John Lennon 'Mike Love is a jerk'

[Surfer Joe]

99% of Parks' fame comes from the lyrics he wrote for an unreleased Beach Boys album when he was 23. Now that he's 63 and his solo career is basically dead we can't blame him for being petty and cranky. 

I found that a little pettier still, but just MY opinion.  No harm done.

[Dancing Bear]

99% of Parks' fame comes from the lyrics he wrote for an unreleased Beach Boys album when he was 23. Now that he's 63 and his solo career is basically dead we can't blame him for being petty and cranky. 

I found that a little pettier still, but just MY opinion.  No harm done.

Man, this was as petty as I could be without being kicked off the forum. Too many "I don't want to criticize Mike but he would be still pumping gas if not for his talented cousin" posts.

[Surfer Joe]

I guess the answer to that is to bash Van Dyke Parks...

[Bill]

Forgive me for returning to the topic of this chain, but my understanding is that Mr. Love brought cases of his finest Sunset Strip rock star duds to the ashram and changed several times a day to show one and all what a fab dude he was.  From the photos, his boss duds, combined with a comb-over that is absolutely Trumpian in nature,  cut him a figure that, coupled with his pleasing personal charm, earned him the reported moniker of "that a**hole from America" from all others present.
Back to trashing Van Dyke, fun-seekers.

[Daniel S.]

Where are you getting your info?

Yeah, and the Beatles were so down to earth, right?

[Dancing Bear]

I guess the answer to that is to bash Van Dyke Parks...

I figured he'd be very sad if left out of our daily vitriol. 

Come on, it's not like he's above Beach Boys bullshit.

[Bill]

Where are you getting your info?

Yeah, and the Beatles were so down to earth, right?

1. Someone who was there.
2. Probably not- bet they were referred to around the M's place as "those as*holes from the Mersey" or "the Merseyas*holes."  Only one that was nice was good old Donovan, who knew not to f*** with the formula.
Nevertheless, I suspect that the Lennon quote is accurate.  Too bad he didn't live to hear Mike's Rock and Roll HOF induction speech.

[Surfer Joe]

I guess the answer to that is to bash Van Dyke Parks...

I figured he'd be very sad if left out of our daily vitriol. 

Come on, it's not like he's above Beach Boys bullmerda.

Wasn't meaning to lecture anybody...just have never really felt that ol' VDP was one of those asking for it. To me, he's about as offensive as Carl or Marilyn.

My offer to buy any of 'em a beer stands; I love 'em all;  they need fear no rotten vege-tables from my direction. I'm trying to think of anyone in the Beach Boys whole story I don't feel gratitude and affection for, and coming up blank.

[MusicLover1970]

Van Dyke's talents are still recognised and in demant. Not only on the forthcoming Joanna Newsom album but on the brand new (and wonderful) album by Scissor Sistors as well.

[Rocker]

Van Dyke's talents are still recognised and in demant. Not only on the forthcoming Joanna Newsom album but on the brand new (and wonderful) album by Scissor Sistors as well.

Really? I just saw them yesterday on TV, never heard of them before, and I liked it...

[Nat]

He'd know. Lennon was a wanker! Imagine no possessions? Sure, after you John!

[Fun Is In]

Let he among us who is perfect cast the first "JERK", eh?

[MBE]

Van Dyke obviously does not like Love and has a grudge. I don't think anything he says about him is to be taken seriously.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Just because someone calls somebody a jerk once doesn't mean they don't like them. I've thought my friends were jerks at times. We all have "jerk" in us.

[Daniel S.]

Van Dyke obviously does not like Love and has a grudge. I don't think anything he says about him is to be taken seriously.

What's the point of badmouthing Mike Love now? Why didn't he speak up back in the 60's?
Yeah, I mean why didn't he stand up to Mike Love 40 years ago and defend his lyrics and help Brian finish Smile, if he feels so passionate about it? It's a little late.

[MBE]

Van Dyke obviously does not like Love and has a grudge. I don't think anything he says about him is to be taken seriously.

What's the point of badmouthing Mike Love now? Why didn't he speak up back in the 60's?
Yeah, I mean why didn't he stand up to Mike Love 40 years ago and defend his lyrics and help Brian finish Smile, if he feels so passionate about it? It's a little late.

That's why Parks pisses me off too. He left Brian in the lurch, worked with Mike several times over the years on seemingly peaceful terms and now hates him? I say Mike in even asking him to work with him was being the bigger man here. Remember for all his bitching Love DID sing Heroes, and Cabinessence, etc. Mike may have been rotten about Smile, but he did his job.  Van Dyke didn't even try to explain his work. Now it may be easy to swallow rock lyrics that aren't conventional, but in 1966 Last Train To Clarksville and Winchester Cathedral were HUGE. Untill he started trashing Mike in 2000 I liked Van Dyke, but whose the one who walked out of Smile Love or Parks? Yes I know Mike hurt Brian too, but no one can deny that he sang his parts, and sang them well.

[Chris Brown]

It's definitely strange that Van Dyke's hatred for Mike has increased in intensity lately...maybe it was that "American Family" Stamos/Love TV movie that sent him over the edge (and rightfully so).  As far as I can tell, things between Van Dyke and Mike weren't all that bad before the movie.  And then of course when Brian decided to resurrect Smile, a lot of the resentment towards Mike only intensified. 

It is true that even though he complained, Mike sang all of his parts (and did a fantasitc job).  And clearly Van Dyke regrets abandoning Brian at a time when Brian only needed support.  It must have been a tough situation to be in, since he knew Brian needed the support but at the same time he was having to defend his lyrics and take crap from Mike.  In BD he said more than once that he wishes that he had stayed.  If he had, who knows, maybe Brian would have found a way to finish Smile.  I guess with all the time that has gone by, he realizes the impact that his departure had. 

[Daniel S.]

I believe that Van Dyke leaving was a decisive factor in the death of Smile. If Van Dyke had not abandoned the project and been more of a cheerleader for the album it probably would have gotten finished somehow. Who knows what would have happened after. But I think Brian could of hung in there the extra month or two needed to complete the album.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Remember that Mike complained about Tony Asher's lyrics as well. I don't know that he was more intense with Van Dyke, but Asher stuck it out. But I do not care at all how Van Dyke or the Smile music was portrayed in the movie. They made it appear that it was all random sound effects under influence of drugs. Why couldn't they have some 'Cabinessence' or 'Surfs Up' sounds? Or even 'Mrs O'Leary's Cow'?