Reasons to Love Mike Love

[Mikie]

Was it Patricia Ferrelli? 

[mikeyj]

Here's one I don't know if has ever been mentioned, it's more about Brian but it's Mike.

On "God Only Knows"... you've got 4 or 5 (whoever it is.. Carl, Brian, Bruce, probably Al, don't know if I hear Dennis) singing like Angels.  They have the most beautiful voices ever. 

So what to do with Mike?  Brian could have Mike try to sing 'pretty' which I suppose he was capable of doing, but Mike was always best being the braggadocio lead singer with all the swagger... that's what he's naturally good at.

So in this beautiful, perfect song, Brian has Mike sing the bridge (I guess that's Mike, right?... and I guess that's the bridge? hard to tell with Brian) in that swagger.  Right in the middle of one of the greatest love songs of all time, "Bom ba bom ba ba ba baaaa, baaa, baa bom baa... " or whatever.  Instead of sticking out like a sore thumb, it sounds completely natural and helps the song IMHO.  One of the best parts of the song?  Probably.

...but Mike's an ass. 

I thought it was just Brian, Carl and Bruce on God Only Knows?

[Don_Zabu]

EDIT: I felt, in the interests of fairness, I should add that I find this speech utterly hilarious and wish to see video of it someday before I die.

Boom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZSAQX2uuUY

[Ron]

Here's one I don't know if has ever been mentioned, it's more about Brian but it's Mike.

On "God Only Knows"... you've got 4 or 5 (whoever it is.. Carl, Brian, Bruce, probably Al, don't know if I hear Dennis) singing like Angels.  They have the most beautiful voices ever. 

So what to do with Mike?  Brian could have Mike try to sing 'pretty' which I suppose he was capable of doing, but Mike was always best being the braggadocio lead singer with all the swagger... that's what he's naturally good at.

So in this beautiful, perfect song, Brian has Mike sing the bridge (I guess that's Mike, right?... and I guess that's the bridge? hard to tell with Brian) in that swagger.  Right in the middle of one of the greatest love songs of all time, "Bom ba bom ba ba ba baaaa, baaa, baa bom baa... " or whatever.  Instead of sticking out like a sore thumb, it sounds completely natural and helps the song IMHO.  One of the best parts of the song?  Probably.

...but Mike's an ass. 

I thought it was just Brian, Carl and Bruce on God Only Knows?

It may be, I always just assumed the middle part was Mike.  You know what happens when we assume.

[Mr. Cohen]

Look, guys, I said reasons to love Mike Love. You want to talk bad about Mike Love's R&R Hall of Fame speech? Well, get out of the topic, buckwheat! Personally, I could care less about all of those Hollywood egos. Who cares if he said something potentially offensive to Bruce Springsteen or Mick Jagger? What does it even matter in the long run? You guys' obsession with that is so weird. It's like you're mad because he's stopping the BBs from being as cool as you want. The BBs aren't about being cool. They're about being raw and honest. Oh, and making good music. You take the good with the bad.

[Don_Zabu]

Look, guys, I said reasons to love Mike Love. You want to talk bad about Mike Love's R&R Hall of Fame speech? Well, get out of the topic, buckwheat! Personally, I could care less about all of those Hollywood egos. Who cares if he said something potentially offensive to Bruce Springsteen or Mick Jagger? What does it even matter in the long run? You guys' obsession with that is so weird. It's like you're mad because he's stopping the BBs from being as cool as you want. The BBs aren't about being cool. They're about being raw and honest. Oh, and making good music. You take the good with the bad.

It's not just the speech, dude. It's also Mike interrupting Brian while he was trying to deliver his speech. Much less funny than when Kanye West did it.

[rab2591]

Without Mike, the Beach Boys (as we know them) would never have formed, Pet Sounds as we know it would NEVER have been even thought of, and we would not have any bits of SMiLE to listen to AT ALL. Sure, Brian would have probably gone on to do wonderful things in the music business, but without Mike's drive to help form the band the history of Brian Wilson would look ENTIRELY different.

EVERY Beach Boys fan has everything to owe Mike....I mean, sure, I've called him a douche on several occasions, and yeah, I harbor some rude thoughts when someone talks about Mike Love and SMiLE in the same sentence, but deep down I know that The Beach Boys wouldn't be the same without him....just as if Dennis or Carl weren't a part of the group.

PS: and as much as I dislike 'Kokomo', it IS a well written song....seriously, the only reason I dislike it is because he rehashed that classic Beach Boys sound - had Kokomo been on the album 'Surfer Girl' I think we'd all thoroughly enjoy it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Well Mr. Doe, to an average bloke off the street like me, I really like those dumby lyrics. They make nice placeholders on my coffee table. It's a matter of taste I guess, but maybe there's a good reason that Brian used those never-intended-to-be-heard lyrics on his SMiLE album.

'Course there is... and you know that reason as well as I do.   

[Andrew G. Doe]

Oh, Mike...

EDIT: I felt, in the interests of fairness, I should add that I find this speech utterly hilarious and wish to see video of it someday before I die.

Google is a wonderful thing. YouTube too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YBqve7SjHs

[hypehat]

I swear last time i looked it wasn't there... thanks! Oh god.... this is magnificent.... 'The United States is only 6% of the worlds population.... which is why I came here with Muhammed Ali!' 

And sorry for derailing the thread! I do find you have to work hard to love Mike Love

[Andrew G. Doe]

Thing about Mike is, yes, he can be hard work, but every now and them, he'll say or do something that has you falling over laughing... or going "y'know, he's right".

[Cam Mott]

I agree. They all could be hard work sometimes and I would add fantastically easy sometimes. Of the 7 "core" Beach Boys I'd put Mike at around #4 in the hard work category but on the other hand [the first hand instead of second hand] I didn't know any of them.

[Wirestone]

I remember in Endless Harmony, I think, Mike is talking about Brian, and he says something like "Brian had this incredible ability -- still has, actually -- to arrange vocals."

And he just tossed it in there brusquely, like it wasn't a big deal, but it struck me that Mike still knows what's going on. And he's spotted the one aspect of Brian's talent that seems not to have changed or diminished one iota over the decades.

[Mikie]

I have really liked Mike's hats that he's worn over the years. Especially the turban.

And the way he's tried to emulate Mick Jaggar with that swagger on stage.

[Ron]

I remember in Endless Harmony, I think, Mike is talking about Brian, and he says something like "Brian had this incredible ability -- still has, actually -- to arrange vocals."

And he just tossed it in there brusquely, like it wasn't a big deal, but it struck me that Mike still knows what's going on. And he's spotted the one aspect of Brian's talent that seems not to have changed or diminished one iota over the decades.

I've never, ever, ever got the vibe (no pun intended) from Mike that he didn't think Brian was one of the most talented musicians alive.  All of Mike's comments, lawsuits, etc. always made logical sense to me, even though many times they were unnecessary or a rude or even mean thing to do.  I've never heard him slam Brian's talent.  Mike obviously loves Brian very much, anybody who's had 'tough' family members knows all about this. 

[Mikie]

Did Mike's lawsuit regarding the Daily Mail CD make logical sense to you, Ron?

The lawsuit said the CD giveaway undercut the band's sales. Love sought damages, including "millions of dollars in illicit profits," and sought at least $1 million for international advertising "to correct the effects of unfair competition and infringing uses." He accused Brian of promoting his 2004 album, "Smile," in a manner that "shamelessly misappropriated Mike Love's songs, likeness and the Beach Boys trademark, as well as the 'Smile' album itself".

I think Mike lost that lawsuit, didn't he?  And I think at that point he lost a lot with his relationship with his cousin Brian.

OK, let's keep it positive here. I don't want to start any negativism.

[Ron]

Sure, that lawsuit makes logical sense.  Mike feels that he has to pay Brian money to use the Beach Boys name, but Brian doesn't have to  pay him money to use the Beach Boys to promote SMiLE.  I wouldn't have sued over it; but it does make sense.  Of course the court threw it out, so it didn't live up to what it needed to legally, but I can see where he's coming from.  I feel he was wrong to sue, but can see his point of view. 

Sad that you can't. 

[Mikie]

You make good points, but I don't think it's sad that I can see Mike's relationship with Brian being compromised. I see it as jealousy. I see it as the nail in the coffin as far as any release of a Beach Boys Smile Sessions comp in the future. If a Beach Boys reunion doesn't happen with Brian included next year, I think the lawsuits are definitely factors in Brian's decision when he answers with an adament "No". When Mike filed the lawsuits, he said it was "nothing personal". I would like to be wrong when I say it was personal and that Mike knew exactly what he was doing.

[Amy B.]

I have no doubt that Mike loves Brian, is in awe of Brian's talent, has fond memories of being close to Brian when they were younger, etc. And I think Brian loves Mike, admires Mike's ability as a frontman, and has fond memories of being close to Mike when they were younger.

But if my cousin sued me--especially more than once--I would be pissed off too.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Sure, that lawsuit makes logical sense.  Mike feels that he has to pay Brian money to use the Beach Boys name, but Brian doesn't have to  pay him money to use the Beach Boys to promote SMiLE.  I wouldn't have sued over it; but it does make sense.  Of course the court threw it out, so it didn't live up to what it needed to legally, but I can see where he's coming from.  I feel he was wrong to sue, but can see his point of view. 

Sad that you can't. 

He doesn't "pay Brian money to use The Beach Boys name" - he pays BRI a percentage of the touring income in order to be able to use the name "The Beach Boys" as a condition of a license that he voted in favor of.

[Pretty Funky]

He is an inspiration and hero to the 'everyman'.

Proof that a balding ginga with a average vocal range can be a lead singer in a major rock and roll band.

[Mike's Beard]

I am shocked that no one has yet to mention / drumroll ..................................................................................................

 THE CHICKEN DANCE!!!

[Ron]

Sure, that lawsuit makes logical sense.  Mike feels that he has to pay Brian money to use the Beach Boys name, but Brian doesn't have to  pay him money to use the Beach Boys to promote SMiLE.  I wouldn't have sued over it; but it does make sense.  Of course the court threw it out, so it didn't live up to what it needed to legally, but I can see where he's coming from.  I feel he was wrong to sue, but can see his point of view. 

Sad that you can't. 

He doesn't "pay Brian money to use The Beach Boys name" - he pays BRI a percentage of the touring income in order to be able to use the name "The Beach Boys" as a condition of a license that he voted in favor of.

Come on Andrew, you know that's splitting hairs.  Does Brian receive a percentage of BRI's income?  Of course he does.  When Mike tours, he has to pay to use the name, and Brian gets a piece of that.  Mike was claiming in the lawsuit that Brian needed to pay to promote the cd that way.  Mike was wrong and got shot down in court. 

[shelter]

I have no doubt that Mike loves Brian, is in awe of Brian's talent, has fond memories of being close to Brian when they were younger, etc. And I think Brian loves Mike, admires Mike's ability as a frontman, and has fond memories of being close to Mike when they were younger.

But if my cousin sued me--especially more than once--I would be pissed off too.

Excellent point.

I don't think though that Mike ever saw what he did as actually suing Brian but merely the "corporation" that represents him.

But of course, it's still a pretty good reason for Brian to feel offended.

[The Heartical Don]

I have no doubt that Mike loves Brian, is in awe of Brian's talent, has fond memories of being close to Brian when they were younger, etc. And I think Brian loves Mike, admires Mike's ability as a frontman, and has fond memories of being close to Mike when they were younger.

But if my cousin sued me--especially more than once--I would be pissed off too.

Excellent point.

I don't think though that Mike ever saw what he did as actually suing Brian but merely the "corporation" that represents him.

But of course, it's still a pretty good reason for Brian to feel offended.

Preamble: when I was in my teens, I thought for years that the guy on sleeve photos and whose real name is Al Jardine, was Mike Love. To complicate matters, I thought that the vocals I liked best (Brian's) were sung by the guy whose portrait was Al's, and whose name is Mike Love.

Yes, life was very tough. It got even worse when not one single girl in grammar school turned out to be even remotely interested in The Beach Boys. So: I perceived myself as a total geek, with an isolated, weird hobby. Not good, that. But on the other hand: more popular guys loved Elton John, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. Now that is a real disorder, I'm sure you all agree.

Back to Mike: although it is difficult, with his humour that I can't relate to, his clothes sense, his weird dancing, and his HOF speech, I try to empathize now and then. How would I feel if there was my cousin in the band, that I co-founded obviously, and put all that hard work on, and so much praise in terms of 'genius' would be heaped on that very cousin? Whilst I knew that he had all that talent? Sure, he was self-taught, but to me his ideas seemed to pop up in his head all of the time, seemingly costing not much effort. My cousin sometimes came over all lazy, not that interested, he'd just eat three steaks, and then leave?  (I exaggerate, folks...).

Possibly Mike had/has an inferiority complex that he overcompensates for. I do not really know. His jokes sound forced and directed at vulnerable Brian. Brian perhaps does not see the jokes for what they are. Mike has this obsession with all matters legal... I am thinking of the delay in the release of the Pet Sounds box set, and the non-appearance of the SMiLE box in 1997.

(Oh yes, the funniest thing in the HOF speech to me is the challenge to Bruce Springsteen...)