Brian to play with Al and David, July in Ohio

[HeyJude]

Yeah, this photo alteration definitely ranks on the list of recent, un-classy, not-cool Beach Boys lineup-related moves. 

Apologies, as I don't know if this meant as sarcastic or not. But I for one find such false equivalency silly. Maybe it's just me, but it's really annoying when something like this photoshopped pic get lumped in with all the other unclassy stuff. It's nowhere near the same thing. It's either laziness, or at worst, a bit of Brian and Co. being "catty." I'm guessing it's the former. Either way, they're not calling this thing the Beach Boys. These three guys in this awkwardly photoshopped image wanted to do more shows with Mike and Bruce!!!!! Let's keep that in mind before we start wagging fingers at them.

In this age of fake internet outrage, this photo was a bad idea. But it doesn't warrant this sort of patronizing "place nice guys!" commentary.

I may be alone in these feelings.  

[SMiLE Brian]

Mike: "Et tu, Stamos?"

[HeyJude]

BREAKING NEWS.

  It's been awhile since reading something on the internet made me laugh out loud! That is awesome!

[drbeachboy]

BREAKING NEWS.

The Brianistas must be falling over like dominos. Great pic!

[HeyJude]

Mike: "Et tu, Stamos?"

Oh lord, now the Beach Boys have turned into a VHS/Beta style format war! As we all know, porn gave VHS the advantage in that war. Stamos has now irreversably changed everything.

Thus, irrefutable logic, John Stamos is the porn of the Beach Boys. Put that on a bumper sticker, Brother Records!  

[Jon Stebbins]

Exactly. That's the second time I saw that posted here, and it was already shot down previously! Where did this even come from?

It's mentioned on Dave's Wikipedia page, that's where I first saw it.  What is this world coming to when you can't trust Wikipedia?!

If Dave didn't sing it, then who did? It was definitely done during the C50 tour.

Mike (with Jeff on the falsetto). David only ever sang lead on one song per show -- Getcha Back or, when that wasn't in the setlist, Hawaii.

I found it weird hearing David on "Getcha Back", it's a very Mike song that needs that nasally vocal that only Mike can do.

Except that Mike didn't like the way Mike sounded on it. As he said in multiple interviews this past summer...He wrote Getcha Back with Dennis in mind to sing it, but by the time it was recorded Dennis was dead. He thought David gave it something closer to the vocal texture that he had originally intended for the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQnUG3SAbjQ

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Mike: "Et tu, Stamos?"

[Rocker]

And Brian's official Twitter feed posted the photo with the line "Get ready for 2013. With @ALANJARDINE and #DavidMarks. http://www.brianwilson.com/tour "

Sounds like there may well be some announcements coming...

I hope they come to Europe for a summer tour in August or something...

Hm, personally I wouldn't go. I've seen the Beach Boys last year and that's enough for me. Don't have the desire to go to a Brian, Al, David/Mike&Bruce-show. Maybe if it would happen in my hometown but otherwise I don't think so. If the Beach Boys return, well that's a different story

[Mike's Beard]

BREAKING NEWS.

LMFAO!!!
The definitive Beach Boys line up!

[EgoHanger1966]

BREAKING NEWS.

LMFAO!!!
The definitive Beach Boys line up!

Opening tunes from this lineup's setlist:

1.Ding Dang
2.Forever (Jessie & The Rippers Cover)
3.Cottonfields
4.Stowaway

Crowd pleasers, all!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

BREAKING NEWS.

LMFAO!!!
The definitive Beach Boys line up!

I wonder if Mike kicked Stamos out so Shamoo can now join the band?

[kermit27]

BREAKING NEWS.

Thank you for making me laugh my lunch onto my computer screen...

[Jim V.]

While I think it's goofy that they edited that photo like that, we gotta face the truth now....

Brian, Al and Dave wanted to continue on touring with Mike and Bruce as The Beach Boys. It's obvious. If Mike doesn't wanna tour with them, but still wants to tour, he should do so under his own name, or another name, but not The Beach Boys. I have a feeling that if the license is up for renewal soon, it might not be renewed.

I honestly though that maybe Brian was cool with what was going on. Ya know, collecting money while Mike and Bruce tour. But the fact that it looks like him, Al and Dave are touring, makes it look like he really does wanna tour with the group.

[Eric Aniversario]

I don't think anything malicious was meant by this picture.  I think a more proper picture is probably on the way, and they're just using this photoshopped one in the meantime.  The guys all live pretty far apart, and to fly them in for a picture wouldn't really be worth the hassle.

[I. Spaceman]

I honestly though that maybe Brian was cool with what was going on. 

"Maybe"? Definitely! Brian/Melinda are money hardasses, if they for a moment disagreed with Mike's doings, they would end it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I have a feeling that if the license is up for renewal soon, it might not be renewed.

I have a feeling the license might not be up for renewal any time soon. Why fix what ain't broke ?

[KittyKat]

They're on a beach. Crafty way of calling themselves Beach Boys.

[Shady]

I'd love to know who's behind the photoshop, who's bright idea was it.

[HeyJude]

I have a feeling that if the license is up for renewal soon, it might not be renewed.

I have a feeling the license might not be up for renewal any time soon. Why fix what ain't broke ?

We really just don't know the intricacies of licensing setup and corporate setup. But I would think the shareholders would not tie themselves into an irrevokable-under-any-circumstances situation with the license. I would guess there would be some sort of legal option if all of the other shareholders decided the licensing situation was not to their liking. If not a direct revoking of the license, then other "corporate" means to leverage power to get what they want.

It also remains to be seen whether Brian and Al now feel like something is "broke" even if, at least in the case of Brian, they did not previously. I still would wager it's highly unlikely we'll see any move towards even attempting to take the license away from Mike. I could envision a scenario where they might make some move in that direction if Mike continues to refuse to work with the rest of the band and they still have a desire to. But it's extremely low odds that we'll see some huge corporate blow-up with an attempt to strip Mike of use of the name.

If the Brian-Al-Dave lineup actually did some substantial touring, then at least in the case of Brian and Al, they would be making their cut of the licensing fee for Mike's tour and also generating income from their own tour.

[HeyJude]

I don't think anything malicious was meant by this picture.  I think a more proper picture is probably on the way, and they're just using this photoshopped one in the meantime.  The guys all live pretty far apart, and to fly them in for a picture wouldn't really be worth the hassle.

There you go being reasonable and making a lucid, cogent statement. 

[HeyJude]

They're on a beach. Crafty way of calling themselves Beach Boys.

So now is BRI going to sue Brian, Al, and David?  Then both Brian and Al can enjoy suing themselves. I think at this point the band should reunite and switch to more apt name of "The Rutles."

[HeyJude]

Here's the photo from that old thread about Dennis being cropped out and the creepy unexplained extra hand:



Quick, somebody take this photo, retain only Brian and Al, and then add David Marks (and Stamos!)

[gfac22]

I see two extra hands, one on both of Mike's shoulders.  Wtf kind of publicity photo is that?

[Sheriff John Stone]

Speculation time... ... There's something going on with Mike and Brian's relationship - professionally - and nobody's talking. And that's a good thing. Not the problem with the relationship, but that it might be resolved behind closed doors. Nobody wants the two fighting with words in the press, airing their dirty laundry if you will.

Before the reunion last year, I thought Mike's motivation was, in order, to work with Brian Wilson again and create something special (in the studio, maybe another hit single), to attract the deserved attention and publicity the reunion would bring, and to enjoy spending quality time his cousin, who he truly cares about.

I thought Brian's motivation was mainly driven by his wifeandmanagers, not that Brian didn't "sign off" on it. I don't think Brianandhiswifeandmanagers had any idea where to go with Brian's solo career (and still don't), I think they were attracted to the $$$$$$$ that the reunion would bring them, and I think/hope Melinda felt that some healing could come with Brian getting back together with his friends.

Now, back to Mike. I'm seriously wondering how fulfilling the reunion was for him. Oh, he got the attention and publicity alright. To some extent he got a hit record, well, an album, and I think it's safe to say that SOME healing took place, maybe with all the parties involved. But, I also wonder how much Mike got out of working - of lack of - with Brian. From reading all the various accounts, it appears that they didn't spend a lot of time collaborating, at least in the way they used to. It seemed more like Mike was "assigned" to do certain things, not necessarily CREATE the song itself. And, there was one main thing that I seriously have to wonder if it was present - or missing. Again, just speculating out loud, but I wonder how much of the old Brian was there, the Brian that blew everybody away in the studio, including Mike Love. I wonder if Mike was expecting too much, only to come away disappointed. I don't think everything is out in the open - and probably never will be - about the recording TWGMTR.

Now, back to Brian. I think we can all agree that Brian got more out of the reunion than he/we expected. Extending the tour by a couple of dozen dates made a lot more money. From what we could see/read/hear/speculate, some healing occurred with the band, including with Mike. And, to me anyway, it appeared to be a rebirth for Brian in some ways; at the very least he appeared happy and relaxed more often than not. Nothing against his solo career/band/situation, but it almost looked like Brian was relieved to not have to sit out front, sing all the songs, talk, and relate to bandmates (I know they're great guys) who are 20-30 years younger than him. While I am still skeptical about HOW MUCH Brian wanted to continue with The Beach Boys, I will concede that there is some interest there.

So, why aren't they continuing - right now? There is something there that we don't know. This is what I think. I think that Mike (and the rest of The Beach Boys) were burned by Brian's erratic behavior so many times in the past, starting as early as 1963(!), that there was probably something put in writing, covering all aspects of Brian's behavior. I'm talking about showing up all the time, participating in the activities that the other guys had to do like soundchecks, photo sessions and interviews; and displaying conduct that is expected from any professional musician, specifically the singing, playing (or lack of), staying on stage until the end, etc.

Brian passed with flying colors. He pulled it off. I give him and Melinda a lot of credit. He was a trooper with the bad back, didn't miss a concert, stayed til the end of the shows, strapped on the bass, occasionally talked, smiled, waved, and apparently was the good soldier off the stage, too. So what's the problem with continuing? Brian proved he could do it.

I don't think Mike is totally sold. During the reunion, there was so much at stake, they were in the spotlight, it was a temporary situation with a beginning and an end. There was a lot of money to be made. Because they hadn't worked together in so long, there was a newness, a positivity, a sentimental feeling, a "we're in this thing together" attitude. And, it worked. The last show(s) were as good as any. Actually, maybe they weren't together long enough to get on each others' nerves!

If they continue now, a lot of what made the reunion a success, a lot of the factors, would not be present. They won't make as much money, which still remains the most important motivator. The newness is gone; will they start to bother each other? Will Brian continue his perfect attendance in ALL phases, when he is advertised to be present? Will Brian's mental and physical health hold up? Will Brian become bored? Will Al start to say things that threaten the harmony? Etc, etc.

And, most of all - for Mike Love - is that "thing", that spark, that thrill, that love, whatever Mike experienced working with Brian, still there? I used to think, and posted here many times, that Mike would do anything to work with Brian. Anything. For whatever reason - maybe the Brian of 2013 isn't the same Brian of 1963. 73, 83, 93, or 03 - and it just isn't that important to Mike anymore. If the appeal or attraction of working with Brian Wilson isn't there, or as strong as it used to be for Mike, why bother with all of the other hassles that are bound to occur. It might not be enough to give up what Mike (with help) spent the last 45 years building up.

[Wirestone]

I don't think the process of recording TWGMTR -- or any of BW's solo records, really -- is that secret. It's always surrounded by gauzy layers of hype, but if you read enough interviews, note the pointed comment or two, and connect the dots, it tends to be pretty easy.

In the case of BW's solo records, he has largely contributed by making demos (sometimes full fledged ones) and watching as his band re-created them in the studio. Sometimes he's written charts and been very involved, sometimes he's let the guys do it as he napped. At times, he has definitely been bored (sometimes for entire records!) and approved non-representative work.

From the sound of it, you have a little of all of the above in TWGMTR. A handful of tracks with indisputable BW touches, some that we can argue about, and several more that I doubt he did more than vaguely nod at. And while he most likely arranged vocals, he never did it in a hands-on way with the group -- the best accounts behind the scenes suggest that Foskett sang BW-dictated parts one by one and the guys came in separately to re-create his tracks. For someone like Mike, this was doubtless arid and deadening. Nothing like the 60s, regardless of the happy talk they had to spout in interviews.

The one full-fledged collaboration seems to have been Isn't It Time, which Mike tried mightily to turn into a hit. But the fussy, overworked single version suggested that the magic was truly fleeting. Maybe only a day or two, early in 2012.