There is one area that the BB copied from Jan and Dean.  Just watched the 1980 live performance of J and D and it was like a look into the future of what BB shows would be during the 80s and 90s. Oldies heavy, shtick ( the skateboarder), the beach wear, the DWD/DDD medley.

It's unlikely, no question. It's not *that* unlikely. If Mike in the next couple years runs into some problem rendering some sort of infirmity (or worse), then things might change. That's the only scenario where I could see something along the lines of Brian's band essentially simply taking on the BB name. That window is probably only another few years.

It might become "Brian Wilson's Beach Boys" ala "Jeff Lynne's E.L.O"

The weird thing about Jeff Lynne with ELO is that usually when someone sticks their name in front of the band, it's because they don't have the full rights to the name and/or have been forced by contractual agreement (or court order!) to use such an amended name. But in the case of Lynne and ELO, he owns the name. He doesn't have to put "Jeff Lynne" in front of it, but for some reason (probably a mixture of finally highlighting his name more, and also to differentiate his band from the various off-shoot/knock-off bands like "ELO Part II" and "The Orchestra") has chosen to use the "Jeff Lynne's ELO" moniker which actually kind of makes it sound *less* legit.

I've wondered in past years if having Mike tour as something like "Mike Love's Beach Boys" may have been a decent compromise with the license/name situation. But I think once the name is being used like that, not much brand name reputation is being saved by making him put his name in front of the band name as a qualifier.

Of course Alan has sounded the same since 1983

No officers of the Jan and Dean fan club in this thread. Ha ha ha ha BB just in another league overall than Jan and Dean but personally I like  Deadmans Curve, Little Old Lady, Ride the Wild Surf and Surf City more than anything on Surfin Safari and most of Surfin USA . Just my preference.

Yup it would seem to be he just didn't want to. It is hard and Al was singing singing most of the challenging falsettos at that point. There were numerous times where Al playing bass might have shored some things up in the live act. Didn't Dave Marks reportedly turned down a chance to rejoin in part because he would have to play bass?

I have never understood why Mike could sound so unbelievably nasal between 1982-2005ish then have his voice improve. Was he trying to sound that way? Did he just not care and sang off key ( that's the vibe I get from many of his 80s/90s performances)?

I believe Dance Dance Dance as well.

It's an inconsistent performance. Some things sound good, some not. Boring set list.  Mike's bass parts sounded great, but he struggled with some leads. Dance X 3 and Rhonda ( which he shouldn't be signing anyway)  Foskett really seemed to be struggling too. Hopefully early in the tour and they will even it out.  Sloop John B sounded particularly awful. It sounded like the entire band was trying to sing the lead at the same time.

EDIT The tag to GOK is absolutely dreadful.  I have no idea what sound Mike is making .

Bruce sings Carl's part in the harmony stack for a number of songs.

So if said email was sent and intentions were clear, wasn't that earlier on in the tour? Brian and/or Melinda couldn't have changed their minds? He got more an more into the tour as time went on.  Mike said nope sorry you sent an email, can't go back on it now. No more shows for Wilson. No give backs!

I agree that many of his ideas have not been successful and agree even laughable.  He's had some swings and misses for sure. I think doing those side gigs with his Endless Summer Beach Band and Dean at the same time collecting a BB check was pretty shrewd. The Be true to your Bud and Xmas special are awful but got him $$. Also, edging out your band members and getting your production company to finance the group tour also shrewd.

I always thought Bobby F. was a better drummer than Mike personally. I think it was another example of being overwhelmed by other stuff: the Brian situation, his mom's health, his health to push for any change.  By the 90s Carl had become pro status quo ( not to be confused with their awful appearance with the band Status Quo) even as the quality dipped because it just wasn't worth it personally for him to fight it.  Mike saw the opportunity and being the shrewd businessman he always has been jumped in and took control.

Wouldn't it be more likely to be Alan than Dennis?

Saw CW sing Dancing On The Street on that tour in the US. Highlight of the show. He nailed it.

Every time this discussion comes up, I feel sad. To think a band that essentially had been together for 37 years could blow apart like that.

I wonder if Carl did sign off on David to replace Al? That is really a shot to the gut of Al.

I knew he couldn't leave the Back in the USSR story out, but nice article otherwise.

Good Vibes into Goin On there is one of my fave BB live moments ever.

Happy Holidays to all. Has Brian ever sung HCTN live? Any sessions or takes?

The closest you'll get is this soundcheck:

https://youtu.be/1d-k31-sn-s?t=2m9s

Brian sits down at the piano at about 2:09, bangs out some lines of Don't Worry Baby and a little bit of Here Comes the Night, which he discusses with Al. He looks so damn relaxed here, he was definitely having a good day.

That is one of my favorite Brian/Al moments ever. The look of horror on both of their faces discussing the disco version and the NOOOOOO

Mike and the band  always sound below average to awful at every TV appearance I feel like. Their sound mix just doesn't translate well from a normal live venue. I don't know why.  Part of it is the softness/raspiness of Mike's voice I think. Mixed well in a small theatre it sounds good, but in a TV appearance it just doesn't do it.

Here's a pro-shot song from Spain in 1990 during a short tour that Carl missed. This includes a weirdly strong directorial emphasis on the fill-in guitarist Stanley T. Sichel, who played some shows in mid-late 1990 (and possibly early 1991?). I had previously thought he only appeared at a small number of shows where Carl was absent, but another old thread suggest he had a longer tenure that would have included gigs with Carl as well. I believe Adrian Baker is also in this footage, so I'm not sure if perhaps Sichel was at some gigs where Baker was not yet there as well (I seem to recall mention of Sichel playing some of the Mike-less gigs in mid-1990 as well?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52GgeO26Tec

I can't help I still roll my eyes and get an uncomfortable feeling every time I see a video where Mike leers at the cheerleaders even after so many years have passed.

Al was President of BRI at one point I believe for a short tenure so he did have SOME power.

It's almost like a joke that should have been edited out that never was.

Al's biggest ally in the band was and is Brian.  The less Brian was involved , the more marginalized Al seemed to be.  He was Brian's friend after all and had no initial connection to the others.

I think Mike and Al were never as close as the popular BB story makes them out to be. They wrote a few songs together,  really only a handful and Al ended up siding with Mike for 2 reasons I think: That's how Brian was voting and the anti drug/pro TM common theme. Al and Mike were never really friends, they have completely opposite personalities and temperaments.

I don't think Al was pro oldies in the set more so than Carl really. Guercio encouraged them to embrace the classics and hard to blame them when that's what the fans wanted.  I don't think Al was out there demanding 409 and Surfin Safari be added and I don't think Carl and Dennis were exactly demanding they play Wild Honey and Friends songs. It was sort of an evolution into that. In fact, Al was bemoaning they had too many oldies by '80 in the Knebworth liner notes.

It was really the drug use/lifestyle that pushed Al and Mike together.  When Mike says drugs hurt the BB the most, he's not entirely wrong.  Once Carl cleaned up, the Al/Mike "alliance" really faded away. There was no need for it. Throughout the 80s they grew further and further apart.  Mike post Kokomo must have been completely insufferable to be in a band with. It comes through in those early 90's interview. He's completely delusional about Kokomo and his success.  It was Kokomo Mike/cheerleaders that really created the chasm between Al and Mike but it was already started to some extent and Mike's corporate takeover that was what finally made it irreparable and Al had to go. 

Whoever told Mike he should suddenly to begin to sing lead on Rhonda in the original key no less!, circa 2016 should be fired immediately.  Seriously! It doesn't sound good  live and it sounds even worse without the live arrangement to hide his voice. That's the worst song on this effort.  The originals are much better than I expected.

It's so weird to choose Brian's Back at this point. I mean Brian has had a solo career for nearly 20 years now.

IGA sounds good. That's a good tempo, much faster than either Mike or Brian play it live.