Elora on youtube has us covered:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ianPM0emP3o

Thanks for posting this.

I'm still processing this exchange in the comments section--

Just for my own sanity I’m going to choose to believe that was tongue-in-cheek. 

Check out his follow-up comments. He wasn't kidding! 

(There must be a fairly small subset of people who know the BBs well enough to namecheck Bruce Johnston, yet consider John Stamos an original member.)

This guy was 100% tongue-in-cheek. Source: Am that guy.

Well-played...

Elora on youtube has us covered:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ianPM0emP3o

Thanks for posting this.

I'm still processing this exchange in the comments section--

Just for my own sanity I’m going to choose to believe that was tongue-in-cheek.  

You know, I can tolerate Stamos in almost any other setting. I  actually really liked him on the vastly underrated Scream Queens.  But as soon as I see him in a BB context I just want to punch him in the face.  He just looks like he thinks he’s the bomb and it drives me absolutely crazy.  It’s like, you are NOT a beach boy and you’re actually associated with the very crappiest parts of BB-dom. 

And with that out of my system, I think they sounded pretty good.  Christian Love looks so much like Mike here it’s incredible.

I feel like if something like that was happening, they'd be dropping some pretty big hints to get viewership up.  No one else is listed in the full list of performers. 

You guys are all much better than I at identifying voices, but the “Marcella hey” part on the album doesn’t sound like Carl to me.  However, I can’t figure out who it does sound like.  Are we sure it can’t be Ricky?  Listening to some of the live versions, I’m sure I can hear Ricky - not on that particular part, but rather on the harmony of the main “one arm over my shoulder” part.  And on the live versions, it DOES sound like Carl on the “Marcella hey” part. 

I think the original album track is perfect, though I do love the live versions as well.  With all due respect, I think your sped-up version is a bit too poppy and takes a bit of the moody edge away from the song. 

This is THE song that led me down the path of becoming a deep, deep fan.  I still remember hearing it for the first time...and replaying it as soon as it was over.  And replaying it again!  The vocals in the end tag are among my very favorite BB musical moments ever. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDTs-9fq00

I appreciate that Stamos is a big fan of the band, and I think he means well. That said, I still think his ongoing association with the band just makes people associate the brand with cornball lameness, because Stamos has pretty much only done lame, cornball content as an actor. (I admit to watching and liking Full House when I was a kid).

Whoever made the comparison to if The Rolling Stones kept endlessly associating the brand with David Hasselhoff was a great analogy.

I hope this doesn't suck.

I'm still completely baffled why Mike & Bruce didn't appear as "The Beach Boys" on Fuller House. That cornball fluff seems like the perfect vehicle for M&B. There must be a reason, but I sure don't know it.

I completely agree.  I understand that he loves them, and I really do believe that he does deeply love the band.  But I wish he would just leave them alone.  It's not up to him to keep their legacy alive.  The music of the BB will live forever, and not because John Stamos uses it on some HBO show.  If he were just an ordinary guy and not a celebrity, this would be called "obsession". 

That piece is just laughable, or it would be if it wasn't so insulting.  The central argument is that all performers do bad stuff.  Great argument!  It's okay to do bad things because lots of people do bad things.  Seriously, I was about to say that this article reads like a fifteen-year old wrote it, but frankly, most teenagers have a better moral compass than this.  The secondary argument is that it's okay to do bad stuff because you need to pad your 401K.  Riiiiiiight. 

But what I loved most was this line:  "Only children, college students, those being supported by their parents or those who have a trust fund have the ability to make perfect fucking politically correct choices. "  Couldn't we add to that list SUPER-RICH music stars dripping in gold rings with massive homes in Lake Tahoe who've actually appeared on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?  Is he seriously suggesting that Mike Love faces financial pressures that require him to play gigs for trophy hunters?  Give me a ####ing break. 

Do these people actually believe the drivel they're writing?  Is the thought that their heroes are actually very flawed human beings so upsetting to them that they can't deal with it?  I think it's actually more likely this:  they recognize that Mike playing this SCI show is really crappy.  They don't like it and deep down they must recognize the hypocrisy.  But, when it actually comes down to the wire, does it bother them enough that they're willing to give up the shows, the backstage passes, the perks, etc...? No, it doesn't.  So they have to come up with this absolute nonsense to justify how it's all okay because hey, lots of other artists have played questionable shows too. 

Under different circumstances, I would have liked to go see the touring band, but I won't be doing so now.  My bottom line is that I can't do the mental gymnastics necessary to convince myself that Mike's hypocrisy and greed (and cowardice, in the case of his silence on DJT JR's bullying of Brian) is okay.   

I also don't feel the slightest bit bad discussing this issue and will have none of the fan-blaming that's going on.  I know that, in my case at least, the idea that fans like to have a villain is totally wrong.  I take absolutely no pleasure in this latest Mike debacle; on the contrary, it makes me really sad.  I would much, much prefer that none of it had happened, and I suspect that's the case for just about everyone here. 

So I contacted Ticketmaster about the tickets for the Mike and Bruce show I have tickets for in April.  I explained that I wanted to contact the artist and/or the artist’s management about a refund as I am no longer comfortable supporting this artist.  They responded in true Ticketmaster style.  Despite me explicitly saying that I was not seeking a refund from Ticketmaster, they said “After further review, we determined a refund is not available for your order. Unfortunately, we have no contact information for the artists or their management”.  I wrote back saying that I found it hard to believe that they had no contact information for the artist or their management because, you know, how else do they work with the artist?  How dumb do they think we are?!  Anyway, they wrote back again saying that they “do not provide that information due to being private internal information”.  So helpful.  

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can reach M&B’s management?  I can’t seem to find anything that looks right.  I’d like to write a letter/email politely stating why I am no longer comfortable attending this concert.  I sincerely doubt it will matter, but at least I’ll have said my piece.  

But boy, that ESQ "editorial" definitely rubbed me the wrong way ...

You and many others feel exactly the same way.

Trying not to be as upset discussing it as I was reading it, I still cannot believe how the crux of the article was blaming the fans - whose support is the lifeline for this and ANY band or artist - for something that was 100% the responsibility of one member Mike Love, while the other three surviving original members Brian, Al, and David each either acted toward or spoke out in their objection to the band they formed playing for this event.

Three out of four original members opposed it, publicly, and it's the fault of the fans?

It absolutely boggles the mind.

I read the article, started to post, and was so livid I had to stop.  The whole premise of the article is ridiculous and the arguments are just not well thought-out.  Mind- boggling is a very polite way to put it!

It is really wrong to completely change the topic of a petition after people sign it.  I am all for a ban, but I can't agree with the way the author of the petition is going about this.  I would have happily signed a new/additional petition.  What a terrible way to go about things. 

I’ve always tried to give Mike the benefit of the doubt.  I was well-aware of the lawsuits, the HOF speech, the multiple ex-wives, the endless interviews about the dangers of drug use, the unceremonious end to C50, the generally embarrassing stage presence, questionable decisions…I don’t need to go on.  Over it all I tried to focus on his contributions to the music, which I still think are significant.  His lead vocals on a lot of the early stuff, as well as his backing vocals and harmony on a massive amount of BB material, are an intrinsic part of the music.  Sometimes I’ll be caught off-guard and think “man!  His voice just sounds so good!” (the California Girls track on Sunshine Tomorrow/Leid in Hawaii being a prime example).  Beyond the music, I wanted to believe that beneath all the crap, he really loved Brian.  And I clung to his environmentalism as evidence that somewhere under the baseball caps and gold rings lurked a decent person. 

I don’t think so anymore.  The SCI gig was bad enough, but not responding to DT Jr.'s attack on Brian is truly unbelievable.   

   

Okay, so here's a fun question.  A couple of months ago I bought tickets for a Mike and Bruce show in April.  They're coming to my city, and I think the band generally does a good job with the music, so I thought why not?  Obviously, I would rather walk over hot coals than go now.  Mike Love is dead to me, and to those that think that's an over-reaction, I'll just say that I have been involved in conservation personally and professionally, donate money to conservation; it is an extremely important issue to me.  Mike's hypocrisy on environmental (and freedom of expression!) issues are unforgivable, in my view.  

But what do I do with the tickets?  These are the options I'm thinking of:

1 - sell the tickets and donate the money to a conservation organization.  There would be some satisfaction in this, but in the end, it still fills those two seats.  

2 - make a concerted effort to get a refund, and explain why.  I think this would have to involve getting in touch with Mike's management, and while I know it would be futile, might it at least send a message?  

3 - go to the concert, but do it wearing a custom-printed t-shirt with an anti-trophy hunting/anti Mike hypocrisy message.  Could be fun?  

All other suggestions are welcome.  

That Mike Love would do this gig in light of all that's happened, and defiantly so, and now would do so and not rebuke Trump Jr.'s insult regarding Brian Wilson, really, truly brings Mike's *SELF INFLICTED* villain status to a new level.

I'm really not trying to be overdramatic, but it's to the point that I don't even want to hear him sing on Beach Boys songs. He can't even stand up for his own flesh and blood who is being publicly mocked by a trophy hunter. Even through all of his feuding with Brian over the years I always thought that, deep down, a small part of Mike actually cared about Brian.

You're absolutely right, this takes his *SELF INFLICTED* villain status to a whole new level. I was honestly less pissed off about Mike using The Beach Boys to play a trophy hunting gig than I am now that Mike is seemingly cool with playing an event that openly goaded their members to taunt people like Brian.

I will never look at Mike Love the same. And I highly doubt others will too.

+1

+2

I am done with Mike forever.  I feel the same way you do.  I’m so disgusted with him that I don’t even want to hear his voice on BB songs.  I hope this one gig is worth losing any modicum of respect from legions of BB fans. 

Like a broken record...the way you guys see reality under your own lens.   Mike/Beach Boys touring group/this stupid hunting organization/Trump Jr.  all of them going on about their own business doing this event.   Brian Wilson and Al Jardine independently choose to publicly BULLY THEM by publicly calling for people to boycott their concert.   Don Jr. has the audacity to respond and HE is the one who is bullying.   Geez.

Okay, so Mike, SCI et al were just innocently “going about their business”, which happens to be exploiting impoverished African countries for the privilege of killing endangered animals for fun?  Because that is SCI’s business.  And apparently Mike’s business is now entertaining these people, for a hefty sum, I’m assuming. And now people are mad at them.  Yes, poor, poor Mike and oh those poor hunters.  They were just going about their business!  And now everyone is being so mean to them! Especially Brian Wilson, and we all know what a mean bossy bully he is! 

Oh wait.  Maybe Brian and Al were just going about their business, which appears to be a) being decent people and b) protecting the legacy of arguably the best pop band ever...a legacy that just maybe they don’t want to see trashed because of Mike’s monumental stupidity and greed.  (And Bruce too, while we’re at it.  I’ve been totally focused on Mike but screw that, Bruce is an adult and could take a stand against this if he had any scruples whatsoever...but no). 

Can Brian refuse to let his songs be played under songwriting ownership?

I sincerely hope so.

HOW can he have the nerve to talk about freedom of expression, when he’s had someone delete dozens of posts from his Facebook page?? And how does he have the nerve to sign a statement “peace and love” when this thing is about a trophy hunting convention?!  Does that sound like a “peace and love” kind of event?  It makes me want to scream.

Way to go, Mike, way to go.  Have fun performing your cousin’s songs at the event that he has publicly condemned, along with your other former band mates.  Dig your toes in and don’t listen, and don’t stop to think for a minute what it says about you.  Well done.  

I highly doubt Brian was even aware of this concert before this was brought up to him.

How is this fishy? It was a private gig and I highly doubt Brian spends his nights and days pouring over The Beach Boys concert schedule. So this isn't some Maltese Falcon mystery why Brian became aware of the concert when he was told about it - normally the way people become aware of information is when they are told about that information.

 

But really, isn't being sued by Mike kind of like a badge of honour? 

Al posted the statement and link on his Facebook too.   

Here is the tweet from Brian, for anyone who hasn't seen it: 

"It has been brought to my attention that on Wednesday February 5, The Beach Boys touring group licensed by Mike Love are headlining at the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada...This organization supports trophy hunting, which Both Al and I are emphatically opposed to. There’s nothing we can do personally to stop the show, so please join us in signing the petition at..." (then link to the petition). 

I am thrilled that he and Al spoke out.  This is exactly what needed to happen. 

54 years of excuses to make for this guy are 54 years too many. Yes, I know what he contributed, but he's still lost the benefit of the doubt from me, forever. And I will still enjoy the old music, but I'm taking the memorabilia down, and I'm not wearing the T-shirts in public anymore, either. A lot of people don't know the difference between the touring band and the musical legacy, and I don't need or want that association attributed to me. It's against everything I stand for as a compassionate human.

This actually makes me want to cry, because I agree with you 100 percent. 

[What doesn't need to happen is Mike Love using The Beach Boys music to promote this sociopathic hobby.]

Honestly, would any of us here sign a petition if the band was performing at a venue that was sponsored by a meat company?

Why would I support the end to eating all meat when for some people that is a means of survival? Yet there is absolutely no one in the world right now whose survival depends on the skinning/decapitating of an exotic animal that has been needlessly killed for the sport of it.

If the push to become a more civilized species depended on a complete lack of hypocrisy we would still be climbing trees. Fact is that every person alive is doing something that kills another living thing...even vegetarians. This doesn't mean that we have no right to attempt to stop something that is clearly wrong. Hunting/killing animals to merely survive (as some places in this world just don't have enough farmland to sustain that local population) is going to happen for the time-being. What doesn't need to happen is rich people getting airlifted to exotic parts of the world to needlessly hunt wildlife all so they can mount a taxidermied head to their wall. What doesn't need to happen is Mike Love using The Beach Boys music to promote this sociopathic hobby.

Someone is being paid right now to delete negative comments about this gig from The Beach Boys Facebook page. That alone should enrage any fan regardless of your stance on this issue. It is clear that the need for a quick buck is far more important than longtime fans of The Beach Boys being able to express their valid opinion. Not surprising considering just 15 years ago Mike's lawsuit at Brian and Co. completely lied about Brian in an attempt to gouge his pockets.

Elsewhere someone is defending the convention itself in an attempt to defend Mike. Here we are being called hypocrites. I know some of you have to defend Mike at all costs, but maybe look past that for two seconds and see that this is genuinely a wrong cause for The Beach Boys (of all bands) to support.

Yup.  There are a couple of points I'd like to make here.  

It's very very hard to live a life that causes no suffering to animals, but we can all try our best.  And some things are a lot easier than others.  I would say that saying no to ONE GIG is pretty easy.  

I don't think it's hypocrisy for anyone on this board to criticize Mike for playing this show.  This organization (Safari Club International) helps rich North Americans go to Africa to kill wild, often endangered, animals.  Elephants, rhinos, and many other species that are on track for extinction in a matter of years.  They justify it by saying that they're putting big bucks into the economies of these poor countries.  I personally don't think that killing elephants - one of the most intelligent and complex species in the world - is okay, and it doesn't matter to me how much you pay to do it or who your dad is, it's wrong and it definitely isn't "pro-conservation".  If I want to kill a rhino, does it make it okay if I pay $15 000 to do it?  Okay then.  So by that logic, can I also go into a poor country and buy a child bride if the price is high enough?  What else can I do if I have enough cash?  It's a disgusting concept.  

This is the organization that Mike and Bruce are going to play for on Wednesday.  It would be so easy to say no.  

And to add insult to injury, when longtime fans post legitimate questions on Mike's social media, the posts are simply deleted.  Over and over again.  Mr. Student Demonstration Time, social justice, peace-to-all:  deleting everything he doesn't like in an effort to keep this ugly gig out of the public eye.  

It makes me sick.  Many of you have been fans for much longer than I and have long been disenchanted by Mike.  I've always tried to focus on his musical contributions - and this may be naive, but I always respected that he was outspoken about the environment, clean water, etc...  But this whole disgusting business - and by that I mean both playing this gig AND the attempt at covering it up by deleting any mentions of it on social media - absolutely sickens me.  

My only wish at this point is that he might understand in some small way the extent to which this has deeply upset many many people who really care about the Beach Boys' music and legacy.  But I suspect that isn't likely. 

A cursory Facebook search will show many posts of outraged music fans sharing the petition, and also articles mentioning the involvement of the band, with photos from the 1966 Pet Sounds photoshoot. Yes, that's historically inaccurate, but a brand is a brand.

Once again, because it's the brand name, the other bandmembers get associated with this garbage. And it's extra ironic, considering their best-known album has them posing with a bunch of wild animals in a zoo. And accurate or not, that association will continue because it's just too ironic and to iconic to not lump that together.

If Bill Cosby's most famous album LP cover image was him posing at a pharmacy smiling gleefully beside a giant poster for sleeping pills, you can bet articles would use that image, and drive it into the ground as well. Nothing like a headline that writes itself.  So yes, get ready for Pet Sounds/killing animals clickbait articles. They've already started. F*ck.

And this isn't going away. Who knows how much baggage this could lump the brand name with. I have little doubt this could potentially jeopardize the future archival releases, or at least minimize their scope and promotion. I am truly disgusted.

I share your disgust and it also makes me sad as hell (but your Bill Cosby analogy did give me a much-needed laugh).  What would be great is if Al and Brian tweeted something that would distance themselves from this gig.  Not only do they not deserve to be tarnished by this, but it would be a good slap in the face to Mike. 

Aaaaaaaand the posts on Mike’s Facebook page asking him not to play this show (including a short and polite one from Andrew Doe) seem to have been deleted. Nice.  Not only does he make a terrible decision but when longtime fans call him on it, they get silenced.

Oh well, they can keep deleting, I can keep posting.  I just want to make sure that as many people as possible know about this, and they can decide for themselves.