I just wanted to let people know that the tickets for the Ottawa Jazz Festival show went on sale today and the site notes the following band members.  Darian and Scott are not listed.  As others noted, there will probably be some changing of band members during the tour. 


Featuring:

Brian Wilson - Vocals, Piano
 Al Jardine - Guitar & Vocals
 Blondie Chaplin - Guitar & Vocals
 Gary Griffin - Keys & Vocals
 Probyn Gregory - Guitars, Horns & Vocals
 Billy Hinsche - Keys & Vocals
 Paul von Mertens - Horns & Vocals, Musical Director
 Michael D'Amico - Drums
 Nelson Bragg - Percussion & Vocals
 Nick Walusko - Guitar & Vocals
 Robert Lizik - Bass Guitar
 Matt Jardine - Vocals & Guitar

In this clip David Marks says that Our Car Club was played once, at a school dance in 1963.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Ysw6fyhlw

Even the so-called "worst" BB songs have something redeeming about them.  There's no guilt involved for me. 

makes sense in light of his weird mixture of cockiness and almost overcompensating humility

I've always noticed that about Bruce too, it's refreshing to me though because I think it shows he has principles he follows, we just don't understand any of them, LOL.

I honestly don't think Bruce gives a sh*t if he's in the Rock & Roll hall of fame or not, it's consistent with his perpetual roll of Mike's back-up man, Bruce obviously has 0 ego when it comes to that.

I think he's of that breed that is happy with the success he's already had and doesn't give a sh*t if people recognize it.  

We had a discussion not to long ago on here somewhere, where we were talking about why Bruce doesn't write anymore.  The conclusion I came to personally was that Bruce enjoys that life and is all about that life but doesn't have the ambition or drive to prove anything to anybody including himself.  

I believe the children refer to that as "based".  As in Based Bruce Johnson.  He's so confident in himself that he has no need to keep writing songs or doing anything to illustrate he still has it... because when he had it, he had it better than most people.  

Interesting theories. I think there's something to this. But he also has shown contempt for fans and scholars (e.g. "bottom feeders"), and it strikes me as true contempt and not just some old cranky guy telling people to get off his lawn.

Paraphrasing what I recall one journalist/scholar mentioning, sometimes when you talk to Bruce and ask him about BB stuff, he seems like he can't decide if he's trying to impress you by talking in detail about how he was there, or if he's going to make fun of you and insult you for wanting to know.

I think, much like Mike, Bruce may well be confident and "based", but also simultaneously with the potential to seemingly randomly become unhinged, defensive, insecure, and angry. The "BJ" nickname episode on the BB Britain board was funny, and I also think if someone doesn't want to be called a nickname, it make sense for them to tell people so. But that whole episode just seemed odd and disproportionate in his reaction. Same thing with the "bottom feeders" comment, and that weird episode where he went apes**t over a YouTube clip of him from UK TV.

Can you elaborate on your comment about having contempt for fans and scholars, please?  Did he actually use the words "bottom feeders"!?

Someone that had one too many cocktails before the show kept shouting for Stamos to leave the stage.  

 

I've seen these all over the Internet (on Ebay and Etsy, I think). There seem to be different versions with the names appearing in different order.

OK, let me put it to you this way:

Ricky is definitely not white.

True, but...so what? He's not white so he must be black? I don't get your point. 

I've shared a monitor wedge with Al and I can tell you he likes them loud and trebly, like an ice pick.  I suspect he just has hearing difficulties and he likes to sing on key.  If you want to get finicky about something, a monitor is a pretty good place to do it, because the squeaky wheel gets the grease in that department.

Alan's brief suspension from the band in the early 90s was due, in part, to his tinnitus worsening and affecting his overall outlook..

Without prying too much into someone's personal life and medical issues, can you elaborate at all on Al's tinnitus?  I ask because I'm personally interested due to my own and family members' issues with the same condition.  I hadn't read about Al having tinnitus and it makes me sad to learn that it affected him so much (though I understand how it can do so). 

I'm sorry too for taking this thread off-topic. In a North American setting, the term "colored" is an obsolete term for black or African American.  I wasn't aware of the different use in apartheid-era South Africa.  I made my initial comment because I've seen many articles (not here) that refer to Blondie and Ricky as "two black musicians from South Africa" who joined the BB.  It always strikes me as lazy journalism/writing when I read something like that and is a pet peeve of mine.   

Wasn't the Gaines book the first source to claim that Al didn't like Carolyn? I found the accusation quite shocking and unrealistic really, it was Al's idea to do a cover of Cottenfields which is by Huddie Ledbetter and Sloop John B is a West Indies folk song, pretty strange choices for a guy who allegedly doesn't like black people

Yep. And Blondie and Rikki were coloured, yes? (Only know B&W photos of them).

If by "coloured" you mean black, then no.  Ricky is not black. 

I believe they were classed as "Cape coloureds", meaning, essentially, non-whites of mixed race & ancestry (i.e., not Zulu or the like)

Interesting.  The Wikipedia article for Ricky Fataar states that he is "of Cape Malay" descent, an ethnic group of South Africans that are largely of Southeast Asian ethnicity. 

Also, Sail on Sailor and That Same Song. 

Everything on Wild Honey but especially "I Was Made to Love Her".

Suzie Cincinnati

But probably the funkiest would have to be You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone

Wasn't the Gaines book the first source to claim that Al didn't like Carolyn? I found the accusation quite shocking and unrealistic really, it was Al's idea to do a cover of Cottenfields which is by Huddie Ledbetter and Sloop John B is a West Indies folk song, pretty strange choices for a guy who allegedly doesn't like black people

Yep. And Blondie and Rikki were coloured, yes? (Only know B&W photos of them).
[/quote


  




If by "coloured" you mean black, then no.  Ricky is not black. 

Happy birthday Carl, and warm thoughts to your family. 

I noticed some 2016 talk was already taking place in the 2015 tour thread, so I figured it was appropriate to start a new thread.

It appears Mike and Bruce are taking the first few weeks of 2016 off before a series of shows in California, the Northeast and Florida. Of some interest, it appears that for the first two dates in May (Kansas City and Des Moines) they are offering a VIP meet & greet experience. I haven't been able to determine what this will entail, but I think they took a break from doing these after returning from the UK in early-2015. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

So, anyone holding tickets?

I saw them in Massachussets in August 2015 and they did a meet and greet.  Just Mike and Bruce - David Marks was wandering around by himself while the meet and greet was going on. 

I don't watch the show because I find even the commercials for it too annoying to stomach.  But what I wonder is why people here are so happy to see this reference to a BBs song in a TV show.  I mean the BBs are hardly obscure (although I admit that in this case the track isn't one of their ultra-famous songs).  It's not like they're an underground indie band that needs to be discovered - they're one of the most famous bands ever.  If people need a sitcom to "discover the genius" of the BBs, I kind of actually wish that they wouldn't.  It just means that real fans will get crappier seats at Brian Wilson shows.  Why the need for the whole world to love them as much as we do?  

uhhh according to the gaines book, dennis, mike and brian were not into the gays back in the day. hopefully the mike and brian have evolved since then.

I've read Gaines book about a two years ago, from what I remember all of the guys (except for Brian, I believe) especially Carl had a problem with Jack Rieley being gay.

It's been a while though, so I don't exactly remember what it said. If anyone has read the book recently I'd like someone to clear this up! 

I'm reading the book now (am very close to the end) and while it does indicate that members of the band were uncomfortable about Rieley's sexual orientation, I don't think it mentioned anything about Carl in particular having a bigger problem with it than other members of the band. 

Also, given Carl's reputation as the nicest guy in the world, I really don't want to believe this of him. 

Actually, one of my main complaints about the Gaines book is that there are far too many instances where he states "the Beach Boys" liked this or "the Beach Boys" didn't like that.  As we all know, the Beach Boys are made up of individuals that all likely had their own views and thoughts on everything.  Gaines tends to present things as though the members of the band were all of the same mind about some things, which I find very hard to believe.  But I digress.   

He may be very heavy in this picture but at least his smile looks genuine.  The Landy-era Brian photos and video bother me a lot.  He may be thin but he looks traumatized in a lot of clips. 

Soulful Old Man Sunshine, Mama Says, and Let the Wind Blow.

Yeah, you know? People diss Let the Wind Blow all the time and I like it!

People diss LTWB? It's one of the most beautiful things - musically and lyrically - that I've ever heard. The version on the live album is unreal.

I can't think of a single song that should get the title of most underrated. The crappiest BB songs are still better than the vast majority of other pop music. But in the spirit of the thread, I'll throw out this underrated gem: Our Car Club. The key changes and the harmonies that they bust out in the second verse! 

I have tickets to the show in Allegany on Saturday - I bought them the day they went on sale.  I've had a hard few months and I can't describe how much I was looking forward to that show.  It would have been a seven hour drive for us but that was the closest show so we were going to do it.  I can't go now because of a family illness.  Trip is cancelled.  

I know that in the grand scheme of things a concert isn't that "important" but I am totally crushed by this.  I can't even listen to the BB today without crying.  And normal people just don't get it, do they.  

But, I hope everyone who's going has a great time.  I'll be reading the reports with a big box of Kleenex next to me.  

Hang in there. I’ve had moments like that. I think a lot of us understand precisely the type of suck this sort of thing is. It’s not life-threatening, but it’s beyond simply a little bummer. I’ve had experiences like that; the most joyous thing turning into the biggest bummer.

I know it won’t help, but I for one always feel that having the recordings, the music, at home to listen to any time, having that is always immensely more important than a concert.

Thanks, it was really nice to read that.  Yes, it is way beyond simply a little bummer.  

I know what you mean about having the music to listen to and I get it, but I've always thought the concert is THE thing, unvarnished, immediate and real.  And the sound of it when you're there in person, oh man, THE SOUND!  Nothing compares.  I was lucky enough to see them in July in a small concert hall, and I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.  

I, too, know how that goes.  Back in '08 I had planned to see Brian and band in Chicago, a 3 1/2 hour drive for me.  I had figured out where I was going to park, what train I was going to take downtown, everything.  Then, an acquaintance, who used to post here occasionally and who was friends with some of the band members, managed to get me a backstage pass for an after-show meet n' greet.  I was on cloud nine.  The day before the show, my employer mandated that I work that day, and I was told that I would be terminated if I didn't show up.  Well, I was crushed.  I managed to sell my ticket, but at a loss.  I still have the backstage pass, though, unused.  

P.S.  If one of the band members is reading this, can I use this old backstage pass when you guys play in Appleton on November 12th?  please  

They say misery loves company but that story was almost too much for me...like you say, it's like going from cloud nine to rock-bottom.  Poor you. 

I keep looking at the tickets I won't be using on Saturday night and it's driving me nuts.  I couldn't handle looking at an unused backstage pass! 

Have fun at the show in Appleton!

"Sometimes I pantomime a little bit."

You don't say. 

I have tickets to the show in Allegany on Saturday - I bought them the day they went on sale.  I've had a hard few months and I can't describe how much I was looking forward to that show.  It would have been a seven hour drive for us but that was the closest show so we were going to do it.  I can't go now because of a family illness.  Trip is cancelled. 

I know that in the grand scheme of things a concert isn't that "important" but I am totally crushed by this.  I can't even listen to the BB today without crying.  And normal people just don't get it, do they. 

But, I hope everyone who's going has a great time.  I'll be reading the reports with a big box of Kleenex next to me.   

Hang in there. I’ve had moments like that. I think a lot of us understand precisely the type of suck this sort of thing is. It’s not life-threatening, but it’s beyond simply a little bummer. I’ve had experiences like that; the most joyous thing turning into the biggest bummer.

I know it won’t help, but I for one always feel that having the recordings, the music, at home to listen to any time, having that is always immensely more important than a concert.

Thanks, it was really nice to read that.  Yes, it is way beyond simply a little bummer. 

I know what you mean about having the music to listen to and I get it, but I've always thought the concert is THE thing, unvarnished, immediate and real.  And the sound of it when you're there in person, oh man, THE SOUND!  Nothing compares.  I was lucky enough to see them in July in a small concert hall, and I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

Bruce: “We like to be any place where the people are normal and want to have fun."

What does that even mean?

I think it’s pretty clear it’s Bruce’s way of saying he prefers clean, conservative, inoffensive, nostalgic, old-timey music/people/vibe/crowds, etc. It’s the same thing they’ve been saying since the early 80s. It’s basically his version of Ringo’s “Peace and love, peace and love, peace and love”, where we’re supposed to listen to the short, over-simplified, quotable sound-bite catch phrase and not actually think about it beyond that. We’re not supposed to think about Ringo crankily going out of his way to announce he won’t sign autographs, we’re not supposed to think about Bruce’s political comments or the fact that he says they “seldom” drink yet numerous pictures and comments indicate they do drink (maybe not to excess, but enough to go beyond “seldom” I’d say).

Yes, I'm sure you're right.  It's just such a stupid, alienating thing to say.  And ridiculous, too, coming from someone who was involved in-depth in the music scene in the 60s and 70s.  I mean, come ON.  You want to be around "normal people"?  Then why did you join the Beach Boys?  Why not be an accountant?  (no offense to accountants)

Bruce: “We like to be any place where the people are normal and want to have fun."

What does that even mean?

I have tickets to the show in Allegany on Saturday - I bought them the day they went on sale.  I've had a hard few months and I can't describe how much I was looking forward to that show.  It would have been a seven hour drive for us but that was the closest show so we were going to do it.  I can't go now because of a family illness.  Trip is cancelled. 

I know that in the grand scheme of things a concert isn't that "important" but I am totally crushed by this.  I can't even listen to the BB today without crying.  And normal people just don't get it, do they. 

But, I hope everyone who's going has a great time.  I'll be reading the reports with a big box of Kleenex next to me.