Who tells Brian what to do?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Could we just put this to bed and be thankful that Brian is alive and well and that most of us have seen him live over the years )

Wrong board color.

[hypehat]

Forget Marie, it must be nice to be jaded about being able to see Brian a lot. What an ordeal, huh? I don't know how you cope.

[letsmakeit31]

Sorry Andrew I don't understand "Wrong board colour"?? I just thought that it's good that Brian is active and more or less in control of his life. Think back to the 80's to really see someone tell Brian what to do 24/7
 

[Wirestone]

Brian has performed a series of transcendent live shows. By basically any standard. And yes, Mike and Bruce do a creditable, excellent job on their own.

But BW's live work has been astonishing by any measure. Yes, he's had his share of duff shows and ill-considered all-hits mini-tours. But I can't believe that in 2011 we'd have people griping about the fact that BW is on the road performing entire albums with a devoted backing band.

1999 -- That amazing first run of shows that showed he could actually do it!
2000 -- Pet Sounds live with an orchestra.
2001 -- Smile songs make their debut.
2004 -- The string of triumphant Smile shows.
2006-07 -- Brian and Al perform Pet Sounds.
2007 -- TLOS is debuted as a concert performance.
2009 -- The finest BW tour of them all -- a greatest hits tour of the Northeast U.S. (No joke!)
2011 -- BWRG performed in its entirety.

I wouldn't trade any of these shows. And for folks who seriously think Brian shouldn't have done them, or that he was being forced to -- you really had to have been there. Music making and spirit of the highest order.

[b00ts]

Here is an interesting question: when did The Beach Boys camp begin to speak candidly and publicly about Brian's mental illness?

I know that SMiLe's abandonment was very public and Carl would talk about how Wild Honey was "Music for Brian to chill out to," but at which point did they go all-in, so to speak, and start being very public about the specifics of Brian's condition?

For my money, it was 15 Big Ones and the Brian's Back campaign. After that, we were treated to a new "Brian's Back" campaign every so often (Beach Boys '85, BW '88, I Just Wasn't Made for These Times '95, Imagination '98, etc).

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

This depresses me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZEL7lAmZcs&feature=player_embedded#!

I'd rather hear Brian sing this badly (or even horrifically) than all covered up by Jeff!

Mick Jagger's made a career of barking/shouting songs live with little relation to their recorded versions and no one cares. Brian's 69 years old and should not in a million years be expected to sound like his angel voiced 21 year old self. I know Brian can't sing like that anymore, you know it, and anyone who buys a ticket to his shows probably knows it.

Jeff sounds like one of the guys from NSYNC and it's insulting to Brian.

I know I tend to defend Jeff, but this clip just annoys me.

[Emdeeh]

Here is an interesting question: when did The Beach Boys camp begin to speak candidly and publicly about Brian's mental illness?

I don't know about "camps," but between what I read in the '60s teen mags/music press and heard from radio deejays, Brian's issues were pretty well known at the time, starting with his breakdown at the end of '64 and going forward.

[18thofMay]

This depresses me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZEL7lAmZcs&feature=player_embedded#!

I'd rather hear Brian sing this badly (or even horrifically) than all covered up by Jeff!

Mick Jagger's made a career of barking/shouting songs live with little relation to their recorded versions and no one cares. Brian's 69 years old and should not in a million years be expected to sound like his angel voiced 21 year old self. I know Brian can't sing like that anymore, you know it, and anyone who buys a ticket to his shows probably knows it.

Jeff sounds like one of the guys from NSYNC and it's insulting to Brian.

I know I tend to defend Jeff, but this clip just annoys me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJvjW6ZH8IE&feature=related
What are your thoughts on this?

[18thofMay]

Also look at his "prompter" In this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4IaZHIIAEU&feature=related

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Interesting...the prompter just shows the name of the song playing, no lyrics.

Huh.

[Wirestone]

Pretty sure that depends on the vintage and familiarity of the song.

I do remember reports from a concert where the teleprompter failed -- Brian stopped things and was concerned, but Jeff told him, "You know the words to all of these songs!" Turns out Brian did, and the concert continued without any major problems.

Also have to say -- love footage of Brian pounding the piano. It's somehow magical to watch him get into the music like that.

[cablegeddon]

Also look at his "prompter" In this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4IaZHIIAEU&feature=related

Incredibly sad. Not for the prompter.

[anazgnos]

My seat was behind the stage at Disney Hall for Smile in '04, and I had a view of the prompter, and while I think it showed lyrics for everything else I did note with some amusement that when they got to "California Girls", the screen just read "CALIFORNIA GIRLS".   I also remember it reading "Exit Brian >>>>>>>" (indicating the direction) when he was to make his grand exit at the ends of each set.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I like that clip because at least I can hear Brian! I kinda wish he'd throw in with Mike and Bruce and their band. If he took Nelson and Maybe Darian along with, it might be a cool change of pace. But I guess what I'm really saying is I wish he was still with the Beach Boys, whic is beyond rediculous to be crying about at this point.

[18thofMay]

Also look at his "prompter" In this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4IaZHIIAEU&feature=related

Incredibly sad. Not for the prompter.

Why

[Cam Mott]

I've just assumed he is told what to do by his wife. You know, like the rest of us.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Hell, get Marylin up there then!!!
[/quote]

His handler definitely wouldn't allow that!

[runnersdialzero]

This depresses me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZEL7lAmZcs&feature=player_embedded#!

I'd rather hear Brian sing this badly (or even horrifically) than all covered up by Jeff!

Mick Jagger's made a career of barking/shouting songs live with little relation to their recorded versions and no one cares. Brian's 69 years old and should not in a million years be expected to sound like his angel voiced 21 year old self. I know Brian can't sing like that anymore, you know it, and anyone who buys a ticket to his shows probably knows it.

Jeff sounds like one of the guys from NSYNC and it's insulting to Brian.

I know I tend to defend Jeff, but this clip just annoys me.

I love you.

Yes. Precisely. I go to a Brian Wilson show to hear Brian Wilson sing. I don't like people doubling him because they've deemed him to not be "good enough". He wrote the damn songs and is the one who made them famous, you're not to judge that. Where the f*ck would the likes of Jeff Foskett be if not for knowing this guy? This kind of thing is insulting to Brian and the work he put into these songs.

Jeff flat out singing lead on "Don't Worry Baby" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" is blasphemy of the worst kind, but doubling him isn't much better. Doubling him with Jeff's mic being louder is about as bad, I'd say.

[Wirestone]

You people -- and I say this affectionately --  are nuts.

This kind of thing is insulting to Brian and the work he put into these songs.

It respects the songs by allowing them to be performed the way they were written.

I don't like people doubling him because they've deemed him to not be "good enough".

Is that really why they're doubling him?

Where the f*ck would the likes of Jeff Foskett be if not for knowing this guy?

Probably being a professional musician somewhere.

Jeff flat out singing lead on "Don't Worry Baby" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" is blasphemy of the worst kind.

What if Brian can't sing the songs, or wants Jeff to sing them?

[runnersdialzero]

You people are nuts.

NO YOU"RE NUTS, WIRESTONE!!!!!!!!11111111

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

You people are -- and I say this affectionately --  nuts.

This kind of thing is insulting to Brian and the work he put into these songs.

It respects the songs by allowing them to be performed the way they were written.

Yes, but if the guy people are paying to see CAN'T sing them as they were written, he should still sing them anyway and the audience will forgive him because it is HIM they've come to see and HIM they love. C'mon' haven't we proven long ago that we'll forgive Brian for anything.

I don't like people doubling him because they've deemed him to not be "good enough".

Is that really why they're doubling him?

Who cares why they're doubling him if they sound bad or even worse than Brian would singing them. It's not just that someone (ala Jeff) can hit all the right notes, it's that he freaking sounds like one of the New Kids On The Block, which is NOT how the songs were written!

Where the f*ck would the likes of Jeff Foskett be if not for knowing this guy?

Probably being a professional musician somewhere.

Or probably at the same fabled gas station everyone assumes Mike would be working at.

Jeff flat out singing lead on "Don't Worry Baby" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" is blasphemy of the worst kind.

What if Brian can't sing the songs, or wants Jeff to sing them?

Then I/we have the option of staying at home.

Or I should say, Brian shouldn't be doing those songs, or not touring. Depends on what HE wants.

[juggler]

I've just assumed he is told what to do by his wife. You know, like the rest of us.

    Good one, Mr. Mott. 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Also look at his "prompter" In this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4IaZHIIAEU&feature=related

Hah......love how Brian exits....not a wave, more like "to hell with this!"

[rab2591]

[runnersdialzero]

It respects the songs by allowing them to be performed the way they were written.

What? Along with this logic would be also be saying Jeff Foskett sang on these songs originally. He didn't, obviously.

Is that really why they're doubling him?

Pretty much.

Probably being a professional musician somewhere.

I'm so sure he'd be doing even half as well as he's doing now. He owes Brian a lot (and yes, I'm sure Brian owes Jeff a bit, too). Being technically competent doesn't necessarily get you anywhere at all.

What if Brian can't sing the songs

Change the key as they did in the past. He wrote the songs.

or wants Jeff to sing them?

Assuming Brian wants Jeff to sing these songs is somewhere close to lawyer logic or something.