"Beach Boys' Mike Love talks Good Life Fest"

[Chocolate Shake Man]

The Who would not been The Who without Roger Daltrey on vocals but if you read any interview with Daltrey, he always praises Pete Townshend and acknowledges him as the backbone of the group.

Well, Mike hasn't been diminishing Brian's dominant role in interviews either...

What do you call it when you suggest that you were the one responsible for the success of the band?

Honesty, wrapped in a lie?

Probably true.

[drbeachboy]

The Who would not been The Who without Roger Daltrey on vocals but if you read any interview with Daltrey, he always praises Pete Townshend and acknowledges him as the backbone of the group.

Well, Mike hasn't been diminishing Brian's dominant role in interviews either...

What do you call it when you suggest that you were the one responsible for the success of the band?

I need the exact quote to properly answer your question. If Mike has claimed so multiple times, please provide me with as many interviews with that suggestion as possible.

It's a fairly infamous quote by now:

"Ultimately I think the Beach Boys meant so much to so many people because of the positivity and that was me." - Endless Harmony doc

Mike is correct in the respect that people do take notice to the lyrics. From all of us, right down to the first time listener, we know that The Beach Boys music has a positive affect on us. Even a song like The Warmth Of The Sun, while melancholy musically, the lyric and title has a positive spin to it. We have been through this before with this quote of Mike's. It came down to, if no one gives you kudos for what you have done, then just heap it upon thyself.

[Nicko1234]

It's a fairly infamous quote by now:

"Ultimately I think the Beach Boys meant so much to so many people because of the positivity and that was me." - Endless Harmony doc

So you're basing it on one comment 15 years ago?

The way that Endless Harmony documentary was set up was to have a section dedicated to Carl, Dennis and Mike (with the entire documentary mainly focused on Brian). I presume the producers asked, 'what do you think you brought to the group?' and he gave his answer.

Mike has spoken on numerous occasions about Brian and the massive contribution he made. At the rooftop awards do didn't Mike say, 'Thank you to Brian for giving us all a great life'?

[Chocolate Shake Man]

So you're basing it on one comment 15 years ago?

How many comments does one have to make and what is the length of time that is appropriate for you?

The way that Endless Harmony documentary was set up was to have a section dedicated to Carl, Dennis and Mike (with the entire documentary mainly focused on Brian). I presume the producers asked, 'what do you think you brought to the group?' and he gave his answer.

I'm not sure what that has to do with what I said.

Mike has spoken on numerous occasions about Brian and the massive contribution he made. At the rooftop awards do didn't Mike say, 'Thank you to Brian for giving us all a great life'?

Yes, he's said plenty of things like that but that quotation explains a hell of a lot of Mike's behaviour. When the chips are down and Mike is at his most vulnerable, he shows himself to be remarkably arrogant and self-serving.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

So you're basing it on one comment 15 years ago?

How many comments does one have to make and what is the length of time that is appropriate for you?

The way that Endless Harmony documentary was set up was to have a section dedicated to Carl, Dennis and Mike (with the entire documentary mainly focused on Brian). I presume the producers asked, 'what do you think you brought to the group?' and he gave his answer.

I'm not sure what that has to do with what I said.

Mike has spoken on numerous occasions about Brian and the massive contribution he made. At the rooftop awards do didn't Mike say, 'Thank you to Brian for giving us all a great life'?

Yes, he's said plenty of things like that but that quotation explains a hell of a lot of Mike's behaviour. When the chips are down and Mike is at his most vulnerable, he shows himself to be remarkably arrogant and self-serving.

The quote is spot on in my opinion! As Blondie Chaplin states, Mike thinks he is the only original Beach Boy.

[Nicko1234]

How many comments does one have to make and what is the length of time that is appropriate for you?

Sorry but I'm genuinely bemused that you think that any person's beliefs and opinions could be judged on one comment made 15 years ago. If someone brought up something that I said 15 years ago and took me to task for it then I'd laugh in their face.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Me too. However, 15 years ago I was 17 not 57. I wasn't an adult who had many years to perfect my thoughts, particularly on issues that had occurred over thirty years in the past and that I had had some time to think about. I hope that now, as an adult, I would, under the circumstance that my thoughts were being committed to posterity in a documentary meant for public consumption, try to say something that I could actually commit to. In fact, I think that's kind of what being an adult is about. I admire the people who spout far more controversial statements than that but at least have the passion of their convictions. Not that I really think that Mike has really distanced himself from those comments anyway...

And like I said, the quotation is represenative of years of Mike's behaviour.

[Nicko1234]

And like I said, the quotation is represenative of years of Mike's behaviour.

That depends what you mean doesn't it. Obviously Mike has an ego the size of New Mexico but at numerous gigs that I have seen/heard he has praised Brian's genius in terms of his vocal arrangements and I've seen countless interviews where he has praised Brian as a producer/songwriter. Murry not crediting Mike with those lyrics obviously left a lot of resentment with Mike though which makes sense and I'm not really surprised that he has felt the need to blow his own trumpet so often.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Yeah, he has done those things but the fact that he believes himself responsible for the enduring success of The Beach Boys (in spite of Brian, if you read the whole quote) is, in my view, absurd and does diminish Brian, even if Mike praises his arrangements and his production. Mike is a really difficult guy to read but from what I can glean, there is little that I admire. So, yes, he can praise Brian's work but in the next minute he's pretending to blow his brains out because of the music at the end of That's Why God Made the Radio, which is hardly a flattering bit of criticism and not justified despite the other nice things Mike has said about Brian.

[Nicko1234]

Yeah, he has done those things but the fact that he believes himself responsible for the enduring success of The Beach Boys (in spite of Brian, if you read the whole quote) is, in my view, absurd and does diminish Brian, even if Mike praises his arrangements and his production. Mike is a really difficult guy to read but from what I can glean, there is little that I admire. So, yes, he can praise Brian's work but in the next minute he's pretending to blow his brains out because of the music at the end of That's Why God Made the Radio, which is hardly a flattering bit of criticism and not justified despite the other nice things Mike has said about Brian.

Sorry but I think you are obsessing far too much over that quote.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I don't think you're obsessing over it enough.  

Sorry, just to clarify, do you mean the quote from 15 years ago when he takes credit for The Beach Boys success or the quote from last year when he suggested that Brian's music makes him want to commit suicide?

[Nicko1234]

I don't think you're obsessing over it enough. 

Maybe not. 

I actually think they should issue a new book of Beach Boys quotes as it would be hilarious.

Bruce: 'You will never see Alan and I on the same stage again'.

Al: 'I wish Dennis were still around to beat Mike up'.

Brian: 'My favourite dinosaur is a brontosaurus'.

It could be a million seller. 

[SMiLE Brian]

I don't think you're obsessing over it enough.  

Sorry, just to clarify, do you mean the quote from 15 years ago when he takes credit for The Beach Boys success or the quote from last year when he suggested that Brian's music makes him want to commit suicide?

Mike's tone in that interview is dead serious about being the "positivity" of the BBs.

[Rocky Raccoon]

The thing that really gets to me is that Mike doesn't embrace the great success he has already achieved.  He's so obsessed with his own ego that it seems like he's determined to prove himself as this great musical force which he really isn't.  That's what I don't understand.  How many musical acts get to achieve the same success that a band like the Beach Boys has?  Mike doesn't need a number one hit single in 2013.  He doesn't need to keep the Beach Boys name on the road as much as possible to keep momentum.  So why does he do it?  Is there anyone in the world who would rather see Mike Love's Beach Boys rather than the 2012 lineup?  I'm going to say no.  Mike doesn't accept that reality, he lives in his own world and that's frustrating.

[Nicko1234]

So why does he do it?  Is there anyone in the world who would rather see Mike Love's Beach Boys rather than the 2012 lineup?  I'm going to say no.  Mike doesn't accept that reality, he lives in his own world and that's frustrating.

I don't think that's part of Mike's thinking at all and in terms of touring I think Mike accepts reality very well (in a way that Al couldn't post-1998). He knows what the market is for the current touring act and he knows that he will be playing to a different audience than the one that saw the C50 tour. I don't think anyone would choose a band without Brian and Al but I think plenty of people would choose the cheaper ticket prices of the M&B shows and have since 1998.

[Micha]

The Who would not been The Who without Roger Daltrey on vocals but if you read any interview with Daltrey, he always praises Pete Townshend and acknowledges him as the backbone of the group.

Well, Mike hasn't been diminishing Brian's dominant role in interviews either...

What do you call it when you suggest that you were the one responsible for the success of the band?

I need the exact quote to properly answer your question. If Mike has claimed so multiple times, please provide me with as many interviews with that suggestion as possible.

It's a fairly infamous quote by now:

"Ultimately I think the Beach Boys meant so much to so many people because of the positivity and that was me." - Endless Harmony doc

I'll check that and tell you what I think about it. I have that DVD.

Anyone here who knows offhand at what time in the documentary he says that?

[leggo of my ego]

The availablity of alcolohic beverages and the near proxmity of slots and keno tables are integral to
the attendance of the M&B shows. 

[shelter]

He doesn't need to keep the Beach Boys name on the road as much as possible to keep momentum.  So why does he do it?  Is there anyone in the world who would rather see Mike Love's Beach Boys rather than the 2012 lineup?

Probably not. But from Mike's point of view I kind of understand it. I can see how it's just more fun to keep touring than to stay at home for the rest of your life. And I can see how it's more practical and more profitable to tour without Brian, Al and David and their entourages than with them.

[Rocker]

Not everyone looks into the youtube thread so I thought I'd post these links in the main section as well. But rather than starting another thread I'll just use this one.


Mike Love of The Beach Boys Visits 94.5 KOOL FM- Part One
http://kool.cbslocal.com/video/8792461-mike-love-of-the-beach-boys-visits-94-5-kool-fm-part-one/


Mike Love of The Beach Boys Visits 94.5 KOOL FM- Part Two
http://kool.cbslocal.com/video/8792473-mike-love-of-the-beach-boys-visits-94-5-kool-fm-part-two/


Mike Love of The Beach Boys Visits 94.5 KOOL FM- Part Three
http://kool.cbslocal.com/video/8792497-mike-love-of-the-beach-boys-visits-94-5-kool-fm-part-three/

[oldsurferdude]

Poor Mike, wakes up every morning and each day is a new stuggle to establish some glory for him as the lyricist for Beach Boys songs.

[Kurosawa]

I'm no Mike apologist, but I do feel like it must be incredibly frustrating to him that even when discussing the mid-sixties output, it's always sort of framed as "So Brian Wilson sure is great, huh? Did you do anything on those songs? I don't remember." It's like Mike is Salieri in Amadeus or something. He DID contribute to those classic tracks, and his voice and lyrics are an indelible part of them. But there will never come a day in which he'll be regarded by the public as being able to contribute anything remotely comparable to what Brian did, whether that's a fair assessment of the band's greatness or not. So he's just naturally always on the defensive when it comes to that topic. Has there ever been a period in the band's history where he's been able to give an interview in which Brian wasn't mentioned? It's always the only thing anyone wants to discuss. "Marcia, Marcia, MARCIA!"

So what?  He should accept that.  The Who would not been The Who without Roger Daltrey on vocals but if you read any interview with Daltrey, he always praises Pete Townshend and acknowledges him as the backbone of the group.  He doesn't feel undermined by that, he knows his part and he plays it.  Sure he contributed a lot to the group but Mike Love wants the public to see him as something he wasn't.  He's a decent singer with stage presence and a great personality, he helped write some great songs in the sixties but by no means was he an essential part of the writing of those songs.  Mike in addition to Al, Carl, Dennis, Dave Marks... they all played a great role in the Beach Boys but they still owe everything to Brian Wilson.

Mike is no Roger Daltrey when it comes to...well, anything really, but humility and gratitude especially. The bottom line is I don't think Mike really cares for Brian much. He certainly doesn't have the dedication to Brian that Roger has to Pete.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Well, Daltrey's also punched Townsend out on at least one occasion. So there are other ways to arrive at such humility in the world of rock n roll, it seems.

[Justin]

Not everyone looks into the youtube thread so I thought I'd post these links in the main section as well. But rather than starting another thread I'll just use this one.


Mike Love of The Beach Boys Visits 94.5 KOOL FM- Part One
http://kool.cbslocal.com/video/8792461-mike-love-of-the-beach-boys-visits-94-5-kool-fm-part-one/


Mike Love of The Beach Boys Visits 94.5 KOOL FM- Part Two
http://kool.cbslocal.com/video/8792473-mike-love-of-the-beach-boys-visits-94-5-kool-fm-part-two/


Mike Love of The Beach Boys Visits 94.5 KOOL FM- Part Three
http://kool.cbslocal.com/video/8792497-mike-love-of-the-beach-boys-visits-94-5-kool-fm-part-three/

Thanks for posting.

It must be easy to be Mike Love.  Not only does he sing the same songs on stage he also uses the same exact lines in every single damn interview. 

[Kurosawa]

Well, Daltrey's also punched Townsend out on at least one occasion. So there are other ways to arrive at such humility in the world of rock n roll, it seems.

More than once, and he beat up John and Keith as well. But The Who were rooted in violence. They ended up kicking him out of the band over how violent he was with the others, actually. He had to back off it to come back.