Brian's self-image and laughter as healing helper

[sofonanm]

I was just thinking about the backing vocals for "Heroes and Villains" and a quote supposedly by Jimi Hendrix about the Beach Boys (and, I think, either "Good Vibrations" or "Heroes and Villains"): that they were 'a psychedelic barbershop quartet.'

Now, we all know that Brian enjoyed the idea of humor and laughter as a way to shake other people up/transcend one's own self-limiting, egoic games and so on - here's where I tie in "Heroes and Villains".

Is it possible that Brian, growing ever more aware of new scenes developing and new trends forming in popular music, became acutely aware that, unless something is changed, his group will fall off the map as a old fashioned act? I mean, think of his main influences - The Four Freshman and Phil Spector! We know it's awesome in its own way but the Beach Boys would've fallen off the face of the Earth if they didn't shake things up.

What was that quote from Brian (or somebody) about playing the Monterey Pop Festival? Something to the effect that they wouldn't be welcomed, right? Well, that came a bit later. I'm a few months or a year before that time.

I was just listening to the vocal sessions for H&V and thinking about some of the quotes the guys in the group made about it - and there's the distinctive 'barbershop' feel to it. When I hear it I think of goofy guys groovin' on each other's voices. Good fun.

Is this Brian's attempt at protecting the Beach Boys' well-known vocal blend & style from any possible public or critical insults of being anachronistic by displaying his awareness of it?

In recognizing it he, in a sense, transcends it. There's the humor. Now they can explore any form with freedom. It's going beyond the self-limiting, self-contracting boundaries and blowing the whole thing apart leaving room for anything and everything in its place. I mean, he had chances to step outside himself on substances - and sometimes there's a panic, you start sinking into a self-made hole, suddenly realizing what you are or have been in your life, and you either get bummed out by it or laugh at it and transcend it.

[Dr. Tim]

Apropos of that, see this:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=laughing-matters

Scientific American already did a piece on Brian's mental state and how getting back on his feet has been therapeutic, obviously written by a propellerhead fan.

Hendrix's remark actually was not meant as an insult, though at the time many took it as being one.

[sofonanm]

Hendrix's remark actually was not meant as an insult, though at the time many took it as being one.

I consider it a wonderful compliment, whether he meant it as that or not!