The Beach Boys Band loses another band member.

[Eric Aniversario]

I just read on the BBB Board that Chris Farmer has "retired" from the band.  I am really, really bummed out about this.  Chris was the longest running band member left, having been there since 1995.  There is now only one band member left who was with the band prior to Carl's passing and Al's departure: Tim Bonhomme.

I'm not sure if Chris actually retired, or if he was asked to retire like so many in the past.  Either way, it's a big, big loss for the group.  His "Sail On Sailor" was on par with Billy Hinsche's and Bobby Figueroa's.  His "You're So Good To Me" was great, and his "Good Timin" was far superior to John Stamos' or Christian Love's versions.

I remember thinking this past summer that both Chris and Randell Kirsch seemed to be in danger of "retiring" because they had both been relegated to the back line and replaced with the younger Christian Love and John Stamos (during the summer shows) in the front line.  Both of them had leads taken away.  Randell lost "Good Vibrations" to Christian, and Chris lost "Then I Kissed Her", "Good Timin", and others to Christian and/or John.  But I thought that with Kowalski gone and the band already one man down, that Chris was safe.  But I guess not.

Does anyone in the know know what actually happened?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I think I speak for everyone here when I say... WTF?!

[Beach Boy]

Either way, it's a big, big loss for the group.  His "Sail On Sailor" was on par with Billy Hinsche's and Bobby Figueroa's.  His "You're So Good To Me" was great, and his "Good Timin" was far superior to John Stamos' or Christian Love's versions.

I absolutely agree, Chris Farmer has such a great voice and seems to be very gentle.

[GoofyJeff]

I think I speak for everyone here when I say... WTF?!

Exactly... couldn't have said it better myself

Who is the musical director in the band then?  Who's playing bass?  Who's singing Chris' harmony parts?

This doesn't make any sense whatsoever....

[LostArt]

Who is the musical director in the band then?  Who's playing bass?  Who's singing Chris' harmony parts?

This doesn't make any sense whatsoever....

This is from Susan, over on Shut Down:

"All i know is that it was NOT dictated by finances.

Totten becomes MD and Randell moves to bass."

[Aegir]

This is getting silly.

[peeping tom]

Bring in another son of Mike Love and let's call them the Love Boys! 

[Eric Aniversario]

The one thing that could have cheered me up regarding this news was for Scott to become the Musical Director, and I'm very glad he did.  He has a genuine love for the music, he's been a big BB/BW fan for years, and he's a great musician.  On top of that, he's a really great guy and very personable with the fans.  He will do a great job!  I have also been assured that Randell is in no danger of leaving, so there should be no more surprises this year!

[c-man]

Did we ever find out who's gonna play piano, since Cowsill is now on drums?

[Alf64]

  This is starting to sound less like The Beach Boys and more like government.  People leaving office (the band) and being replaced. For me the only members that matter are Mike, Bruce, Carl, Denny, Brian, and Al.  Anyone else is just "filler". After Carl's passing, the band seems to have lost it's energy and passion. Mike these days is looking more like 

[LostArt]

For me the only members that matter are Mike, Bruce, Carl, Denny, Brian, and Al.  Anyone else is just "filler". 

How long before Jon Stebbins chimes in to remind us that David Marks was on the first few albums?

[Jon Stebbins]

This is starting to sound less like The Beach Boys and more like government.  People leaving office (the band) and being replaced. For me the only members that matter are Mike, Bruce, Carl, Denny, Brian, and Al.  Anyone else is just "filler". After Carl's passing, the band seems to have lost it's energy and passion. Mike these days is looking more like 

How long before you realize what a dumb remark that was and log on to try to down play it? David Marks was an original Beach Boy who played on the first 4 LP's and on the first wave of national hits...he was playing music with the Wilsons long before Al and Bruce, and had more to do with the initial national success of the Beach Boys than either Al or Bruce. There's a good book out there that conclusively proves this titled The Lost Beach Boy. Read it.

[Jonas]

[LostArt]

Jon, I realize that David was a very important piece of the Beach Boys early on.  I think most of us do.  When I saw this person's post, and he didn't mention David, I just had to respond.  I was just having a little fun, man.  I do plan on reading your book, and if I could find your book about Dennis, I would read that one, too.  I didn't mean any harm.

[the captain]

How long before you realize what a dumb remark that was and log on to try to down play it?

Fifteen minutes and twenty seconds.

[Jon Stebbins]

Jon, I realize that David was a very important piece of the Beach Boys early on.  I think most of us do.  When I saw this person's post, and he didn't mention David, I just had to respond.  I was just having a little fun, man.  I do plan on reading your book, and if I could find your book about Dennis, I would read that one, too.  I didn't mean any harm.

I was just having some fun too. Your post came up while I was writing mine...so the timing was perfect. No offense taken.

[Rich Panteluk]

Wow, more line-up changes in Mike and Bruce's Beach Boys show!
Sometimes shake-ups are good though. It is sad about veteran Mike Kowalski departing, but I think the band will only benefit with Cowsill behind the kit. Drums (and vocals) are where he belongs and truly shines anyway. I also believe that Scott Totten will do a great job as "Musical Director". He has a great BB knowledge with the musical chops to back it up. In the many conversations I have had with Scott, not only have I found him to be a great guy, he also loves to include the lesser known goodies (Let Him Run Wild, Heroes and Villians etc), so perhaps he can encourage Mike Love to keep the setlist fresh (though they certainly have done a respectable job of that in the last few years). I also recall him posting on the Blueboard regarding the guitar intro to Wouldn't It Be Nice. From his post there I came away with an appreciation of how faithful he tries to be in reconstructing Brian Wilson's musical complexities.
I look forward to catching this new line-up whenever they are in the general neighborhood. In the last two years alone I have had the pleaure of seeing them five times, and they have always put on a very entertaining show.

...On the flipside with Chris out and Randell moving to bass, they are down a guitar player / vocalist. Perhaps someone could call Al Jardine (or David Marks for that matter) as I hear both of them have a few skills they may be able to offer ;-). Seriously though, I bet they band will continue to sound great and I wish Farmer all the best.

[tpesky]

That would certainly seem to thin out the harmonies a lot as Chris was an integral vocal part. David would more than filll any guitar void, but does he want to play such a grueling schedule and he was never that much of a singer. Not that he couldn't, just never seemed as interested in it the times I have seen him play.  There is certainly someone who can fill the void...he is about 5'6", plays rhythm guitar, sings some mean harmony, and does have some Beach Boys experience.  BUT I don't see that one happening!

[Ian Mansfield]

Farmer was a hell of a dude and all the times I talked to him he was extermly well rounded and a flat out awesome singer.  Now the band is down a baritone voice in this worries me a bit.  Im sure randell will do awesome on the bass, and scott will do a hell of a job as far as being the MD.  I cant wait to see them, this will certainly make it very interesting.

[Awesoman]

I just read on the BBB Board that Chris Farmer has "retired" from the band.  I am really, really bummed out about this.  Chris was the longest running band member left, having been there since 1995.  There is now only one band member left who was with the band prior to Carl's passing and Al's departure: Tim Bonhomme.

I'm not sure if Chris actually retired, or if he was asked to retire like so many in the past.  Either way, it's a big, big loss for the group.  His "Sail On Sailor" was on par with Billy Hinsche's and Bobby Figueroa's.  His "You're So Good To Me" was great, and his "Good Timin" was far superior to John Stamos' or Christian Love's versions.

I remember thinking this past summer that both Chris and Randell Kirsch seemed to be in danger of "retiring" because they had both been relegated to the back line and replaced with the younger Christian Love and John Stamos (during the summer shows) in the front line.  Both of them had leads taken away.  Randell lost "Good Vibrations" to Christian, and Chris lost "Then I Kissed Her", "Good Timin", and others to Christian and/or John.  But I thought that with Kowalski gone and the band already one man down, that Chris was safe.  But I guess not.

Does anyone in the know know what actually happened?

As a runner at Chastain Park I got to drive the "Beach Boys Band" (not including Mike and Bruce) from their hotel to the venue and chatted with Chris for the whole ride back in 2004.  He was a very nice guy and I enjoyed talking to him.  Shame he won't be with the touring group anymore but hopefully this is the direction he wanted to go.

[Awesoman]

This is starting to sound less like The Beach Boys and more like government. 

Well with all due respect, this hasn't been the Beach Boys since 1998; at least that's what most fans would say...

[the captain]

I have to chime in, mostly based on the last post before mine (about when it was last "the Beach Boys"). Personally, it doesn't matter to me at all which hired sidemen perform with the Beach Boys. There are literally hundreds--if not more--people who are capable of doing what those people do. And because whoever does it almost certainly won't have any meaningful input into creating any new music--or even radically reinventing old music--I tend to think it's a moot point for my Beach Boys experience.

That said, there are a lot of people who go see the band called the Beach Boys. So I hope the band is reorganized into a quality touring act that can keep the interest of those who are into it.

[Awesoman]

I have to chime in, mostly based on the last post before mine (about when it was last "the Beach Boys"). Personally, it doesn't matter to me at all which hired sidemen perform with the Beach Boys. There are literally hundreds--if not more--people who are capable of doing what those people do. And because whoever does it almost certainly won't have any meaningful input into creating any new music--or even radically reinventing old music--I tend to think it's a moot point for my Beach Boys experience.

That said, there are a lot of people who go see the band called the Beach Boys. So I hope the band is reorganized into a quality touring act that can keep the interest of those who are into it.

This has been debated so often that it is amazing that it continues to be discussed.  Personally, I have nothing against Mike Love touring with the people he tours with.  But when you go out on tour as a well-known band and you're the only original member in the group with a bunch of sidemen, it's kind of hard to swallow that this group is authentic...even if it's legally said so.  As argued many times before: it's like Paul McCartney going out with his current touring band and calling himself the Beatles.  Sure, the Beach Boys have had revolving members since the band formed; but up until Carl Wilson's passing and Al Jardine's being removed from the band, there was a significant level of authenticity in the group.  Now it's just Mike and Bruce leading the pack.  While I don't have a problem with them still touring (even under the Beach Boys' name), the "Beach Boys" as far as I see have long ceased to exist as a true band. 

[thomasogg]

No Wilsons - No Beach Boys. End of argument.

[Susan]

No Wilsons - No Beach Boys. End of argument.

There are tens of thousands - hundreds of thousands - of people who would disagree with you every year.

We are the minority, really, we who populate these boards.  So our perception is necessarily skewed. 

Mike's show makes a hell of a lot of people happy, and they walk away glad to have been made happy by The Beach Boys.  Who are we to argue with thousands of happy people???