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Post by Autotune on Jan 8, 2019 22:07:03 GMT -5
This all makes perfect sense, thank you. Has the therapy tour become the default position though. Who’ll call time on it when it’s time to call time? Or is everyone waiting for someone else to call time? Or am I wrong and it’s simply not time? I can't help but think of Frank Sinatra in his later years. Now, first, comparing Frank Sinatra and Brian Wilson as live performers is useless. There is no comparison. Sinatra lived for live performances, putting on the tux, the spotlight, the audience interaction and feedback, the art of performing, and just the basic thrill of being onstage. Stage fright? Sinatra owned the stage. Singing live was art to Sinatra; he was a true artist.
Frank Sinatra performed live until he was 79 years old. Like Brian Wilson, near the end of his career, Sinatra performed the same basic, familiar setlists, mainly so he could manage the lyrics. However, on occasion Frank did "go blank" on stage, forgetting lyrics or not picking up his teleprompter. Now, for Brian Wilson, the show would simply go on with another band member filling in the lyrics/vocal until Brian recovered. It is no big deal with Brian Wilson, but with Frank Sinatra it was, and word started to spread about "Sinatra forgetting the words". This wasn't exactly pre-internet, but social media hadn't yet reached the point it is now, and Frank persevered on. Then, I remember reading about a concert where Sinatra fell on stage while performing. It even made the 6:30 PM national nightly news. There was footage of Sinatra lying on the stage while people were tending to him. It was scary, and shortly after that "people" really began talking. Fans weren't exactly calling for his immediate retirement from live performances, but they were holding their collective breath. I was one of them. And, as I remember, after that fall on stage, every forgetting of the lyrics or almost stumble on stage was magnified in the press. It wasn't long after that Frank's health deteriorated and he retired from the road.
Where am I going with this? Brian Wilson has already reached the point where some fans are worried about his health and his ability to perform competently. I say "some fans" because for every fan who would like to see Brian retire from the road, there is another fan who is hoping he bounces back and carries on. And, for every concert review which points out Brian's fragile appearance, there is another writer who is praising Brian for "bringing his good vibrations to adoring fans". I've seen the YouTube videos, you've seen the YouTube videos. Some of them are heartbreaking and literally take your breath away and cause your heart to start pounding. And you think to yourself, well, they have to stop this; it isn't right. Brian shouldn't be left on stage to embarrass himself like that. But they don't. Yes, I guess "they" know more than you and me. We just speculate.
Finally getting to the answer to your question, John. Maybe it will take something just one step further, like a fall on stage similar to Frank Sinatra. Maybe the video will go viral. I mean, I hate to say that but that's how things work. People have to see the actual footage for themselves before they become outraged. Didn't Brian have a little stumble on stage (or fell from his chair?) over the last year or two? I'm certainly not predicting or wishing for anything like that to happen (though some people will twist my words and this post undoubtedly), and I'm hoping that Brian can sail into the sunset without incident. But sometimes it takes something drastic for change to happen.
Great post. The comparison is, as you say, useless. Sinatra was, esentially, the greatest live singer and overall performer of his era (the greatest ever perhaps). Brian’s strengths are/were different. That’s why, for me, something never sounded quite right with the BW Tours and overall presentation of this latter solo career. Probably, just as we now know that Frank’s memory episodes (which began at least in the early 80s) had much to do with the antidepressants he was taking, maybe eventually we’ll get to know the reasona behind the calamity of this year’s tours.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jan 8, 2019 22:24:45 GMT -5
Hopefully the upcoming documentary will shed some light on what's going on with Brian, if anything.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 22:26:10 GMT -5
Hopefully the upcoming documentary will shed some light on what's going on with Brian, if anything. I wasn't aware one was on the horizon. What's it called?
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jan 8, 2019 22:44:58 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 23:03:45 GMT -5
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Post by AGD on Jan 9, 2019 2:54:24 GMT -5
Hopefully the upcoming documentary will shed some light on what's going on with Brian, if anything. It will show us exactly what the producers want us to see, and not a shred more.
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Post by John Manning on Jan 9, 2019 3:58:19 GMT -5
I have really mixed feelings about the subject. I don’t want to see Brian retire but I don’t think it’s wise to continue either. I want to see him stride into the sunset but fear he’s going to stumble and fall into it. That said, I don’t think anything that’s happened thus far has embarrassed Brian. He’s resolute, determined though I sense stubbornness and perhaps naivety too. There I go, projecting. I mentioned a while ago that I won’t attend another live show unless something miraculous takes place beforehand; I hope those who do continue to go get a great show, but I won’t regret staying home. I’d really love for someone close to Brian to share a few facts about what’s going on, cos some things seem out of place, not wrong but not normal either. You mean Ray Lawlor? That would be cool. Wasnt thinking of him specifically but he’s always trick me as one of the good guys … he’d do! Melinda herself used to post on the Blueboard - she’s be very welcome too.
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Post by John Manning on Jan 9, 2019 8:09:57 GMT -5
You mean Ray Lawlor? That would be cool. Do you know him well enough to invite him to post here btw? He used to post on the SS board, not a place I personally frequent these days.
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Post by AGD on Jan 9, 2019 10:31:51 GMT -5
What a ridiculous thing to say. I didn't go to school with anyone here, but I invited several of them. Also, in successive posts you've said it would be cool to have him here, and that you wouldn't invite him ? That said, I somehow doubt Ray would take up such an invite.
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Post by John Manning on Jan 9, 2019 11:33:08 GMT -5
Ray Lawlor isn't some chap we went to school together, I don't know him well. Thus, wouldn't invite him here. If you post at SS you could simply drop him a brief polite PM, nothing fancy. We’d love to see him here. If you don’t post there, then understood; maybe he’ll drop by anyway.
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Post by usawoman on Jan 9, 2019 18:07:53 GMT -5
Hi all,
We have to keep in mind that Brian married Melinda. He does love her. She is the reason he is doing so well. I am sure that people were envious of Marilyn back in the day. People need to understand that he did marry her in 1964. He married Melinda in 1995. I know that performer don't marry a fan. Brian chose Melinda and we need to accept it. She was the one who called the California Attorney General's office and was told she had to be family to get Brain out from under Landy. She was the one who truly loved Brian when they dated back in the 80's. Melinda is wonderful. I do think that we should let Brian live his own life and we should live ours.
I do hope that most people are enjoying his concerts and merchandise. Those are his gifts to us. Let's keep that in mind.
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Post by Beach Boys Fan on Jan 9, 2019 18:11:19 GMT -5
Hi all, We have to keep in mind that Brian married Melinda. He does love her. She is the reason he is doing so well. I am sure that people were envious of Marilyn back in the day. People need to understand that he did marry her in 1964. He married Melinda in 1995. I know that performer don't marry a fan. Brian chose Melinda and we need to accept it. She was the one who called the California Attorney General's office and was told she had to be family to get Brain out from under Landy. She was the one who truly loved Brian when they dated back in the 80's. Melinda is wonderful. I do think that we should let Brian live his own life and we should live ours. I do hope that most people are enjoying his concerts and merchandise. Those are his gifts to us. Let's keep that in mind. The best reply in this thread.
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Post by usawoman on Jan 9, 2019 18:13:36 GMT -5
Hi all, Ty, Beach Boys Fan!!!
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 10, 2019 1:47:00 GMT -5
Do we really think the reason Brian Wilson, of the Beach Boys, in his 70s, is still doing tours (which apparently aren't even very profitable) because of money? Sorry, that's laughable. Melinda isn't forcing him to go on tour so they can pay the rent. I can't think of any other reason, unless it's just to keep his band employed.
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Post by AGD on Jan 10, 2019 4:57:29 GMT -5
Maybe Brian prefers touring to being at home ?
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Post by Autotune on Jan 10, 2019 6:35:39 GMT -5
Maybe Brian prefers touring to being at home ? With fifteen chihuauas, I wouldn’t blame him. Who knows, but several years ago, at least one interview mentioned he lived with as many dogs and his many kids. I know we can’t judge, but it sounded a little suffocating. He was probably 65 YO then.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 11, 2019 23:22:12 GMT -5
Maybe Brian prefers touring to being at home ? I wish I could believe that - but I look at those recent concert videos, and I see a guy who would rather be anywhere else.
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Post by andrewhickey on Jan 12, 2019 7:15:56 GMT -5
Maybe Brian prefers touring to being at home ? I wish I could believe that - but I look at those recent concert videos, and I see a guy who would rather be anywhere else. He might well enjoy all the parts of touring that *aren't* performing. Or maybe he's just in a mental or physical state right now where *nothing* is going to make him feel good so he's no worse off touring than not.
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Post by AGD on Jan 12, 2019 7:54:58 GMT -5
Brian has said in the past that he enjoys touring except for the performing..
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2019 9:46:44 GMT -5
Brian has said in the past that he enjoys touring except for the performing.. I dont mean to sound disrespectful, but to me thats like saying "I like a milkshake except the milk."
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Post by B.E. on Jan 12, 2019 10:37:50 GMT -5
Brian has said in the past that he enjoys touring except for the performing.. I dont mean to sound disrespectful, but to me thats like saying "I like a milkshake except the milk." I think it's a rather succinct way of expressing a desire to tour (or having a successful career at large) while acknowledging the inevitable struggle of the performances.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2019 10:57:26 GMT -5
If that's true, and I'm not saying it is, it's also a pretty disrespectful attitude to have regarding your fans and audience who pay their hard earned money to see you perform. It's like saying, "Hey, I don't really wanna be here, I don't even like what I'm doing, but I'll be happy to take your money anyway, thank you!"
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 12, 2019 11:02:05 GMT -5
Brian has said in the past that he enjoys touring except for the performing.. I dont mean to sound disrespectful, but to me thats like saying "I like a milkshake except the milk." Not really. You can like the camaraderie of traveling in a group setting. You can like traveling by plane or by bus. You can like sightseeing the great cities of the world. There are lots of things to like when touring, except for performing. Look at it like you or I are traveling the U.S. to sight-see the great national parks, but at every stop we have to stop and perform on a corner or work for day or two to make money to eat and sleep along the way.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 12, 2019 11:07:02 GMT -5
If that's true, and I'm not saying it is, it's also a pretty disrespectful attitude to have regarding your fans and audience who pay their hard earned money to see you perform. It's like saying, "Hey, I don't really wanna be here, I don't even like what I'm doing, but I'll be happy to take your money anyway, thank you!" I have seen him do that at Beach Boys' shows. Sit like a bump on a log at the piano. Not play or sing, nothing. This is nothing new for Brian. He was terrible at the last show that I went to in Atlantic City a couple of years ago, but Al, Blondie and the band were terrific. Just like the Beach Boys were on the tours where he appeared.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2019 11:15:14 GMT -5
If that's true, and I'm not saying it is, it's also a pretty disrespectful attitude to have regarding your fans and audience who pay their hard earned money to see you perform. It's like saying, "Hey, I don't really wanna be here, I don't even like what I'm doing, but I'll be happy to take your money anyway, thank you!" I have seen him do that at Beach Boys' shows. Sit like a bump on a log at the piano. Not play or sing, nothing. This is nothing new for Brian. He was terrible at the last show that I went to in Atlantic City a couple of years ago, but Al, Blondie and the band were terrific. Just like the Beach Boys were on the tours where he appeared. Agree, but now you're getting into that "argument" about marketing yourself as The Beach Boys - where you're going to see a GROUP of performers, as opposed to going to see Brian Wilson - solo (and, yes, I know Al, Blondie, and a great band are there, too). I'm not excusing Brian for sitting like a bump on a log at either configuration of concert, Beach Boys or solo, but don't you think he has MORE RESPONSIBILITY to be "on" at his own solo concert? This goes back again to the question of why would Brian want to be a solo performer in the first place, knowing how he feels about performing live.
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