Mike Love fires Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys

[villager]

<snip>

The Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary reunion tour is wrapping up in London this week, though “The Beach Boys” will continue to tour throughout the fall. The twist? Mike Love, who controls the rights to the group’s name, is sending home cornerstone member Brian Wilson, along with fellow Boys Al Jardine and David Marks.

Love will be touring as the Beach Boys with Bruce Johnson and a back-up band that may or may not include Uncle Jesse.

“I’m disappointed and can’t understand why he doesn’t want to tour with Al, David and me,” Wilson told CNN. “We are out there having so much fun. After all, we are the real Beach Boys.”

<snip>

http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/09/27/brian-wilson-beach-boys-fired/

[mr_hat]

1. Ba Ba Ba, Ba Ba Baloney.

You'd think there'd be some solidarity after 50 years.

[villager]

3. You'd think..... I wonder how Wilson lost control of the group's name?

n/t

[loyalsister]

61. He has had serious mental health issues.

It put a real strain on the band's relationship

[TeamPooka]

2. Mike Love is an asshole.

[WillowTree]

39. You've got that right.

And trust me, I know from whence I speak.

[Zorra]

63. Yep. Just google Mike Love asshole. Many agree with us. nt

[cbayer]

4. Good luck with that. There is no way I would see them without Brian Wilson.

[villager]

5. Hopefully this will be true for most people

n/t

[DefenseLawyer]

6. People have been seeing them for years without Brian Wilson

I'm with you, although I'll go a set further and say I wouldn't pay to see them now WITH Brian Wilson. But that's the problem. Love owns all the rights and he know he can make more money if he pays his son and a bunch of nobodies to play horrible nostalgia shows. People have and will still show up and he keeps all the cash.

[cbayer]

8. Last time I saw them was at Jazz Fest/New Orleans and he was there.

They performed again this year with him and it was an amazing success. The new album has some really good stuff on it, but to see it performed without him would be a wast of time, imo.

Brian Wilson is one of my heroes, as he has struggled with and come to terms with serious, chronic psychiatric illness.

There is no Beach Boys for me without Brian Wilson. I would never pay to see a knock-off.

[DefenseLawyer]

12. They reunited this year for this 50th Anniversary tour

But prior to that Wilson left the band in 1988 and actually rarely went on tour after the mid 60's. Not sure when you saw them before, but seeing Brian Wilson on stage with the Beach Boys in the last 40 years has been rare indeed. I agree with you, but the fact is Mike Love makes a lot of money off people that don't seem to care who's on stage.

[cbayer]

13. I saw him on April 24, 2005 and was privileged to see a rare interview as well.

Brian Wilson
at the 2005 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell
©2005 Douglas Mason

Technically, it wasn't the Beach Boys, I guess, and I don't recall exactly who performed with him.

[Raster]

28. May I suggest....

...searching YouTube for Videos by: The FenderTones.

They are a Beach Boy's cover band with some very surprising twists. The biggest twist is they seek to accurately cover the Beach Boy's studio work LIVE.

I don't think you'll be dissapointed. One of my faves: "God Only Knows":

[K8-EEE]

47. Thanks for that! nt

[Raster]

49. Most welcome. They only have 12 vids on YouTube....

...but what they do is AWESOME!

They are friends and family who really like the Boys.

[K8-EEE]

67. Here are my friends Venice doing Beach Boy medley - they are bros & cousins of Lennon Sisters!

IMO they are the best in the biz harmonies wise -- David Crosby thinks so too!

[Raster]

68. Verynice. I am familiar with their work.

Their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" is one of the best.

[cbayer]

56. Very cool! Thing is, I really admire Brian Wilson and feel like a traitor by going

with the cover bands, but this is good!

[Raster]

57. Good Friday morning!

What makes this group so cool is that they obviously are huge Beach Boys fans and go above and beyond to stay true to the BB's music.

I found them by accident a few months back, and did a literal jaw-drop when I first heard their version of "God Only Knows."

Enjoy!

Oh yeah, ON EDIT: Mike Love is a dink. His "contributions" to the Beach Boys were sophomoric, at best. Brian Wilson was and is the musical genius behind the Beach Boys.

[cbayer]

58. And they are cute too! A very good Friday morn to you Raster.

[raccoon]

7. Such base ingratitude...Mike Love would still be pumping gas (or something like that) if he hadn't

been lucky enough to have a very musically talented first cousin.

[Lint Head]

9. Brian Wilson is a genius. Mike Love is a pedestrian who got lucky partnering with Brian.

I will not reference the source or link because I don't want to violate DU rules. I think much of it can be checked.

Other reasons to hate Mike Love:

He rewrote the Leiber/Stoller song “Riot in Cell Block 9? into the song “Student Demonstration Time”, which sucks ass, yet somehow made it onto the Surf’s Up album while excellent songs by Dennis such as “4th of July” and “Fallin’ in Love” stayed in the can. (Of course, Dennis got the ultimate revenge agains his longtime foe by marrying Mike’s illegitimate daughter and giving him a grandson just to piss him off.)
His cousin Stan, along with Rocky Pamplin, kicked down Dennis’ door and beat the crap out of him, messing up his larnyx and ruining his voice.
He really got into transcendental meditation, and just wouldn’t stop writing crappy songs about it.
He pushed a very obviously mentally ill and terrified Brian onstage as part of the “Brian’s Back!” campaign, and even wrote a song called “Brian’s Back” in which he pretended to like him.
He’s an alleged racist.
He’s a right-wing Republican, but he did give $5000 in start-up capital to Tipper Gore to start up the PMRC to censor pop music.
He thinks no one will notice he’s bald if he just keeps wearing a hat.
He created a TV miniseries full of revisionist history to glorify his own contributions to the band and take credit for a lot of things he never actually did. He also used it to give the impression that John Lennon wanted to jam with him, although Lennon is quoted as calling him a “jerk”.
He sued Brian over songwriting credits he claimed he never received, which might have been due to his not actually having done the songwriting he claims to have done.
He did do a little songwriting, which used all kinds of hip slang that didn’t age well at all and sounds retarded years later. And his onstage patter was lame and unfunny.
He was a real dick to lyricist Van Dyke Parks during the Smile era, and even 20 years later, took a cheap shot at him on the “Wipeout” single the Beach Boys did with the Fat Boys.
He introduced himself to Sean O’Hagan of the High Llamas, a huge Beach Boys fan who Bruce Johnston brought in to produce an album for them, by saying, as soon as he met him at the airport, “You’re English, right? Aren’t all you English guys fags?”
He went on a drunken, bizarre, classless rant when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, calling out the Beatles, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, the Supremes, and possibly the MC5, for no discernible reason.
He is responsible for “Kokomo”. And he’s proud of it.

Beach Boy Call Obama an A-Hole

[villager]

10. That's about it, Lint Head

I hope people save their concert money for the Brian Wilson shows...

[Mike Daniels]

55. I recall Sean O'Hagan (High Llamas) or perhaps Euros Childs of ....

Gorky 's Zygotic Mynci being quoted in a "what is Brian's biggest accomplishment" type article back in the late 90's/early 2000's

The answer was "managing to be around Mike Love for all those years and (either) not killing him or not kicking his ass"

[edhopper]

11. I saw them this summer and it was a great show.

OTOH< I wouldn't go to this Mike Love and Friends thing for free.

[msongs]

14. no Wilson brothers = not the Beach Boys, aka the Beach Old Men lol nt

[Bake]

20. Agreed. And the same for Al Jardine.

Without Brian and Al, there is no "Beach Boys."

Bake

[Matariki]

15. Is "Mike Love" Brian Wilson's former psychiatrist?

The one who demanded co song writing credits on Brian Wilson's albumns? Or is this a different person taking advantage of him?

[Matariki]

16. Answering my own question - oops no, that was Eugene Landy

I know someone who was intimately involved with that Doctor/Patient relationship and heard incredible stories...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Landy

[Sugarcoated]

17. Unbelievable

Mike Love is a drunken buffoon. An EXTREMELY LUCKY drunken buffoon. No Brian Wilson? NO BEACH BOYS.

[villager]

18. That's it. They're just "The Love Bunch" without Brian

n/t

[spanone]

19. mike would be selling insurance if it weren't for brian

[trailmonkee]

23. worse than that... he would be serving milkshakes to the guys that sell insurance..

[DefenseLawyer]

21. By the way, Mike, we all know you're bald

you can stop wearing the cowboy hat to bed.

[trailmonkee]

22. Mike Love is a stupid prick.... and he is abusive to one of the greatest creative minds...

...our popular world has ever seen. Mike Love is a Jealous and Angry man who hates those that are blessed... He is the Lee Harvey Oswald of Music.... imho

[slampoet]

24. Everything shitty the Beach Boys ever did was Mike Love's fault.

Just a note for younger viewers.

[villager]

25. Lewis Shiner says this in the great, yet unknown, novel "Glimpses"

Everything you love about the Beach Boys is Brian Wilson.

Everything you hate is Mike Love.

[calimary]

29. Brian Wilson is a towering genius. Mike Love is one of the guys lucky enough to work with him.

I'm old enough to know.

[slampoet]

34. Exactly

Beach Boys great studio albums - Brian Wilson

Crappy July 4th Beach Boys live shows - Mike Love

Great original Lyrics and Songs - Brian Wilson

Lame covers of "Coca-mo" and "California Dreaming" - Mike Love

[Permanut]

26. The "Real" Beach Boys don't exist any more..

but man, did they create some classic stuff!

[RagAss]

27. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAA....and this is not The Onion !!!!

Mike Love indeed.

[Arugula Latte]

30. Oh, that is rich.

Mike Love is a giant d-bag.

[Zambero]

31. Sorry Mike, Nobody fires Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys

Brian Wilson IS the Beach Boys. YOU just quit them to form another band. You say you own the name? Whoop-Dee-Doo! The fact that you disassociated with 3 bona-fide members dating back to the classic line-up means that whatever astroturf backup band you put on the road to sing the oldies will be a watered-down act indeed. It's about money after all, isn't it Mike? Not having to split the gate proceeds 5 ways means more in your pocket. Meanwhile, whatever is left from an already wobbly reputation is now history.

[MrMickeysMom]

32. Mike Love ain't gettin any...

So, he and his blue balls can go play with themselves.

Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks, play on. Brian is one brilliant artist! Real Beach Boys, forever... right along with the Beatles.

Fuck you, Mr. "Love"

[CreekDog]

50. Yeah, Brian, Al and David can call themselves whatever they want

they'll be the Beach Boys.

Love might have the name, but I wouldn't see that version of the band if you paid me.

[ornotna]

33. There's a good write up about it in the guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/lostinshowbiz/2012/sep/27/mike-love-sacking-beach-boys?newsfeed=true

[HughBeaumont]

35. Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are nothing but bodies.

Brian & Al are the Beach Boys.

You and Bruce are just "Love Beach" (a reference to the worst Emerson Lake and Palmer album, by their own admission).

[LeftyMom]

36. That's okay, he's rehabbing after that Tommy John anyhow. Oh wait, wrong Brian Wilson.

[Kalidurga]

37. Mike Love is dead to me.

He was never my favorite ok he was barely tolerated any way.

[GReedDiamond]

38. Here is Mike Love pretending to be a hippie...

Fuck him, he always was a no-talent hack, but a real good manipulator and user.

Brian Wilson is better off as far away as possible from that repug poser shitbag Love.

[JI7]

40. i saw a video of him looking like this recently

did he do it as a joke ?

[GReedDiamond]

41. It was from a 1969 "video" shoot...

...which was actually probably shot on film, for a song called "Break Away."

The rest of the band was dressed in "white leisure suits," douchebag Love showed up in "Jesus Robes."

LINK

[JI7]

44. i saw it on this youtube video , i think it's from the same thing

i was searching for buffalo springfield's rock and roll woman and came across a clip of beach boys performing it. and mike love is dressed like that .

[GReedDiamond]

46. Wow...that's pretty amazing...

Last edited Fri Sep 28, 2012, 03:04 AM - Edit history (1)

...I don't know what to say...except, in 1978, I was in a band with the, previously, Buffalo Springfield drummer, Dewey Martin (the band was called Scott Thomas Lowe & Atascadero), and I own the drums Dewey used to record while he was in the Buffalo Springfield.

I bought the drums from him in 1978, an early 60s Camco set, modified with heavy duty Pearl tom mounts by the Professional Drum Shop, Hollywood CA. I've been using them ever since.



In the picture above, I am on the far left (naturally), Scott Thomas Lowe is directly to the right of me, and Dewey is the goofy looking guy to the right of the tall guy in the middle of the picture,

In any case, that was a pretty lame Beach Boys cover of the Rock and Roll Woman tune, IMO.

Mike Love, the ultimate poser.

[JI7]

51. so did you both play drums in that band ?

together or took turns ?

you still play in the la area ?

[GReedDiamond]

52. Dewey was the first drummer of Atascadero...

...I was a background vocalist.

When Dewey left, by early 1979, I bought the Buffalo Springfield Camcos from him. Dewey was, at this time, in his obscurity period where he was supposedly a "car mechanic."

After Dewey left, I was Atascadero's drummer on some live shows and some demo recordings (Jim Fielder - who also played with Buffalo Springfield, The Mothers of Invention, and was a founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears - was the bass player on the tunes I recorded on with Atascadero).

In late 79 I left Atascadero and started a band called Benedict Arnold & The Traitors.

The Traitors released, officially, three records, 1n 1980, 82, and 2008.

The project I'm on now is called Green Sparkle Frog (link in sig line below).

GSF has, finally, after several delays, the first CD release, "Die Happy and Other Songs About Life," coming out this Halloween.

We're going to start rehearsing for live shows in L.A. any second now, but we're probably not going to play Die Happy, we're gonna play the next CD, which we are recording now, called "Ghosts of Eden."

[begin_within]

42. Shouldn't he just call himself "The Beach Boy" since there's only one?

[Zygoat]

43. or "The Beach"?

[Blue_In_AK]

45. Not the Beach Boys

Brian Wilson is the heart and soul of the group. They're nothing without him.

[CreekDog]

48. fired the Beach Boys, kept the hacks

whatever.

Mike Love's hat cut off circulation to his brain.

firing Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys?

[Rhiannon12866]

53. Is he insane?! Those are The Beach Boys!

Brian Wilson was the heart of the group! He's got to be the biggest draw. It's hugh that he's with them! I saw them numerous times with my brother, years ago, and I don't think Brian was with them even back then. They were my brother's favorites. He liked Carl best and I liked Dennis. Now they're both gone. I offered to go see them with my brother when their reunion tour came near here, but he wouldn't go with me, said he "couldn't stay up." *sigh* I sure missed out.

[graham4anything]

54. Brian Wilson don't need the backup boys, they need him. I will see him solo.

What a loser Mike Love continues to be.

all that meditation and all suppose to relieve stress and make one happier.

Brian Wilson got screwed by his father, his family, the court, yet Brian Wilson is 90% of the sound and creation of all songs (not Kokomo) the Beach Boys sang.

Mike love on the other hand is just plumb dumb.

It's sad. Life is short. And Brian is alive and kicking.

[DonCoquixote]

59. and this is political because

Whenever you do not check an asshole in time, he simply keeps growing,and never,ever, ever gets a hint that he is wrong. Mitt Romney is the Mike Love of politics.

[hifiguy]

60. In musical terms this would be like Ringo firing John

from the Beatles.

Brian Wilson is the single greatest genius in the history of rock. Remember, Lennon and McCartney had each other and George Martin. Brian did it ALL by himself.

Mike Love is an inflamed boil on the buttocks of the music world who would be managing a Denny's if Brian weren't his cousin.

[GReedDiamond]

62. I get your point, but I feel that Ringo...

...was underrated as a drummer.

Ringo was/is a way more accomplished musician than Mike Love(s Himself).

[TwilightGardener]

64. I'll be honest, the Beach Boys and anyone else whose heyday has passed

more than 30-40 years ago really need to stop touring, UNLESS most of the original members can participate, get along, AND still sound good. There's very few acts like that left from the 70's, let alone the 60's.

[GReedDiamond]

65. That is a valid point, but Mike Love had nothing to do...

..with the GREATNESS of the Beach Boys, in their day, and in the up-until-now that we live in.

Auto-tuned shit from today is shit, now, next year, and forever.

The ability to write an iconic song (or songs, in the case of Brian Wilson), which influences the likes of the equivalent of The Beatles of today (of which there is no equivalent), is lost in the pop music world of today.

Brian Wilson is the Beach Boys.

Mike Love's version of the Beach Boys is a fraud, and Love's only talent is being an opportunist and an asshole.

[TwilightGardener]

66. I agree, I think it's horrible that he has control of the name

and can prevent the better members from enjoying their own legacy.