Mike now talking 50th Reunion with Brian

[The Heartical Don]

Only if Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Bonnie Tyler do the backing vocals.

[urbanite]

I'm sure it galls Mike that he has to go through Melinda to get Brian to sign for a reunion.  Other than the fact that she runs Brian's life to some extent, what right does she have to participate in decisions about the Beach Boys?  She ought to butt out and let Brian and Mike talk about it.  Brian has a manager and business people to make sure he is treated fairly on the finances.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I'm sure it galls Mike that he has to go through Melinda to get Brian to sign for a reunion.  Other than the fact that she runs Brian's life to some extent, what right does she have to participate in decisions about the Beach Boys?  She ought to butt out and let Brian and Mike talk about it.  Brian has a manager and business people to make sure he is treated fairly on the finances.

I agree and disagree with you.

Yes, for obvious reasons, it must be hard for Mike to discuss Beach Boys' related issues with Melinda, but, and not to appear insensitive, it is necessary because Brian is not competent enough to make important decisions regarding his career (and life?). Brian needs to be surrounded by a "team".

[Amy B.]

I was just reading the Kingsley Abbott book. There's an interview in there with Brian from 1988, and he says some interesting things about working with the BBs. (Take this, of course, in the context of what was going on in 1988, but still... it might explain the back and forth we've been seeing...the inner conflict of whether or not to work together).

"I can't ever work with those guys comfortably knowing that we don't even say "hi" on the phone hardly ever. That's the hardest part. For me the Beach Boys are among my very hardest people in the world to be with. I find it more difficult to be with the Beach Boys over say 95 percent of the people I know in this whole world....When I'm working with the Beach Boys, I'm not comfortable just sitting there thinking, I'm talking to myself saying, 'What am I doing up here? I don't even feel comfortable playing with these guys.' And I say to myself I like it though. What am I doing playing with these guys? And then I turn around and say I love working with the Beach Boys. It goes back and forth, you know what I mean? [Then, on working on the most recent studio album with the BBs]: We got along good. We spoke to each other. There were no hittings or yellings or anything like that. It was OK. It was fairly alright except that I was confronted with something that I didn't like: being with the Beach Boys. That's what I didn't like. But at the same time I love being with them."

[Chris Brown]

I think Brian will always be conflicted about working with Mike again.  Obviously he's always been prone to quickly and repeatedly change his mind, so I'm sure there are times when he would feel like he would want to participate in something like Mike is proposing.  Despite all that has happened over the years, some part of Brian still has to feel like he's a Beach Boy, and a reunion could be a nice way for him to get some closure on that part of his life.

For better or worse, Melinda will most certainly be involved in the process, but I would really hope that, given the gravity of the event, what Brian wants will be what ultimately happens.  If Brian wants to get together with Mike and Bruce to do this, I think it could really be something special for all of them and for us fans.  If he really doesn't, that's fine too, but the decision should be his.

[Wilsonista]

Better that than have Mike choose the restaurant. Tofu anyone?

Hey you can do a lot of great things with tofu!

[Wilsonista]

While I am sure the rooftop thing was great and that Brian charmed everyone there, I look at those pictures and think that there are two very, very significant holes missing that you just can't fill. That's why I'm not in favor of a reunion - without Carl and Dennis, what would be the point?

[Pretty Funky]

Better that than have Mike choose the restaurant. Tofu anyone?

Hey you can do a lot of great things with tofu!

That may be but trom what we know about Brian and his food, given the choice between Tofu and a T-Bone, red meat would win every time.

[Alex]

Better that than have Mike choose the restaurant. Tofu anyone?

Hey you can do a lot of great things with tofu!

That may be but trom what we know about Brian and his food, given the choice between Tofu and a T-Bone, red meat would win every time.

And cake...before he became diabetic, anyway.

[Aegir]

there are two very, very significant holes missing that you just can't fill. That's why I'm not in favor of a reunion - without Carl and Dennis, what would be the point?

The "Beach Boys" are currently Mike, Bruce, and sometimes Dave. In addition to not having Carl and Dennis, they also don't have Brian and Al. All five of them is better than just two or three of them. Using your logic, they should've broke up in 1983.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I'm sure it galls Mike that he has to go through Melinda to get Brian to sign for a reunion.  Other than the fact that she runs Brian's life to some extent, what right does she have to participate in decisions about the Beach Boys?  She ought to butt out and let Brian and Mike talk about it.  Brian has a manager and business people to make sure he is treated fairly on the finances.

The Lippin Group, that is Jean Sievers, are Brian's business managers. Melinda is, unless something has changed recently, his personal manager (and also was at one time his conservator). He also has people... ah, I guess you could say they 'run interference' for him (I don't like the overtones of the word 'minder'). Probably the best example of this is Jeff at the meet & greets.

[Dove Nested Towers]

Only if Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Bonnie Tyler do the backing vocals.

I think contributions from Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Mandy Moore & Britney Spears would be appropriate and lend class to the event.

[Rocker]

Funny, I just came across this video and it made me think of the days when they all got along great and it all was about the music (not that I was born back then). Would anybody have thought that it takes so much for them to get back together?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FaflUn4Co

[SG7]

I'll believe it when it happens.

[donald]

People with mood and/or thought disorders are prone to cognitive distortions, misperceptions, and so on.  Brian is unstable in this sense and thus  needs a life coach to help with reality testing and apppropriate assessment of situations and circumstances.  Sort of like a "regular " person who goes to the therapist once a week to discuss turns of events and circumstances and receive support in dealing with them.  As a performer and a famous  celebrity Brian faces these difficult interpersonal and business issues almost daily when working.  I think it is essential to his survival to have the sort of support he is getting.  Lets just hope the supporters can be trusted.

[Alex]

Funny, I just came across this video and it made me think of the days when they all got along great and it all was about the music (not that I was born back then). Would anybody have thought that it takes so much for them to get back together?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FaflUn4Co

Well, guess what? The 70s happened!

[Nicko1234]

I agree that it would be nice to have a new documentary to mark 50 years of the band and it would also be cool if the soundtrack could have some more rarities. Ideally I would like to see a double album of rarites released maybe containing 50 songs from throughout the band`s history. Maybe that is unlikely though...

If the band were to release one more album somehow then I hope it would avoid the fun in the sun themes. Mike obviously had a lot of songs stockpiled and Al says that he as some that aren`t included on his new CD so pick the best of those and whatever the other guys can come up with.

[Pretty Funky]

15 Little Ones?

Come the 50th I see yet another compilation. 50 Biggest Ones type of deal with a extended EH DVD and good book.

And that ain't a bad thing!

[Awesoman]

I agree that it would be nice to have a new documentary to mark 50 years of the band and it would also be cool if the soundtrack could have some more rarities. Ideally I would like to see a double album of rarites released maybe containing 50 songs from throughout the band`s history. Maybe that is unlikely though...

I'd certainly go for this.

[phirnis]

Let's not forget the bonus DVD comprising crucial insights into some of their most important law suits from the last 20 yerars.

[Rocker]

Seriously I'd love for the complete Chicago '65-tapes to be released as well as the '93 boxset-tour-recordings. Plus the reunion-concert. make that a Live-boxset that covers all of the band's eras. There are enough shows from the early 70s and alot from the 80s, etc.

[Nicko1234]

Yeah, some sort of live release would be nice too. Any of the previously mentioned shows would be fine but if they weren`t to release a full concert, a double CD of songs from right through the band`s career including some of the rarer heard stuff might be interesting.

[Alex]

Yeah, some sort of live release would be nice too. Any of the previously mentioned shows would be fine but if they weren`t to release a full concert, a double CD of songs from right through the band`s career including some of the rarer heard stuff might be interesting.

And it's gotta have the live version of River Song from 1973!

[jimmyboy]

Its gonna be a TRAINWRECK.

[Jay]

You know, I can't help thinking about what the group's history would have been like had Brian never released his "autobiography". In one of the ugliest parts of the book, Brian basically blames Carl for Dennis's death. Sure, the lawsuits, Dennis's death, and general bitching among the group hurt them. But I think what REALLY did the irrrepairable damage was that book. Rumor has it that the final "falling out" between Brian and Carl during the aborted reunion album had something to do with how Carl was portrayed in the book.