I think part of the fun of being a fan of the Beach Boys is every era is unique and somewhat cringy. My first recollection of the Beach Boys on TV was from the Walt Disney World special on July 4, 1988 (the Kokomo footage comes from that filming), so I have a soft spot for the 1980s era.

Cross posting from the interview thread, where Al let something slip (as he so often does, bless him):

"As to how Wilson is doing these days, Jardine says, "He's up and down, you know? Some days he's on top of the world. I'd say he's in the middle of recovery. He had a really bad situation with an infection during the last part of last year and it just knocked him over. I believe now strength is getting better. I see him getting up and down and walking. So I mean, he wasn't doing that last year. Albeit he still needs the walker, but that's for the safety because you never know with lines and cables. You don't know what you're going to find on stage. But his strength is returning and I think his singing will return as well."

So it wasn't just the operations. Something else was going on.

Begs the question why more shows weren't rescheduled or canceled last year.

I saw the Beach Boys a little over a month ago and they definitely used footage of Carl and Jeff from this concert during "Don't Worry Baby": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyrn-K805ww

Well, I probably wasn't 100% focused on the video screens - I mean, i'm there to see a live band. Would be funny if I just watched the videos all night. But I think you are wasting your time trying to find something sinister. Seriously, there are more important things in the world to worry about.

I've been to multiple Brian Wilson and Mike & Bruce shows over the past few years, so I am truly Switzerland when it comes to all things Beach Boys in 2019. The first time I saw the video linked above paired with Don't Worry Baby and Jeff taking the lead a couple years ago, it had the intended effect on me--wow, Jeff has been with the group for some time now.

It seemed odd to me that they were still using that video with Jeff not in attendance--IMO, easy enough to not play it. I only shared the link in the hopes that it would spark a memory from the concert you attended. It's entirely possible that it was removed recently, but that might point to them reading (and reacting) to things posted on message boards.

I saw the Beach Boys a little over a month ago and they definitely used footage of Carl and Jeff from this concert during "Don't Worry Baby": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyrn-K805ww

I didn't know they had been running background video of Carl and Jeff singing "Don't Worry Baby" from that 1987 Belgium concert. How odd.

I agree that it most likely was put in the show to play off of Jeff singing the song now in the band. Still tacky (both to continue to use video of a still-living member who Mike left in 2012, and also to use background concert video literally only as a visual without even using the Carl lead vocal), but makes some sense.

With Jeff not currently touring, the whole thing is just extra odd. I mean, assuming Mike can't pay someone to re-edit the background video if he's so intent on using it, they could, you know, just drop the video and do regular concert lighting for that song or something. The whole thing seems rather lazy. I feel like some of what they've run in terms of background video on stage at Mike's shows is like literally just pulled from YouTube. I recall seeing one video a few years ago that still had a timecode on it.

I'm curious how many other old bands are out there touring who play 30-40 year old video in the background featuring still-living members that the members on stage ditched. I'm sure it's possible there are some of those old Motown acts with like one original members who might run some old footage of the old band.

It's strange how much things have morphed in the BB world. Back in the late 90s and early-mid 2000s, Mike would barely ever even say Al's name, and I can't imagine he would have ever run video or even pictures of Al on stage. Now everything seems so entrenched and settled and, I dunno, maybe everybody is so burnt out on lawsuits that Mike just continually runs photos and videos of all the members that *aren't* on stage, and nobody seems to care. Kind of sad frankly. I'm not saying I want to see litigation again (apparently after a bit of kerfuffle back in 2012/2013; the camps seem to have hashed something out as far as Mike using Brian and Al's images on stage), but it's just sad that Brian and Al (and Carl and Dennis) are now like stage decorations on Mike's tour.

I thought the Carl and Dennis bits during C50 were the best thing they could have done to pay tribute to those guys. But it has now morphed into just using old imagery to capitalize on deceased and *still-living* members (who were ditched) without having to actually involve them (e.g. pay them) to be on stage.

I'm curious, how much background video of Lindsey Buckingham is Fleetwood Mac currently using on stage?

There is also a video montage that runs during Fun, Fun, Fun that features the members of the band, including Jeff Foskett. It seemed a little odd and lazy to include that, as well.

I think they use the video screens well for parts of the show and others it just doesn't add anything. I fully agree, some of it is ripped directly from YouTube and I'm sure the source on a lot of it is ripped from a VHS recorded from television in the 80s or 90s. Makes me think they don't have access to the archives...

https://youtu.be/esROIwAj8Jk
Rob’s killing it!

So what’s happening with the video behind the group? Rob singing to a Carl lead with a young Jeff backing up? Is that another C50 type video tribute like Forever/GOKs?

Nah, it’s just a video of them performing the song back in the 80s. Tribute to Carl I guess, but not like the C50 when they had their vocals.

Here’s the video they had running the background https://youtu.be/ARp7OMsFY2Y

They have used that particularly video for a few years. I think the idea is when Jeff is singing it gives him some cache for how long he has been with the group, at least, that is how I always interpreted it. Now with Jeff not currently touring, it does seem rather pointless.

I could be wrong and it could just be a minor thing, but I don't believe I've ever seen Mike and Bruce sell signed merchandise at their shows before (the poster). Interesting!

Agree. Kind of surprise Mike hasn't done signed books or signed CDs or LPs of his new release(s).

I saw them in Fort Myers last night for the second time (previous visit was the December 2016 Xmas show) and would say:

Positives - I thought Brian Eichenberger was excellent on Don't Worry Baby. I loved the arrangement of In My Room and I think Bruce still does Disney Girls pretty well. The rhythm section is great and John Cowsill really pounds out those beats. Randy Leago plays a mean sax. Nine musicians on stage means you always get plenty of volume, but Totten also brings some subtlety to the arrangements (In My Room being the supreme example).

Neutral - Mike and Bruce deserve to be cut some slack at their age. Their voices are surviving better than Brian's, which was totally shot in Xmas show I saw. Exposing themselves to Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring a capella takes some balls, although Eichenberger carries that song to a large degree.

Negatives - Mike's solo stuff, which nobody wanted to hear, and the very ordinary lead of his son Christian on God Only Knows. Jeff's absence (which Mike didn't even acknowledge) affected some tunes such as 'Surfer Girl'. The setlist was predictably no-risk so we didn't even get Heroes and Villains. Mike is still milking 'Pisces Brother' and Pet Sounds 50th like he was in Dec 16, and I felt there was a subtext to his highlighting that Carl W and George Harrison both died from lung cancer (why mention it?).

Mike's movement - yes, he's down to a shuffle and I can foresee him needing more breaks like the one he takes during Disney Girls. Bruce is not doing much on the keyboards AFAIK (more of a prop these days?).

I thought it was worth the night out but I doubt I will need to see the band again, whereas Brian's band remains essential even if he's mostly just sitting there, provided he still wants to be sitting there.

Wait...how long have I been out of the loop...Brian Eichenberger's back and Foskett's gone?

I was thinking the same thing. Though, I thought I heard that Foskett had some illness and didn't take leads recently.

Why do so many people on this board pretend that Brian live is good? This guy shouldn't be out on tour-the video's I've seen are really of a guy who seems almost forced to be participating in a show...

NPP tour I saw in 2015 begs to differ

I agree, Brian was in great form and I felt I got my money's worth in 2015 when I saw him on the NPP tour.

I saw Brian late last year, dragging out Pet Sounds "one more time" and decided I would never pay to see him, again. I'm hoping Al brings his solo tour within driving distance--he was still in great voice.

Al is such a competent vocalist, and Blondie is great as well (not to mention the rest of the band)
Would it help to just retire Brian from leads? Have him on piano and throwing in some background vocals when he feel up to it.

While we're sometimes seeing lately an increase of (sometimes justifiable) mixed/poor reviews of Brian's stage performance, I think if he continued to go out on tour and book shows as "Brian Wilson" but completely stepped away from any leads, that would lead to some problems with audiences/reviewers/critics and promoters.

I think they'd either have to book "Al/Blondie" shows separately (which isn't economically viable with that large band), or vastly change the billing of the shows to emphasize that it's something more like a "Glen Miller Orchestra" type of show, with with Glen Miller sitting in.

I think this is why a full Beach Boys reunion lineup would be ideal for Brian (theoretically; I realize the interpersonal and political reasons this isn't happening and maybe shouldn't). He could cut back on leads even more, but still participate, and he'd have four other guys (or five if they added Blondie) to pick up the slack, and no problems with show billing.

I saw Brian in November and I would be surprised if he took half the leads. I could be wrong, but it felt like Al took the majority of leads between Brian, Al and Blondie. Blondie's (lack of) use during the standard set is still baffling. I truly hope Brian and crew take some time off before June and don't book any shows in the interim. I hope that cures some of the ills I saw in November, but I would be surprised at this point. Too far gone.

The label may have just missed inserting the postcard. As much as I love Al, I'm highly skeptical that there is money is bootlegging his LP...

So bizarre; I know it has gone on for eons, but seeing those hundreds of videos listed of mostly annoyed, dead-faced, if not pissed-off-looking celebrities signing is just weird. I have to imagine they have found what works for getting through airports faster and whatnot, so maybe it's easier to sign a stack of photos than to say "no thanks" a thousand times.

But again, a dude with a stack of LPs at the airport is obviously an autograph dealer, as opposed to a fan after a show asking for one item, etc.

I'd have to imagine this is Mike doing a paid "private" signing (in this case probably 15-30 minutes in a hotel room or something), but I have to wonder how much these guys are getting for weird, old , cheapo BB comps signed by Mike.

Sadly, I think all of the living Beach Boys signatures are undervalued compared to some of their musical equals. That certainly has a lot to do with their fan accessibility and their willingness to sign.

Having Carl and, especially, Dennis on a band signed piece instantly pushes an items value up exponentially. Mike alone on an album $20-25. Add Al, Bruce and/or David on an album in various combinations it's probably in the $50-$75 range. Brian alone is less than $100 on a solo album (I've been trying to sell a No Pier Pressure for months for $90 delivered with no takers), probably just over a $100 on any BBs album (with Pet Sounds or Smile getting a premium).

Brian, Mike, Al and Bruce on Pet Sounds is $200-$300 (depending on quality of the signatures, condition of the album, etc.).

Again, this all has to do with supply and demand. Brian's signatures were selling for quite a bit more 4-5 years ago when he was touring as much. Once he started touring more and signed during meet and greets, the value took a bit of a dip. As he has stopped signing personal items the past 12-18 months, prices have steadily gone up, but nothing near what it was a 4-5 years ago.

I recall seeing clips of Dave being handed assorted BB albums he didn’t play on to sign during the C50 and thinking that’s not right. It was probably easier to sign them than not I guess.

What made you think it isn't right? It's very easy thing to do, wouldn't hurt & be skin off him if he signs albums he isn't pictured. Doesn't seem big deal. Besides, even if he didn't play, say, Pet Sounds, he'd been BB when they began & the band going to different path with PS without him didn't & will not brush it away.

People will sometimes even ask tour backing band members to sign vintage BB albums. It's really up to the signer and the signee(?) I guess. If they both don't mind, hey, it's their property.

I recall a story of someone asking Scott Totten to sign a copy of Pet Sounds, and he understandably was hesitant and had to be talked into it, after it was explained that the person asking was well aware he isn't on the album.

As HeyJude said, to each their own. I know Blondie, David and Bruce all get asked to sign albums on which they do not appear. I personally would not include a member on a record in which they didn't play or sing, but also understand that some people don't care. I had Al sign my Surfer Girl and Bruce sign my Pet Sounds even though they are not pictured on the front cover of the album.

I think with some of these autograph dealers, it is an extra signature on an album and they think they might get more money with it on the album than not. I would personally have no interest in a Pet Sounds album signed by Brian, Al and Blondie--though you see a lot of those popping up following the early run of the Brian Wilson Pet Sounds Tour when they were still signing personal items during the meet and greet.

This is most certainly a paid private signing conducted by some autograph dealers based out of Philadelphia. I'm not sure who is talking to Mike, but I got the impression he was referring to an autograph collectors show called Chiller Expo. I know that Al Jardine did something similar in California a couple years back, but I'm not aware of Mike doing anything like that besides book signings and the concert meet & greets. The same gentleman can be heard talking about prior memorabilia deals with James Gandolfini and selling his screen worn shirts, suggesting they could get $500-$1000 for stage worn shirts.

Before anyone attacks Mike for signing autographs for a fee, there are many videos online posted by this same dealers, where Mike signed stacks of albums for them at airports, hotels, etc. for free. I've heard Mike has become tougher about signing "on the street" and would not be surprised if it is due to autograph dealers like these guys who have taken advantage of Mike's willingness to sign in years past.

Yes, photos posted on both Facebook and Instagram showing him in a hospital bed. I came to the same conclusion, unfortunately.

People that paid to have Brian meet and greet seemed really disappointed. I'll leave it at that.

Come on, you got to give us more than that. People pay serious cash for the experience, it would be helpful to know why people left disappointed...

Yikes, that's a rough first review:

http://www.startribune.com/brian-wilson-kicks-off-beach-boys-christmas-tour-with-blue-concert-in-minneapolis/501546601/#8

Just got home from Atlanta. Brian threw us a curveball tonight and took a show that was advertised as a GH show and threw in the entire PS album. I was surprised. Nice to finally hear "Feel Flows" from this tour.

Interesting. The show I purchased tickets to coming up in a couple weeks was advertised as Greatest Hits, but now says Pet Sounds on the venue website and Brian's website.

I tried to respond to RubberSoul13 but my response got lost in the middle of his quote.  Saw Brian on election night?  Band as great as ever.  Blondie and Al delightful, BW son in law sang nicely.  Brian looks and sounded tired.  Behavior much as described by RS13.  Missed lyrics, tired out after a few songs.  Limping on and off stage with two assistants.  Wearing a full length leg brace.  I feel like Brian is once again being "handled" and would rather be home watching tv and eating a sandwich.   I think the time has come for him to sit and watch the sun set on this beautiful day.

What was the run time for the show? I'm seeing him in about two weeks and trying to figure out childcare.

Short. No intermission and they don't leave the stage for the encore and back. It ran from exactly 8:04-9:44pm in DC on Monday night.

Thanks!

I tried to respond to RubberSoul13 but my response got lost in the middle of his quote.  Saw Brian on election night?  Band as great as ever.  Blondie and Al delightful, BW son in law sang nicely.  Brian looks and sounded tired.  Behavior much as described by RS13.  Missed lyrics, tired out after a few songs.  Limping on and off stage with two assistants.  Wearing a full length leg brace.  I feel like Brian is once again being "handled" and would rather be home watching tv and eating a sandwich.   I think the time has come for him to sit and watch the sun set on this beautiful day.

What was the run time for the show? I'm seeing him in about two weeks and trying to figure out childcare.

[AMP: One last Beach Boys question…why did you leave in 1990?FOSKETT: I was asked to leave by Michael and Carl. I know that during the past several months there has been some discussion over the internet on my departure, and I will set the record straight now. I was having an affair outside my marriage that was causing a great deal of turmoil in the closely-knit BB organization. All the wives traveled on the road at one time or another, and seeing me with someone other than my wife made them suspicious of their husbands. Not a good scene. My ego was way out of control. I think Michael thought that I was holding back money from the side gigs that he and I did with the Endless Summer Beach Band, and so he was unhappy about that, and Carl was unhappy with my ego and my affair. They did the right thing by letting me go; right for them and definitely right for me. I needed to straighten up and get back into "the real world." I did, and my wife and I will soon be celebrating our 11th anniversary.AMP: Jeff, I appreciate your honesty…FOSKETT: John, there have been so many contrived stories regarding me using Platinum American Express cards and other false statements that I am happy to tell the truth. There are so many "authorities" on the internet that really know absolutely nothing!]

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.

Can someone provide a link to Jeff’s interview?

It's the second return when you Google search "Jeffrey Foskett":

https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/music/2014/09/22/beach-boys-brian-wilson-jeffrey-foskett/16070181/

Not sure, but I think the previous poster may have been looking for a link to the 90s Foskett interview, which requires more digging but can be found here:

http://web.archive.org/web/19990221115314/http://www.new-surf.com/interv.html

The interview seems to have been done around 1998 after "Imagination" was released, but before Foskett rejoined Brian. This would have been when Foskett was still full-time with Papa Doo Run Run (my recollection is that he stayed part time with them for a little while after beginning working with Brian in 1999, but I'm not sure when or if he fully left Papa Doo Run Run). And as I mentioned previously, I appreciate Foskett's honesty in this circa 1998 interview. Some pertinent parts concerning his 1990 departure:

AMP: One last Beach Boys question…why did you leave in 1990?

FOSKETT: I was asked to leave by Michael and Carl. I know that during the past several months there has been some discussion over the internet on my departure, and I will set the record straight now. I was having an affair outside my marriage that was causing a great deal of turmoil in the closely-knit BB organization. All the wives traveled on the road at one time or another, and seeing me with someone other than my wife made them suspicious of their husbands. Not a good scene. My ego was way out of control. I think Michael thought that I was holding back money from the side gigs that he and I did with the Endless Summer Beach Band, and so he was unhappy about that, and Carl was unhappy with my ego and my affair. They did the right thing by letting me go; right for them and definitely right for me. I needed to straighten up and get back into "the real world." I did, and my wife and I will soon be celebrating our 11th anniversary.

AMP: Jeff, I appreciate your honesty…

FOSKETT: John, there have been so many contrived stories regarding me using Platinum American Express cards and other false statements that I am happy to tell the truth. There are so many "authorities" on the internet that really know absolutely nothing!

To be honest, I totally forgot about this. The Foskett interview with the Desert Sun is so infamous, I automatically think of that when people ask.

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.

Can someone provide a link to Jeff’s interview?

It's the second return when you Google search "Jeffrey Foskett":

https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/music/2014/09/22/beach-boys-brian-wilson-jeffrey-foskett/16070181/

I think the shirt thing is kinda weird, but is being blown out of proportion.

For all we know, Mike and Bruce showed up wearing the shirts, and also brought them as gifts (maybe he even brought other gifts too, who knows), and David decided to put his on?

Or maybe Mike wanted the group to wear them, Brian said he didn't feel like changing his shirt, and Al went along w/ Brian?

Yeh kinda weird that Mike Love brought along "Mike Love" shirts ... but on the other hand, they are striped shirts and the Mike Love element is kinda hidden.

I also don't get how the shirts are showing the "divide" when David is wearing one, but he's not in Mike's group. In fact, didn't he last tour w/ Brian & Al?

The biggest issue I have is likely the same one Murry would have: PLEASE TUCK IN YOUR SHIRTS, GUYS !!!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Donny, slow your roll. You're making entirely too much sense.

Is it just me or does the Sirius XM banner give a weird blurry look to all of the photos. Almost like I should be wearing 3D glasses.

But why would the afternoon have been awkward without Mike and his familj??

I wasn't there, but I assume David is referring to the fact that he and his wife were dragged by TMZ. David specifically points to Mike and his family being kind and supportive--I know that might be hard to believe by some people on this board.

If I were in David's shoes, I could see being afraid that I would receive the cold shoulder, or worse. I'm glad to hear that David seems to have had a positive experience.