GREAT Esquire interview with Brian

[leetwall97]

He seems to overreact sometimes, doesn't he? I guess he's still angry about Love & Mercy.

Gosh I love Van. I love his music, his personality and his words. I will listen to anything he has to say just so I can catch a glimpse of that encyclopedic brain he has stored under his noggin. But he does get big sometimes. But that's him. And what's great is that he just wipes the mud off his chest and walks away maturely. I mean he and Brian had some arguments back during Smile. Brian would put Van in his place, and as a fellow musician, he wasn't just gonna forget about it like Tony Asher. I think that's why he was the first to go. Too much buffoonery. I think you can best sum up Van's patience from that Fire sessions. Brian was sitting in his car, waiting for the vibes to get right. Van kept coming out saying "This is ridiculous. You're acting like a complete amateur."

And I totally agree with what he said about Love and Mercy. It was too much of a Melinda Wilson biopic. Plus, they TOTALLY pushed him aside in it.

[SMiLE Brian]

The pool scene in L&M with Mike and VDP was brilliant in its symbolism.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

It was too much of a Melinda Wilson biopic

Are you serious?! I mean, she basically saved his life. Would you prefer she was either a) not mentioned or b) sued to have a fake name put in instead?

And what's great is that he just wipes the mud off his chest and walks away maturely. I mean he and Brian had some arguments back during Smile. Brian would put Van in his place, and as a fellow musician, he wasn't just gonna forget about it like Tony Asher. I think that's why he was the first to go. Too much buffoonery.

I thought you were Mujan, but now I'm wondering if you're VDP or Loren Darro.

[Don Malcolm]

Now, Billy...don't get oversensitive like VDP!! And I really can't imagine that either of those two (Parks and Daro) are looking to troll their way in here...unless the PM system is showing signs of strain again, that is.

L&M is maybe just a little too Melnda-centric, since there was cooperation with the Wilson family in order to vanquish Landy and that is pretty much left out of the film. (Though I suspect that to do so would force additional scenes and length which would disrupt the narrative flow.) But her story line, when you think about it, is really compelling: you fall in love with a man who it turns out is being held prisoner by a so-called "licensed professional" without enough will power to undo what's happened to him. That part of the film, as played by Cusack and as reacted to by Elizabeth Banks, is as strange a story as just about any you could ever imagine--and it's all true. Living through that period must have been infinitely more surreal that anything we can imagine from the outside looking in. You need Melinda's perspective to get the best sense of just how strange it all was, and what it took from the inside to bring it to a halt.

As for SMiLE, VDP was correct in his assessment of what was going on, but he was no diplomat at that time, and such has never been his strong suit. He's not mellowed with age, which (strangely enough) makes him more like Mike than Brian. So that tells us that Brian looks for something in someone that he doesn't think he possesses when looking for songwriting partners. Often that "something" involves competitive elements--often, but not always. It could be that Brian has relied on his gut feelings when meeting someone, which sometimes produces shaky and untenable collaborations. Of late Brian seems to have figured out how to put more boundaries around these things, which may not have him scale the heights of creativity to the extent many fans would like to see, but it's clearly produced a more stable life for him.

We have just about all of SMiLE now from so many perspectives, and it's still a mystery. Thank goodness for that. It should remain "beautiful in its obscurity" and be a siren call for all those who want to climb it, like Everest, risking all in the thinnest air on earth in hopes of solving its riddles.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

And I really can't imagine that either of those two (Parks and Daro) are looking to troll their way in here.

Darro actually has before, under more than one username (in fact was banned before registering under his own name)

L&M is maybe just a little too Melnda-centric, since there was cooperation with the Wilson family in order to vanquish Landy and that is pretty much left out of the film. (Though I suspect that to do so would force additional scenes and length which would disrupt the narrative flow.)

Some things were condensed in the interest of time, yes, but the film did show Melinda contacted Audree and Carl and making them aware.

[leetwall97]

Are you serious?! I mean, she basically saved his life. Would you prefer she was either a) not mentioned or b) sued to have a fake name put in instead?

Yeah that's great, but that's not why I like Brian. I wanna see him recording H&V and California Girls in his biopics. Chewing vegetables with Paul and karate chopping Elvis.  

I think Melinda would only work in the type of Hybrid movie love and mercy is. But I'm still waiting for a Biopic about Brian in his prime. Love and Mercy focused way too much on the bed stuff.

I thought you were Mujan, but now I'm wondering if you're VDP or Loren Darro.

 

Darro actually has before, under more than one username (in fact was banned before registering under his own name)

Really? Why didn't you guys let him in? Everyone from the 60s never wants to talk. What did he do?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I think Melinda would only work in the type of Hybrid movie love and mercy is. But I'm still waiting for a Biopic about Brian in his prime. Love and Mercy focused way too much on the bed stuff.

Because that's what the movie was supposed to be about...it was about Brian being a prisoner of a complete psycho and how he got out of that situation. The young/classic Brian stuff was set-up for that...showing how he got into that position in the first place!

Really? Why didn't you guys let him in? Everyone from the 60s never wants to talk. What did he do?

His first account was banned for many reasons, one of which was trolling. Didn't realize it was him until after he registered under his own name (one can say he had the "purr"-fect alibi...), although it made purr-fect sense afterwards. . As far as the second time, he left of his own accord once it came out how utterly full of sh*t he was. He really thought he was the "cat's meow".

[guitarfool2002]

Mujon.

[Robbie Mac]

Stating it as "moving on" is also a little insensitive.

How is it insensitive? It's Brian's right as an artist to move on from past collaborators...artists do it all of the time. I mean, even Elton John and Bernie Taupin had a break from each other (granted, it was a huge mistake).

Right.  And there's handling that with grace and then there is handling that like a baby, which is what Van and Mike have both done in their respective ways.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Stating it as "moving on" is also a little insensitive.

How is it insensitive? It's Brian's right as an artist to move on from past collaborators...artists do it all of the time. I mean, even Elton John and Bernie Taupin had a break from each other (granted, it was a huge mistake).

Right.  And there's handling that with grace and then there is handling that like a baby, which is what Van and Mike have both done in their respective ways.

And at least Mike had more reason to be bitter (the whole past credits thing which he should REALLY let go).

[Robbie Mac]

Now, Billy...don't get oversensitive like VDP!! And I really can't imagine that either of those two (Parks and Daro) are looking to troll their way in here...unless the PM system is showing signs of strain again, that is.

L&M is maybe just a little too Melnda-centric, since there was cooperation with the Wilson family in order to vanquish Landy and that is pretty much left out of the film. (Though I suspect that to do so would force additional scenes and length which would disrupt the narrative flow.) But her story line, when you think about it, is really compelling: you fall in love with a man who it turns out is being held prisoner by a so-called "licensed professional" without enough will power to undo what's happened to him. That part of the film, as played by Cusack and as reacted to by Elizabeth Banks, is as strange a story as just about any you could ever imagine--and it's all true. Living through that period must have been infinitely more surreal that anything we can imagine from the outside looking in. You need Melinda's perspective to get the best sense of just how strange it all was, and what it took from the inside to bring it to a halt.

As for SMiLE, VDP was correct in his assessment of what was going on, but he was no diplomat at that time, and such has never been his strong suit. He's not mellowed with age, which (strangely enough) makes him more like Mike than Brian. So that tells us that Brian looks for something in someone that he doesn't think he possesses when looking for songwriting partners. Often that "something" involves competitive elements--often, but not always. It could be that Brian has relied on his gut feelings when meeting someone, which sometimes produces shaky and untenable collaborations. Of late Brian seems to have figured out how to put more boundaries around these things, which may not have him scale the heights of creativity to the extent many fans would like to see, but it's clearly produced a more stable life for him.

We have just about all of SMiLE now from so many perspectives, and it's still a mystery. Thank goodness for that. It should remain "beautiful in its obscurity" and be a siren call for all those who want to climb it, like Everest, risking all in the thinnest air on earth in hopes of solving its riddles.

Well said.

[CenturyDeprived]

Stating it as "moving on" is also a little insensitive.

How is it insensitive? It's Brian's right as an artist to move on from past collaborators...artists do it all of the time. I mean, even Elton John and Bernie Taupin had a break from each other (granted, it was a huge mistake).

Right.  And there's handling that with grace and then there is handling that like a baby, which is what Van and Mike have both done in their respective ways.

And at least Mike had more reason to be bitter (the whole past credits thing which he should REALLY let go).

I dunno. I give a pass - to a degree - to VDP for being bitter, more so than Mike.  At least Mike has so, so much money in the bank. I get the feeling that Van most certainly does not, and he must feel that having been actually pushed out of this project (partly his fault for letting himself be pushed out) must have cost him untold riches,  not only in terms of what the album might have done for his career if it had come out, but how he would have probably been set for life monetarily.  I feel for Van, yet I won't deny he isn't handling feeling slighted very well.

At least with Mike, he has so much money to fall back on, despite his absurd reputation. But of course it's apples and oranges.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Seems like VDP has deleted most of the tweets...

[leetwall97]

Seems like VDP has deleted most of the tweets...

Yeah I was looking for those. Do you think he reads the forum?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I know for a fact he does, as he's taken shots at me and some others previously.

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

I know for a fact he does, as he's taken shots at me and some others previously.

Really? Can I get some examples?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

One of them called me an "anti-intellectual", and there were some other shots...gonna try to see if they're archived...one moment...

[jiggy22]

Seems like VDP has deleted most of the tweets...

Yeah I was looking for those. Do you think he reads the forum?

Well hey, if SMiLE Brian is apparently Melinda, then anything is possible I guess!

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I did see this thread...
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,12345.50.html

in regards to VDP blowing up over the BB reunion...and said something about Brian , but that he'll be "moving on"...

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

One of them called me an "anti-intellectual", and there were some other shots...gonna try to see if they're archived...one moment...

The original article is now offline, but is used as a footnote on his wikipedia page. It's the same one he took a shot at Mike Eder on.

[Dove Nested Towers]

Stating it as "moving on" is also a little insensitive.

How is it insensitive? It's Brian's right as an artist to move on from past collaborators...artists do it all of the time. I mean, even Elton John and Bernie Taupin had a break from each other (granted, it was a huge mistake).

Insensitive in that, from him "I'm moving on" are blunt words that may reflect an adopted attitude that has been instilled, at least to some degree, by those around him, as has whatever fuel was the grounds for the ill will that seems to currently exist between the two, or, more likely, their proxies. Which is not to say that Brian is incapable of thinking for himself, just that there is still plenty of suggestibility and malleability there, if one has an agenda.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Stating it as "moving on" is also a little insensitive.

How is it insensitive? It's Brian's right as an artist to move on from past collaborators...artists do it all of the time. I mean, even Elton John and Bernie Taupin had a break from each other (granted, it was a huge mistake).

Insensitive in that, from him "I'm moving on" are blunt words that may reflect an adopted attitude that has been instilled, at least to some degree, by those around him, as has whatever fuel was the grounds for the ill will that seems to currently exist between the two, or, more likely, their proxies. Which is not to say that Brian is incapable of thinking for himself, just that there is still plenty of suggestibility and malleability there, if one has an agenda.

Why does it always have to be that he was "influenced" by those around him?  If Brian wanted to work with Van Dyke Parks, he'd be working with him. End of story.

[SMiLE Brian]

We need the fear to stop album with BW!

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]