Mike's Book Discussion Thread (and how it relates to the SS board)

[Lee Marshall]

See THOSE are the kind of responses I would hope that Mike would be able to give to questions regarding the 'good old days'.  Properly answered with a touch a class and dignity.  IF this was the norm then I think a LOT more of us would tend to be OK with him... ... ...at least in the present tense.

Unfortunately these answers, 2 posts up, are the exception to the rule.  And that rule has been plainly in sight for WAY too many decades.  Now it's official.  There has to be an exception to the rule in order to prove that the rule exists.

Personally I'd prefer to see a ton more 'exceptions'.

[elnombre]

Another well deserved and glowing endorsement I'm sure.  One day I will read it...when it's available at my local library.  I'm not giving that dink any of my money ever again.

Intriguing! A Beach Boys fan who's vowing to never buy any Beach Boys releases or products ever again.

[JK]

Sorry to interrupt the flow but has this been linked yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNbWQSMm798

[HeyJude]

See THOSE are the kind of responses I would hope that Mike would be able to give to questions regarding the 'good old days'.  Properly answered with a touch a class and dignity.  IF this was the norm then I think a LOT more of us would tend to be OK with him... ... ...at least in the present tense.

Unfortunately these answers, 2 posts up, are the exception to the rule.  And that rule has been plainly in sight for WAY too many decades.  Now it's official.  There has to be an exception to the rule in order to prove that the rule exists.

Personally I'd prefer to see a ton more 'exceptions'.

In my opinion, ever once in awhile you can see Mike walk the tone of his answers back, especially concerning Dennis and Brian. I sense occasionally someone gives him feedback indicating folks think he's being too negative and going on the attack too much. Any PR person could tell him he's always going to be fighting a losing battle trying to besmirch those guys. I think Mike knows that fact as well (e.g. "For some Brian will always walk on water", etc.), and that fact is probably one of the sources of his frustration which causes the circle of dysfunction to continue.

I think in the press stuff from recent weeks there was at least one point, after Mike spent weeks feeding the "Manson" angle all of the media outlets were picking up, where Mike mentioned in an interview that the press was focusing in too much on the one Manson angle.

So I've seen a pattern in recent years where Mike stokes the flames (both knowingly and unknowingly I would guess), and then makes a very, very brief attempt to move away from such negativity.

Then, apparently, he remembers again that his name wasn't on "California Girls", and he gets pissed all over again, forgetting he won the lawsuit and has everything going just the way he wants. And then the cycle begins again.

I guess, beyond the obvious reasons, we should be grateful Al never got into drugs, because Mike mentioning Al's eschewing of drugs is often about the only passing non-musical reference to something positive he'll say about other band members (other than Bruce, and Dave I suppose). Though, of course, mentioning Al's drug-free lifestyle only comes up when Mike is talking about himself in the first place.

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

myKe luHv's leaky, unseaworthy boat sunk many moons ago. Now, just like his reputation, it gathers barnacles with the passage of time with schools of fish looking for food passing by it with no interest.

[Lee Marshall]

myKe luHv's leaky, unseaworthy boat sunk many moons ago. Now, just like his reputation, it gathers barnacles with the passage of time with schools of fish looking for food passing by it with no interest.

Is that a 'play' on the joke about why lawyers manage to survive after their ship sinks while most of us don't... ... ...because even sharks find them entirely distasteful? 

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

myKe luHv's leaky, unseaworthy boat sunk many moons ago. Now, just like his reputation, it gathers barnacles with the passage of time with schools of fish looking for food passing by it with no interest.

Is that a 'play' on the joke about why lawyers manage to survive after their ship sinks while most of us don't... ... ...because even sharks find them entirely distasteful? 

   Not by design but good comparison, Lee.

[kreen]

Would Kokomo have still been a hit if Mike hadn't made a small change in the lyrics? 

He also added the "Aruba, Jamaica" part of the song. It's not the main hook but it's still a secondary hook.

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

myKe luHv's leaky, unseaworthy boat sunk many moons ago. Now, just like his reputation, it gathers barnacles with the passage of time with schools of fish looking for food passing by it with no interest.

Ouch.

[mathen_]

I literally had a nightmare with Mike Love saying that Van Dyke's lyrics are "acid alliteration". That is one of the lowest points in Mike's long series of dubious, stupid comments. 

[CenturyDeprived]

I literally had a nightmare with Mike Love saying that Van Dyke's lyrics are "acid alliteration". That is one of the lowest points in Mike's long series of dubious, stupid comments. 

While Mike penned some fine lyrics in the '60s, he for decades has been penning nothing more than flaccid alliteration.

[wingsoveramerica]

Just finished this book the other day. While many love (no pun intended) to bash Mike Love (i do in some cases, like the 1988 R&R Hall of Fame speech),i think this is a decent book.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I literally had a nightmare with Mike Love saying that Van Dyke's lyrics are "acid alliteration". That is one of the lowest points in Mike's long series of dubious, stupid comments. 

While Mike penned some fine lyrics in the '60s, he for decades has been penning nothing more than flaccid alliteration.

Nice play on words there

[mathen_]

Just finished this book the other day. While many love (no pun intended) to bash Mike Love (i do in some cases, like the 1988 R&R Hall of Fame speech),i think this is a decent book.

The problem is that even Trump's book is decent, but by no means it gives him merit for anything but for his good writing skills or, more probably, for having enough money to hire someone who has.

[wantsomecorn]

I went to one of Mike's book signings yesterday. There wasn't a talk or anything, it was just straight through the line, but you got to spend a good minute or two talking to him, and have a picture taken. I didn't feel rushed, but still deliberately paced. They had around two-hundred people to get through, so it's not like he could spend five minutes with everyone.

Mike looked pretty tired, but still chatted a bit with everyone. I'm pretty bad around celebrities, but I still told him I liked his comment about James Watt ("someone should drill his ass for brains") and he smiled and chuckled a little.

I haven't had a chance to dive very deep into the book, besides for what I read in line, but what I read was pretty good. He takes a few self-deprecating shots, and really plays up his connections to famous people (he has a great story about talking with Richard Pryor about the Chinese economy, which he admits is a very bizarre thing to have happened), but that's who Mike is. I can't imagine this book is going to redeem Mike from his haters, but at the very least, it's an extended glimpse into his psyche, and a pretty fun read.

[Competition Clutch]

Did he sign only books?

[wantsomecorn]

Did he sign only books?

There were a few people who had stuff with them - (I know you're reading this  ), but we all just had our book signed out of courtesy to the people behind us.

But that didn't stop us from waiting in front of Mike's taxi so he could sign everything else. He seemed nice enough about it, though. Even the cabbie borrowed a sharpie because he wanted his book signed!

[rn57]

Stopped at Mike's Washington DC signing today, which, as I noted before, was held in A Mano, a home-furnishings store - or boutique might be a better word, since it's in a small converted townhouse - in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC.

It was a remarkable situation. I was handed one of 120 or so copies of GV piled on a table - this was the only book being sold there - paid for it, then went upstairs to what once was a bedroom. In it were stacks of bedspreads, some throw pillows - and Mike sitting at a small wooden table. No security or even store employees in the room - just him and a couple of cheerful guys in suits hanging around, who I think were lobbyist or lawyer friends or something like that.

As he inscribed his book I noted that it was the first book by or about the band or its members to be a NY Times bestseller. "Y'know, there's a reason for that!" he answered. I told him my wife and sister had been to Rishikesh for a month a couple of years back and he was very interested in that. Then I recommended an Indian vegetarian restaurant, about six miles north of the store, gave him its address, and left.

There was no line at all - just one or two people going up every few minutes. In contrast to the usual scene at a BB's related signing, I was the only person in the place in jeans. I would have put on a Hawaiian shirt for the occasion except that it was an impulsive side trip after I ran an errand nearby. (I had only seen it mentioned on the publisher's page I linked to before - no mention at Mike's FB page or at A Mano's site - and I wasn't sure he was actually in town until I called the store after the errand and confirmed it.)

[guitarfool2002]

Stopped at Mike's Washington DC signing today, which, as I noted before, was held in A Mano, a home-furnishings store - or boutique might be a better word, since it's in a small converted townhouse - in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC.

It was a remarkable situation. I was handed one of 120 or so copies of GV piled on a table - this was the only book being sold there - paid for it, then went upstairs to what once was a bedroom. In it were stacks of bedspreads, some throw pillows - and Mike sitting at a small wooden table. No security or even store employees in the room - just him and a couple of cheerful guys in suits hanging around, who I think were lobbyist or lawyer friends or something like that.

As he inscribed his book I noted that it was the first book by or about the band or its members to be a NY Times bestseller. "Y'know, there's a reason for that!" he answered. I told him my wife and sister had been to Rishikesh for a month a couple of years back and he was very interested in that. Then I recommended an Indian vegetarian restaurant, about six miles north of the store, gave him its address, and left.

There was no line at all - just one or two people going up every few minutes. In contrast to the usual scene at a BB's related signing, I was the only person in the place in jeans. I would have put on a Hawaiian shirt for the occasion except that it was an impulsive side trip after I ran an errand nearby. (I had only seen it mentioned on the publisher's page I linked to before - no mention at Mike's FB page or at A Mano's site - and I wasn't sure he was actually in town until I called the store after the errand and confirmed it.)

Remarkable and surreal.

Throw pillows. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Like this?

[SMiLE Brian]

Billy!

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Stopped at Mike's Washington DC signing today, which, as I noted before, was held in A Mano, a home-furnishings store - or boutique might be a better word, since it's in a small converted townhouse - in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC.

It was a remarkable situation. I was handed one of 120 or so copies of GV piled on a table - this was the only book being sold there - paid for it, then went upstairs to what once was a bedroom. In it were stacks of bedspreads, some throw pillows - and Mike sitting at a small wooden table. No security or even store employees in the room - just him and a couple of cheerful guys in suits hanging around, who I think were lobbyist or lawyer friends or something like that.

As he inscribed his book I noted that it was the first book by or about the band or its members to be a NY Times bestseller. "Y'know, there's a reason for that!" he answered. I told him my wife and sister had been to Rishikesh for a month a couple of years back and he was very interested in that. Then I recommended an Indian vegetarian restaurant, about six miles north of the store, gave him its address, and left.

There was no line at all - just one or two people going up every few minutes. In contrast to the usual scene at a BB's related signing, I was the only person in the place in jeans. I would have put on a Hawaiian shirt for the occasion except that it was an impulsive side trip after I ran an errand nearby. (I had only seen it mentioned on the publisher's page I linked to before - no mention at Mike's FB page or at A Mano's site - and I wasn't sure he was actually in town until I called the store after the errand and confirmed it.)

Remarkable and surreal.

Throw pillows. 

How was the cutlery section?   

[thorgil]

I just read some more excerpts from Mike's book. I have some things to say.
1) As a best seller, ok. There are all the "right" things.
2) If he wanted to "vindicate" anythiing, sorry. He may convince his sycophants who didn't need convincing. Anybody else, he confirmed everything we knew, or strongly guessed, about him.
3) Anybody who says that he doesn't say anything nasty against Brian, must be blind.
4) He should meditate less, if that is the result.

[harrisonjon]

With regard to Pisces Brothers, has the story of George giving Mike the painting of Guru Dev ever been backed up by another source? Has the painting ever been displayed? Similarly, did any of The Beatles, or Donovan, ever confirm that they arranged Fun Fun Fun into a Happy Birthday song for Mike?

[HeyJude]

With regard to Pisces Brothers, has the story of George giving Mike the painting of Guru Dev ever been backed up by another source? Has the painting ever been displayed? Similarly, did any of The Beatles, or Donovan, ever confirm that they arranged Fun Fun Fun into a Happy Birthday song for Mike?

I think Mike is vastly overhyping his relationship with any of the Beatles. He hung out with them for a couple months back in 1968 amid a cast of dozens and dozens of people, and then ran into them on occasion in subsequent years.

The recording of Paul singing the "Happy Birthday" song has been around for years; I don't know if the precise genesis of the song has been documented, but considering the recording exists, I see no reason to doubt the general narrative that Paul and others worked up a little birthday ditty in the vague style of a BB song. I would guess Paul and the others gave it little thought after they did it.