Matt Jardine guested at the M&B show yesterday

[Justin]

And Love still with the C50 Sunday shirt on...

haha I noticed that too!

[JohnMill]

I think it's a misconception that Mike is against continuing a reunion. It seems that he's not interested in continuing the reunion as it was set up last year. If Brian, Al & David were to come on board for some shows with his current 'Beach Boys' lineup, he'd probably be into it.

I'm not a Mike Love fan although I wouldn't go so far to say I hate him or anything like that because that is such a strong statement to make, especially against someone I don't know.  I'm not one to take up for Mike Love but from what I've read on these forums, there seems to be some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage which could include everyone from family members to band members to associates.  If this is true, then I can understand a bit better Mike's stance about not continuing on with the C50 lineup.  My read on the situation is that when it comes to his cousin, Mike Love has had a lot on his plate to deal with as far as that relationship goes dating back to the sixties.  I believe at one time that Mike and Brian were extremely close but like happens in many families touched by mental illness, Brian's unfortunate struggles eventually created a distance between them.  From the well documented issues with Brian's experimentation with drugs, to his downfall, his encounters and alleged near-captivity at the hands of Landy to the fact that he allegedly to this day has quite the entourage following him around wherever he goes in a professional sense, I can see why Mike probably feels that just hitting the road with Bruce and some other mates is by far the preferable choice to continuing on with the C50.

It doesn't necessarily explain with Al and Dave were axed as well but there might be something going on there that we don't know about.  I've read a lot of postings that seem to suggest some current bad blood between Mike and Al as well but who knows?  I don't think Mike is ever going to be doing himself any favors or win himself any fans with the diehard Beach Boys fanbase and why should he?  He's out of touch with most of our perception of what the group should be and at times comes off as his own worst enemy in the press.  That being said Mike's job isn't to cow-tow to the diehard Beach Boys fanbase, but to sell the brand to the general public which he does very well.  The general public doesn't care who is up on stage representing the brand, nor do they care that the brand is being represented playing at a car wash.  They are just there to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing surfy songs and Mike Love delivers that to them on a nightly basis.  Now that doesn't necessarily do anything for me but I take consolation in the fact that there are always some Beach Boys projects percolating in terms of archival releases even if the band that currently bills themselves as "The Beach Boys" is something I probably won't be buying tickets to anytime soon.

[Mike's Beard]

It's never just Brian; it's Brian plus entourage, plus conditions, plus other baggage. Can you blame Mike for choosing to go back to his own band of pals and immediate family?

[Justin]

It's never just Brian; it's Brian plus entourage, plus conditions, plus other baggage. Can you blame Mike for choosing to go back to his own band of pals and immediate family?

Yup.  For someone like Mike who has been doing the touring game for the majority of his life, he doesn't need to be suddenly stuck in a situation that makes him uncomfortable and stressful.  not at this point of his career and life.  The C50 Tour was do-able because there was an end date always lurking ahead.  Mike knew he just had to put up with the Brian package for a short while and then all would be back to normal.  I'm sure Mike could put up with it again...but not exactly as quick as WE would want him to. 

[JohnMill]

It's never just Brian; it's Brian plus entourage, plus conditions, plus other baggage. Can you blame Mike for choosing to go back to his own band of pals and immediate family?

Yup.  For someone like Mike who has been doing the touring game for the majority of his life, he doesn't need to be suddenly stuck in a situation that makes him uncomfortable and stressful.  not at this point of his career and life.  The C50 Tour was do-able because there was an end date always lurking ahead.  Mike knew he just had to put up with the Brian package for a short while and then all would be back to normal.  I'm sure Mike could put up with it again...but not exactly as quick as WE would want him to. 

Yeah and this is just my opinion which of course is of little consequence in the grand scheme of things but I do think we will see all five on stage together again someday.  I think just due to the fact that there is money hanging out there waiting to be grabbed by interested parties is enough incentive to get them back together at least for a short run of gigs sometime in the future.  Yes I'm aware they are all millionaires but I've always been a firm believer in supply and demand and I think if the demand is there then we will eventually see another reunion or celebration or whatever they want to call it. 

Personally I've never sensed any fatal damage to the Brian/Mike relationship following the C50 tour.  It upset a lot of fans (myself included) that it ended the way that it did and I might even go so far as to say that Brian was disappointed with Mike's decision not to carry on.  But beyond that I think it's business as usual. 

[Justin]

I see that as well, John.  I think we will see them together again at some point.  The C50 tour proved that they very much could pull it off.  Brian being bummed that Mike wasn't up for continuing on is typical Brian.  Brian is unaware of the hoops people have to jump through to work with him so it seems as though he's taken Mike's unwillingness very personally.  But Mike can't be in that situation on a permanent level.  He's been his own boss (so to speak) for decades and now he has to succumb to the BW regime?  Not exactly an attractive endeavor.  Throw in the added stuff that Mike deems as "excess" (i.e. bigger stage, larger crew, bigger venues) and it's a lose-lose for Mike. 

When the time is right, we'll probably see them together again.  it seems the exact same reasons they did not work together before the C50 Tour are the exact same reasons they're not working together today, after the C50 Tour.

[Rocker]

Matt seems like a great guy and certainly would be a fantastic addition to any of the Beach Boys-acts.

[Generation42]

It's never just Brian; it's Brian plus entourage, plus conditions, plus other baggage. Can you blame Mike for choosing to go back to his own band of pals and immediate family?

I'm not familiar with the inner-workings of the group's day-to-day affairs (so I honestly don't know the answer to the question), but could the very same not be said of Mike?  Entourage, conditions for working with him, "other baggage" and the like?  I imagine it would be so.

Compromise and co-operation can lead to wondrous heights which either party may not have been able to reach without the other, no?

[Shady]

This is such nice news. Makes me hopeful for the future. Maybe we'll see another great chapter in Beach Boys history.

[Doo Dah]

...That being said Mike's job isn't to cow-tow to the diehard Beach Boys fanbase, but to sell the brand to the general public which he does very well.  The general public doesn't care who is up on stage representing the brand, nor do they care that the brand is being represented playing at a car wash.  They are just there to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing surfy songs and Mike Love delivers that to them on a nightly basis.

Some years back, circa '05 or so I saw Mike and Bruce at the Puyallup Fairgrounds in Western Washington. Mike did a little soliloquy on God Only Knows, dedicating it to the memory of Carl Wilson. The older gentlemen sitting next to me said, "who's that...was that their father?"

 

It is what it is, and it's a pretty vivid example of a large swath of the casual fan base. Too bad, but of course it's all marketing and it's all branding ain't it?

[JohnMill]

I see that as well, John.  I think we will see them together again at some point.  The C50 tour proved that they very much could pull it off.  Brian being bummed that Mike wasn't up for continuing on is typical Brian.  Brian is unaware of the hoops people have to jump through to work with him so it seems as though he's taken Mike's unwillingness very personally.  But Mike can't be in that situation on a permanent level.  He's been his own boss (so to speak) for decades and now he has to succumb to the BW regime?  Not exactly an attractive endeavor.  Throw in the added stuff that Mike deems as "excess" (i.e. bigger stage, larger crew, bigger venues) and it's a lose-lose for Mike. 

When the time is right, we'll probably see them together again.  it seems the exact same reasons they did not work together before the C50 Tour are the exact same reasons they're not working together today, after the C50 Tour.

I think the majority's reaction at the time when it was announced that Mike had decided not to carry on with the C50 was "Oh no, now Brian is going to feel abandoned" and I think to some extent there is some truth in that although it was blown way out of proportion.  Brian has landed on his feet just fine (or so it seems) which only leaves the bad press that Mike's announcement left in it's wake to contend with.  So that is a bit of a bone of contention for me because it's just another in a long line of times that Mike Love has brought a great deal of negativity around this band by shooting his mouth off, for lack of a better term.  Certainly he has a right to his opinion and a right to express it but I dare say that even some members of this forum, if drafted into service could've put a better face on things than Mike did when the word came down that the C50 wasn't going to carry on.  I guess the only thing I can say positive for Mike in that regard is that at least he's honest.

My own personal feelings aside, I suppose as long the brand isn't damaged in terms of the general public I suppose all is well that ends well.  The folks showing up at the M&B shows probably either have no idea about the inner-workings of the group and likely wouldn't care anyhow.  So as long as the M&B tour continues to deliver as they have to this type of audience, all is well in that regard. 

I think the whole situation as it stands post-C50 really depends on how you look at things as far as whether the glass is half full or half empty.  If you are a half-full type, you can easily reason that the group as far as an inclusive unit is in somewhat of a holding pattern currently.  Al Jardine's interview around a month ago as well as Mike Love's "whatever will be, will be" comments seem to point in that direction.  But if you are a glass half empty type, they aren't performing together this summer and at least to me the fact that Brian, Al and Dave are going out on together as their own exclusive unit could smack of something spiteful.  Perhaps that is the reason for the blowhard comments from Bruce Johnston that have recently surfaced regarding "noncompetition". 

Someone needs to get Mike and Brian tickets to an NBA playoff game...

[DonnyL]

I think it's a misconception that Mike is against continuing a reunion. It seems that he's not interested in continuing the reunion as it was set up last year. If Brian, Al & David were to come on board for some shows with his current 'Beach Boys' lineup, he'd probably be into it.

I'm not a Mike Love fan although I wouldn't go so far to say I hate him or anything like that because that is such a strong statement to make, especially against someone I don't know.  I'm not one to take up for Mike Love but from what I've read on these forums, there seems to be some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage which could include everyone from family members to band members to associates.  If this is true, then I can understand a bit better Mike's stance about not continuing on with the C50 lineup.  My read on the situation is that when it comes to his cousin, Mike Love has had a lot on his plate to deal with as far as that relationship goes dating back to the sixties.  I believe at one time that Mike and Brian were extremely close but like happens in many families touched by mental illness, Brian's unfortunate struggles eventually created a distance between them.  From the well documented issues with Brian's experimentation with drugs, to his downfall, his encounters and alleged near-captivity at the hands of Landy to the fact that he allegedly to this day has quite the entourage following him around wherever he goes in a professional sense, I can see why Mike probably feels that just hitting the road with Bruce and some other mates is by far the preferable choice to continuing on with the C50.

It doesn't necessarily explain with Al and Dave were axed as well but there might be something going on there that we don't know about.  I've read a lot of postings that seem to suggest some current bad blood between Mike and Al as well but who knows?  I don't think Mike is ever going to be doing himself any favors or win himself any fans with the diehard Beach Boys fanbase and why should he?  He's out of touch with most of our perception of what the group should be and at times comes off as his own worst enemy in the press.  That being said Mike's job isn't to cow-tow to the diehard Beach Boys fanbase, but to sell the brand to the general public which he does very well.  The general public doesn't care who is up on stage representing the brand, nor do they care that the brand is being represented playing at a car wash.  They are just there to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing surfy songs and Mike Love delivers that to them on a nightly basis.  Now that doesn't necessarily do anything for me but I take consolation in the fact that there are always some Beach Boys projects percolating in terms of archival releases even if the band that currently bills themselves as "The Beach Boys" is something I probably won't be buying tickets to anytime soon.

As much as we superfans may not agree a Beach Boys reunion today means Brian and Mike -- these are the two primary entities calling the shots. Since '98, Al was played with Brian, Bruce has played with Brian, Bruce has played with Mike, Dave has played with Mike & Bruce, Al has played with Mike & Bruce, and on and on.

There is no real non-musical incentive to include Al & Dave in Mike's lineup -- the gigs would probably be the same, and the profits less per member.

I'm sure Mike would be down if Brian came on board with a couple of his guys to fill out the parts, and Al and Dave. But everything we've seen suggests that there are compromises Mike isn't willing to make, and Mike has concerns about Brian being on the road with the 'Beach Boys' schedule.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I think it's a misconception that Mike is against continuing a reunion. It seems that he's not interested in continuing the reunion as it was set up last year. If Brian, Al & David were to come on board for some shows with his current 'Beach Boys' lineup, he'd probably be into it.

I'm not a Mike Love fan although I wouldn't go so far to say I hate him or anything like that because that is such a strong statement to make, especially against someone I don't know.  I'm not one to take up for Mike Love but from what I've read on these forums, there seems to be some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage which could include everyone from family members to band members to associates.  If this is true, then I can understand a bit better Mike's stance about not continuing on with the C50 lineup.  My read on the situation is that when it comes to his cousin, Mike Love has had a lot on his plate to deal with as far as that relationship goes dating back to the sixties.  I believe at one time that Mike and Brian were extremely close but like happens in many families touched by mental illness, Brian's unfortunate struggles eventually created a distance between them.  From the well documented issues with Brian's experimentation with drugs, to his downfall, his encounters and alleged near-captivity at the hands of Landy to the fact that he allegedly to this day has quite the entourage following him around wherever he goes in a professional sense, I can see why Mike probably feels that just hitting the road with Bruce and some other mates is by far the preferable choice to continuing on with the C50.

It doesn't necessarily explain with Al and Dave were axed as well but there might be something going on there that we don't know about.  I've read a lot of postings that seem to suggest some current bad blood between Mike and Al as well but who knows?  I don't think Mike is ever going to be doing himself any favors or win himself any fans with the diehard Beach Boys fanbase and why should he?  He's out of touch with most of our perception of what the group should be and at times comes off as his own worst enemy in the press.  That being said Mike's job isn't to cow-tow to the diehard Beach Boys fanbase, but to sell the brand to the general public which he does very well.  The general public doesn't care who is up on stage representing the brand, nor do they care that the brand is being represented playing at a car wash.  They are just there to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing surfy songs and Mike Love delivers that to them on a nightly basis.  Now that doesn't necessarily do anything for me but I take consolation in the fact that there are always some Beach Boys projects percolating in terms of archival releases even if the band that currently bills themselves as "The Beach Boys" is something I probably won't be buying tickets to anytime soon.

As much as we superfans may not agree a Beach Boys reunion today means Brian and Mike -- these are the two primary entities calling the shots. Since '98, Al was played with Brian, Bruce has played with Brian, Bruce has played with Mike, Dave has played with Mike & Bruce, Al has played with Mike & Bruce, and on and on.

There is no real non-musical incentive to include Al & Dave in Mike's lineup -- the gigs would probably be the same, and the profits less per member.

I'm sure Mike would be down if Brian came on board with a couple of his guys to fill out the parts, and Al and Dave. But everything we've seen suggests that there are compromises Mike isn't willing to make, and Mike has concerns about Brian being on the road with the 'Beach Boys' schedule.

From what I understand, the C50 tour was highly successful financially. Mike/Bruce play much smaller venues, with much smaller ticket prices, while also having to pay Brian, Al and Carl's estate.

Say what we will about Mike, this does not seem to be about the cash, in my thinking. For Mike, maybe it's more control, maybe it's more fun, maybe it's a personality clash between some parties. If he is happier doing his Mike/Bruce show, I don't blame him for it. He has the license. I don't like it but it is what it is.

[Kurosawa]

I think it's a misconception that Mike is against continuing a reunion. It seems that he's not interested in continuing the reunion as it was set up last year. If Brian, Al & David were to come on board for some shows with his current 'Beach Boys' lineup, he'd probably be into it.

I'm not a Mike Love fan although I wouldn't go so far to say I hate him or anything like that because that is such a strong statement to make, especially against someone I don't know.  I'm not one to take up for Mike Love but from what I've read on these forums, there seems to be some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage which could include everyone from family members to band members to associates.  If this is true, then I can understand a bit better Mike's stance about not continuing on with the C50 lineup.  My read on the situation is that when it comes to his cousin, Mike Love has had a lot on his plate to deal with as far as that relationship goes dating back to the sixties.  I believe at one time that Mike and Brian were extremely close but like happens in many families touched by mental illness, Brian's unfortunate struggles eventually created a distance between them.  From the well documented issues with Brian's experimentation with drugs, to his downfall, his encounters and alleged near-captivity at the hands of Landy to the fact that he allegedly to this day has quite the entourage following him around wherever he goes in a professional sense, I can see why Mike probably feels that just hitting the road with Bruce and some other mates is by far the preferable choice to continuing on with the C50.

It doesn't necessarily explain with Al and Dave were axed as well but there might be something going on there that we don't know about.  I've read a lot of postings that seem to suggest some current bad blood between Mike and Al as well but who knows?  I don't think Mike is ever going to be doing himself any favors or win himself any fans with the diehard Beach Boys fanbase and why should he?  He's out of touch with most of our perception of what the group should be and at times comes off as his own worst enemy in the press.  That being said Mike's job isn't to cow-tow to the diehard Beach Boys fanbase, but to sell the brand to the general public which he does very well.  The general public doesn't care who is up on stage representing the brand, nor do they care that the brand is being represented playing at a car wash.  They are just there to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing surfy songs and Mike Love delivers that to them on a nightly basis.  Now that doesn't necessarily do anything for me but I take consolation in the fact that there are always some Beach Boys projects percolating in terms of archival releases even if the band that currently bills themselves as "The Beach Boys" is something I probably won't be buying tickets to anytime soon.

As much as we superfans may not agree a Beach Boys reunion today means Brian and Mike -- these are the two primary entities calling the shots. Since '98, Al was played with Brian, Bruce has played with Brian, Bruce has played with Mike, Dave has played with Mike & Bruce, Al has played with Mike & Bruce, and on and on.

There is no real non-musical incentive to include Al & Dave in Mike's lineup -- the gigs would probably be the same, and the profits less per member.

I'm sure Mike would be down if Brian came on board with a couple of his guys to fill out the parts, and Al and Dave. But everything we've seen suggests that there are compromises Mike isn't willing to make, and Mike has concerns about Brian being on the road with the 'Beach Boys' schedule.

From what I understand, the C50 tour was highly successful financially. Mike/Bruce play much smaller venues, with much smaller ticket prices, while also having to pay Brian, Al and Carl's estate.

Say what we will about Mike, this does not seem to be about the cash, in my thinking. For Mike, maybe it's more control, maybe it's more fun, maybe it's a personality clash between some parties. If he is happier doing his Mike/Bruce show, I don't blame him for it. He has the license. I don't like it but it is what it is.

The venues are smaller, but the ticket prices are still too high...they're playing in my area and tickets are 70 bucks...I paid 90 last year for the C50 lineup. That's too much for one original member who was not the main songwriter and half the songs sung by sidemen, no matter how good they are.

[urbanite]

A hit single would fix a lot.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I think it's a misconception that Mike is against continuing a reunion. It seems that he's not interested in continuing the reunion as it was set up last year. If Brian, Al & David were to come on board for some shows with his current 'Beach Boys' lineup, he'd probably be into it.

I'm not a Mike Love fan although I wouldn't go so far to say I hate him or anything like that because that is such a strong statement to make, especially against someone I don't know.  I'm not one to take up for Mike Love but from what I've read on these forums, there seems to be some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage which could include everyone from family members to band members to associates.  If this is true, then I can understand a bit better Mike's stance about not continuing on with the C50 lineup.  My read on the situation is that when it comes to his cousin, Mike Love has had a lot on his plate to deal with as far as that relationship goes dating back to the sixties.  I believe at one time that Mike and Brian were extremely close but like happens in many families touched by mental illness, Brian's unfortunate struggles eventually created a distance between them.  From the well documented issues with Brian's experimentation with drugs, to his downfall, his encounters and alleged near-captivity at the hands of Landy to the fact that he allegedly to this day has quite the entourage following him around wherever he goes in a professional sense, I can see why Mike probably feels that just hitting the road with Bruce and some other mates is by far the preferable choice to continuing on with the C50.

It doesn't necessarily explain with Al and Dave were axed as well but there might be something going on there that we don't know about.  I've read a lot of postings that seem to suggest some current bad blood between Mike and Al as well but who knows?  I don't think Mike is ever going to be doing himself any favors or win himself any fans with the diehard Beach Boys fanbase and why should he?  He's out of touch with most of our perception of what the group should be and at times comes off as his own worst enemy in the press.  That being said Mike's job isn't to cow-tow to the diehard Beach Boys fanbase, but to sell the brand to the general public which he does very well.  The general public doesn't care who is up on stage representing the brand, nor do they care that the brand is being represented playing at a car wash.  They are just there to stomp their feet, clap their hands and sing surfy songs and Mike Love delivers that to them on a nightly basis.  Now that doesn't necessarily do anything for me but I take consolation in the fact that there are always some Beach Boys projects percolating in terms of archival releases even if the band that currently bills themselves as "The Beach Boys" is something I probably won't be buying tickets to anytime soon.

As much as we superfans may not agree a Beach Boys reunion today means Brian and Mike -- these are the two primary entities calling the shots. Since '98, Al was played with Brian, Bruce has played with Brian, Bruce has played with Mike, Dave has played with Mike & Bruce, Al has played with Mike & Bruce, and on and on.

There is no real non-musical incentive to include Al & Dave in Mike's lineup -- the gigs would probably be the same, and the profits less per member.

I'm sure Mike would be down if Brian came on board with a couple of his guys to fill out the parts, and Al and Dave. But everything we've seen suggests that there are compromises Mike isn't willing to make, and Mike has concerns about Brian being on the road with the 'Beach Boys' schedule.

From what I understand, the C50 tour was highly successful financially. Mike/Bruce play much smaller venues, with much smaller ticket prices, while also having to pay Brian, Al and Carl's estate.

Say what we will about Mike, this does not seem to be about the cash, in my thinking. For Mike, maybe it's more control, maybe it's more fun, maybe it's a personality clash between some parties. If he is happier doing his Mike/Bruce show, I don't blame him for it. He has the license. I don't like it but it is what it is.

The venues are smaller, but the ticket prices are still too high...they're playing in my area and tickets are 70 bucks...I paid 90 last year for the C50 lineup. That's too much for one original member who was not the main songwriter and half the songs sung by sidemen, no matter how good they are.

They played our local little casino and tickets were $35 and $15. Bout 1000 people. Small change compared to C50 shows.

[Pretty Funky]

I don't know how these things work but I would imagine a venue pays a agreed fee for a act and then charges what they want. In theory a casino could charge $35 for a ticket knowing many of those 1000 people are going to eat, gamble and stay at the hotel so they get their money back in other ways.

A smaller 1000 venue only concert has to charge more for a ticket as they have no other way to make their money.

[J.G. Dev]

Well, with Matt J, that gave Mike 4 people on stage that were on the Sunflower album (cover that is)  

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I don't know how these things work but I would imagine a venue pays a agreed fee for a act and then charges what they want. In theory a casino could charge $35 for a ticket knowing many of those 1000 people are going to eat, gamble and stay at the hotel so they get their money back in other ways.

A smaller 1000 venue only concert has to charge more for a ticket as they have no other way to make their money.

Good point. Think you are probably correct.  It be very interesting if someone in the know contrasted the financials between the two.

[RangeRoverA1]

As for the main subject of the post, it's really nice to see. I know Mike and Bruce have always respected Matt's talents (he carried on working with them for a while after Carl's death), and it would be nice if, even though the band split up again post-2012, the various members and people associated with them could guest with each other when the mood strikes them, without any hostility.

Well said.

[TimmyC]

[/quote]

The venues are smaller, but the ticket prices are still too high...they're playing in my area and tickets are 70 bucks...I paid 90 last year for the C50 lineup. That's too much for one original member who was not the main songwriter and half the songs sung by sidemen, no matter how good they are.
[/quote]

Yup, exactly. Although it looks like they're getting away with it. My 6 year old really wants to see them with me this summer, so I looked up tickets for the nearest show (hampton beach nh) and they're basically sold out. Even with 70 a ticket. Lame, but if that's what they can get for the tickets, then that's what they can get. Really disappointed that I won't be able to see them with my son though....

[SMiLE Brian]

Sounds like M&B are going for the big bucks now. My M&B ticket was $20 bucks for a fairground show in 2011.

[LostArt]

The group charges their fee, and the buyer sets the ticket prices.  Tickets for the July outdoor show in my area are $15.00 each or two for $25.00 (slightly higher on the day of the show), and that includes an opening act (a Beatles tribute band, "American English"...they're actually quite good, if you're into that sort of thing).  The Beach Boys set will probably be on the shorter side, but I'll go anyway.

[Nicko1234]

You lucky people. Tickets for the U.K. gig this summer are closer to $200. Seems like they will sell out too!

[Mikie]

That's too much for one original member who was not the main songwriter and half the songs sung by sidemen, no matter how good they are.

Right.  Ain't worth it.