Al Jardine says there's a BAD conflict w/Mike. Aka: The welcome back AGD thread

[drbeachboy]

It's all very easy-the group with the most BB's in it gets to use the name-Sorry, mYke, you lost your hair and now you're probably gonna lose the name which you never should have had in the first place. And I don't care how much Brian makes from the lovesTer's road trips.

He has it because Brian voted with Mike to give it to him.

[drbeachboy]

David was addressed as an original Beach Boy when introduced at all the C50 shows. He did sign the orignal Capitol contract, so that gives him cred. Al has cred because he was on the first single. So unless lawyers get involved, they are all ORIGINALS, except Bruce.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Sure, Brian and Al could pull a power play, get that third vote, and change the terms of the license. But, what would that accomplish? You could force Mike & Bruce to give up the name, but you couldn't force them to tour with Brian, Al, and David. And then you have basically the same situation as you have now - a group calling themselves The Beach Boys who are not really The Beach Boys. And that would really make Al look like a hypocrite because he's going around spouting that Mike & Bruce aren't really the Beach Boys, but without Mike Love, they (he, Brian, and David) would be the real deal?

I can't see anything coming out of this. Melinda will never give up that direct deposit into the checking account.

[ontor pertawst]

but without Mike Love, they (he, Brian, and David) would be the real deal?

Sure. Only obsessive fans care, as long as they play the hits, the crowd will be satisfied, right? Maybe they could even work in Kokomo once in a while on the encore.

I can't see anything coming out of this. Melinda will never give up that direct deposit into the checking account.

Right, Brian's wife is the only selfish one here. The other spouses don't care about money and consider The Beach Boys a charitable operation to bring Mike Love to children in need.

[KittyKat]

Al is a fool. I like him as a musician, but as a person, he's kind of a jerk.

I have no problem with them wanting to call themselves "The Beach Boys," IF the license that was granted to Mike has expired. If it hasn't, they're SOL. I don't care about people who talk about "moral" issues, BRIAN is the person who voted to give Mike the rights, and he and his better half should have given it a heck of a lot more thought if they believed Brian might want the rights back at some point.  It's so stupid.  Yeah, they have been cashing the checks for their share of Mike's touring revenue, as has Al, so are they prepared to stop getting that money?

Don't they think they will suffer from audience confusion as to what band they're seeing, if there are will be if there are two Beach Boys name holders? Doesn't Al (or Brian) have faith in the name "Brian Wilson" as an act people will pay to see, as crowds have paid to see the past ten years plus? Or do they want to play all the types of venues that oldies acts such as Mike's inevitably will play?

Let them all fight it out in court. If that happens, I'd like to see a judge put a restraining order on ALL parties and make them ALL stop touring. Then issue a gag order to make them all shut the foo-bar up. They can all retire and leave people to listen to their old records. Fine by me.

[ontor pertawst]

Or do they want to play all the types of venues that oldies acts such as Mike's inevitably will play?

Why would they have to do that? That's Mike's kick. He's the one with all those relationships with casinos in Biloxi.

Let them all fight it out in court. If that happens, I'd like to see a judge put a restraining order on ALL parties and make them ALL stop touring. Then issue a gag order to make them all shut the foo-bar up. They can all retire and leave people to listen to their old records. Fine by me.

Nah, I'd rather go see the Original Beach Boys do "Little Bird" live. That sounds fun!

(ducks)

[KittyKat]

Brian doesn't invite me to dinner or pay me, so I can't get that worked about about "poor Brian" being bullied by "mean ol' Mike Love" while he drives to LA steak restaurants in his Mercedes Benz in his Gucci shoes. And no, I don't care about hearing a mediocre song like "Little Bird" sung by a small bald troll.

[HeyJude]

Al is a fool. I like him as a musician, but as a person, he's kind of a jerk.

I have no problem with them wanting to call themselves "The Beach Boys," IF the license that was granted to Mike has expired. If it hasn't, they're SOL. I don't care about people who talk about "moral" issues, BRIAN is the person who voted to give Mike the rights, and he and his better half should have given it a heck of a lot more thought if they believed Brian might want the rights back at some point.  It's so stupid.  Yeah, they have been cashing the checks for their share of Mike's touring revenue, as has Al, so are they prepared to stop getting that money?

Don't they think they will suffer from audience confusion as to what band they're seeing, if there are will be if there are two Beach Boys name holders? Doesn't Al (or Brian) have faith in the name "Brian Wilson" as an act people will pay to see, as crowds have paid to see the past ten years plus? Or do they want to play all the types of venues that oldies acts such as Mike's inevitably will play?

Let them all fight it out in court. If that happens, I'd like to see a judge put a restraining order on ALL parties and make them ALL stop touring. Then issue a gag order to make them all shut the foo-bar up. They can all retire and leave people to listen to their old records. Fine by me.

Nobody said Brian, Al, and David want to call it The Beach Boys. They apparently want to bill themselves as original Beach Boys in a descriptive sense. They don't want to create a new band name for themselves. Tickets have already been sold for the tour billed as Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Brian doesn't invite me to dinner or pay me, so I can't get that worked about about "poor Brian" being bullied by "mean ol' Mike Love" while he drives to LA steak restaurants in his Mercedes Benz in his Gucci shoes. And no, I don't care about hearing a mediocre song like "Little Bird" sung by a small bald troll.

Wow...somebody doesn't like Dave

[KittyKat]

Brian doesn't invite me to dinner or pay me, so I can't get that worked about about "poor Brian" being bullied by "mean ol' Mike Love" while he drives to LA steak restaurants in his Mercedes Benz in his Gucci shoes. And no, I don't care about hearing a mediocre song like "Little Bird" sung by a small bald troll.

Wow...somebody doesn't like Dave

Oh, my bad, I thought it was sung by Al, because Dave is tall, not short like Al (and Dave isn't so trollish/elfin). Point is, at this point, I could live without either group of 70 year old men touring. Their backing bands are  what make them sound decent, they could probably tour without the big guns in front and put on a good show.

I'm also not sure why AL of all people is making this argument. If Brian feels that way, then let him say it and present his argument. For all anyone knows, Al is talking through his hat and thinking aloud. If not, Al still shouldn't be talking about legal action. That's something for the lawyers to discuss behind the scenes, and whey they're ready, then make the public statements. If there's any chance to negotiate it without a court case, then Al is not doing a very good job of making that possible.

[AlFall]

I doubt that a lawsuit is coming. Al is frustrated, but he probably would lose in court, and I think they're all tired of the lawsuits.  

I agree that Mike and Bruce calling their band "The Beach Boys" is ridiculous, but I also think a Brian Wilson / Jeff Beck act calling itself "The Beach Boys" is equally ridiculous. Robert Plant does not call his band "Led Zeppelin" or "The Original Led Zeppelin", and Paul McCartney does not call his act "The Beatles" (or even "Wings"!).

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I am in love with KittyKat

[Wirestone]

So, yes. Let's piece this all together, shall we?

Joe Thomas is working with Brian's people to wrest control of BRI and certain rights to the name. This is the reason Mike high-tailed it out of the C50 tour when he did. He wanted to reestablish control over his operation and his rights to the name. It had nothing to do with a set number of dates. It had to do with who controlled the name and the future of the touring outfit.

If Brian, Al and Dave kept touring with Mike, Joe and Brian would reap huge rewards. With Mike on his own, Brian still gets a percentage, but he doesn't control the band, and JT is out of the picture entirely. Or at least that's what Mike hoped would happen. Instead, Joe and Brian's folk are mounting a carefully choreographed challenge to the current BRI structure. Intriguing stuff.

I never understood the folks who claimed that Brian and Al would never be interested in ending the "gravy train" from Mike's touring. How many years more can Mike do it? No more than 10 or so, tops. How much good would that extra money do for Brian or Al? Not much, if they've invested carefully.

No, at this stage the battle is about the end game. Think about it. There will continue to be a touring group called the Beach Boys after the principals exit. But would you rather that band be Cowsill, Totten, Kirsch and Christian, or Sahanaja, Foskett, Gregory, Mertens, Bennett, et. al? And who would control those bands? Whose family would the revenue go to? Both Melinda and Jackie will likely outlive their spouses by decades, and both have kids. Al has several sons who would love to tour with Beach Boys music too.

If you ask me, that's what the battle is ultimately about. Who will have the rights to the name for the next generation. If you think it's bitter and nasty now, just wait. It's only beginning.

[Michael Edwards Love]

There may be a publicity angle to some of this to get butts in the seats for the Brian shows.  Even if news stories run that say "Original Beach Boys" Brian, Al and Dave, that could tip oldies fans over into buying tix.  There may be no need to actually have the legal rights to calling themselves Original Beach Boys; just get journalists to do the job for them.

Right now, there are lots of people going to see M&B with absolutely no idea who makes up the band, but they know that they are seeing "The Beach Boys."

[ontor pertawst]

If you ask me, that's what the battle is ultimately about. Who will have the rights to the name for the next generation. If you think it's bitter and nasty now, just wait. It's only beginning.

You sound pretty dead on accurate with all that. That battle is going to be fought extremely viciously and will make a lot of wealthy lawyers even wealthier.

A shame California Saga didn't stay active.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

If you ask me, that's what the battle is ultimately about. Who will have the rights to the name for the next generation. If you think it's bitter and nasty now, just wait. It's only beginning.

You sound pretty dead on accurate with all that. That battle is going to be fought extremely viciously and will make a lot of wealthy lawyers even wealthier.

A shame California Saga didn't stay active.

I don't think the band will carry on in name. This issue is about putting butts in the seats. Promoters want to bill BAD as "Original Beach Boys" Brian, Al and Dave" and not "Brian Wilson with special guests Al and Dave". I am guessing Mike interprets the license as not allowing billing as the former.

Sounds like it may end up in court..

[Cam Mott]

If they problems with the terms then they can complain to themselves, they are their terms.

[Don Malcolm]

Excellent post, Wirestone. This may yet turn into a next generation "Dallas" thang...but that idea only had legs (and those were pretty shaky...) when Larry Hagman was alive. Without Brian and Mike, the gravy train is going to be a lot more dried-up. There's no one in the next generation who can really "keep the summer alive" in any meaningful way, which probably helps to explain why everyone is out there right now with guns ablazin'.

Best part of that Howie piece by far: the YouTube link to "Mess of Help." Ahh, Carl. And the Lovester in that terrycloth abominaton!! "Don't touch my jug/Or I'll pull the plug/Because I'm TAINTED WITH THE WILSON BLOOD!!" 

[oldsurferdude]

I am in love with KittyKat

Hope the two of you will be as happy as two peas in a pod.

[mikeddonn]

If there is a battle for the name further down the line then the consolation prize could be the losers get to tour as The Pendletones!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I honestly believe there will be a touring Beach Boys at some point in the future that will feature only Bruce.....

[Shady]

What a mess

[SurfRiderHawaii]

I honestly believe there will be a touring Beach Boys at some point in the future that will feature only Bruce.....

I think Stamos is going to be fronting the band in 5 years.

[SMiLE Brian]

This is quite the saga. I am going to need a lot of popcorn.

[leggo of my ego]

Right, Brian's wife is the only selfish one here. The other spouses don't care about money and consider The Beach Boys a charitable operation to bring Mike Love to children in need.

  that's very good sarcasm there, Ontor.

Seems to me that Brian was gracious enough to lend his vote for Michael but in turn Mr. Love is unyielding to compromise.

There should be some way to work it out so both bands could use "Beach Boys" in their tours. Peter Noone and Barry Whitwam worked
out a similar arrangement with "Herman's Hermits".