Are you ever embarrassed to be a Beach Boys fan?

[Marcella]

I think it was Jack Rieley who suggested changing the band's name to "The Beach". Why they didn't I'll never fully understand...

The Beach sounds like a cologne...maybe I think that because I think that actually WAS the name of the cologne
"invented" by Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld.

I do definitely agree that the name was a hindrance, but I don't see The Beach as a viable alternate

Ohh I forgot about that! Kramer is the funniest  
Anyway, I think the cologne from Seinfeld is called "The Ocean", not "The Beach".

I still think they should have changed their name, whether it be "The Beach" or a different name. It would have had a major impact in their image.
And they should have done it either in the Pet Sounds/Smile era or the post-Smile era

Right you are! Still, The Beach is a trite throwaway name, inferior even to The Beach Boys at describing the depth and breadth of the music they were producing in the late 1960s, early 1970s.

[retrokid67]

I wish they had went ahead and changed their name to something else during the '66-'73 period.  when people hear "Beach Boys" they expect to hear songs related to the genre.  I think the name itself played a big part in that.  

I think it was Jack Rieley who suggested changing the band's name to "The Beach". Why they didn't I'll never fully understand...

if they did that do you think it would've been worse? maybe if they just got away from the beach all together it would've helped. who knows 

True, but it is still an improvement. Maybe then they would have been taken more seriously, as "The Beach" is more adult, more mature than "The Beach Boys"

that's true especially since they didn't look the part anymore especially mike with that biblical beard  ".... and Mike, Old Santa Clause over there"  anyway I don't think that helped either 

Oh don't get me started on how horrible Mike's Beard was back then! He seriously looked like a hobo!
And though it's not half as bad, I sort-of wish Carl eventually shaved his beard off. Instead, he kept his for the rest of his life

yup he looked more like a beach bum  than a beach boy  .  I liked Carl's beard the best in the 1980 4th of July concert  .  the beard covers up his sweet baby face  when I think of the guys I usually picture them without the beards especially Brian and Dennis

[bluesno1fann]

I wish they had went ahead and changed their name to something else during the '66-'73 period.  when people hear "Beach Boys" they expect to hear songs related to the genre.  I think the name itself played a big part in that.  

I think it was Jack Rieley who suggested changing the band's name to "The Beach". Why they didn't I'll never fully understand...

if they did that do you think it would've been worse? maybe if they just got away from the beach all together it would've helped. who knows 

True, but it is still an improvement. Maybe then they would have been taken more seriously, as "The Beach" is more adult, more mature than "The Beach Boys"

that's true especially since they didn't look the part anymore especially mike with that biblical beard  ".... and Mike, Old Santa Clause over there"  anyway I don't think that helped either 

Oh don't get me started on how horrible Mike's Beard was back then! He seriously looked like a hobo!
And though it's not half as bad, I sort-of wish Carl eventually shaved his beard off. Instead, he kept his for the rest of his life

yup he looked more like a beach bum  than a beach boy  .  I liked Carl's beard the best in the 1980 4th of July concert  .  the beard covers up his sweet baby face  when I think of the guys I usually picture them without the beards especially Brian and Dennis

I'd say all the BB's (Mike aside) looked the best at around 1969-1970. But I guess beards did suit Carl, and to an extent Dennis. Just not Brian, and especially Mike!
I remember checking the comments section of Good Vibrations on Youtube, and a lot of the comments were about how creepy Mike looked 

[bluesno1fann]

I think it was Jack Rieley who suggested changing the band's name to "The Beach". Why they didn't I'll never fully understand...

The Beach sounds like a cologne...maybe I think that because I think that actually WAS the name of the cologne
"invented" by Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld.

I do definitely agree that the name was a hindrance, but I don't see The Beach as a viable alternate

Ohh I forgot about that! Kramer is the funniest  
Anyway, I think the cologne from Seinfeld is called "The Ocean", not "The Beach".

I still think they should have changed their name, whether it be "The Beach" or a different name. It would have had a major impact in their image.
And they should have done it either in the Pet Sounds/Smile era or the post-Smile era

Right you are! Still, The Beach is a trite throwaway name, inferior even to The Beach Boys at describing the depth and breadth of the music they were producing in the late 1960s, early 1970s.

Or maybe drop the "The" and just be called "Beach". Now that would be pretty cool 

[Micha]

Hey!!!!! Now I remember when I felt ashamed to be a Beach Boys fan!

It was when I listened to "The Private Life Of Bill And Sue" for the very first time!

[leggo of my ego]

NO!

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I have hip friends that I have turned on to the Beach Boys, which has given credibility. When I first got into them, my friends thought I was a geek. Some however, have been blown away. I have a friend into psychedelic music, such as Syd Barrett and Frank Zappa. He didn't care for SMiLE, but he loved Mt Vernon and Fairway!

[TimeToGetAlone]

I think it was Jack Rieley who suggested changing the band's name to "The Beach". Why they didn't I'll never fully understand...

The Beach sounds like a cologne...maybe I think that because I think that actually WAS the name of the cologne
"invented" by Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld.

I do definitely agree that the name was a hindrance, but I don't see The Beach as a viable alternate

Ohh I forgot about that! Kramer is the funniest  
Anyway, I think the cologne from Seinfeld is called "The Ocean", not "The Beach".

I still think they should have changed their name, whether it be "The Beach" or a different name. It would have had a major impact in their image.
And they should have done it either in the Pet Sounds/Smile era or the post-Smile era

Right you are! Still, The Beach is a trite throwaway name, inferior even to The Beach Boys at describing the depth and breadth of the music they were producing in the late 1960s, early 1970s.

Or maybe drop the "The" and just be called "Beach". Now that would be pretty cool 

I approve.

[retrokid67]

I was just in the car with a friend and Kokomo of all songs came on  

[bluesno1fann]

I was just in the car with a friend and Kokomo of all songs came on  

If it's on the radio, it's hardly a surprise. Because it was a big hit back in 1988, they play it all the time now on the radio!

It's frickin' annoying, but at the same time sort-of understandable

[clack]

'Paul Revere and the Raiders' was by '67 or so an equally embarrassing band name, but in '70 they became just 'the Raiders'. 'The Beach Boys' never really had an option : 'Beach' as a name doesn't cut it.

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

[retrokid67]

I was just in the car with a friend and Kokomo of all songs came on  

If it's on the radio, it's hardly a surprise. Because it was a big hit back in 1988, they play it all the time now on the radio!

It's frickin' annoying, but at the same time sort-of understandable

Yea I know but I'd rather hear "Surfin Safari" than that  because at least when this song came out it was "hip" well unless you're someone like John Milder  "Don't you think the BB are boss?  "

[retrokid67]

I was just in the car with a friend and Kokomo of all songs came on  

If it's on the radio, it's hardly a surprise. Because it was a big hit back in 1988, they play it all the time now on the radio!

It's frickin' annoying, but at the same time sort-of understandable

Yea I know but I'd rather hear "Surfin Safari" than that   because at least when this song came out it was "hip" and spoke for the times well unless you're someone like John Milder   "Don't you think the BB are boss?  "

[Micha]

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

That's right, "The Passions" makes me think more of a band from a mid-50s music fad.

[bluesno1fann]

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

That's right, "The Passions" makes me think more of a band from a mid-50s music fad.

Exactly! Passions isn't the right name, Beach Boys in hindsight isn't the best name, Pendletones is even worse.

So what do you guys think is the right name for them? I'm unable to come up with any ideas lol

[Disney Boy (1985)]

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

That's right, "The Passions" makes me think more of a band from a mid-50s music fad.

Exactly! Passions isn't the right name, Beach Boys in hindsight isn't the best name, Pendletones is even worse.

So what do you guys think is the right name for them? I'm unable to come up with any ideas lol

The Wilsons. Or The Wilson Brothers.

[bluesno1fann]

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

That's right, "The Passions" makes me think more of a band from a mid-50s music fad.

Exactly! Passions isn't the right name, Beach Boys in hindsight isn't the best name, Pendletones is even worse.

So what do you guys think is the right name for them? I'm unable to come up with any ideas lol

The Wilsons. Or The Wilson Brothers.

Problem with this is simple: Mike, Al, Bruce, David, Blondie, Ricky.
They're still official members, so The Wilsons as a band name just isn't right IMHO

[Niko]

"The Wilsons + The Optionals"

[clack]

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

That's right, "The Passions" makes me think more of a band from a mid-50s music fad.

True, 'the Passions' would sound dated, but no more than 'the Impressions' or 'the Temptations', say. And the name wouldn't be the albatross around the neck that the name 'the Beach Boys' was/is, forever associating them with surfing.

'The Wilson Brothers Band', maybe? After all, the 'Allman Brothers Band' only had 2 brothers.

[Andrew G. Doe]

On reflection, yes, I have been embarrassed to be a BB fan, but not because of anything the band did. 

[runnersdialzero]

Bands who change their name without actually breaking up and then disown their older material make me want to heave.

[bluesno1fann]

Bands who change their name without actually breaking up and then disown their older material make me want to heave.

This means you don't like bands such as Small Faces/Faces and Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship?

[Mike's Beard]

Nobody likes Jefferson Starship.

[bluesno1fann]

Nobody likes Jefferson Starship.

I'm not exactly a fan of Starship (or Jefferson Starship), but I quite like Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.
And We Built This City is a guilty pleasure for me

[Micha]

If they had stuck with the name 'Carl and the Passions', however, they could have eventually become just 'The Passions' -- not great, but not a group name that would so firmly associate the band with a dated, early '60s music fad.

That's right, "The Passions" makes me think more of a band from a mid-50s music fad.

Exactly! Passions isn't the right name, Beach Boys in hindsight isn't the best name, Pendletones is even worse.

So what do you guys think is the right name for them? I'm unable to come up with any ideas lol

I'm fine with "The Beach Boys", it is better than "The Pendletones", and nobody thinks the Beatles are all about insects either.