Brian Wilson's 11th solo album announced today

[Nicko1234]

Of course the question is academic whether BAD touring as the BBswould be as succesful as M&B. Still you gave your opinion on it in an earlier post. You chose not to answer my question what makes you think so. And I don't know what happenings on a tour years ago have to do with the academic premises of BAD touring as the BBs nowadays. I agree with you that it won't happen ever but they did manage to do the whole C50 tour together. So what if BAD would do a M&B-like tour as the BBs, don't you think they'd sell as many tickets as the other two guys do?

AGD did give an answer. Because there is no way that Brian and the other guys would be willing to go out and play 100 gigs a year.

The very idea of it is preposterous to be honest and if Carl's estate had to choose (it will never happen) then obviously they would go with Mike. Mike has adapted the current BB band into a successful 7 piece band who will perform at any venue if the money is right.

If BAD were to call themselves 'The Beach Boys' then having an 11 or 12 piece band (plus presumably higher travelling costs) would make much less business sense. Does anyone think that Melinda would or should be talking Brian into playing any county fair going anyway?

[Shady]

Some people just can't grasp that Mike Love decided to end a real Beach Boys tour and return to his Mike and Bruce version effectively leaving Brian Wilson on the streets. Yes I know Brian may have been able to do something legally etc but who really wants that.

I felt that way too when Mike Love first announced that the C50 wasn't going to continue.  There were a lot of posts on here in the vein of "Mike Love, that jerk really knows how to ruin a good time" or "Now Brian is going to feel abandoned".  Look I get where you're coming from and I don't agree with Mike's decision to revert back to the M&B incarnation of "The Beach Boys" instead of continuing with the C50 lineup.  However, the guy does have the right to do what he wants with his life and his career and the more accounts we've gotten about the C50 is that Mike Love didn't really enjoy the experience.  That's not to say he hated the experience but it certainly didn't seem like "every night was a new celebration" for him so to speak.  Some people have attributed this to the fact that there was allegedly some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage.  Who knows?  

The one thing I hope didn't happen is that this C50 tour didn't spell the end for the relationship be it personal or professional between Wilson and Love.  Remember Joe Thomas mentioned that all of those years that we all assumed they were feuding with each other, that they would actually occasionally take in basketball games together so perhaps the rift wasn't as deep as we thought?  Is it now?  Does Brian Wilson deeply resent the fact that he's not out on the road with M&B?  He seems to be moving on well with his life and career and certainly isn't crying into any pillows.  Still one could make an argument that there were bitter seeds sown last fall between all members of the group and they wouldn't be wrong for feeling that way given some of the news that has come out particularly from Camp Wilson since last fall.  

Look if you are a fan of conspiracy theories or reading the tea leaves or however you want to put that, there isn't much right now to get you excited if you are still championing the C50 lineup.  The latest example would be only days after we were all speculating that possibly The Beach Boys were working on a new record, Brian Wilson's website squashed that rumor and revealed that Brian is working on a new solo record inclusive of Al Jardine and David Marks but not the others.  I don't think that is a coincidence as no doubt this board is read by the same people who facilitated that announcement on Brian's website.  The clear message being: Brian Wilson has moved on from the C50, there is no more C50 related plans at the moment and here is what he's working on right now.  I guess if you are a champion of the C50 lineup, the only thing you can hang your hat on at the moment is Brian Wilson's plans change with the weather and the rest of the group hasn't necessarily (to my knowledge) squashed the idea of ever working together again as an inclusive unit period.

Mike can do whatever he likes with what he owns. He didn't create the Beach Boys and he damn sure is not the reason the name he tours with can do 300+ dates a year, or whatever that figure is.

If the C50 tour ended with all members deciding to put it to bed for a year then I would have no problem with the M&B band taking up from where they left off. It's the fact that Mike rejected numerous offers for more shows in America and Europe and decided to resume touring with Bruce. That is the number 1 issue at hand. I just don't understand how that course of action is understandable or defensible. It's truly the most greedy decision you can make when in a band.

[filledeplage]

Some people just can't grasp that Mike Love decided to end a real Beach Boys tour and return to his Mike and Bruce version effectively leaving Brian Wilson on the streets. Yes I know Brian may have been able to do something legally etc but who really wants that.

I felt that way too when Mike Love first announced that the C50 wasn't going to continue.  There were a lot of posts on here in the vein of "Mike Love, that jerk really knows how to ruin a good time" or "Now Brian is going to feel abandoned".  Look I get where you're coming from and I don't agree with Mike's decision to revert back to the M&B incarnation of "The Beach Boys" instead of continuing with the C50 lineup.  However, the guy does have the right to do what he wants with his life and his career and the more accounts we've gotten about the C50 is that Mike Love didn't really enjoy the experience.  That's not to say he hated the experience but it certainly didn't seem like "every night was a new celebration" for him so to speak.  Some people have attributed this to the fact that there was allegedly some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage.  Who knows?  

The one thing I hope didn't happen is that this C50 tour didn't spell the end for the relationship be it personal or professional between Wilson and Love.  Remember Joe Thomas mentioned that all of those years that we all assumed they were feuding with each other, that they would actually occasionally take in basketball games together so perhaps the rift wasn't as deep as we thought?  Is it now?  Does Brian Wilson deeply resent the fact that he's not out on the road with M&B?  He seems to be moving on well with his life and career and certainly isn't crying into any pillows.  Still one could make an argument that there were bitter seeds sown last fall between all members of the group and they wouldn't be wrong for feeling that way given some of the news that has come out particularly from Camp Wilson since last fall.  

Look if you are a fan of conspiracy theories or reading the tea leaves or however you want to put that, there isn't much right now to get you excited if you are still championing the C50 lineup.  The latest example would be only days after we were all speculating that possibly The Beach Boys were working on a new record, Brian Wilson's website squashed that rumor and revealed that Brian is working on a new solo record inclusive of Al Jardine and David Marks but not the others.  I don't think that is a coincidence as no doubt this board is read by the same people who facilitated that announcement on Brian's website.  The clear message being: Brian Wilson has moved on from the C50, there is no more C50 related plans at the moment and here is what he's working on right now.  I guess if you are a champion of the C50 lineup, the only thing you can hang your hat on at the moment is Brian Wilson's plans change with the weather and the rest of the group hasn't necessarily (to my knowledge) squashed the idea of ever working together again as an inclusive unit period.

Mike can do whatever he likes with what he owns. He didn't create the Beach Boys and he damn sure is not the reason the name he tours with can do 300+ dates a year, or whatever that figure is.

If the C50 tour ended with all members deciding to put it to bed for a year then I would have no problem with the M&B band taking up from where they left off. It's the fact that Mike rejected numerous offers for more shows in America and Europe and decided to resume touring with Bruce. That is the number 1 issue at hand. I just don't understand how that course of action is understandable or defensible. It's truly the most greedy decision you can make when in a band.

Shady - Mike has a "license" - that doesn't mean "ownership." Of course, it comes with "conditions of performance." Just general, no specifics.  And, I think he might do around 180 or so for shows.  Andrew (Mr. Doe) knows better. And with some exactitude.  And, you may not like Mike, but he is a "de facto" creator.   That's back to "Surfin'" - in the fall of 1961.  Brian-Mike. Like it or not. We don't get to rewrite history. 

Andrew said earlier that there were shows "in stone" and I seem to recall that they played a date the day following the last C50.  How can anyone argue with the work ethic? And it is a great band.  They play a great show, and get offers to play elsewhere.  That is how it works.  If they were a terrible band, they wouldn't be getting offers of more work.

I love your passion for the music.  But, seriously, Mike is 25% of the vote, as I've read.  Last time I checked that was not a controlling percentage. And, I'm terrible at Math! 

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Of course the question is academic whether BAD touring as the BBswould be as succesful as M&B. Still you gave your opinion on it in an earlier post. You chose not to answer my question what makes you think so. And I don't know what happenings on a tour years ago have to do with the academic premises of BAD touring as the BBs nowadays. I agree with you that it won't happen ever but they did manage to do the whole C50 tour together. So what if BAD would do a M&B-like tour as the BBs, don't you think they'd sell as many tickets as the other two guys do?

AGD did give an answer. Because there is no way that Brian and the other guys would be willing to go out and play 100 gigs a year.

The very idea of it is preposterous to be honest and if Carl's estate had to choose (it will never happen) then obviously they would go with Mike. Mike has adapted the current BB band into a successful 7 piece band who will perform at any venue if the money is right.

If BAD were to call themselves 'The Beach Boys' then having an 11 or 12 piece band (plus presumably higher travelling costs) would make much less business sense. Does anyone think that Melinda would or should be talking Brian into playing any county fair going anyway?

Doing 100 shows a year is now the definition of success? I guess the Rolling Stones 30 date '50 and Counting" and McCartney's 25 date "Out There" tours are doomed to be dismal failures. Someone needs to tell those losers they need to add 70 more dates, preferably in casinos.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Two different arguments going on there...

The bottom line is that the current scenario is much better for Brian than if he were to try to take The Beach Boys name. He gets more money at the moment, does not have to go through the hassle of trying to change the agreement, should be able to play more interesting setlists when he tours under his own name etc. There is no logical reason why he would want to start calling himself 'The Beach Boys'. This would be especially true if he were planning to release new material.

Ok, I will quote you. You say there is no logical reason........ I gave you Brian's quote of 7 months ago.

I would say, let's wait and see what Brian says in interviews in support of his new album and tour. You know he is going to be asked about it.

[Shady]

Some people just can't grasp that Mike Love decided to end a real Beach Boys tour and return to his Mike and Bruce version effectively leaving Brian Wilson on the streets. Yes I know Brian may have been able to do something legally etc but who really wants that.

I felt that way too when Mike Love first announced that the C50 wasn't going to continue.  There were a lot of posts on here in the vein of "Mike Love, that jerk really knows how to ruin a good time" or "Now Brian is going to feel abandoned".  Look I get where you're coming from and I don't agree with Mike's decision to revert back to the M&B incarnation of "The Beach Boys" instead of continuing with the C50 lineup.  However, the guy does have the right to do what he wants with his life and his career and the more accounts we've gotten about the C50 is that Mike Love didn't really enjoy the experience.  That's not to say he hated the experience but it certainly didn't seem like "every night was a new celebration" for him so to speak.  Some people have attributed this to the fact that there was allegedly some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage.  Who knows?  

The one thing I hope didn't happen is that this C50 tour didn't spell the end for the relationship be it personal or professional between Wilson and Love.  Remember Joe Thomas mentioned that all of those years that we all assumed they were feuding with each other, that they would actually occasionally take in basketball games together so perhaps the rift wasn't as deep as we thought?  Is it now?  Does Brian Wilson deeply resent the fact that he's not out on the road with M&B?  He seems to be moving on well with his life and career and certainly isn't crying into any pillows.  Still one could make an argument that there were bitter seeds sown last fall between all members of the group and they wouldn't be wrong for feeling that way given some of the news that has come out particularly from Camp Wilson since last fall.  

Look if you are a fan of conspiracy theories or reading the tea leaves or however you want to put that, there isn't much right now to get you excited if you are still championing the C50 lineup.  The latest example would be only days after we were all speculating that possibly The Beach Boys were working on a new record, Brian Wilson's website squashed that rumor and revealed that Brian is working on a new solo record inclusive of Al Jardine and David Marks but not the others.  I don't think that is a coincidence as no doubt this board is read by the same people who facilitated that announcement on Brian's website.  The clear message being: Brian Wilson has moved on from the C50, there is no more C50 related plans at the moment and here is what he's working on right now.  I guess if you are a champion of the C50 lineup, the only thing you can hang your hat on at the moment is Brian Wilson's plans change with the weather and the rest of the group hasn't necessarily (to my knowledge) squashed the idea of ever working together again as an inclusive unit period.

Mike can do whatever he likes with what he owns. He didn't create the Beach Boys and he damn sure is not the reason the name he tours with can do 300+ dates a year, or whatever that figure is.

If the C50 tour ended with all members deciding to put it to bed for a year then I would have no problem with the M&B band taking up from where they left off. It's the fact that Mike rejected numerous offers for more shows in America and Europe and decided to resume touring with Bruce. That is the number 1 issue at hand. I just don't understand how that course of action is understandable or defensible. It's truly the most greedy decision you can make when in a band.

Shady - Mike has a "license" - that doesn't mean "ownership." Of course, it comes with "conditions of performance." Just general, no specifics.  And, I think he might do around 180 or so for shows.  Andrew (Mr. Doe) knows better. And with some exactitude.  And, you may not like Mike, but he is a "de facto" creator.   That's back to "Surfin'" - in the fall of 1961.  Brian-Mike. Like it or not. We don't get to rewrite history. 

Andrew said earlier that there were shows "in stone" and I seem to recall that they played a date the day following the last C50.  How can anyone argue with the work ethic? And it is a great band.  They play a great show, and get offers to play elsewhere.  That is how it works.  If they were a terrible band, they wouldn't be getting offers of more work.

I love your passion for the music.  But, seriously, Mike is 25% of the vote, as I've read.  Last time I checked that was not a controlling percentage. And, I'm terrible at Math! 

I get what you're saying, at this stage I'm aware of all the voting etc.

Legal crap aside (we've seen enough of that in the Beach Boys world) I'm talking on a more human level. Mike's rejection of dates and how he handled it was not right IMO. All the guys wanted to go on minus Mike (Bruce goes where Mike goes). Brian and Al both felt wronged, a media storm ensued, not a classy end to a reunion tour in my view.

I appreciate what Mike did in the 60's and most of the 70's don't get me wrong but he's not necessarily the one I want out there flying The Beach Boys flag. I like that the Mike and Bruce show have some supports on this board, I don't don't personally appreciate that incarnation myself so maybe I'm biased. I'm anti the sea world touring Beach Boys, I've stated before the name deserves better but that horse has long since been beaten  

[KittyKat]

I'm not sure why Capitol Records wants to release a new Brian Wilson solo album. The Beach Boys reunion albums didn't even sell that well with the Beach Boys name, why do they think a Brian album would sell that well? Yes, the BB reunion did go to Number 3, but it was a soft number 3 with a lot of heavy discounting (as in $5 downloads and $10 CD's). Even with the discounts, I doubt it sold that many copies when all was said and done.

I have no interested in hearing another Brian solo CD. He has star guests on this one, but so did GIOMH. I'm not a fan of GIOMH. Brian's vocals are getting rougher as the years go by. Joe Thomas is co-writing/producing. I'm tired of Joe Thomas. I don't want to see that man's name next to anything. Though I'm not sure that's the deal-breaker. I guess I have Brian Wilson fatigue. It was fun when he came back many  years ago and it was a rare treat. At this point, meh, at least as far as new material goes. If Brian can't write and produce by himself anymore, I'm not sure what the point it.  He at least needs to find someone different than Joe Thomas to work with. Been there, done that.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

To quote Brian and disprove AGDs contention, and yours, "After all, we are the real Beach Boys". Which is saying the Mike/Bruce show isn't.

I could post dozens of links documenting Mike sacking Brain, butI will quote just one. The truth is if Mike hadn't dumped the other three, we would have a new BB album and tour this summer.

Come on. You are better than this. Aren't you?  

How very unclassy of you Nicko. Aren't you better than this? I thought you were a musician, creative type? Instead, you continue to champion a guy who has turned one of the greatest, creative rock bands of all time into a traveling oldies show.

And before someone gives me sh% t for not going PM, Nicko refuses to do PMs and just sends his pot shots in threads. Classy huh!


*******************

As to Mike's license to tour as the Beach Boys, nobody has a clue what the provisions actually say. All we know is that the other BRI parties get a %. Somebody suggested Mike has it in perpitude. Who knows? I guess nobody on this board. Too bad we don't have a self proclaimed BB scholar/insider who posts all the time. Wait, we do. Mr. Stebbins, can't you shed some light on the terms of the license?

[Nicko1234]

Ok, I will quote you. You say there is no logical reason........ I gave you Brian's quote of 7 months ago.

I would say, let's wait and see what Brian says in interviews in support of his new album and tour. You know he is going to be asked about it.

Well done but you know very well that you are talking about something completely different there.

I have said there is no logical reason why Brian would want to take The Beach Boys name and tour without Mike and Bruce.

You are talking about quotes made 7 months ago about the C50 tour continuing which is a completely different matter.

[filledeplage]

Some people just can't grasp that Mike Love decided to end a real Beach Boys tour and return to his Mike and Bruce version effectively leaving Brian Wilson on the streets. Yes I know Brian may have been able to do something legally etc but who really wants that.

I felt that way too when Mike Love first announced that the C50 wasn't going to continue.  There were a lot of posts on here in the vein of "Mike Love, that jerk really knows how to ruin a good time" or "Now Brian is going to feel abandoned".  Look I get where you're coming from and I don't agree with Mike's decision to revert back to the M&B incarnation of "The Beach Boys" instead of continuing with the C50 lineup.  However, the guy does have the right to do what he wants with his life and his career and the more accounts we've gotten about the C50 is that Mike Love didn't really enjoy the experience.  That's not to say he hated the experience but it certainly didn't seem like "every night was a new celebration" for him so to speak.  Some people have attributed this to the fact that there was allegedly some disconnect between Mike Love and Brian's entourage.  Who knows?  

The one thing I hope didn't happen is that this C50 tour didn't spell the end for the relationship be it personal or professional between Wilson and Love.  Remember Joe Thomas mentioned that all of those years that we all assumed they were feuding with each other, that they would actually occasionally take in basketball games together so perhaps the rift wasn't as deep as we thought?  Is it now?  Does Brian Wilson deeply resent the fact that he's not out on the road with M&B?  He seems to be moving on well with his life and career and certainly isn't crying into any pillows.  Still one could make an argument that there were bitter seeds sown last fall between all members of the group and they wouldn't be wrong for feeling that way given some of the news that has come out particularly from Camp Wilson since last fall.  

Look if you are a fan of conspiracy theories or reading the tea leaves or however you want to put that, there isn't much right now to get you excited if you are still championing the C50 lineup.  The latest example would be only days after we were all speculating that possibly The Beach Boys were working on a new record, Brian Wilson's website squashed that rumor and revealed that Brian is working on a new solo record inclusive of Al Jardine and David Marks but not the others.  I don't think that is a coincidence as no doubt this board is read by the same people who facilitated that announcement on Brian's website.  The clear message being: Brian Wilson has moved on from the C50, there is no more C50 related plans at the moment and here is what he's working on right now.  I guess if you are a champion of the C50 lineup, the only thing you can hang your hat on at the moment is Brian Wilson's plans change with the weather and the rest of the group hasn't necessarily (to my knowledge) squashed the idea of ever working together again as an inclusive unit period.

Mike can do whatever he likes with what he owns. He didn't create the Beach Boys and he damn sure is not the reason the name he tours with can do 300+ dates a year, or whatever that figure is.

If the C50 tour ended with all members deciding to put it to bed for a year then I would have no problem with the M&B band taking up from where they left off. It's the fact that Mike rejected numerous offers for more shows in America and Europe and decided to resume touring with Bruce. That is the number 1 issue at hand. I just don't understand how that course of action is understandable or defensible. It's truly the most greedy decision you can make when in a band.

Shady - Mike has a "license" - that doesn't mean "ownership." Of course, it comes with "conditions of performance." Just general, no specifics.  And, I think he might do around 180 or so for shows.  Andrew (Mr. Doe) knows better. And with some exactitude.  And, you may not like Mike, but he is a "de facto" creator.   That's back to "Surfin'" - in the fall of 1961.  Brian-Mike. Like it or not. We don't get to rewrite history.  

Andrew said earlier that there were shows "in stone" and I seem to recall that they played a date the day following the last C50.  How can anyone argue with the work ethic? And it is a great band.  They play a great show, and get offers to play elsewhere.  That is how it works.  If they were a terrible band, they wouldn't be getting offers of more work.

I love your passion for the music.  But, seriously, Mike is 25% of the vote, as I've read.  Last time I checked that was not a controlling percentage. And, I'm terrible at Math!  

I get what you're saying, at this stage I'm aware of all the voting etc.

Legal crap aside (we've seen enough of that in the Beach Boys world) I'm talking on a more human level. Mike's rejection of dates and how he handled it was not right IMO. All the guys wanted to go on minus Mike (Bruce goes where Mike goes). Brian and Al both felt wronged, a media storm ensued, not a classy end to a reunion tour in my view.

I appreciate what Mike did in the 60's and most of the 70's don't get me wrong but he's not necessarily the one I want out there flying The Beach Boys flag. I like that the Mike and Bruce show have some supports on this board, I don't don't personally appreciate that incarnation myself so maybe I'm biased. I'm anti the sea world touring Beach Boys, I've stated before the name deserves better but that horse has long since been beaten  

Shady - fans are fans, whether at the grand Beacon Theater, a palace in London, or Sea World. The demographic is all over the place. Kids, seniors who don't or can't drive at night, and the rest in between.  Brian has done casinos as well.  And not-so-fancy places as well.   Who cares? He sings, or they sing and "all is right with the world."  Mike caters to the demographic.  I love it.  People used to fly "across the pond" regularly to Disney World to see them.  That is not a bad thing.  Disney has a resort dedicated to "Music" and the Beach Boys photos were always prominently displayed.  Even before Carl's death.

And the history suggests, that unfortunately, for all the great lobbying and pushing old Murry did to get them on the map, the credits for lyrics had to be resolved.  That was old time Hollywood in a sense.  Lots of child stars had their parents or managers "make off with the dough, because they could." Now, protections are in place to eliminate that.  

Check out the YouTube of Sea World.  I have it on my streamer - BBTV!    

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Ok, I will quote you. You say there is no logical reason........ I gave you Brian's quote of 7 months ago.

I would say, let's wait and see what Brian says in interviews in support of his new album and tour. You know he is going to be asked about it.

Well done but you know very well that you are talking about something completely different there.

I have said there is no logical reason why Brian would want to take The Beach Boys name and tour without Mike and Bruce.

You are talking about quotes made 7 months ago about the C50 tour continuing which is a completely different matter.

K, understood. Gotcha.

[Nicko1234]

How very unclassy of you Nicko. Aren't you better than this? I thought you were a musician, creative type? Instead, you continue to champion a guy who has turned one of the greatest, creative rock bands of all time into a traveling oldies show.

And before someone gives me sh% t for not going PM, Nicko refuses to do PMs and just sends his pot shots in threads. Classy huh!

No pot shots at all. You know that you are intentionally misquoting people in this thread and posting things that are inaccurate.

The most baffling thing of all is that you have said that you wouldn't want Brian touring as The Beach Boys so I've no idea why you wanted to take up space on the board with an idea that you don't want and which there has never been any remote indication will happen.

[Nicko1234]

Doing 100 shows a year is now the definition of success? I guess the Rolling Stones 30 date '50 and Counting" and McCartney's 25 date "Out There" tours are doomed to be dismal failures. Someone needs to tell those losers they need to add 70 more dates, preferably in casinos.

Very amusing again but something tells me that a Beach Boys group that consisted of only Brian, David and Al would not be playing the arenas and stadiums that McCartney and The Stones can.

There is no logical reason why Brian would want to take the name in that way as stated before.

[Nicko1234]

If the C50 tour ended with all members deciding to put it to bed for a year then I would have no problem with the M&B band taking up from where they left off. It's the fact that Mike rejected numerous offers for more shows in America and Europe and decided to resume touring with Bruce. That is the number 1 issue at hand. I just don't understand how that course of action is understandable or defensible. It's truly the most greedy decision you can make when in a band.

As another poster said, the reason why it was understandable is because everybody knew about the October Mike and Bruce gigs. Bruce had said that the tour had to end by a certain point and Al said they were back together for, 'one final time'. All of the members signed up for an anniversary tour. By its very nature an anniversary tour can only go on for so long. I was disappointed when it ended like almost everybody else but hardly surprised. They did all of the things that they'd signed up for and more and then went back to normal as they had originally intended.

As far as the 'greedy' comment. Of course The Beach Boys are about greed. Their decision to get back together last year was a business one. Brian's (or Melinda's) decision to grant Mike a license (and they would have granted Al a license if he'd paid enough) was about money of course. They are businessmen.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Doing 100 shows a year is now the definition of success? I guess the Rolling Stones 30 date '50 and Counting" and McCartney's 25 date "Out There" tours are doomed to be dismal failures. Someone needs to tell those losers they need to add 70 more dates, preferably in casinos.

Very amusing again but something tells me that a Beach Boys group that consisted of only Brian, David and Al would not be playing the arenas and stadiums that McCartney and The Stones can.

There is no logical reason why Brian would want to take the name in that way as stated before.

You seem to have a distinct ability to intermix different arguments.The point was repeatedly made that M/B are highly successful because they do over 100 shows a year. My point is, you can do 30 shows and be successful.

If the Stones were only doing 30 club shows, they'd get heaps of praise! The BBs can't do stadiums in any configuration and that's not only Mike's fault. That goes way back to Carl's time. Another subject anyway.

What I take issue with are people posting what Brian thinks or wants. I keep saying my thoughts are wild speculation.
We don't know if Brian would take the BB name if he could. We don't know if he could. My main points are:

1) If Brian, Al and David did tour as the BBs, the shows they did do would draw well. Yes, Brian would not do 100 shows a year, agree.  Probabky not even 50. Do the numbers/BRI distribution numbers make it a no go? Nobody here really knows. We do know the C50 grossed in excess of $20 million.

2) It seems, from what I read, that Brian wanted to do another BB album, a rock and roll album, and wanted to do more shows with the other 4 BBs. It bums me the new album could havee easily been a BB album. Forgive me for living in the past but this is the 'what if' board. What if Brian had finished Smile, what if Dennis hadn't died, what if the BB had done Monterey.........

As to the premise DBA won't last, Al got unhappy, got unwanted and left Brian's tour because he wasn't getting paid. He made it all the way thru the C50 tour, as did David, and I think they  all got paid. Apparently, it went so well that they are doing more shows and new music together.

[urbanite]

I'm hoping that before Capitol agreed to finance a new Brian Wilson album, they asked for some demos first to see if he had anything worth releasing.   It's tough to get a record deal these days, but maybe Brian can get one based on past glory.  I have no idea.  Any inside info would be appreciated.

I will keep my expectations very low for the new solo album and hope to be surprised as I was with That Lucky Old Sun.

[Wirestone]

It still befuddles me -- still! -- that Brian's wishes have been given so little consideration here. He wanted to keep touring with the band. He wanted to make more Beach Boys records. But apparently a couple of pre-booked dates at tiny venues mean all of that doesn't matter.

I'm not sure why Capitol Records wants to release a new Brian Wilson solo album.

They like it? They think the can move some units? Because it's a prestige artist signing that appeals to the shrinking demographic that still buy high-margin physical copies of music?

The Beach Boys reunion albums didn't even sell that well with the Beach Boys name, why do they think a Brian album would sell that well?
 Yes, the BB reunion did go to Number 3, but it was a soft number 3 with a lot of heavy discounting (as in $5 downloads and $10 CD's). Even with the discounts, I doubt it sold that many copies when all was said and done.

Heavy discounting is the norm with virtually all new releases these days. And most albums don't sell millions upon millions of copies anymore. Regardless, a #3 placing is extremely respectable.

If Brian is financing the sessions (and BriMel actually owns the masters), Capitol probably won't be spending very much on this solo record anyway.

I have no interested in hearing another Brian solo CD.

Then why post in this thread?

He has star guests on this one, but so did GIOMH. I'm not a fan of GIOMH.

There is precisely one star guest. Jeff Beck. There are a lot of players working on it, and a couple of former Beach Boys, but I would hardly call any of them "star guests." And I don't know what a nine-year-old album has to do with anything here.

Brian's vocals are getting rougher as the years go by.

Except for the fact that his best recorded solo singing has been on albums released over the last three years.

At this point, meh, at least as far as new material goes. If Brian can't write and produce by himself anymore, I'm not sure what the point it.

Again, why bother posting on this thread then? Many of us are interested, especially in new material.

[Jim V.]

Mike's two creative contribuations on TWGMTR aren't exactly held in very high regard, and a lot of people seem to outright hate Bruce (Can we please drop the infantile "Teabag Bruce"/"Tea Party Bruce" nickname?).

I think it's probably fair to call Brucie a teabagger or tea partier. It's not an insult. Just a description. By the way, he had no problem calling the President of the United States an asshole, simply because he might have to pay more taxes for the all the clapping and waving he does.

No, I accept no such thing. All I know is we can look forward to a JT produced album of Jeff F vocals, perhaps poor Dave playing some poorly produced licks (Dave was done a disservice on BIM  and elsewhere on Radio except for the title and last songs, where he was allowed to ply his art best) drowned out by 5 guitars from JT old tapes, and with auto-tuned Al, plus lots of songs about emotion and just trying to get through: yawn yawn.  I am BB or nothing. I want Al and Dave on vocals and guitars both, Bruce on piano and vocals, Mike and Brian writing meaningful songs alone together, and the 5 BB themselves, not special guests "woodshedding."

I really like your posts most of the time professor, but I gotta ask, what do you like from The Beach Boys? Seems like you got a lot of complaints about TWGMTR, and you don't seem to have much of an interest in the rest of their career, besides praise for Pet Sounds (if I remember correctly). Is it just the fact that having the guys working together makes you feel that all is right in the world? I know personally, that did give me some satisfaction last spring and summer, that The Beach Boys were together and doing their thing.

Also, what's wrong with songs about trying to get through? Seemed like it worked pretty decently on Pet Sounds and a lot of their other great work. Would you prefer Mike bullshitting about how happy he was to be back together like on "Spring Vacation"?

Brian's vocals are getting rougher as the years go by.

Not true. He sounded better on stuff like "From There To Back Again" and "Summer's Gone" then he has since probably Holland. If anything his vocals have improved in the past 15 years.

And lastly, I'd once again like to get Mr. Andrew Doe's opinion, since he never responded...

And... if Brian is indeed so all-fired to keep making Beach Boys albums, all he has to do is ask Mike & Bruce to stroll on down to Oceanway.

Really? It's that easy? Even though Jon Stebbins reported that the group was given an offer to do another studio album (along with more live work) and Mike declined? Or are you questioning the veracity of Mr. Stebbins information?

[Cam Mott]

It still befuddles me -- still! -- that Brian's wishes have been given so little consideration here. He wanted to keep touring with the band. He wanted to make more Beach Boys records. But apparently a couple of pre-booked dates at tiny venues mean all of that doesn't matter.

Yes, poor Brian. His wishes are never considered enough.  I just pulled a muscle with a comically over-wrought eye roll.

What records plans were ruined and what did it have to do with the end of C50? I must have missed that.

[Wirestone]

It still befuddles me -- still! -- that Brian's wishes have been given so little consideration here. He wanted to keep touring with the band. He wanted to make more Beach Boys records. But apparently a couple of pre-booked dates at tiny venues mean all of that doesn't matter.

Yes, poor Brian. His wishes are never considered enough.  I just pulled a muscle with a comically over-wrought eye roll.

You should get that looked at. Muscle strains are the worst.

What records plans were ruined and what did it have to do with the end of C50? I must have missed that.

The full group had offers on the table for more shows -- including Madison Square Garden, I believe -- and another studio album. Mike turned them down, given how important it was to keep playing wineries with Bruce and Christian.

[Nicko1234]

It still befuddles me -- still! -- that Brian's wishes have been given so little consideration here. He wanted to keep touring with the band. He wanted to make more Beach Boys records. But apparently a couple of pre-booked dates at tiny venues mean all of that doesn't matter.

In what way have they been given so little consideration? I think some people are just realistic in that you can't force people into doing what they don't want to do. I can understand people arguing that the BBs name should be retired if they aren't all together (the same argument that has been valid since 1998) but not the feeling that if Brian wanted to make a Beach Boys album that other members should have felt they had to do it in spite of their personal feelings.

[drbeachboy]

Does anybody really know the story why Mike didn't want to do another album? Were there conditions attached with having to tour it? Was he unhappy with TWGMTR?

[Andrew G. Doe]

May I point out, not for the first time, that since the LA Times letter of last October, Brian hasn't said a single word more about the entire situation: for someone who was reportedly close to heartbroken about the situation, he sure got over it fast. Granted, the imminent mini-tour with Alan & David could be construed as a tacit riposte to Mike, but that's just me musing aloud, and as we all know, I know nothing of the mind  and motivation of BDW.  

[Wirestone]

It still befuddles me -- still! -- that Brian's wishes have been given so little consideration here. He wanted to keep touring with the band. He wanted to make more Beach Boys records. But apparently a couple of pre-booked dates at tiny venues mean all of that doesn't matter.

In what way have they been given so little consideration? I think some people are just realistic in that you can't force people into doing what they don't want to do. I can understand people arguing that the BBs name should be retired if they aren't all together (the same argument that has been valid since 1998) but not the feeling that if Brian wanted to make a Beach Boys album that other members should have felt they had to do it in spite of their personal feelings.

I'm just putting this in perspective on a fan level. Not necessarily on the BRI corporate level. Ten, 15 years ago, if you had told folks there was a day that all Brian Wilson wanted to do was tour with the Beach Boys and make Beach Boys records, they would be amazed. They would say it was the best of all possible worlds. That day came last year. Brian said these things. And now that the C50 band has fallen apart, folks are somehow acting as though Brian is at fault, or "selfish" (AGD's word) for wanting to be part of it. And that's what I don't understand.

[Wirestone]

Does anybody really know the story why Mike didn't want to do another album? Were there conditions attached with having to tour it? Was he unhappy with TWGMTR?

I think it was only a very general proposal, not a concrete offer. And Mike has said he's interested in doing another record, but only if he can collaborate in a locked kitchen cupboard with a a very sweaty Brian Wilson. Eye to eye!

May I point out, not for the first time, that since the LA Times letter of last October, Brian hasn't said a single word more about the entire situation: for someone who was reportedly close to heartbroken about the situation, he sure got over it fast. Granted, the imminent mini-tour with Alan & David could be construed as a tacit riposte to Mike, but that's just me musing aloud, and as we all know, I know nothing of the mind  and motivation of BDW.  

A good point. Actually, an excellent one, and why this batch of back-and-forth is tilling and re-tilling some particularly parched and salted soil.

Which is why I'm letting this one go, in this thread, for now. I do hope to talk about the new BW album, though, especially as we learn more. Jeff Beck! Al and Dave!