Brian Wilson playing with "the best band I ever worked with."

[joe_blow]

Tom Harrison is generally a very good reviewer/rock writer. One comment called his work a bit lazy.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I take it he is saying the guys from Wondermints that are with him are the best band he has ever worked with.  The rest of his current band and past band not so much I guess.

How do you figure that?

[Ang Jones]

When Brian says something controversial, he's given the benefit of the doubt that he didn't mean it, and instead it was totally innocuous and twisted by the author or reader.

Mike gets taken at face value.

Isn't this slightly degrading? Are we saying Brian can't speak for himself and we have to interpret everything he says?

Brian said he's playing with the best band he ever worked with. He worked with the Beach Boys. Unless he clarifies that he's speaking as a solo artist, then I believe he should be interpreted at face value.

And once again, imagine of Mike said this. Granted, Brian has a much better claim because of the talent of his backing musicians and vocalists, but you'd better believe if Mike said this, it would be taken as a shot against Brian, Dennis, Carl and Al.

It seems to me that the reason some are unwilling to believe Brian means such comments is because they don't want them to be true.  Would those who are asking 'what will he say next time?' have asked this question had Brian said he wanted to get back with Mike and Bruce again?

I agree that had Mike claimed his current band were the best ever, it would be taken as a slight against the Beach Boys. But as I have already mentioned, perhaps Brian is just referring to the skill set of his current band. The Beach Boys vocals were great but I've never heard them play Surf's Up live and make anywhere near as good a job of it as Brian's band did during SMiLE for example.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It seems to me that the reason some are unwilling to believe Brian means such comments is because they don't want them to be true. 

I've been a BB fan/researcher/historian/eminence grise/overall smartass for over 40 years now, and one of the constant non-musical joys is Brian's consistent inconsistency. Wait long enough and he'll say exactly the opposite, and that's not in any way a criticism: it's just Brian being Brian, either coping with a tedious interview or having a giggle. That's all.

[Dogbone51]

I'm just surprised to see that when talking about NO PIER PRESSURE Brian didn't use that old cliche he always falls back on:

"Oh yeh...we recorded this album with a lot of love.  There's a lot of love in it".

But he will, sooner or later.  It's somewhat automatic!!

And it's not just the Wondermints who back him up...there's many others as well.  Either way...I wonder if he ever gives the whole band
a bonus for the amazing performances they put in for him gig after gig.  I hope they get an extra chunk of dosh every once in a while. 

Dogbone

[mikeddonn]

He has said in the past when referring to his band that the Wondermints are the best band he has worked with and wishes he had them around in the 60s when recording.

[mikeddonn]

Give me a f*cking break. Brian is Brian - witty, humorous, doesn't like interviews, and frankly, what Brian says in an interview isn't harming anyone...it isn't tactless personal comments, it isn't passive aggressive snark directly aimed at people who Brian works with. NORBIT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE GOD FORBID WHAT BRIAN. GOK was written in 15 minutes? But the last interview you said 30....what the hell you're doing great damage to everythingggggg
[/quote]

So if Mike said in an interview that this was the best band he'd ever worked with you wouldn't take that as passive aggressive snark and there wouldn't be a ten page thread about it?

I love Brian and the Beach Boys but some posters are determined to take sides when there is no need.  A little balance would go a long way.

[Cam Mott]

I take it he is saying the guys from Wondermints that are with him are the best band he has ever worked with.  The rest of his current band and past band not so much I guess.

How do you figure that?

Because Brian said “The guys from The Wondermints are with me. They’re the best band I’ve ever worked with".

[Ang Jones]

It seems to me that the reason some are unwilling to believe Brian means such comments is because they don't want them to be true. 

I've been a BB fan/researcher/historian/eminence grise/overall smartass for over 40 years now, and one of the constant non-musical joys is Brian's consistent inconsistency. Wait long enough and he'll say exactly the opposite, and that's not in any way a criticism: it's just Brian being Brian, either coping with a tedious interview or having a giggle. That's all.

I don't dispute that Brian can be inconsistent. However, in this respect some of the fans are exactly the opposite - they point out his inconsistency when it's something they don't want to believe and don't mention it when it's something they do.  Had Brian said that he was hoping for a reunion, I'd probably have consoled myself with the idea he might change his mind. But as - at the moment - I agree with his take, I'm hoping he sticks with it.

[cant wait]

“I don’t talk to The Beach Boys,” he notes tersely."

-  Alan and Blondie must be bewildered

[Ang Jones]

“I don’t talk to The Beach Boys,” he notes tersely."

-  Alan and Blondie must be bewildered

They're not in the Beach Boys any more. Ask Mike.

[HeyJude]

Tom Harrison is generally a very good reviewer/rock writer. One comment called his work a bit lazy.

The author mentioned that Blondie Chaplin was thrown out of the C50 lineup. That’s pretty freaking lazy research I’d say. It wouldn’t take extensive research to determine that Blondie Chaplin was nowhere near the 50th reunion. 

The author also says that Mike and Bruce own the Beach Boys name. Even the Beach Boys Wikipedia entry explains that Mike licenses use of the name for touring.

I’m not saying every person that interviews Brian absolutely *has* to know all this stuff. But just leave the stuff out if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

[KDS]

I'm just surprised to see that when talking about NO PIER PRESSURE Brian didn't use that old cliche he always falls back on:

"Oh yeh...we recorded this album with a lot of love.  There's a lot of love in it".

But he will, sooner or later.  It's somewhat automatic!!

And it's not just the Wondermints who back him up...there's many others as well.  Either way...I wonder if he ever gives the whole band
a bonus for the amazing performances they put in for him gig after gig.  I hope they get an extra chunk of dosh every once in a while. 

Dogbone

I don't remember which interview, but he did indeed say that about NPP. 

[Cam Mott]

Tom Harrison is generally a very good reviewer/rock writer. One comment called his work a bit lazy.

The author mentioned that Blondie Chaplin was thrown out of the C50 lineup. That’s pretty freaking lazy research I’d say. It wouldn’t take extensive research to determine that Blondie Chaplin was nowhere near the 50th reunion. 

The author also says that Mike and Bruce own the Beach Boys name. Even the Beach Boys Wikipedia entry explains that Mike licenses use of the name for touring.

I’m not saying every person that interviews Brian absolutely *has* to know all this stuff. But just leave the stuff out if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Right, but the controversy is in what Brian said about his current and past bandmates.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I'm sure Brian also means they are better than the 'Wrecking Crew' not just the Beach Boys.

Wrecking Crew wasn't a live performing band...apples and oranges.

Your point is? 

“The guys from The Wondermints are with me. They’re the best band I’ve ever worked with". - Brian Wilson

Where did Brian mention live performing bands?  He worked with a band collectively known by many as the 'Wrecking Crew' in inverted commas.  His current band are like a concert version of the studio guys he had in the 60s. Do you agree?

My point is that the two shouldn't be compared....and I'm directing that towards Brian as well.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I take it he is saying the guys from Wondermints that are with him are the best band he has ever worked with.  The rest of his current band and past band not so much I guess.

How do you figure that?

Because Brian said “The guys from The Wondermints are with me. They’re the best band I’ve ever worked with".

I notice that many tend to refer to the whole backup band as the Wondermints. I've gotten so used to reading that that I didn't even catch it!

[Dogbone51]

I'm just surprised to see that when talking about NO PIER PRESSURE Brian didn't use that old cliche he always falls back on:

"Oh yeh...we recorded this album with a lot of love.  There's a lot of love in it".

But he will, sooner or later.  It's somewhat automatic!!

And it's not just the Wondermints who back him up...there's many others as well.  Either way...I wonder if he ever gives the whole band
a bonus for the amazing performances they put in for him gig after gig.  I hope they get an extra chunk of dosh every once in a while. 

Dogbone

I don't remember which interview, but he did indeed say that about NPP. 

Dam, and I missed it??   He's said this about most everything over the years.  About PET SOUNDS, About SMiLE, about recording with the Beach Boys in general. 
Glad to see he didn't miss a beat with NO PIER PRESSURE.

Brian is the king of "Bullshit", when it comes to interviews!!

Dogbone

[Pretty Funky]

Brian has also said (paraphrasing here) 'how good The Beach Boys were to produce and how he would rather produce them than anyone else.'

Quite a compliment and I'm assuming he only means vocals.......Just as I have always assumed his 'best band' comments over the years have meant musicianship skills.

[KDS]

I'm just surprised to see that when talking about NO PIER PRESSURE Brian didn't use that old cliche he always falls back on:

"Oh yeh...we recorded this album with a lot of love.  There's a lot of love in it".

But he will, sooner or later.  It's somewhat automatic!!

And it's not just the Wondermints who back him up...there's many others as well.  Either way...I wonder if he ever gives the whole band
a bonus for the amazing performances they put in for him gig after gig.  I hope they get an extra chunk of dosh every once in a while. 

Dogbone

I don't remember which interview, but he did indeed say that about NPP. 

Dam, and I missed it??   He's said this about most everything over the years.  About PET SOUNDS, About SMiLE, about recording with the Beach Boys in general. 
Glad to see he didn't miss a beat with NO PIER PRESSURE.

Brian is the king of "Bullshit", when it comes to interviews!!

Dogbone

Yeah, he's done so many interviews for NPP that I can't recall which, but I know it was there somewhere. 

Isn't it amazing that Brian gets a free pass for stock answers, but not Mike? 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

He's been saying that for decades,  though, and for those who know him, can confirm that's how he really feels.

And he certainly doesn't get a free pass, especially here, and especially lately. Mike can say something that some have a problem with, and  others will point out that Brian did such and such in 19-whatever, with glee.

[HeyJude]

Concerning all the debates over whether Brian is held to the same standard as Mike when it comes to questionable interview comments, I would say that Brian has maintained a much more ample supply of benefit of the doubt from myself and probably many fans. These guys occasionally say out-of-character stuff, but for the most part they are relatively consistent in terms of their general demeanor and apparent agenda (or lack thereof) in these interviews. So when each guy says something that might be inflammatory, the guy who has constantly tapped out his supply of the benefit of the doubt is much more likely to be called on it, given his track record.

When Brian says the Wondermints are the best band he’s worked with, I don’t think he’s even thinking about Mike Love, let alone trying to get in digs on him. Whereas, stuff like that David Beard interview with Mike, or the continual references to the “people around” Brian, or Brian’s decades-old drug issues, etc., appear to be filled with, at best, defensiveness and pain and hurt, and, potentially, actual disdain, regardless of how many times he tells us he loves Brian and how they were buddies 50 years ago.

If Brian gives an interview where he says something like “I love Mike, we grew up together. He’s going through some decades of having some ego issues, which has been painful for me to witness”, and starts mentioning over and over in countless interviews the “Smile” lawsuit that got laughed out of court in Brian’s favor, then maybe we can start equating what these guys say. 

Again, doesn’t mean Brian is incapable of saying something negative or hurtful (whether intentionally or not) in an interview. But their track records speak for themselves when it comes to this stuff. The irony is that Mike earned back a TON of goodwill and benefit of the doubt during C50, both by the simple act of DOING the project, and for being so gracious and positive in interviews during that time. *He* undid that, no one else did.

[Pretty Funky]

Bruce strikes back.....

I never thought at 72, I was getting the best vocal reviews I had in my life, and I thought this is the best band we ever had."


http://www.qconline.com/life/boys-to-men----years-of-sunny-summer/article_c1df8059-7c16-5375-a8d6-120d9a622bd9.html

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

It seems to me that the reason some are unwilling to believe Brian means such comments is because they don't want them to be true. 

I've been a BB fan/researcher/historian/eminence grise/overall smartass for over 40 years now, and one of the constant non-musical joys is Brian's consistent inconsistency. Wait long enough and he'll say exactly the opposite, and that's not in any way a criticism: it's just Brian being Brian, either coping with a tedious interview or having a giggle. That's all.

"...Brian's consistent inconsistency." Just an acute case of him being far more clever than anyone here can ever hope to be. I absolute admire his amazing ability to keep everyone guessing, which when translated means no one, not you or anyone else here is capable of knowing what is really going on. Just like back in the day when he had it all goin' on in his head before most of it made it to the record. 

[Sheriff John Stone]

Bruce's interviews continue to astound me! I've read in the past, and now he states again that "I called 10 people; they weren't available" to replace Glen Campbell. Did you ever really think about that. Ten people turned down an offer to join The Beach Boys, albeit just the touring band! What was their excuse? WHAT POSSIBLE EXCUSE COULD'VE THEY HAD? They had an appointment to get a root canal, they wanted to keep their commitment to their current band (whoever that was), The Beach Boys weren't big enough, they wouldn't make enough money? I mean, I'm assuming that Bruce was calling people who he thought were qualified musically. You would think that out of 10 people, a couple would jump at that opportunity. Another perplexing thing surrounding Bruce...

Oh yeah...I'll beat you to it. Maybe they didn't want to be a band with Mike Love. Save your insults for the next 37 threads.

[Pretty Funky]

On the brit site many years ago I asked him who turned the gig down and the name I remember was Ed Carter.