Bruce Johnston talks reunion idea.

[Reggie Dunbar]

Even though I am in a small minority, I share a common feeling with millions of Beach Boys' fans. I would rather see and hear The Beach Boys than any of the solo projects and tribute bands. I have been musically unfulfilled by ALL of the solo albums, with the exception of Pacific Ocean Blue, which was 31 years ago. I am bored, especially with Brian's solo albums. I listen to them a couple of times, and put them away, rarely getting them back out. But I continually play The Beach Boys' albums - all of them. The Beach Boys as a whole are so much more interesting and basically "better" as a whole, rather than the separate, individual parts. I think they've proven that. And I think I speak for a very, very large percentage of Beach Boys' fans. Not the people who post on this board, but the millions of fans who go to the shows and buy the albums. If you stand in the lobby of a Brian or Mike & Bruce show - after the show - and ask the fans if they'd like to see a Beach Boys reunion, what do you think the percentages would be? Doesn't THAT really answer the question?

Well crafted, Sheriff. I concur that the individuals are weaker than the sum of the parts. And indeed I would be delighted
to purchase any tickets, DVD's, albums, etc. with far less trepidation as the revelation of BW's most recent sleeping pill.

Let's cross our collective fingers. Good for Bruce to expound on this idea, I believe if the all the concerned parties stay on
the throttle we're inching closer to a magical time as fans. We need it, they need it - everyone wins.

[Dancing Bear]

Hell, I want a cheerleader for my posts too.

As far as i know, Brian doesn't read this board and isn't tied to a chair listening to our little debate. So, the notion that we're DEMANDING a reunion is a bit far fetched. Sheriff John Stone has Brian's phone number, but he promised not to call.

Of course a reunion is a possibility after the Capitol roof event, given that Brian didn't jump to avoid the others. Of course a thread about it will show up once in a while. Unfortunately, around page two, it unvariably turns into Brian vs. untalented assholes aka the Beach Boys. A nice guy like me ends up saying how he really feels about BWPS and TLOS. That's a shame.

Why not let the guys fantasize about reunion setlists, flying elephants and Beach Boys Central? Maybe we'll have world peace.

[donald]

Has the  backing band been  discussed here?

Who will do drums and bass?  Who will help with the vocals?  Keyboard?

Don't mean for this to set off a wave of speculation but..........Jeff? Darian? Scott and John?  Ed? Mike and Al's kids?

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Has the  backing band been  discussed here?

Who will do drums and bass?  Who will help with the vocals?  Keyboard?

Don't mean for this to set off a wave of speculation but..........Jeff? Darian? Scott and John?  Ed? Mike and Al's kids?

I would put Bill Hinche on base and Ricky Fattaar on drums. Also, bring on Blondie Chaplin! If you can't get Chaplin/Fataar, then bring on the Dragons!

[MBE]

Ricky and Blondie would be great!

[Aegir]

Someone like Jeff Foskett or Matt Jardine needs to be there to sing the falsetto parts.

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

Personally, I like Matt Jardine's falsetto the best, and it just seems less awkward when you keep things in the family, you know?

I'd love to see Blondie and Ricky come back, that would make for an awesome rhythm section.

Al and Dave on guitars.

Bruce, Billy Hinsche, and Brian can all swap keyboard parts.

Additionally, I hope Brian performs in his traditional bathrobe, and that they include life-size cardboard cutouts of Carl and Dennis as a tribute. 

Let Mike and Alan handle the majority of leads. Brian should get a few, but stick with the ones his current vocals sound good on. I think he sings the Pet Sounds songs best still out of current setlists. What do you guys think?

[MBE]

Brian sounds best on lower pitched ballads these days. He sounded really good on Girl Don't Tell Me when I last saw him.

[donald]

Mike, Brian, and Al still have the pipes.   And sure, keep it in the family with Matt and Christian.

I would also think Jeff and Darian would be a good bet for a solid foundation.

Ed Carter on bass or Brian's current bassist (forget his name but he is very good).

Drums?   I'll take Kowalski or Cowsill.  Cowsill sings really well too so maybe he would be best (and he reminds me of Dennis up there pounding the skins)

There are several choices for lead guitar but after seeing Scott Totten this fall I think he would be hard to beat and he does some great BB sounding vocals.  And he has excellent stage presence.

So far that would be 13 I think........including Bruce and David.

I'd pay top concert dollar to see that.  Without flinching.  And I'd fly and rent a car to get there.

Who among us wouldn't?

[adamghost]

Does Brian get to have a fair reading of who Mike, Al, Bruce, and Dave really are today?

I don't know.  Who's a better judge of that...the guy who has dealt with them to various degrees for 40 years, or you and me?  I'd argue the former.  I might think your ex-wife is awesome and that you both should reconcile.  I might be right that she's a great person, but if you don't want to be with her, what business is it of mine?  If you'd rather hang out with some heavy metal chick, I might think that's not as good of a relationship, but I'm not living your life.  YOU are.  If the Beach Boys want to reconcile, great.  I still don't quite see the point, but if everyone was into it, beautiful.  But it appears they're not, and here we are telling people how they should feel about things they've lived through and we're just observing from a far, far distance.  I know it's not like Melinda's got a direct line to this board but that kinda bugs me, frankly.

I think this is a fun parlor game, and by all means speculate away about the fantasy band.  But let's keep it at that:  a parlor game.  In the real world, you have real people who have suffered a lot and again, don't owe us anything. 

[the captain]

Has the  backing band been  discussed here?

This question is funny if you think about it site-wide (as opposed to just this thread). Because in that sense, oh, about 50 million times!

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

Ok, so Matt Jardine, Christian Love. Ed Carter is a must. Cowsill works for me. Billy Hinsche needs to be there, strong pianist.

Mike, Brian, Alan, Bruce, & David. (Blondie & Ricky would be a total plus in my book).

Anyone want to start writing up the setlist, who sings what? Mwah ha ha ha ha!

[MBE]

Does Brian get to have a fair reading of who Mike, Al, Bruce, and Dave really are today?

I don't know.  Who's a better judge of that...the guy who has dealt with them to various degrees for 40 years, or you and me?  I'd argue the former.  I might think your ex-wife is awesome and that you both should reconcile.  I might be right that she's a great person, but if you don't want to be with her, what business is it of mine?  If you'd rather hang out with some heavy metal chick, I might think that's not as good of a relationship, but I'm not living your life.  YOU are.  If the Beach Boys want to reconcile, great.  I still don't quite see the point, but if everyone was into it, beautiful.  But it appears they're not, and here we are telling people how they should feel about things they've lived through and we're just observing from a far, far distance.  I know it's not like Melinda's got a direct line to this board but that kinda bugs me, frankly.

I think this is a fun parlor game, and by all means speculate away about the fantasy band.  But let's keep it at that:  a parlor game.  In the real world, you have real people who have suffered a lot and again, don't owe us anything. 

I for one wouldn't tell anyone what to do. I don't feel owed at all, my lone contention is that direct communication is the only way to resolve issues. If they don't want to no skin off my back. but I still feel that asking questions about why they don't  is valid. Don't let it bother you, it's all for the sake of discusion at least from my end and I have stressed that.  These are real people and I respect that, but they live public lives that are going to be examined and I think most of us do it in very good taste. Besides they have always been very public about their issues why would a message board thread hurt them? Particularly one as intelligent as this.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Does Brian get to have a fair reading of who Mike, Al, Bruce, and Dave really are today?

I don't know.  Who's a better judge of that...the guy who has dealt with them to various degrees for 40 years, or you and me?  I'd argue the former.  I might think your ex-wife is awesome and that you both should reconcile.  I might be right that she's a great person, but if you don't want to be with her, what business is it of mine?  If you'd rather hang out with some heavy metal chick, I might think that's not as good of a relationship, but I'm not living your life.  YOU are.  If the Beach Boys want to reconcile, great.  I still don't quite see the point, but if everyone was into it, beautiful.  But it appears they're not, and here we are telling people how they should feel about things they've lived through and we're just observing from a far, far distance.  I know it's not like Melinda's got a direct line to this board but that kinda bugs me, frankly.

I think this is a fun parlor game, and by all means speculate away about the fantasy band.  But let's keep it at that:  a parlor game.  In the real world, you have real people who have suffered a lot and again, don't owe us anything. 

I for one wouldn't tell anyone what to do. I don't feel owed at all, my lone contention is that direct communication is the only way to resolve issues. If they don't want to no skin off my back. but I still feel that asking questions about why they don't  is valid. Don't let it bother you, it's all for the sake of discusion at least from my end and I have stressed that.  These are real people and I respect that, but they live public lives that are going to be examined and I think most of us do it in very good taste. Besides they have always been very public about their issues why would a message board thread hurt them? Particularly one as intelligent as this.

Yes, MBE, nobody is saying that The Beach Boys owe anybody anything (including me, if anybody READS my post(s), I specifically said that). What I did say, and believe, as one of the reasons to reunite, would be for the guys to do it for the fans. Not the only reason, not even a major reason, but a reason. What's wrong with that idea, actually showing appreciation to loyal fans. Didn't Alabama or some group do that before? Aren't there "farewell" tours and things like that? I guess I'm naive....

And, addressing again, what's in it for The Beach Boys and/or Brian....The Beach Boys as individuals are soooooooooooooo different from you and me. But, is it possible that they and/or Brian are sentimental, wanting to forgive/ heal old wounds, want to "do it again" for old times sake, maybe share a few laughs - at each other's expense, and just enjoy making music with each other. Just making music together. Money can't but that. Psychotherapy can't manufacture that. Settling lawsuits can't settle those things. Can writing songs on a computer in a bedroom bring that? Maybe. Maybe not. Are The Beach Boys that different from us that those things mean nothing to them? Again, maybe. I'm not trying to decide for them, just speculating that, yes, they might get a lot out of it.

[?]

Who among us wouldn't?

I wouldn't.  No Dennis, no Carl, no thanks.

[the captain]

Aren't there "farewell" tours and things like that?

Sure there are. Ask the Who, the Stones, Cher, KISS, the Eagles, etc. But unless the Boys plan to go on with the tour endlessly, year after year and to ever-increasing ticket prices in sports arenas, they ought to avoid the term.  

[Sheriff John Stone]

Who among us wouldn't?

I wouldn't.  No Dennis, no Carl, no thanks.

Avan, you seem pretty adamant in your view, and I respect that, because I'm like that, too. Do you mind if I ask you an off-the-wall question?

After Dennis died, The Beach Boys held a press conference, and Carl Wilson said (and I'm paraphrasing), "We know that Dennis would like us to carry on in the spirit and tradition of The Beach Boys....", or something to that effect. And they went on. After Carl passed away, it was decided/voted on to continue The Beach Boys, for reasons that I don't want to get into in this thread. If, in some magical way, you could ask Carl Wilson if he thought The Beach Boys should reunite - with a line-up of Brian, Mike, Al, David, and Bruce - what do you think he would say? If you don't want to answer, no problem.

[the captain]

^ Great question. For the record, as you know, I'm also not interested in a reunion. I would not attend a local show, much less travel to one. I would buy the CD/DVD, but am more than a little skeptical about what I'd hear and see. But I'll answer your question. (I know, you're thrilled.) He'd without question say to do it. Doing shows and selling albums is what the Beach Boys--and pretty much every other band on earth--have always been about.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Aren't there "farewell" tours and things like that?

Sure there are. Ask the Who, the Stones, Cher, KISS, the Eagles, etc. But unless the Boys plan to go on with the tour endlessly, year after year and to ever-increasing ticket prices in sports arenas, they ought to avoid the term.  

My point, which I KNOW you got, was that a "farewell" tour or concert can be a mutually good thing. Obviously, it gives the fans a last chance to see one of their favorite artists. But, it also gives the artist a last chance to give back, take a final bow, and enjoy the ride. And, yes, we don't know that The Beach Boys either need or want that....

[the captain]

I knew what you meant, of course. Just playing with the idea of those horrid, endless farewells.

[Sheriff John Stone]

^ Great question. For the record, as you know, I'm also not interested in a reunion. I would not attend a local show, much less travel to one. I would buy the CD/DVD, but am more than a little skeptical about what I'd hear and see. But I'll answer your question. (I know, you're thrilled.) He'd without question say to do it. Doing shows and selling albums is what the Beach Boys--and pretty much every other band on earth--have always been about.

I wasn't asking you! 

But, remember, it was Carl Wilson, when asked if he STILL enjoyed touring as a Beach Boy, who repeatedly talked about how much he enjoyed making the audiences/fans happy by singing Brian's songs, singing about the joys of everyday life, celebrating the simple things in life. I'd say he got a lot out of it. After his "solo career", he reunited....

[the captain]

I know. Like I said, I think he'd be for it. I don't know that the reasons I gave are all that different than the ones you gave, or at least not mutually exclusive.

[NightHider]

Brings to mind the interview where Brian was asked "Are you still a Beach Boy" and Brian says "Of course, I'm just doing my own thing right now."(paraphrased)

Anyone who thinks it's just the fans who want a reunion are kidding themselves.  I'm sure they're all yearning for something different after 10+ years of the same ol' thing:

Al - a yes for sure
Mike- dying for it
Bruce - obviously a thumbs up
David Marks - green light
BW - I'm sure Brian would love to hear how they sound together again

Ronnie James Dio is 67 and he still belts it out.  Recently saw 63 year old Brian Johnson of AC/DC and he sounded fresher than he has since the mid-eighties.  If these old timers can still perform their savage vocals, The Beach Boys would have no problems vocally, studio or otherwise.  A little rest from their busy touring schedules and it would shape up nicely....

[the captain]

Ronnie James Dio is 67 and he still belts it out.  Recently saw 63 year old Brian Johnson of AC/DC and he sounded fresher than he has since the mid-eighties.  If these old timers can still perform their savage vocals, The Beach Boys would have no problems vocally, studio or otherwise.  A little rest from their busy touring schedules and it would shape up nicely....

The problem with that is that it's factually wrong. We KNOW the Beach Boys' vocals are nowhere near what they were. They WOULD have problems vocally. It's not an insult or a slight. It's a fact. Brian, Mike and Al (in descending order) have all suffered losses of their vocal abilities. Bruce, i'm not sure, but I'd guess he's not in his mid-20s form. And David, for his talents, wasn't ever such a great singer. I'm not saying a group around them live, or a good producer in the studio, couldn't make it a decent end-result product, but to think those guys with their current, true voices could "have no problems" is simply wrong.

[Wilsonista]

Actually David Marks has a fine singing voice that's really mellow,and laid-back. He did a great job singing "You And I" in Hawthorne at the dedication ceremony.  To say he wasn't ever a great singer is wrong, IMHO.