So many questions.

Yep and no definitive answers, really. Mike's chimed in, have we ever heard rebuttals?

One interesting point that I believe highlights Mike was much more interested in *exiting* the reunion than under some immediate pressing obligation to book a ton of his own dates quickly is this:

Regarding Mike being required to book his own shows back after C50, it's worth actually looking at his tour schedule for the remainder of 2012 and into 2013.

From September 30, 2012 through the beginning of February 2013, Mike booked...wait for it.... NINE shows across EIGHT venues.

He dumped the reunion tour in order to play these shows:

September 30 - The Legacy Concert for the Children, The Santaluz Club, San Diego, CA
October 5 - Extraco Events Center, Waco, TX  
October 6 - The Backyard, Austin, TX  
October 12 - Beau Rivage, Biloxi, MS
October 13 - Beau Rivage, Biloxi, MS
December 21 - New Orleans Bowl Friday Night Concert, Champion's Square, New Orleans, LA (Free Show)
December 28 - Pike's Peak Center, Colorado Springs, CO  
December 31 - Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, MN (2 Shows)

Nothing in November 2012, nothing in January 2013. Only FOUR shows in February 2013. Even assuming maybe he booked a few private/corporate gigs we don't know about, and even taking into account at least three canceled gigs (two in South America, plus the infamous "Nutty Jerry's" gig), I somehow doubt BRI had a requirement that both *forced* Mike to book shows, but then also allowed for such a *light* tour schedule.

This is just my total guess/gut feeling, but it kind of smells like Mike just started booking a hand full of shows to essentially create a plausible reason to say he couldn't do more reunion shows (See? I already have my own shows booked!), and also to start getting his foot back in the door and re-establish his band as the going "Beach Boys" touring concern.

Look at that schedule. THREE shows between mid-October 2012 and February 2013. They could have *easily* booked some year-end reunion gigs to try to cap the whole thing off on better terms (and that's just assuming they still wouldn't continue the reunion on any sort of even semi-permanent basis). As was bandied about some time back, even just one or two year-ending shows at the Staples Center or something could have easily been done.

Part of this, as you are quoted as saying below, is just how Mike rolls out his tours. It's never an announcement of a full slate of shows.

"Also, if one has followed Mike's tour and scheduling habits over the years, they will have found that Mike never really "announces" a tour. He never unveils a tour schedule. It just sort of continually exists and is updated on an ongoing basis. It takes a few months into the year for summer tour dates to fill out. " -Hey Jude

Here's some archival material to consider along with what's already been posted. If some of the links don't work, please point that out so they can be read/seen.

If we're talking about the dates, as in June 1st and then "20 days later" in this comment from "Juice" 'The first was sent June 1, the second email, some 20 days later. Days! Not minutes or hours. If there was no further discussion within that 20 day period, I could see Mike believing that there would indeed be no more shows.'

Consider that Mike first announced the shows in South America during a phone interview while riding on a C50 bus with the newspaper La Tercera which is in Chile.


A rough translation of the original "La Tercera" article which was already shared and circulating in the South American press on June 22, 2012:

"The Beach Boys returns to Santiago in October without Brian Wilson in the group

The band has already closed a deal to be presented at the end of October at Movistar Arena. Despite the reunion tour, they will only be led by another of their history, Mike Love.

The Beach Boys once again puts Chile on its road map. But, just like the previous two, he does it with certain nuances around his past and his present. If the announcements of 2005 -recital that was canceled- and 2011 -for a private event- presented a band that in those days led only two historical members, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, this time the trip will also be with restricted contingent.

The Americans have just closed an upcoming South American tour for the last quarter and have already agreed on a concert for October at Movistar Arena, tentative date for the 26th. It is their first show for all audiences in the country. Of course, and although in December made the meeting and tour of its most important cast official - with Love and Johnston with Al Jardine, David Marks and Brian Wilson - the current reunion tour will not go through Santiago. In concrete terms, the group will only come with Love as a leader and without Wilson, the symbol and brain of Californians.

This is confirmed by Love himself, on the phone with La Tercera from the bus that takes them across North America in his current journey: "Yes, we are planning to go to South America. But those recitals will not be part of the reunion tour. " Consulted if it will be the same show that was offered in November of last year in Espacio Riesco, for a financial services firm, the artist responds with a concise "exact".

One point: the live return of the men of Pet Sounds (1966) marks dates until September in Oceania and England, all with Wilson in the set. Although his cousin, Love, prefers not to delve into the reasons why the soul of The Beach Boys will not be part of some sections of the course, there is room for lucubration. For example, since 1965, Wilson decided to leave the tours with his classmates to concentrate on the masterpieces that would be dispatched during the second part of the 60s. In other times, the singer also resigned on stage due to his problems with drugs and their psychiatric problems. In fact, he has never had much empathy with the respectable: although the reviews of his current tour, which started in April, have been praiseworthy, they have all emphasized that the musician responds to his historical profile and feels distant and distant. The coordinates for your local appointment will become official in the coming days.


And this published June 22 in Peru's "El Comercio" newspaper which was cited in a Guardian article June 27th:

Friday, June 22, 2012 | 13:14
The Beach Boys confirmed a tour of South America
Mike Love, vocalist of the Californian band, announced a visit for the month of October, but without the presence of Brian WilsonThe Beach Boys, the legendary Californian rock band, will visit South America. This was announced by Mike Love, vocalist and composer of the group, in an interview with the Chilean newspaper "La Tercera".

In a telephone conversation with the aforementioned medium, Love clarified that the concerts will not be part of the reunion tour of the band, so it will not be attended by Brian Wilson, perhaps the most emblematic member of the group.

As you remember, The Beach Boys have 50 dates around the world to celebrate their 50th anniversary in music."

A link to the original La Tercera article and phone interview: http://diario.latercera.com/edicionimpresa/the-beach-boys-vuelve-a-santiago-en-octubre-sin-brian-wilson-en-el-grupo/

And a cache archive of the June 22, 2012 El Comercio article: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2FdypxK_h1oJ:https://elcomercio.pe/luces/musica/beach-boys-confirmaron-gira-america-sur-noticia-1431754+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


News of the Nutty Jerry's booking was published in a local paper on June 20, 2012:

The Beach Boys Coming to Nutty Jerry's In Winnie October 6
Craig Hlavaty | June 20, 2012 | 2:00pm

If you missed the reunited and augmented Beach Boys a few weeks back in the Woodlands, you will have a second chance to see the band on October 6 out at Nutty Jerry's in Winnie. Yes, it's a long drive, but this tour is worth seeing.

As Rocks Off confirmed from Nutty Jerry's PR, this will in fact be the lineup that was at the Woodlands on June 8. There was some question to whether or not this would be Mike Love's version of the group that tours sans Brian Wilson.

Tickets are available here on the Jerry's site. While you are there, why not snag your America tickets?

Speaking of Wilson, the pop architect turns 70 years old today, so be sure and play Pet Sounds or SMiLE super-loud, or softly, whichever you prefer.

The Beach Boys are touring behind their first new album in decades, That's Why God Made The Radio, and their current setlists have been having upwards of 45 songs on them. In a recent interview with guitarist Al Jardine, he commented that he hopes that the band's dynamic can lend itself to more touring, at least every two years. It looks like they are in fact making a go of it.

In the current issue of Rolling Stone the band talks about their shaky but working relationship on the road and in the studio. Fun fact: Michael McDonald scares the sh*t out of Brian Wilson.

Followed by news of the cancellation and confusion published June 25, 2012:

Beach Boys Not Coming To Nutty Jerry's After All
Craig Hlavaty | June 25, 2012 | 4:30pm

Last week I told you about an upcoming Beach Boys date out in Winnie at Nutty Jerry's. The show sparked my interest since I was still on a B-Boys high from their show in the Woodlands earlier this month, and I was happy that the Houston-area was getting another go-round with the group.

But today the venue issued this press release, effectively cancelling the date:

    Due to a misunderstanding with the Beach Boy's management and a local booking agent, the October 6th Beach Boys concert at Nutty Jerry's has been cancelled.

    The group that was scheduled to perform at Nutty Jerry's is not the same lineup as the current "Beach Boys 50th Anniversary" tour.

    As a result Nutty Jerry's did not feel that we could advertise the show as the "original" Beach Boys. Nutty Jerry's regrets the misunderstanding and any inconvenience to our loyal customers.

The release went on to give information about refunds and also teased another concert announcement for that same October 6 date.

You know what they say about things being too good to be true. For my part, I did confirm with Jerry's front office last week that the band coming to town was the one that played 46 songs at the Woodlands, but as you can see things quickly changed.

The best I can tell is that the version of the Beach Boys that was booked for Nutty's was the Mike Love version which was touring before this year's reunion run, with all surviving members in tow, including Brian Wilson. Once myself and others inquired about the distinction, someone must have figured out the difference and balked.

And now according to Rolling Stone, this is a thing that Love has been doing the whole time during the reunion shows.

This current Beach Boys tour is only listed as far as September 28 at Wembley Stadium.

Link to June 20 2012 article announcing Nutty Jerrys gig: https://www.houstonpress.com/music/the-beach-boys-coming-to-nutty-jerrys-in-winnie-october-6-6500272

Link to June 25 2012 article canceling Nutty Jerrys gig: https://www.houstonpress.com/music/beach-boys-not-coming-to-nutty-jerrys-after-all-6777328

By June 27, other media had picked up these stories and had begun reporting about Mike booking gigs while touring as C50.


That's just to put more information from June 2012 on the table as these stories broke and people found out about them via the press reports linked above.

The key is still the context of the "smoking gun" email, as in what was sent before and what was sent after.

But it is also worth noting that in one of the South American newspapers, as of June 21-22 2012, the tour was still reported as 50 shows. Which was the original plan, until it was extended due to demand.

So when exactly was it extended, or when was the decision made to extend it? Because if by June 22nd a news report in South America still had it as 50 shows, either they were late to get the updates (if there were any), or the so-called "set end date" wasn't quite set in stone when Mike announced the booking of shows in South America for October on a phone interview to South America while riding on the C50 bus.

If it fits, it fits. If not, well...let the discussions begin. But context is key if the whole shebang is pinned on an email from June, and this is just some context after the fact.

Makes sense from a timeline perspective. If Brian and Melinda bailed early June, Mike could have started booking shows for M&B right away, and by the time of these interviews, new shows would have been lined up under The Beach Boys Love License?

When did the tour go beyond 50 shows, any idea? Obviously they were working on this before the June 1 email, if the purpose of that email was to inform Michael that Brian wasn't carrying on.

Good gravy already, the whole Mike ended C50 thing is bogus. BRIAN 'S WIFE ended it with the "no more Wilson dates" email: that is a fact.

Well at least one person has their facts straight.

*EVEN* if one believed that the alleged e-mail had some sort of impact on the end of the tour (despite REAMS of evidence to the contrary from folks including Mike himself), to assert it is a FACT that "BRIAN'S WIFE" sending one e-mail was the one and only reason for the end of C50 is, frankly, either troll behavior or such a gross lack of understanding of the history of C50 and of this band that one should refrain from discussing the topic until they become educated on the topic.

As in, simply reading MIKE'S OWN BOOK will give you MANY other reasons why the tour ended. The main take away after reading the book was that Mike made it EXPLICITY clear that he didn't like many if not most aspects of the tour and the reunion in general and got the hell out of there as quickly as he could. Really, his book, while having in my opinion some conflicting reasoning, actually offers some pretty strong clarity on why Mike didn't want to continue. To suggest the alleged "Wilson e-mail" ended C50 ignores MIKE'S OWN WORDS.

There ONE reason and one reason only in my opinion to make the ridiculous assertion that "the e-mail" caused the end of C50, and that is either to blindly (in my opinion) defend Mike Love (thus owning up to things even less than Mike himself does), and/or to attack Melinda and/or Brian. Or again, a GROSS and FUNDAMENTAL lack of understanding and knowledge of the C50 project and the band in general.

But the email certainly deserves discussion if one wants to form an opinion of the end of C50. Mike (as per his book) is having all kinds of problems with Melinda. He has his back up from the beginning, feels he isn't given his proper place in the studio. But he is apparently supposed to be 'in charge' on the tour side. He claims Melinda starts interfering in the process, and he almost walks before the tour even starts. As it rolls along, Mike is finding several issues with, what mostly seems to be, exorbitant tour expenses from Brian's 'camp'

So when the first email comes, (and I think it's important to note that two emails are discussed), which seems to be in response to an offer in Israel, Mike mentions it as, I suppose, some justification in booking new dates. Now he also mentions a second email. The first was sent June 1, the second email, some 20 days later. Days! Not minutes or hours. If there was no further discussion within that 20 day period, I could see Mike believing that there would indeed be no more shows.  If Mike is claiming that when Melinda wrote back to ask him to disregard the original email, that it was somehow too late to reverse the wheels in motion, well that seems questionable. But, as has been discussed to death here, the reason(s) are pretty clear why the tour didn't continue. Mike liked his own setup better. Emails, studio snubs, tour expenses, in the end he was going back to M&B. I'm glad he stuck it out for as long as he did, we were treated to some great shows.

You cannot say definitively that the 'email' didn't play a part in the end of C50. It also would be naive to say that it was the only reason, or even the main reason for the end of the tour.

The thing that, in my opinion, gives Mike justification for ending the tour, was that, by everyone's admission, it was supposed to be a set number of dates. 50 I think, which was extended. That doesn't mean it's a bummer that it didn't continue. And it doesn't mean that Mike didn't end the thing for what could be described as 'selfish reasons'

I think Bruce was probably keen on getting back to the M&B format as well.

But, we were treated to a great tour in C50. I don't know that it could have gone on forever, but who knows. Here's a question, could Brian and Al have tried to convince Mike to carry on. Could they have given him more money, Found ways to entice him to carry on? Maybe Brian could have taken a moment at every show to thank Mike for his contributions and state there could have never been a Beach Boys without him. Could they have done more, if they really wanted the show to go on?

Glad to see David set the record straight about the shirts over on Facebook.

Going to say this once... a certain person who has since been proven to be full of sh*t used to always say that the quickest way to burn bridges was to break confidentiality. That charlatan may have lied about many things but in this case he was right on the money. “Juice”, some of us “ may” have additional proof but couldn’t say anything. Just a theoretical of course 🙄

Totally respect that Billy, but that's where, as a poster, you have to be careful. I think in some instances better to say nothing, than to say I know this is true because someone told me so, but I can't tell you anything else. It's a fine line for sure. I've heard some crazy things from band members first hand. And there is an impulse to run over and talk about it here or elsewhere, but as you say, or to paraphrase AGD I guess, bridges can be burned.

Now maybe we should get back to the real purpose of this thread. Showing how Mike gave Brian an absolute F-U by bringing everybody shirts 

I believe it's a 100% absolute that Jeff leaving Brian and joining Mike GIVES THE APPEARANCE of a giant F-you

Getting closer  

You're getting closer to reading and understanding what I've been writing this entire time? I hope. Otherwise, it's getting into troll-ish territory. "In my opinion" of course. 

Closer to opinion than fact, correct.

Honestly, no. Maybe I think more of Brian and Al then you do, but I think the real motivation was that they were stoked about C50 and wanted to keep going, so they primarily were motivated by wanting to play together. I don't think the deciding factor was, let's stick it to Mike. "I'd rather be at the Deli, AL, but I'll suck it up and do 80 shows, just to piss Mike off"

No blinders here, I love a salacious gossipy tale of backstabbing and revenge. And several of the events you go on to itemize surely had those qualities.

What I wanted to know was what proof you had to say Absolutely, that Jeff going over to Mike's band was a FU to Brian. Ya didn't have any. That's ok. I was just curious to hear it if it existed.

BTW it's been a while since I read the interview about Jeff leaving back in the day..but I seem to remember it was brutally honest and not real sugar coated, which might leave me to believe him when he discussed his departure from Brian's group.

I think as highly of Brian and Al as anyone. I also believe they're human, and I also actually pay close attention to the history of the band, and talk to fans, scholars, insiders, and so on.

I'm *almost* jealous of a fan that can exist in blissful ignorance as to any of the myriad of post-C50 political maneuvers/comments from both sides (and after 2013 mostly just Mike).

But my thing is, if you want to not pay attention to it and feel that everything they do or don't do should get seven thumbs up, then cool. But it's going to be very difficult to then delve into discussions like this that *specifically* entail various amounts of backroom politics.

And again, the "giant F you" thing, I have no idea why anyone would ever think such a thing would be provable. I'm amazed someone asked and didn't immediately understand the nature of such a characterization.

It's not too dissimilar to the possibly-apocryphal "Don't f**k with the formula" line. Like many of his supporters, Mike tries to glom on to the idea that the specific quote is technically incorrect, that he never uttered those exact words. But that's OBVIOUSLY not the point. I'm all for historical accuracy and it's always important to *not* actually offer that as a confirmed quote if it can't be confirmed. But the overarching point is that that totally has been a fair summation/approximation of the sentiment Mike has expressed many times in interviews.

Similarly, I've never contended Jeff Foskett actually said "F--k you, I'm leaving you for Mike" to Melinda or Brian.

Regarding Jeff's mid-90s interview versus his 2014 interview, it's ALL ABOUT CONTEXT. For his 2014 interview, he was currently employed by Mike and obviously wanted to keep his job. In the mid-90s, he was not employed by anybody related to the Beach Boys, was a few years out from having been fired, and there was no prospect for any solo tours to rejoin. It was far easier for him to be much more forthcoming and not leave anything out in that mid-90s interview. I appreciate his honesty in that mid-90s interview. I don't believe his 2014 interview was nearly as forthcoming and seemed to have large gaps. I don't think what *was* there in that 2014 interview could be characterized as lying in any way. I just think the whole thing smelled like an incomplete story, and we've laid out a bunch of his head-scratching stated reasoning in recent posts.

Ahhh but Hey Jude, I am paying attention to it. That is why when you said that Jeff going to Mike's band was and ABSOLUTE F-U to Brian, I was very curious as to what it was that made it absolute fact. You have now made it clear that in fact it is your opinion that it was absolute. A little thing perhaps, and I can see how in this day and age facts may seem unimportant, but that's all it's about. Fact vs. Opinion and framing statements as such. You have clarified that it's your opinion, as opposed to provable fact. And I know you have mentioned several times that you don't understand why anyone would think "it could be provable" - well I would think that, if you stated it as absolute and then followed up with some information that supported it as such. See what I am saying? That's what I was asking. Just asking, with genuine interest if there was something out there that showed that Jeff (and Mike) were absolutely motivated primarily by wanting to F*$k over Brian. I'm not here with blinders on, just wondering what you had to support the statement, and contrast it to Jeff's public comments on why he left.

I believe it's a 100% absolute that Jeff leaving Brian and joining Mike GIVES THE APPEARANCE of a giant F-you

Getting closer  

Personally, the thought has never occurred to me. Al was going to stick with Brian. Bringing Blondie in was a cool move, especially when it makes sense to divvy up the vocals in that band. Dave seems to move around pretty freely.

You really saw nothing political about Brian, who pre-C50 had been touring *on his own*, had only done about a dozen dates in 2006/07 with Al that, supposedly, didn't end too well, and had never toured with Dave or Blondie, all of a sudden in 2013 taking *three to four* Beach Boys out on tour?

If some fans want to keep the blinders on about any of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, that's totally one's prerogative. But then you're probably going to meet a lot of confusion and corrections from other fans/experts if you remain incredulous but insist on actually delving into the topic of political maneuvering and band names and band lineups and all of that.

Do you also think there was nothing political about Dennis's 1977 "Pacific Ocean Blue" tour being kiboshed?

Do you think there was nothing political about a big hunk of the touring band being let go in 1977/78?

Do you think there was nothing political about BRI supposedly sending people to Al's gigs in 1999 "searching" for fans who were "confused"?

Do you think it's a total coincidence during the band's 1980 Good Morning America interview that some of the other members look like they want to either strangle Dennis or run away as far as possible?

Do you think there was anything political about Jeff Foskett leaving the touring band in 1990, or do you just think it was a normal case of moving on to something else? Oh yeah, that's right, Foskett himself in the mid-90s gave an interview explaining in stunning detail why he was let go from the band.

I'm all for taking a step back and not immediately thinking the worst of these guys or jumping to elaborate theories. But it's also silly to assume there's no context to anything to do with this band's history outside of what they choose to say or not say publically.

Honestly, no. Maybe I think more of Brian and Al then you do, but I think the real motivation was that they were stoked about C50 and wanted to keep going, so they primarily were motivated by wanting to play together. I don't think the deciding factor was, let's stick it to Mike. "I'd rather be at the Deli, AL, but I'll suck it up and do 80 shows, just to piss Mike off"

No blinders here, I love a salacious gossipy tale of backstabbing and revenge. And several of the events you go on to itemize surely had those qualities.

What I wanted to know was what proof you had to say Absolutely, that Jeff going over to Mike's band was a FU to Brian. Ya didn't have any. That's ok. I was just curious to hear it if it existed.

BTW it's been a while since I read the interview about Jeff leaving back in the day..but I seem to remember it was brutally honest and not real sugar coated, which might leave me to believe him when he discussed his departure from Brian's group.

Also, as I've said a few times, separately from anything to do with why or how Foskett jumped bands, my *opinion* based on my own deductions and talking to some other folks is that Foskett may just be angling to take over the "Beach Boys" license once Mike is no longer able or willing to tour. Don't know how likely that would ever be to happen, and a lot would depend on who is still around and the circumstances of such a succession of events.

But it's worth noting that Foskett didn't just join as another dude in Mike's band. Check out Mike's Facebook page; Jeff basically became somewhat of a Bruce/Stamos status stand-in. Numerous events where there are only two members of the touring band present: Mike and Jeff.

Also, and again this is only *my opinion/hunch*, I find it interesting that Mike's negative rhetoric towards Brian and Brian's "camp" seemed to amp up after Jeff joined Mike's band.

Ok, so it's a hunch, not an absolute. Thanks for correcting.

Nothing to correct. I think it's pretty darn implicit in characterizing an action as being "a giant F You" to someone that such a thing isn't provable. Short of Foskett giving an interview saying "yep, I felt it was the right moment to stick it to Brian and Melinda", there's no way to prove what the motive was.

My opinion is that any fan that actually knows the history of the band and these guys, and is honest with themselves and doesn't want to have, for lack of a better term, a sort of "mob wife" mentality about what actually goes on behind the scenes with these guys, would see that's it *painfully obvious* that Jeff leaving Brian and joining Mike has "political maneuver" written all over it. It doesn't mean there weren't other mitigating factors as well.

Well your absolute isn't an absolute. I think that is 100% absolute.
You may feel strongly that his actions were politically motivated, I'm not sure to what end. The guy seems to have really worked hard with Brian to get him back to a permorming artist. And it is not a huge leap to believe that, Jeff acted in what could be called an extra-ordinary capacity to Brian, and that that type of work could burn you out after 15-20 years, and maybe he just wanted a change but wanted to keep playing music. And Mike offered him a job. I'm not saying that's absolutely the way it went down, but it's certainly plausible.

You can't say with 100% certainty that Jeff joining Mikes band was an absolute f-u to Brian. That's all. I thought maybe you had some definitive proof which is why I raised the question.

Also, as I've said a few times, separately from anything to do with why or how Foskett jumped bands, my *opinion* based on my own deductions and talking to some other folks is that Foskett may just be angling to take over the "Beach Boys" license once Mike is no longer able or willing to tour. Don't know how likely that would ever be to happen, and a lot would depend on who is still around and the circumstances of such a succession of events.

But it's worth noting that Foskett didn't just join as another dude in Mike's band. Check out Mike's Facebook page; Jeff basically became somewhat of a Bruce/Stamos status stand-in. Numerous events where there are only two members of the touring band present: Mike and Jeff.

Also, and again this is only *my opinion/hunch*, I find it interesting that Mike's negative rhetoric towards Brian and Brian's "camp" seemed to amp up after Jeff joined Mike's band.

Ok, so it's a hunch, not an absolute. Thanks for correcting.

Here's a question, Juice Brohnston... do you think Melinda perhaps conceived having a larger quantity of actual Beach Boy members (Brian, Al, David, Blondie) on a Brian Wilson tour (when compared to the band touring as "The Beach Boys") as anything but a "F you" to Mike, or do you think that's farfetched?

I think with the bad blood that occurred around that time, it's not logical to think that the sides weren't doing things to intentionally "stick it" to the other. That goes for both sides. And if that wasn't the entire motivation for such maneuvers, it stands to reason that wasn't exactly something that would have *bothered* Melinda.

Personally, the thought has never occurred to me. Al was going to stick with Brian. Bringing Blondie in was a cool move, especially when it makes sense to divvy up the vocals in that band. Dave seems to move around pretty freely.

Also, as I've said a few times, separately from anything to do with why or how Foskett jumped bands, my *opinion* based on my own deductions and talking to some other folks is that Foskett may just be angling to take over the "Beach Boys" license once Mike is no longer able or willing to tour. Don't know how likely that would ever be to happen, and a lot would depend on who is still around and the circumstances of such a succession of events.

But it's worth noting that Foskett didn't just join as another dude in Mike's band. Check out Mike's Facebook page; Jeff basically became somewhat of a Bruce/Stamos status stand-in. Numerous events where there are only two members of the touring band present: Mike and Jeff.

Also, and again this is only *my opinion/hunch*, I find it interesting that Mike's negative rhetoric towards Brian and Brian's "camp" seemed to amp up after Jeff joined Mike's band.

Ok, so it's a hunch, not an absolute. Thanks for correcting.

I don’t think that’s quite fair, because he also went from being Brian’s main assistant/handler/whatever you want to call it to just being a band member. He mentioned in one interview how it was nice to be able to have more time to enjoy each city on his own as opposed to add’l obligations with Brian. I got the impression that was what he meant by burned out.

Exactly, I don't think it was the actual touring, but all the other responsibilities he had, whereas in The Beach Boys, he isn't doing as much heavy lifting, I assume.

Foskett jumping to Mike's band? Absolute F-you to Melinda and Brian.

You state this pretty definitively. Was this the case? Not questioning you, just asking. I remember Jeff saying he was completely burned out, presumably from the many hats he had to wear in Brian's employ. But he also said he loved Brian and hoped he understood. And since his most marketable skills (presumably) are playing Beach Boys songs, and also presuming the man needs to eat, taking a job in Mikes band, seems rational and not motivated by F$%^ing Brian. And Mike would be picking up a valuable asset to his crew, with whom he had spent time as part of the 2012 band, and who actually recruited Jeff way back when.

So I'm interested in how it was orchestrated as an absolute F-U to Brian. What info am I missing?

Brian looking good!

Agreed!

Cool guitar. I know Gary Busey has the original in the 80's. And then I believe somebody took the original frets and made a series of replicas that each included an original fret. Not sure if this one is from the same series or not.

Buddy really was one of the first guys to take charge of his own stuff in the studio, and Brian kinda took that to the next level, so there is definitely a connection.

I assume it's just a mistake in terms of info, and not actual certifications, but I noticed an error on RIAA database.

They have the 'In Concert' album as certified gold in '65, even though it wasn't released until '73.
And no cert for Beach Boys Concert, even though the one listed as In Concert is obviously the certification for 'Concert'

So are they down a certification, or is this just an administrative error?

I assume 'In Concert' did go gold in '73-74?

I think I saw somewhere, that Mike's shirts are priced at $249.00? That's a pricey shirt!
Maybe package it up with a ticket and a meet and greet. Bring a tailor on tour and you get a custom alteration backstage while meeting Mike.

The Beach Boys bring some sunshine to a rainy night in Alton.

https://www.riverbender.com/articles/details/iconic-beach-boys-entertain-the-house-despite-of-damp-night-on-alton-riverfront-29800.cfm

Review

https://www.nwitimes.com/the-beach-boys-present-beloved-hits-in-concert/article_e0791c29-f93e-594f-beeb-f9fda594cb4a.html

Shirtgate.
Mike probably brought 'em for everybody, and Brian and Al took a pass.
Anybody wishing this event didn't happen, because of the fact that 3 members wore the same shirt?

I would think that this event, in and of itself, is as people have mentioned more to promote the Sirius and RPO projects.
However, assuming Schilling is driving the bus here, and he is getting all members of the band to participate, one might be somewhat optimistic that he may be leading them down a path of future collaboration.

Maybe they're going to announce that the last six years have been an elaborate mind game on us and they've secretly been working on a new album and tour? Stranger things have happened.

It starts out with Mike hearing the shower going and walks over and opens the door and Brian's there. It's all been just a dream since 2012. LOL.

Review of last night's show in Columbus Dispatch

Mike Love brought his Beach Boys to the Ohio State Fair last night. They may or may not have feasted on corn dogs, turkey legs and elephant ears. The packed house in the Celeste Center last night can testify this morning, though, that the eight-piece band lit the opening night of the Fair with a celebration of eternal, California summer.

It mattered little that Beach Boy mastermind and composer Brian Wilson wasn’t along for the outing. (Wilson has spent far more time during the band’s 57-year career off the road, rather than on it with the band.) Last night it was irrelevant, too, that the other two founding Wilsons are deceased, fifth founding member Al Jardine was absent, and that Bruce Johnston—who joined in 1965--was the only other near-original.

The songs—mostly penned by Brian Wilson—and their performance, stood the test of time.

From the opening cluster of surf-related early material, the band nailed the trademark harmonies, accurately delivered the sometimes tricky arrangements, and kept the energy high. It helped that songs such as “Do It Again,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “Catch A Wave,” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” flowed together naturally, building a dance fever that had the audience frugging in its seats. The video screen that rolled a mini-documentary before the set continued with non-stop clips of attractive young people frolicking in the ocean.

“Surfer Girl,” the first of the band’s dreamy classics was sweet and warm, its rich harmonies vibrant and alive. “Darlin’” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” similarly floated on the glow of their harmony parts. Fabulous falsettos from musical director and guitarist Scott Totten and lead vocals from guitarist Jeffrey Foskett were terrific substitutes for the original singers.


Totten’s guitar solos on the surf numbers smoked.

When the band entered less familiar territory, though, the brightness dulled a bit. The unremarkable “All The Love In Paris” and “Unleash The Love,” from Love’s 2017 solo album, sharply contrasted with the ambition and sophistication of Wilson’s songs. “Pisces Brothers,” a tribute to George Harrison and a remembrance of time spent in India with the Beatles, was most satisfying for its memories. On this and a couple other quiet spotlights, Love’s singing revealed the challenged intonation of his 77 years.

Nonetheless, a songbook identified as much by its tight harmonies as its brilliant songwriting was finely represented last night. The songs stood for themselves; the vocals, shared with Love and Johnston by Foskett, Totten, Love’s son Christian (a passionate reading of “God Only Knows”), and fabulous drummer John Cowsill (an electrifying stand-in for Blondie Chaplin on “Sail On, Sailor”), were proud readings of the originals.