Do we really care about the conflicts?

[leggo of my ego]

Do we really care about the conflicts?

I kind of do . . yeah. As much as I'm interested in the personal life of Oscar Wilde or Picasso. It's part of the 'bigger picture' and, to be honest, part of their arts as well.

Just to relativise the situation at hand . .

The "drama" does not effect my enjoyment of the music.

It is in their power alone to end the conflicts. Seeing its been going on for decades now this soap opera
probably will continue. We have to take the Beach Boys as they are and I am glad we still have them with us
warts and all.

[Shady]

I think it's just sad to see what money and greedy hangers on can do to a band who changed the music world like they did.

The joy from the 50th anniversary did not last long did it, we knew something was wrong like 4 days into it.

[Don Malcolm]

Face it, folks. C50 was one of the greatest miracles in world history. So much water under the bridge, so little love lost amongst so many for so long. For one last summer the music managed to overcome a half-century of intricate in-fighting and bizarre, shape-shifting alliances. It will probably not happen again.

The choice: accept it as the cosmic joke that it is or decide to FUM THEM ALL!!

Or do both at the same time.... 

[Quzi]

Hey Wirestone, I thought you were going to take a hiatus from the board until MIC comes out.  Couldn't resist, eh?  

Eh. I tried.

That Al Jardine. He keeps pulling me back in. Plus, I bought tickets for BBAD in Boston and am kind of pumped about that ...

Al: "Hey, uh, Wirestone, how would you like to jump on my pc and upload ww.smileysmile.net.com for a bit of light reading for yourself??"
Wirestone: "That's a bit of a weird offer and I'm kinda on a break from the boards... but I think I'll take it Al!"
Al: "Good... Good!"

The wrinkles on Al's forehead bunched downward to form a look of determination. As he prepared to study Wirestone turning on the computer, his focus darted between the various peripherals, trying to make sense of it all. As he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the monitor, Al momentarily contemplated growing a ponytail, unaware that concurrently, Wirestone was turning on the computer.

Windows 95's startup theme broke Al from his gaze, making him aware he'd blown another opportunity to learn to turn on his computer. Tears of frustration began to well in Al's eyes. As he watched Wirestone with poisonous jealousy, he gently hummed his favourite Kingston Trio song to himself in an attempt to anaesthetise the pain.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I'm going to copy/paste what I just posted in the 'unpopular opinion' thread.

Here's an unpopular opinion that will blow minds...

I'm SO sick of the Mike v the rest of the band feud that at this point, I'm enjoying the Beatles' music more these days, because there's much less baggage associated with it. There's something I never would've said a month ago. I think Brian's a genius, Mike's talented in his own right, Al is a true professional musically, Dave's a great guitarist and cool guy, and Bruce is...Bruce, but I wish everybody would just shut the hell up and just play music. There. I said it.

So, I don't care about who is right, I just want them to quit acting like bitches.

[urbanite]

All of the public conflicts would go away tomorrow if fans stopped showing up for the BAD and Mike Love's Beach Boys shows. 

[Alan Smith]

The Beach Boys have been my favourite band for a good 33 years, and I've always found something of value out in just about everything they've done (whether it be a big something or a that will have to do something).

While I admire the BB's as individuals, they live/lived in a world that is pretty far removed from mine - so, I'm happy to leave them to their day to day lives, mind my own business and take the music and the few gigs (we get down here) at face value and on a come as you are basis.

[The Shift]

Agree that this is the best band ever, that they created the best rock (n roll) music ever and wish the conflicts were buried in a hole on the beach.

But at the same time the conflicts informed our understanding of some of their music - especially the last two tracks on TWGMTR, as well as Brian solo stuff like MAD.

And the bitter suite contrast between their turgid personal/home lives endowed their music with so much more ironic gravitas…

Afraid the music and the squabbling are what made our boys what they are. Our knowledge of it contributed to the appeal of the music, to us.

Inseparable.

[Mike's Beard]

This is a band that can't help but shoot itself in the foot at every given opportunity. It just wouldn't be The Beach Boys without some sort of behind the scenes drama going on.

[MBE]

I'm going to copy/paste what I just posted in the 'unpopular opinion' thread.

Here's an unpopular opinion that will blow minds...

I'm SO sick of the Mike v the rest of the band feud that at this point, I'm enjoying the Beatles' music more these days, because there's much less baggage associated with it. There's something I never would've said a month ago. I think Brian's a genius, Mike's talented in his own right, Al is a true professional musically, Dave's a great guitarist and cool guy, and Bruce is...Bruce, but I wish everybody would just shut the hell up and just play music. There. I said it.

So, I don't care about who is right, I just want them to quit acting like bitches.

Beatles got along worse at times!

[lance]

I find it fascinating as it highlights the fact that there are, in fact, at least two bands conceptually, (commercial fun-in-sun or artistic vehicle for Brian/Dennis/Mike/Carl/Al/Bruce, etc, really) songwriting-production talent. And those concepts war with each other, like gods. And the people who follow a particular god fight.

Also I see the conflict as an interesting springboard for metaphors from 'America's Band' symbolizing the struggle between commerce and creativity in the USA itself.

[Smilin Ed H]

I'm going to copy/paste what I just posted in the 'unpopular opinion' thread.

Here's an unpopular opinion that will blow minds...

I'm SO sick of the Mike v the rest of the band feud that at this point, I'm enjoying the Beatles' music more these days, because there's much less baggage associated with it. There's something I never would've said a month ago. I think Brian's a genius, Mike's talented in his own right, Al is a true professional musically, Dave's a great guitarist and cool guy, and Bruce is...Bruce, but I wish everybody would just shut the hell up and just play music. There. I said it.

So, I don't care about who is right, I just want them to quit acting like bitches.

Stick to the Eagles...
Beatles got along worse at times!

[Nicko1234]

I do occasionally find the arguments distract from the music...

When I feel like this I just listen to The Troggs Tapes...

[MBE]

Eagles! Other than being bone headed enough to keep going to the press, my point was that the Beach Boys situation isn't unique as far as infighting.

[Mike's Beard]

The Eagles - now there's a band that are together simply for the money. They can't stand each other and have yet to make a single valid artistic statement since getting back together nearly 20 years ago.

[Niko]

The saddest thing to me is the fact that we're so close to the end. There will come a point when The Beach Boys are no more...and they leave off their amazing legacy with lawsuits and fighting? It was embarrassing when Mike sued Brian over 10 years ago, and it still is now.

It would be amazing if they could end things on a high note, but Mike doesn't like to get high. 

Not that it's his fault of course, but it just doesn't seem possible that an agreement that satisfies all parties will be come to.

[Lowbacca]

All of the public conflicts would go away tomorrow if fans stopped showing up for the BAD and Mike Love's Beach Boys shows. 

Probably. But 90% of the people attending BAD and/or M&B shows aren't (hardcore) fans - they're there to hear "Surfin' U.S.A.". They get "Surfin' U.S.A." and they go home happy. They don't know and/or don't care about all that behind-the-scenes bullsh*t. At the end of the day it's those people who provide the majority of their (touring) revenue. Individual people shunning a M&B concert because Mike gave an unfortunate interview or attending a BAD show to hear "Little Bird" - they don't matter.

[J.G. Dev]

The Eagles - now there's a band that are together simply for the money. They can't stand each other and have yet to make a single valid artistic statement since getting back together nearly 20 years ago.

Plus they can only get $5 a ticket for their shows 

[Don Malcolm]

The Eagles - now there's a band that are together simply for the money. They can't stand each other and have yet to make a single valid artistic statement since getting back together nearly 20 years ago.

Plus they can only get $5 a ticket for their shows 

Careful!! If that gets back to Don Henley there's gonna be trouble!! A whole new category of legal infraction--"hearsay slander"--will get invented by the Eagles' legal beagles...

[Niko]

Al: "Hey, uh, Wirestone, how would you like to jump on my pc and upload ww.smileysmile.net.com for a bit of light reading for yourself??"
Wirestone: "That's a bit of a weird offer and I'm kinda on a break from the boards... but I think I'll take it Al!"
Al: "Good... Good!"

The wrinkles on Al's forehead bunched downward to form a look of determination. As he prepared to study Wirestone turning on the computer, his focus darted between the various peripherals, trying to make sense of it all. As he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the monitor, Al momentarily contemplated growing a ponytail, unaware that concurrently, Wirestone was turning on the computer.

Windows 95's startup theme broke Al from his gaze, making him aware he'd blown another opportunity to learn to turn on his computer. Tears of frustration began to well in Al's eyes. As he watched Wirestone with poisonous jealousy, he gently hummed his favourite Kingston Trio song to himself in an attempt to anaesthetise the pain.

That is really f*cking funny btw

[urbanite]

The guy that founded the band Boston is famous for his lawsuits.

[Doo Dah]

Hey Wirestone, I thought you were going to take a hiatus from the board until MIC comes out.  Couldn't resist, eh?  

Eh. I tried.

That Al Jardine. He keeps pulling me back in. Plus, I bought tickets for BBAD in Boston and am kind of pumped about that ...

[SMiLE Brian]

 

[If Mars had life on it...]

I do occasionally find the arguments distract from the music...

When I feel like this I just listen to The Troggs Tapes...

Thank you for this, i had no idea before reading your comment!  And, I'm a huge Spinal Tap fan!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En4ase-1-FA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9n46CZLAH8
 

[Lonely Summer]

I think every group that's been at it for many years has conflicts, but do the fans of other bands get as heated about them as we do? Do Beatles fans say "f--- that McCartney for wanting to reverse the writing credits to McCartney/Lennon"? "That Ringo is just a talentless hack making money off his luck at being part of the greatest band in history?"