He told you.

Not really. He dodged the question and rephrased his answer to a previous question. Most people's greatest regrets involve mistakes they've made or things they wish they didn't do. I guess Mike has transcended all that and is a perfect being free of such petty human errors. Remorse? Bah! The f*cker can levitate. What could he possibly have done to feel repentant about?

It'd just be refreshing to see the guy fess up to making a mistake or two, acting a little out of line once, getting drunk at an awards show, that kind of thing. Rather than pointing out once again that his cousins did drugs decades ago.

Amen. A substantial part of why there is a great deal of well-documented frustration towards the man, to put it mildly, is because he never publicly admits to doing anything wrong. And I mean ever. It's always somebody else who takes the fall. I should add that it drives me crazy to know people who are like that in general, it's not exclusive to Mike by any means. That's one of the worst traits a person can have.

The best part about this movie, is that if it becomes the big drama of 2015 and EVERYONE goes to see it, "No Pier Pressure" is going to become an unstoppable force.  It will be like Supernatural was for Santana 15 years ago.

I know everyone dismisses the Grammys, but think about how awesome it would be to see BW win "Album of the Year" along with several other awards.   I'd even be willing to see Kanye West jump on stage and tell Brian he's not as talented as Beyoncé if it means it's Brian's big night!

If NPP wins a Grammy, I would pay money to see a live camera feed of Mike's reaction.

There once came a Gage from 'KENtucket'(?)

- the 'Old Man' whom Douglas was 'Bugged At'

Gage's sons got a scare

each time HE made them stare...

as he pulled out his glass eye from socket

 

It's pretty cheesy to blame other people for "your biggest regret," tho. Does he actually think he's never done anything regrettable?

I guess so.

Especially when he's already mentioned his cousins doing drugs earlier in the interview. I guess he needed to underline it.

Ontor - my impression is that when they do the tributes the biggest regret is that they (Dennis and Carl) are not there, for whatever reason.

I'm sure the deceased members are missed, and I'm sure Mike legitimately believes it is regrettable that they have passed away.

However, this argument really falls apart when you consider the living members who have been squeezed out of the situation (despite the complex set of BRI circumstances which allowed it to happen, which nobody has to be reminded about as a way of deflecting the truth of the matter). Ironically, it's mighty unlikely that Mike would have the level of power he does today if they were still with us, so while their absence from this earth is surely something he regrets as a human being, I can imagine their absence from the standpoint of not being able to voice opposing opinions to the band's direction is NOT something he much regrets, anymore than any "regret" that Brian and Al are missing from the stage, and are unable to stop Mike from doing anything he wants to do, barring some excruciating legal maneuvering which will probably never happen.

So damn well said from Ontor and CD!

Thanks SB. Just speaking the truth! It's not like Shawn would be the biggest regret or anything. His cousins doing drugs is for more regrettable, because of course it is absolves him of actually having to cop to anything personal, anything the question actually asked, whatsoever.

It's pretty cheesy to blame other people for "your biggest regret," tho. Does he actually think he's never done anything regrettable?

I guess so.

Especially when he's already mentioned his cousins doing drugs earlier in the interview. I guess he needed to underline it.

Exactly.

Avoiding answering the actual question much?

Can you imagine any other band member in this group, if asked the same question, consistently mentioning Mike Love and his actions as *their own* biggest regret? It's absolutely, positively laughable.

It's like Mike's baseball cap of answers.

If that video above is correct that this is the same Alexandra Morgan we're talking about, then I think she's also been an actress in a bunch of obscure 70s films. According to these pics - she looks the same just older...

http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=68493
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alexandra-Morgan-VINTAGE-Photo-First-Nudie-Musical-/300316632053

She was in an episode of Baywatch, apparently.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0604462/

How weird it would've been if the episode ever aired in a back-to-back block with the Beach Boys' Baywatch ep.

I feel like if Denny had lived, and had sobered up even somewhat, that he might have gone to find Brian and might have tried to kick the sh*t out of Landy for taking advantage of his bro.

I was hoping there'd be weirder screen names for Wink to say.  Would've been great with that classic 50's radio voice:  "And now a question from RottenApplez420..."

 

Still, the interview allowed us to hear Mike speak the actual words "smoke weed", which I don't think I've ever heard him say before. So at least there's that.

Very true.  I was surprised to hear him say that.  

Wink: "...or as we called them in my day: jazz cigarettes!"

I would very, very much like to know what it was like to hang out with a stoned Mike Love.

I'd like to picture him singing "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen", and then cracking up.

I think a little more weed would've done him good.

Wonder what high Al would be like too?

High Al I feel like I have a slight idea of, since I've seen a late 60s/early 70s picture or two with a very stoned look on his face. Big, big ass patented Jardine grin.

Brains is Brian with the A and the I reversed, and Genius is obvious... Make of that what you will.

In other news, I found out what Alexandra Morgan's been up to. A one-woman show called 'Sexagenarian'. https://vimeo.com/120994523 Still quite gorgeous, if i do say so myself

Two questions:

Is Alexandra Morgan the only female lyrical collaborator that Brian ever worked with (credited on original BW/BB material)? Excepting The Honeys; I'm referring to material released under the BW/BB banner.

And is the audience guy at 0:43 secretly a BB fan doing a tribute to the infamous Wendy cough?

I was hoping there'd be weirder screen names for Wink to say.  Would've been great with that classic 50's radio voice:  "And now a question from RottenApplez420..."

 

Still, the interview allowed us to hear Mike speak the actual words "smoke weed", which I don't think I've ever heard him say before. So at least there's that.

Very true.  I was surprised to hear him say that.  

Wink: "...or as we called them in my day: jazz cigarettes!"

I would very, very much like to know what it was like to hang out with a stoned Mike Love.

I'd like to picture him singing "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen", and then cracking up.

I think a little more weed would've done him good.

I was hoping there'd be weirder screen names for Wink to say.  Would've been great with that classic 50's radio voice:  "And now a question from RottenApplez420..."

 

Still, the interview allowed us to hear Mike speak the actual words "smoke weed", which I don't think I've ever heard him say before. So at least there's that.

Just listened to the song "Your Love is King" by Sade from 1984.

http://youtu.be/k1ljpLQ1V6Y


The intro sounds almost identical to Brian's "I'm So Lonely" from 1 year later.

http://youtu.be/emKjSkUpDrk

I wonder if Brian (or one of the ISL studio musicians) was a Sade fan. Too close to be a coincidence, don'tcha all think?

Can someone PLEASE tell me what the name of the Bee Gees' rap song is, purleeeeaze?

I'm starting to think this doesn't exist.

I know I didn't imagine it... but I can't seem to find it now during a cursory check on Spotify, and don't have the patience to sit through all of the songs on a few of their bad albums. One one of the Bee Gees albums between the late 80s and early 90s, there are songs which border on hip-hop beats/rap vocal styling (a la "Summer of Love"), and there's a bad lyrical homage to an old hit (I think it's "Staying Alive"). Give those "gems" a listen! Reminded me of the worst of The Boys!

Enjoyable.  Informative.  Regarding 'Help Me Rhonda'...In late March 1965 Terry produced it for The Rip Chords.  [along with a version of the classic 'Love is Strange']  Their version was "on release" at Columbia.  The singles were already pressed.  Ads shot.  And...Brian showed up at the office to tell Terry that he had re-recorded it and that it was going to be the Beach Boys next single. 

Brian..."I'm going to put this out myself, so what can you do for me?
Terry..."Well, I'll kill the release."

And this is when they "actually became friends".

Wonder if this was due to the probable flak Brian had to hear for letting "Little Honda" get away from being a single (with another band's version being a hit) only months earlier.

I read an interview with Brian a few years ago where he was asked about Landy and Brian said he misses him and wished he could talk to him.

Does anyone have any pictures of the man after his estrangement from BW?

I wonder if his mullet wilted almost instantly after BW left.

I was at a Beach Boys convention with Landy in the early 90's. Landy was standing off to the side quiet and just observing. I walked up to him and thanked him for saving Brian's life and for "letting Brian out of his cage" for the event. I walked away and Landy was still standing by himself a good 10 minutes later. Musta been 100 people there and nobody was even acknowledging him.

Then I had a few beers with Steve McParland, Sean McCreavy, and other fans in the know and found out WHY nobody was talking to Landy. Man, did I feel out of touch at that point!

Knowing what you know now, do you wish you could go back in time to that moment and spit in the f*cker's face?

Tell you the truth I still have mixed feelings about it. If anything positive came out of Brian's relationship with Landy, it's that he did save his live. Literally saved his life, but in the mean time the result of the unnecessary and over-prescribed drugs which Landy gave to Brian will live in his brain 'till his dying day. But I also believe that Landy got Brian into physical and mental shape to write songs again. And even though Landy and his wife "contributed" to many of them, I know Brian wrote many on his own. I mean, they wrote a BOATLOAD of songs together, and it took a well-seasoned talented songwriter like Brian to write all those melodies and Landy (and Alexandria) might have contributed lyrics, but there's no way Landy had the talent and know-how to write that great music during the 80's & 90's. I'm not so sure Brian would have had that same daily regimen of writing songs as part of his therapy from anyone else, including a professional doctor. And the physical shape - some say he looked sickly on the cover of Pulse magazine, but man what exercise Landy put the man through to look like that after so much self abuse with food. Unarguably, Landy went overboard and got in the way of the '88 album and the Sweet Insanity album and later the Usher and Paley sessions, but I'm not sure Brian wouldn't have even gotten to the solo album in 1988 without the encouragement and push from Landy. Landy pushed hard in support of Brian like Murry did, then eventually over-stepped his boundries (like Murry did) both for their self gratification. They got something out of it. Before Landy got hold of Brian, Brian was drinking, smoking, and snorting hog rails like there was no tomorrow, and if weren't for Landy and his unorthadox ways, we wouldn't be sitting here talking about Brian Wilson being here tomorrow.

I dunno. Does saving Brian's life outweigh the bad things that Landy did? Could any doctor worth his weight in gold have done the same thing Landy did? Could any doctor have had complete success the first time, without  having to come back to help the patient a second time? What did it take to do that? YOU make the call.

Wonder what would've happened, if say Landy was the doc who would've died in a rock climbing accident. Say around 1986 or so.

That way, Brian is rehabilitated with massive weight loss and off street drugs before the real, deep damage and sick and unethical crapola by Landy really started in earnest.

I suppose Landy would be thought of *relatively* more highly in that scenario in the history books. As much of a creep as Landy was, I do wonder the same things as you, Mikie. Not quite sure anyone else (or anyone else readily available/on the radar of the Wilson family) would've been able to save him at the time in the early 80s.

Great article Peter. As I said on Facebook today, Side 2 is heaven...well except for the "bull session."

In an alternate world, I take that out, replace it with All Dressed Up (side 1) and move Ronda to side 2 (perhaps in a slower arrangement to match the other track.s)

I still wish I knew why "All Dressed Up For School" was dropped. We can assume it was due to racy lyrics... but I'll bet, just bet, that someone put that thought/seed of doubt into Brian's head. Either a bandmember, friend, or the record label. Would be interesting to find out.

I suppose my entire premise/question is flawed; trying to understand someone who's actions are that of a sick f*ck is a difficult, if not impossible task. But for whatever reason, I tend to optimistically think that even such people might still have a morsel of self-awareness buried deep down, regardless. I dunno. Maybe not. I doubt Murry or Phil Spector ever thought/think they've done anything wrong either.

Still curious to hear anyone else's thoughts on this (and Alexandra Morgan's thoughts, if she has ever been asked).

I just got to wondering... many have seen the douchey 1991 20/20 (ABC tv show, not the '69 album) interview where Landy looks smug, and doesn't cop to any wrongdoing. But I do wonder... did he ever honestly think he did anything wrong with over prescription and all the other ethically questionable actions during his time with Brian? Maybe looking back, at any point from his removal from Brian's life until his own death in 2006? One would think he'd think maybe he'd gone too far, even if he at one point had good intentions (which, not that I'm defending him in any way, but it seems that he did at least to some twisted degree, at some point. Maybe).

I wonder if there was ever an ounce of self-awareness, even behind closed doors, or if not and he was a pure sociopath. Maybe Alexandra Morgan would be the only one to know.

"Fun fun fun" and "Good Vibrations" in the first 2 minutes...classic!  

I guess that's Mike's Shortenin' Bread riff. His go-to, way overused standby. Somebody needs to stitch together interview clip footage of the cheesy song references. It would probably run longer than the BW Shortenin' Bread riff compilation mix on Youtube.

Is it weird for me to think it's weird when Mike peacefully and happily talks about writing songs with Al Jardine, the guy who feels that Mike's recent actions were equivalent to firing him?

It would be nice for me to not think that is weird, and I truthfully desire to think it is not weird...but I think I'd have to pull an Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and remove the knowledge of that from my head in order for it not to actually be weird to me.

And, here it is…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-45duZ1Sq38&feature=youtu.be

It is sad, yet perfectly understandable, that the Comments section is preemptively disabled...

Same with Lonely Sea....

How young was Brian there? Yet he sounds like he's lived at least a lifetime or two.

BW was still 19 when Lonely Sea was recorded... can you believe it?

Not to mention that was the same age when Carl recorded God Only Knows. Wonder how many people who've listened to GOK over the years would be shocked to find that out.

While (very) far from my fave BB tune, cover or otherwise, gotta put Blue Christmas pretty high up there on the list of great BW vocals. Unreal, especially from such a then-whippersnapper.