "Cramin' Junction?"

Look, people here can have their own opinions, but as a FACT, Stamos has not been a blight on their career or history. Stamos has not affected how rock historians look at their body of work. There is a big difference whether one believes something and whether it is actually so.

Not a fact.

The holier than thou "historians" don't decide what you or I think about the band - if you read Rolling Stone and decide what albums to buy based on their reviews only then I get it but a majority of people are not that way.

Stamos has not affected how "rock historians" look at their body of work - if by that you mean their catalog of music then you are partially correct, although "vintage" historians about lost their mind when SIP came out with John's Forever included on it.

Stamos has not been a blight on their career or history - Uh, many people consider Full House the band's "jumping the shark" moment.  There are lots of people who think more about Stamos and the Beach Boys than the Hawthorne era of the Beach Boys.  His association with the band has undeniably altered how people perceive the group and understand this: to some people that's fine and I'm cool with that.  As I said before, I don't dislike John as a person so don't label me a hater, LOL.

I'm happy people dig the show that M&B do but I believe some of the issues with everyone's arguments are rooted in when you became a fan and for me, that is especially true.

Please point me to any book written so far that has Blighted the history of The Beach Boys due to Stamos being on stage with them. It has been 30 years, so if it really is an issue then there should be many out there to quote from if it is that big of an issue.

Does it need to be in a book to be true?  Do I need a fish hack to justify what many common fans think?

I've stated before that I don't dislike John Stamos but myself and I'm certain thousands of others around the globe (who were fans before the cheese set in) loved the band when they actually cared about the music, not cheerleaders and a non-willingness to continue to be creative.

I still love the Beach Boys but I don't view Mike and Bruce as the Beach Boys and I'm not apologetic about it nor will I be.  That's cool if you think Stamos adds something to the M & B showband but it doesn't sit well with all the fans, especially those that pre-date the "Stamos era."

Classic "Mike Lovers" defend the guy for what he does but he yaks about the importance of not devaluing or saturating the brand but other than pimping Stamos fans to buy another rehashed Greatest Hits CD, what value or artistic credibility does he bring to the show?  In the 5 or 6 times I haven't seen the Mike and Bruce Review, Stamos was there each time and I especially wouldn't have wanted to see him for god sakes, you're the Beach Boys!

In each of those shows, Stamos received almost as much advertisement time as did Mike and Bruce.  As a Beach Boys fan that makes you embarrassed that they need to ride Stamos' coat tails to get people interested.

Fans of the band don't need a book to tell them what's right and what's wrong, we make up our own mind.

Also of note in all of this I should remind those of you who's skin I seem to get under (not directed at you drbeachboy) that I am a fan of all the guys as The Beach Boys.  Post Carl, all of them have acted like idiots as far as I'm concerned and are all to blame for the drama.  Not just Mike, not just Al, not just Brian.  The fact that all of them (BRI) couldn't work something out after C50 is simply unreal.

But that was not what was stated. It wasn't a personal assessment. It was a direct "blight on their history". Meaning it as a fact, which it is not now, nor will it be in the future. Nothing I have read has stated that Stamos was either good or bad upon their career. He has been traveling with them for the past 30 years and if it hasn't sullied them by now, it never will. Rarely are bands judged on their concert personnel. It is always about the impact that the band made upon the music scene and that is most always their recorded output.

We shall respectfully agree to disagree! 

The music is all that matters and is all that they will be remembered for. Stamos may be a blight to you, but be assured that he will not be a part of their musical history.
[/quote]

Yes, that's true for some but not all.  The music matters to all but the identity or direction of the band matters to the fans who care about more than the music.  For example, if your parents get a divorce and then remarry, you don't necessarily stop loving them but you certainly may not like who they are with or the direction they are heading.

Tell me, how is Stamos a blight on the band's history? I have not read anything where he was no more than a mention. He really has nothing to do with what they will be remembered for; their recordings. He is on one song on one album that even the band itself did not care to recognize during C50 promotion. So where is this a blight? It's an overreaction over something that is a "personal" dislike, and that is all.

I don't dislike Stamos as a person but Mike seems to think that having John on stage with "The Beach Boys" is more important than having actual "Beach Boy" Al Jardine on stage.

In my opinion, Mike calling himself and Bruce "The Beach Boys" is questionable enough for lots of us but when he parades out Stamos as an attraction for the band when Al could be playing with them every night, it once again feels as if Mike would rather ride the cheap Stamos thrill now as opposed to having a willing band member back onstage with the group on a regular basis.

It's almost as if Mike *doesn't* want to add credibility back to the band.  Nothing seems more real than actual members in the group.

I luckily didn't find the Beach Boys via Full House like some people did but I sincerely believe Mike enjoys Full House reruns more than he likes Smile!

In my opinion, I see blight.

'til I'm dead

Again, I don't go to these shows, so my trepidation is mostly observational. Mike wants Stamos there. I think Stamos is, again borrowing Wirestone's term, a blight on the band's history. But that doesn't matter.

It used to, LOL

I appreciate John Stamos is a huge fan of the band but jeez, when he become the center of attention at a Beach Boys show.........if Mike haters want a good reason to do so, this is a great (and ongoing) opportunity.

Just like (most) people hated the cheerleader act of the 80's / 90's having Stamos onstage is just about as distracting.  It's a shame David got pushed into the background a bit.  Mike can certainly do what he wants and that's cool but it's clear what he thinks is "great for the brand" may not be shared by fans.

To each his own and that's cool.

I wonder, do you think that Mike gets some deep down personal satisfaction when John sings "Forever" and erases Denny's shining moment from the show?

Was it really offered to Run DMC first? 

Talking about it may force me to go listen to it now.

Very curious to hear the replies. 

Don't Worry Babs.

I really enjoyed myself, I thought it was a great show! And I never thought Bruce was such a laugh riot, that guy is hilarious! It was awesome getting to meet Mike, Bruce, and Dave. Class acts, all of them. And the weather today was perfect.

Sounds like Al missed a good show!

A lot of people were expecting him there and some seemed disappointed that he wasn't. Obviously many folks had no idea he had backed out of the show.

And none of the folks here know that he did either because that's never been clarified.  We all wish that we knew what went down between all of them.

Thanks for the review and info, it sounds like you had a great time! 

COMMENT:   Do question my recalls, it was a long time ago.  Here's what I recall. 

Alan very much liked the Big Sur area (who wouldn't?) and found property to buy. At first it was undeveloped. As he modified the land and built some buildings, fixed up the house, etc. he was not actually living in Big Sur. It was a vacation home. At first the vacations were just work holidays -- and supervision of heavy construction. I'm not certain when Alan officially moved to a year-round residence in Big Sur, but the recording of Cottonfields was as I recall, or at least ONE of the versions recorded during that time, was recorded in Big Sur. It was just the basic track, and in the case of Cottonfields may have even been just Alan and his quitar with a scratch vocal.

Yes, at the time Alan's property was a project-in-progress, but still usable for getting Brian and the guys out of LA and into a more restful environment. That was the idea. There were enough cabins to house everyone, except me (which I talked about before). But peace and quiet make some people nervous, so after a few days Brian went back to LA while the guys and all the equipment, including the sound truck stayed for a while at Al's place.

I also recall carrying the 8-track around with me on tour and in-between shows working on 20/20 at various local studios. While in NYC Cottonfields sweeting was also carried out at Capitol in Manhattan as well as a trial mixdown. The monitoring situation was rather strange at that studio, so little was used from those sessions.

~swd

Great info and memories, thank you Mr. D!

After watching an area weathercast, it looks like the storm will be clear of the area by Saturday evening, so NEVERMIND....

I certainly hope the weather will be cleared up in time! I'm traveling 4 hours down the road, and Al or no Al, I'm really pumped up for this show!

And that's the important thing - have a great time!

I don't know if we're getting into splitting hairs as to what is what, but a bar (probably not a pub) in Minneapolis, The Uptown, was one of the greatest venues in town here through some of the city's greatest eras. It was demolished a few years back to build an Apple Store or some sh*t, but it was a fantastic shithole with a wonderful breakfast and a spectacular history. Replacements, Husker Du, Soul Asylum, not to mention more great touring acts than you can imagine. Nothing special ... but really special. I was proud to play there ... sometimes for a couple dozen people. Hence me not being on the list of greats to play there!

The Dakota is a cool place too although not like the Uptown was.

I wonder how long it will take for BRI to realize the money they could earn with a touring "Tribute to the Beach Boys" which is approved by, licensed by and ultimately signed off by BRI?

Judith Belishi and Dan Aykroyd make a boatload of cash each year from the Blues Brothers review.

http://bluesbrothersofficialsite.com/p-9892-the-official-blues-brothers-revue.html

 

Some Zoos have beautuful concert venues.

I agree 100%.