Mike Love was right about everything.

[Myk Luhv]

I suspect if there was, in sheer volume, the same amount of dredging up of shitty things Brian said or did as there are for Mike (and maybe there are but I'm unaware of 'em) there'd be a lot less hagiography going on. Seems to me a lot more people are willing to be charitable to Brian for whatever reason while not extending the same courtesy to Mike.

[rab2591]

This is only a generalization, but there will always be two competing groups of Beach Boys fans.  One group is drawn by complex albums like Pet Sounds and Smile and is fascinated by Brian.  The other group, like Real Beach Boy and a number of others, seem to value mainly the fun-in-the-sun, good time stuff, and don’t care too much about the sophistication of the music.

It’s not too surprising that each group’s perceptions of Mike are very different.

I think most of us love Pet Sounds and the fun-in-the-sun material (for most of us here see the sophistication in even the corniest of songs). However it's sad and true that when you mention to an acquaintance "Yeah, I love the Beach Boys!" their response will usually be "I LOVE kokomo!" I'll say "Have you ever heard Pet Sounds?" And their response is usually "That's a funny name for an album."

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Well, I love Kokomo too 

[Jeff]

No, we like The Beach Boys as a whole and take a balanced view of the band.

I don’t disagree that there are people who take that “balanced” approach to the band.  That’s why I qualified my comment to be a generalization.  But there are many, many people who fall squarely in one camp or another.

[hypehat]

Despite what everyone says, Mike Love ain't a good frontman. I do not accept that as a reason for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

His jokes are crap, he waffles on for hours inbetween songs (in Sycaruse 1971 show the crowd tell him to shut up!), he ruins songs by doing crap jokes (GV on Live In London, for example), he can't dance, his choice of stage wear since he got his own say has varied from robes to turbans to hawaiian shirts and shorts, and he wears a baseball cap constantly. He's not a 'good' frontman, he was the only frontman in a band who were really shy onstage. And Dennis, who was just far away.

[drbeachboy]

No, we like The Beach Boys as a whole and take a balanced view of the band.

I don’t disagree that there are people who take that “balanced” approach to the band.  That’s why I qualified my comment to be a generalization.  But there are many, many people who fall squarely in one camp or another.

No, you also said there are two competing groups. I say there is at least a third one who takes a balanced view and likes all eras of the band and music.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Despite what everyone says, Mike Love ain't a good frontman. I do not accept that as a reason for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

His jokes are crap, he waffles on for hours inbetween songs (in Sycaruse 1971 show the crowd tell him to shut up!), he ruins songs by doing crap jokes (GV on Live In London, for example), he can't dance, his choice of stage wear since he got his own say has varied from robes to turbans to hawaiian shirts and shorts, and he wears a baseball cap constantly. He's not a 'good' frontman, he was the only frontman in a band who were really shy onstage. And Dennis, who was just far away


OK, so what inarguable unassailable opinion do you have of what makes a "good frontman" if the guy who's been doing it professionally for 40 years aint it?

[rab2591]

I suspect if there was, in sheer volume, the same amount of dredging up of sh*tty things Brian said or did as there are for Mike (and maybe there are but I'm unaware of 'em) there'd be a lot less hagiography going on. Seems to me a lot more people are willing to be charitable to Brian for whatever reason while not extending the same courtesy to Mike.

We're charitable towards Brian because we all see him as being a tortured genius. He hears sh*t in his mind, he is afraid of water, he has severe stage fright. Because Brian is mentally unstable we all assume that Mike should be the cool-headed mature one...and when Mike sues his mentally ill cousin people get pissed...no matter how logical or illogical the lawsuit is.
______

Anyone know what Mike's attitude was towards Van Dyke Parks recording vocals on 'A Day In The Life Of A Tree'? Was Mike cool with it?

[rab2591]

Well, I love Kokomo too 

I'm a closet Kokomo fan myself. It's a great song in my opinion - including the sax solo.

[hypehat]

OK, so what inarguable unassailable opinion do you have of what makes a "good frontman" if the guy who's been doing it professionally for 40 years aint it?

You'd think after 10 years of doing it he wouldn't be such a twat onstage as to talk over his own songs, bore the audience to death chatting about TM lectures, and have to be politely nudged to shut up about Paul McCartney as the band are trying to play a song on national televison. right?

[drbeachboy]

Despite what everyone says, Mike Love ain't a good frontman. I do not accept that as a reason for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

His jokes are crap, he waffles on for hours inbetween songs (in Sycaruse 1971 show the crowd tell him to shut up!), he ruins songs by doing crap jokes (GV on Live In London, for example), he can't dance, his choice of stage wear since he got his own say has varied from robes to turbans to hawaiian shirts and shorts, and he wears a baseball cap constantly. He's not a 'good' frontman, he was the only frontman in a band who were really shy onstage. And Dennis, who was just far away.

Says you, and that is fine, but it is your opinion only. I never thought him a great one, but I do think him a very good one. I'll bet you he was even good enough that the most average of fan knows his name more than anyone else in the band, including Brian.

[hypehat]

I also took it for granted everyone assumed it was only my opinion.....

[oldsurferdude]

Despite what everyone says, Mike Love ain't a good frontman. I do not accept that as a reason for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

His jokes are crap, he waffles on for hours inbetween songs (in Sycaruse 1971 show the crowd tell him to shut up!), he ruins songs by doing crap jokes (GV on Live In London, for example), he can't dance, his choice of stage wear since he got his own say has varied from robes to turbans to hawaiian shirts and shorts, and he wears a baseball cap constantly. He's not a 'good' frontman, he was the only frontman in a band who were really shy onstage. And Dennis, who was just far away.

[rab2591]

Despite what everyone says, Mike Love ain't a good frontman. I do not accept that as a reason for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

His jokes are crap, he waffles on for hours inbetween songs (in Sycaruse 1971 show the crowd tell him to shut up!), he ruins songs by doing crap jokes (GV on Live In London, for example), he can't dance, his choice of stage wear since he got his own say has varied from robes to turbans to hawaiian shirts and shorts, and he wears a baseball cap constantly. He's not a 'good' frontman, he was the only frontman in a band who were really shy onstage. And Dennis, who was just far away


OK, so what inarguable unassailable opinion do you have of what makes a "good frontman" if the guy who's been doing it professionally for 40 years aint it?

Well, obviously a guy who makes good jokes, man who doesn't waffle for hours in between songs, a guy who can dance, a non-turban-wearing/hawaiian/base-ball-player. This leaves one person.



WAYNE NEWTON FOR BEACH BOYS FRONTMAN.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

OK, so what inarguable unassailable opinion do you have of what makes a "good frontman" if the guy who's been doing it professionally for 40 years aint it?

You'd think after 10 years of doing it he wouldn't be such a twat onstage as to talk over his own songs, bore the audience to death chatting about TM lectures, and have to be politely nudged to shut up about Paul McCartney as the band are trying to play a song on national televison. right?

But that stuff's FUNNY! Just my opinion, but because of all the good stuff Mike did with the band, all his contributions, it's not a lost fact how important he was, if only (in some people's minds) as a tool for Brian to work with. Therefore all his corny stuff and just-plain-wrongness can be endearing. Mike's like a messed up family member who you worry about letting out of the house, but still you love them, so you let them do their thing and just be who they are..... But when it comes down to it, Mike got his business done.

[hypehat]

 

......... for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

 

[hypehat]

OK, so what inarguable unassailable opinion do you have of what makes a "good frontman" if the guy who's been doing it professionally for 40 years aint it?

You'd think after 10 years of doing it he wouldn't be such a twat onstage as to talk over his own songs, bore the audience to death chatting about TM lectures, and have to be politely nudged to shut up about Paul McCartney as the band are trying to play a song on national televison. right?

But that stuff's FUNNY! Just my opinion, but because of all the good stuff Mike did with the band, all his contributions, it's not a lost fact how important he was, if only (in some people's minds) as a tool for Brian to work with. Therefore all his corny stuff and just-plain-wrongness can be endearing. Mike's like a messed up family member who you worry about letting out of the house, but still you love them, so you let them do their thing and just be who they are..... But when it comes down to it, Mike got his business done.

I respect that, it's just everyone goes 'yeah, he's a great frontman' and, well, he ain't. He's cornball. But he's our cornball. 

I'm obviously just meanspirited tonight, fellas.
UNLEASH THE LOVE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP73ZMGiXC8

[drbeachboy]

Sounded like a fact to me. Come on, no need to get pissy about it. Challenge my front man opinion, not that I mistook what you meant, like I'm a mind reader. IMO would work nicely, and hardly any extra typing required. I'll state this next thing as opinion, but it is most likely a fact; Mike Love was, is and will continue to be the face of The Beach Boys. Good frontmen usually are...discuss.

[hypehat]

Good frontmen usually are...

Prince  

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Despite what everyone says, Mike Love ain't a good frontman. I do not accept that as a reason for liking him. Lyricist, bass singer, lead singer, yes. Frontman, no.

His jokes are crap, he waffles on for hours inbetween songs (in Sycaruse 1971 show the crowd tell him to shut up!), he ruins songs by doing crap jokes (GV on Live In London, for example), he can't dance, his choice of stage wear since he got his own say has varied from robes to turbans to hawaiian shirts and shorts, and he wears a baseball cap constantly. He's not a 'good' frontman, he was the only frontman in a band who were really shy onstage. And Dennis, who was just far away.

Quite possibly the most coherent reply oldsurferdude has ever contributed to this forum!!!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Good frontmen usually are...

Prince  

Absolutely, but Price does help prove that questionable fashion choices are not limited to Mr. Love!

[Jeff]

No, we like The Beach Boys as a whole and take a balanced view of the band.

I don’t disagree that there are people who take that “balanced” approach to the band.  That’s why I qualified my comment to be a generalization.  But there are many, many people who fall squarely in one camp or another.

No, you also said there are two competing groups. I say there is at least a third one who takes a balanced view and likes all eras of the band and music.

Uh, this was my post:

This is only a generalization, but there will always be two competing groups of Beach Boys fans.  One group is drawn by complex albums like Pet Sounds and Smile and is fascinated by Brian.  The other group, like Real Beach Boy and a number of others, seem to value mainly the fun-in-the-sun, good time stuff, and don’t care too much about the sophistication of the music.

It’s not too surprising that each group’s perceptions of Mike are very different.

Check the first five words.

[Jason]

This is only a generalization, but there will always be two competing groups of Beach Boys fans.  One group is drawn by complex albums like Pet Sounds and Smile and is fascinated by Brian.  The other group, like Real Beach Boy and a number of others, seem to value mainly the fun-in-the-sun, good time stuff, and don’t care too much about the sophistication of the music.

It’s not too surprising that each group’s perceptions of Mike are very different.

Don't presume to tell me what I "seem to value" with regards to the Beach Boys. If you even read my posts on here you'll find that I heap tons of praise upon Pet Sounds, Smile, Smiley Smile, Friends, Sunflower, and Love You along with the fun-in-the-sun material. I would suggest that in future you at least be in possession of a convincing argument to back up your ridiculous remarks and refrain from hiding behind such g*ddamned nonsensical "generalization' terminology that you use to mask your lack of said argument.

[drbeachboy]

No, we like The Beach Boys as a whole and take a balanced view of the band.

I don’t disagree that there are people who take that “balanced” approach to the band.  That’s why I qualified my comment to be a generalization.  But there are many, many people who fall squarely in one camp or another.

No, you also said there are two competing groups. I say there is at least a third one who takes a balanced view and likes all eras of the band and music.

Uh, this was my post:

This is only a generalization, but there will always be two competing groups of Beach Boys fans.  One group is drawn by complex albums like Pet Sounds and Smile and is fascinated by Brian.  The other group, like Real Beach Boy and a number of others, seem to value mainly the fun-in-the-sun, good time stuff, and don’t care too much about the sophistication of the music.

It’s not too surprising that each group’s perceptions of Mike are very different.

Check the first five words.

and you read the following eight.

[Jonas]

This is only a generalization, but there will always be two competing groups of Beach Boys fans.  One group is drawn by complex albums like Pet Sounds and Smile and is fascinated by Brian.  The other group, like Real Beach Boy and a number of others, seem to value mainly the fun-in-the-sun, good time stuff, and don’t care too much about the sophistication of the music.

It’s not too surprising that each group’s perceptions of Mike are very different.

That's like a serious kick to the balls. The Real Beach Boy is a Beach Boys fan, period. He is a walking, breathing, living Beach Boys encyclopedia and most of all, you can tell he loves the music.