Departed
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2022 16:33:49 GMT -5
Yeah I'm really giving up on this daily hoping for a Beach Boys reunions but I wonder how Brian would feel he was surrounded by not only Al and blondie but Bruce and Mike and Dave and it was a real Beach Boy show. He might want to Rally to do that just one more time the way Johnny Cash did and they last recorded performance. But this is really tough to watch. I saw Allen couple months ago and I'm going to see Mike and Bruce in August and I would see Brian if I could and I think it's important just to see any beach boy in any venue now at this late crisis stage of their old age and infirmities.
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Post by Awesoman on Jul 6, 2022 6:24:39 GMT -5
Yeah I'm really giving up on this daily hoping for a Beach Boys reunions but I wonder how Brian would feel he was surrounded by not only Al and blondie but Bruce and Mike and Dave and it was a real Beach Boy show. He might want to Rally to do that just one more time the way Johnny Cash did and they last recorded performance. But this is really tough to watch. I saw Allen couple months ago and I'm going to see Mike and Bruce in August and I would see Brian if I could and I think it's important just to see any beach boy in any venue now at this late crisis stage of their old age and infirmities. I think it's safe to assume Brian's pretty checked out at this point and we're probably not going to get much else out of him no matter who he's surrounded with. Recent concert footage is just painful to watch. Granted he was never Elvis in terms of stage presence but I remember at least 10-20 years ago he was far more "with it".
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Departed
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2022 12:19:31 GMT -5
Yes and one of my major consolations has been watching that Japan live show from the 50th Anniversary where Brian is doing just fine by every possible measure. So what my dream of him doing he actually did ten years ago with the boys around him so I'm just going to watch that forever until I get to be his age.
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Post by northcoast on Jul 8, 2022 9:43:49 GMT -5
My grand hope and I know I am a purist is that after 2012, Brian and Mike and Al and Bruce and David would call it a day. Let the last memories of them on stage be good ones. The 50th was such a triumph commercially and artistically that it could never be topped with the clock ticking forward as it always does. I saw five shows, most in the New York area, and they got better and better and the crowds younger and younger presumably because word of mouth circulated that was a show not to be missed. Jim Brown who is regarded as the greatest American football player of all time retired at 29. When asked why he said "you never want to feel sorry for a champion." Feel that way about Brian. He should not be out there performing. It is too painful to watch.
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Post by Emdeeh on Jul 8, 2022 20:23:18 GMT -5
And I believe that we fans have no right to ask an artist to retire, because it's not our choice to make. We can only choose whether we wish to support the artist or not with our presence.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jul 8, 2022 20:26:00 GMT -5
My grand hope and I know I am a purist is that after 2012, Brian and Mike and Al and Bruce and David would call it a day. Let the last memories of them on stage be good ones. The 50th was such a triumph commercially and artistically that it could never be topped with the clock ticking forward as it always does. I saw five shows, most in the New York area, and they got better and better and the crowds younger and younger presumably because word of mouth circulated that was a show not to be missed. Jim Brown who is regarded as the greatest American football player of all time retired at 29. When asked why he said "you never want to feel sorry for a champion." Feel that way about Brian. He should not be out there performing. It is too painful to watch. C50 was here and gone so quickly, many did not have a chance to partake. I am glad Mike and Bruce continue to do their shows across the USA and elsewhere; it remains a great night out for the budget conscious among us. But I agree Brian should not be out there performing now. His home was always the studio, but that ship seems to have sailed, too.
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jul 8, 2022 22:13:08 GMT -5
And I believe that we fans have no right to ask an artist to retire, because it's not our choice to make. We can only choose whether we wish to support the artist or not with our presence. Well, that’s an even sadder concept: Brian quitting because no one comes to see him.
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B.E.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 9, 2022 8:12:03 GMT -5
And I believe that we fans have no right to ask an artist to retire, because it's not our choice to make. We can only choose whether we wish to support the artist or not with our presence. Well, that’s an even sadder concept: Brian quitting because no one comes to see him. Sadder than fans wanting to force Brian to retire in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable when they see him? And rationalizing it by pretending that they are actually doing Brian a favor...giving him what he wants...freeing him - when really they are just projecting? Sadder than that? That's debatable.
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jul 9, 2022 9:32:23 GMT -5
Well, that’s an even sadder concept: Brian quitting because no one comes to see him. Sadder than fans wanting to force Brian to retire in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable when they see him? And rationalizing it by pretending that they are actually doing Brian a favor...giving him what he wants...freeing him - when really they are just projecting? Sadder than that? That's debatable. I’d agree with you if I’d never been to any of his shows or if there wasn’t any video available. Just imagine if Sir Paul, Jagger or even Mike behaved like Brian during even a single show. Folks would be concerned and rightfully so. That said, I truly believe Brian loves being out there doing it. It’s just the all too powerful stage fright that takes hold. Brian needs a front man like Mike out there distracting everyone, which is why (as I keep saying) they need to put the spotlight on Al.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jul 9, 2022 9:50:10 GMT -5
Sadder than fans wanting to force Brian to retire in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable when they see him? And rationalizing it by pretending that they are actually doing Brian a favor...giving him what he wants...freeing him - when really they are just projecting? Sadder than that? That's debatable. I’d agree with you if I’d never been to any of his shows or if there wasn’t any video available. Just imagine if Sir Paul, Jagger or even Mike behaved like Brian during even a single show. Folks would be concerned and rightfully so. That said, I truly believe Brian loves being out there doing it. It’s just the all too powerful stage fright that takes hold. Brian needs a front man like Mike out there distracting everyone, which is why (as I keep saying) they need to put the spotlight on Al. Nahhh, Al is not in the best shape himself these days either, and even his faculties are catching up. It's old age. He is becoming forgetful of lyrics and and even his guitar playing is rough, that's why you never hear him playing high up in the mix. At times he equally looks confused about what is going on... His presence is great to have onstage however, I'll agree, but he's not fitting to lead this 'band of monkeys' either.
Matt Jardine is the 'star' of this show at the moment, and he is 'nailing' it thankfully. His presence has really stepped up to make things work, and he is in the best shape vocally and performance wise he has ever been. I think the footage and audio speaks for itself.
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jul 9, 2022 9:53:05 GMT -5
I’d agree with you if I’d never been to any of his shows or if there wasn’t any video available. Just imagine if Sir Paul, Jagger or even Mike behaved like Brian during even a single show. Folks would be concerned and rightfully so. That said, I truly believe Brian loves being out there doing it. It’s just the all too powerful stage fright that takes hold. Brian needs a front man like Mike out there distracting everyone, which is why (as I keep saying) they need to put the spotlight on Al. Nahhh, Al is not in the best shape himself these days either, and even his faculties are catching up. It's old age. He is becoming forgetful of lyrics and and even his guitar playing is rough, that's why you never hear him playing high up in the mix. At times he equally looks confused about what is going on... His presence is great to have onstage however, I'll agree, but he's not fitting to lead this 'band of monkeys' either.
Matt Jardine is the 'star' of this show at the moment, and he is 'nailing' it thankfully. His presence has really stepped up to make things work, and he is in the best shape vocally and performance wise he has ever been. I think the footage and audio speaks for itself.
But people don’t buy tickets and get in their cars and pay $40 for parking to see Matt Jardine. They come to see Brian and “that one guy” who they’ve known from The Beach boys for their entire lives. If the two guys they pay to go see can’t cut it …….
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Post by boogieboarder on Jul 9, 2022 9:59:56 GMT -5
I remember when I was a teenager in the 60s, and my mom’s friend said “These top 40 songs you hear on the radio, in a few years no one will ever want to hear them again.”
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jul 9, 2022 10:12:18 GMT -5
Nahhh, Al is not in the best shape himself these days either, and even his faculties are catching up. It's old age. He is becoming forgetful of lyrics and and even his guitar playing is rough, that's why you never hear him playing high up in the mix. At times he equally looks confused about what is going on... His presence is great to have onstage however, I'll agree, but he's not fitting to lead this 'band of monkeys' either.
Matt Jardine is the 'star' of this show at the moment, and he is 'nailing' it thankfully. His presence has really stepped up to make things work, and he is in the best shape vocally and performance wise he has ever been. I think the footage and audio speaks for itself.
But people don’t buy tickets and get in their cars and pay $40 for parking to see Matt Jardine. They come to see Brian and “that one guy” who they’ve known from The Beach boys for their entire lives. If the two guys they pay to go see can’t cut it ……. Well, people come for many reasons, out of respect for the two original 'Beach Boys', out of respect for the Brian and his life/career, some go to hear some songs they know and don't dissect everything the way we do here.
It's a mixed bag of people that are going at this point, and it doesn't seem to matter, people are still going whether Brian is 'there' on stage or not. Al is a bonus.
I think most people seeing Brian have a little understanding about his life and troubles, and accept him as he is, for better or worse. It's kind of lovely actually, that people will still support and pay money to see the 'Big Fella' knowing all is not well. There's some pretty loyal BB/BW fans out there that's for sure.
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B.E.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 9, 2022 11:02:18 GMT -5
Sadder than fans wanting to force Brian to retire in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable when they see him? And rationalizing it by pretending that they are actually doing Brian a favor...giving him what he wants...freeing him - when really they are just projecting? Sadder than that? That's debatable. I’d agree with you if I’d never been to any of his shows or if there wasn’t any video available. Just imagine if Sir Paul, Jagger or even Mike behaved like Brian during even a single show. Folks would be concerned and rightfully so. That said, I truly believe Brian loves being out there doing it. It’s just the all too powerful stage fright that takes hold. Brian needs a front man like Mike out there distracting everyone, which is why (as I keep saying) they need to put the spotlight on Al. On your first point, that’s what I was commenting on. There are clearly some fans who’d rather place Brian and his struggles “out of sight, out of mind”. It’s understandable, but selfish. On your second point, having concern isn’t the issue. Fans can be concerned without calling for an artist to retire ( especially when those calls are often imbued in conspiracy theories). In the case of Sir Paul, Jagger, and Mike, aren’t there already plenty of fans calling for them to retire from the road? And that’s without “behaving” like Brian (on that front, I agree with Rick, the fans who continue to see Brian in concert do so understanding his struggles and still find enjoyment in seeing him). Anyway, we see this sort of thing from fans all the time. They have a feeling about something (which, obviously, is fine), but then they want to subject all fans and even the artists themselves to it (which is not fine).
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jul 9, 2022 11:15:16 GMT -5
I’d agree with you if I’d never been to any of his shows or if there wasn’t any video available. Just imagine if Sir Paul, Jagger or even Mike behaved like Brian during even a single show. Folks would be concerned and rightfully so. That said, I truly believe Brian loves being out there doing it. It’s just the all too powerful stage fright that takes hold. Brian needs a front man like Mike out there distracting everyone, which is why (as I keep saying) they need to put the spotlight on Al. On your first point, that’s what I was commenting on. There are clearly some fans who’d rather place Brian and his struggles “out of sight, out of mind”. It’s understandable, but selfish. On your second point, having concern isn’t the issue. Fans can be concerned without calling for an artist to retire ( especially when those calls are often imbued in conspiracy theories). In the case of Sir Paul, Jagger, and Mike, aren’t there already plenty of fans calling for them to retire from the road? And that’s without “behaving” like Brian (on that front, I agree with Rick, the fans who continue to see Brian in concert do so understanding his struggles and still find enjoyment in seeing him). Anyway, we see this sort of thing from fans all the time. They have a feeling about something (which, obviously, is fine), but then they want to subject all fans and even the artists themselves to it (which is not fine). But isn’t that what we do here? We subject each other to our opinions on all things Beach Boys/Brian related? I’m not sure anyone is frantically leaving Melinda concerned voicemails. But having an understanding of Brian is one thing, but someone who is onstage performing and is under as much visible distress as Brian: just looking on lovingly and knocking anyone who dares wonder, is kind of cruel in its own way. It’s an odd an unique thing that only begs discussion. People are still talking about weird behavior by Elvis and his weight near the end. But he was at least still singing his ass off.
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Post by boogieboarder on Jul 9, 2022 11:30:12 GMT -5
“People are still talking about weird behavior by Elvis and his weight near the end. But he was at least still singing his ass off.”
Yes, but Elvis died at 42. What would Elvis sound like at 80? At 42 Brian had yet to do the 1985 The Beach Beach Boys album, his first solo album, Imagination, Smile, The Lucky Old Sun, That’s Why God Made the Radio, and other albums, plus four decades of touring!
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B.E.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 9, 2022 11:56:08 GMT -5
On your first point, that’s what I was commenting on. There are clearly some fans who’d rather place Brian and his struggles “out of sight, out of mind”. It’s understandable, but selfish. On your second point, having concern isn’t the issue. Fans can be concerned without calling for an artist to retire ( especially when those calls are often imbued in conspiracy theories). In the case of Sir Paul, Jagger, and Mike, aren’t there already plenty of fans calling for them to retire from the road? And that’s without “behaving” like Brian (on that front, I agree with Rick, the fans who continue to see Brian in concert do so understanding his struggles and still find enjoyment in seeing him). Anyway, we see this sort of thing from fans all the time. They have a feeling about something (which, obviously, is fine), but then they want to subject all fans and even the artists themselves to it (which is not fine). But isn’t that what we do here? We subject each other to our opinions on all things Beach Boys/Brian related? I’m not sure anyone is frantically leaving Melinda concerned voicemails. But having an understanding of Brian is one thing, but someone who is onstage performing and is under as much visible distress as Brian: just looking on lovingly and knocking anyone who dares wonder, is kind of cruel in its own way. It’s an odd an unique thing that only begs discussion. People are still talking about weird behavior by Elvis and his weight near the end. But he was at least still singing his ass off. On your first point, no, I don’t think it’s all the same. I think there’s a line and that some fans cross it. I fully understand, though, that there are different perspectives on this sort of thing, and that it’s a pretty nuanced position/discussion. As for potential Melinda voicemails…I hope not! On your second point, that’s not me. That’s not what I said or meant. On your third point, yes, I agree, Elvis was singing better then than Brian is now.
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jul 9, 2022 11:58:49 GMT -5
“People are still talking about weird behavior by Elvis and his weight near the end. But he was at least still singing his ass off.” Yes, but Elvis died at 42. What would Elvis sound like at 80? At 42 Brian had yet to do the 1985 The Beach Beach Boys album, his first solo album, Imagination, Smile, The Lucky Old Sun, That’s Why God Made the Radio, and other albums, plus four decades of touring! Four decades of touring but the first 20 mainly consisted of smoking cigarettes and pawing the piano occasionally and mostly singing with the someone else shadowing. The spotlight has really been all Brian only for like 20 years or so, therefore he’ll never been a stage performer like Jagger or Mike. But like I said, I honestly think he loves touring and doing it, so I’m not really arguing with anybody.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jul 9, 2022 12:35:44 GMT -5
To think we are at this point of 'concerns and complaints', with me included, I'm also guilty.
I remember a time in the late 90's when the word was out Brian was going to tour and nobody could believe he could do it. Just the thought of Brian being well enough to pull off a tour, was something unimaginable. All the concerns of 'if', or 'should', is he well enough to tour? He is not a known performer, how is Brian going to get this done? And here we are, 20 plus years later, and a solid history of new recordings, and a tour schedule that has taken him all over the world! Do you know how crazy that is? To really understand, people who weren't there in the beginning, should check out the 'Brian on Tour' DVD, just to see the excitement and energy regarding Brian ever performing and touring. He did it! and regained his whole Legacy.
So while there's sadness, there's also a lot of happiness, and Brian is likely having his final moments doing what he wants.
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jul 9, 2022 13:10:51 GMT -5
To think we are at this point of 'concerns and complaints', with me included, I'm also guilty.
I remember a time in the late 90's when the word was out Brian was going to tour and nobody could believe he could do it. Just the thought of Brian being well enough to pull off a tour, was something unimaginable. All the concerns of 'if', or 'should', is he well enough to tour? He is not a known performer, how is Brian going to get this done? And here we are, 20 plus years later, and a solid history of new recordings, and a tour schedule that has taken him all over the world! Do you know how crazy that is? To really understand, people who weren't there in the beginning, should check out the 'Brian on Tour' DVD, just to see the excitement and energy regarding Brian ever performing and touring. He did it! and regained his whole Legacy.
So while there's sadness, there's also a lot of happiness, and Brian is likely having his final moments doing what he wants.
That’s very well put, but some of these recent videos are absolutely context demolishing and look like anything but someone doing what they want. Said my piece.
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Post by carllove on Jul 9, 2022 20:50:52 GMT -5
Well having seen Brian on his Birthday - I do have to say there were moments I will always treasure, but other than Brian singing some notes on God Only Knows, that I was surprised he could still reach, for about three stanzas, the joy from that concert for me came from seeing Blondie shred and sing and seeing Brian’s band perform Hero’s and Villains. I wish I had recorded the performance of Hero’s and Villains on my cell phone, but I was so blown away - I just could not. Worth the price of admission. I will never forget it.
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Post by champs13 on Jul 10, 2022 13:56:47 GMT -5
Are we not all seeing this mainly from a fan's point of view? After what BW has given us over the last 6 decades my wish for the last few years has been that he does exactly what he wants to do. If that includes touring then that's fine, but I'm not convinced that Brian enjoys it any more. Is he doing this for himself or for others? I really hope the former is the case.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jul 11, 2022 0:02:53 GMT -5
Are we not all seeing this mainly from a fan's point of view? After what BW has given us over the last 6 decades my wish for the last few years has been that he does exactly what he wants to do. If that includes touring then that's fine, but I'm not convinced that Brian enjoys it any more. Is he doing this for himself or for others? I really hope the former is the case. I believe the truth will come out some day, but probably only after Brian has left this mortal coil.
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smugly
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Post by smugly on Jul 11, 2022 5:06:59 GMT -5
I'll be seeing Brian's group on the 26th, I wonder how it'll be. I believe that's the last date of this tour too so I'm wondering if anything will happen. I'm very much into horn sections and I heard that Chicago's horn men come out to play with Brian's group on Darlin'. That will be very neat for my tiny brain.
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Post by monolithic on Jul 11, 2022 5:42:23 GMT -5
One of the odder duets from Matt and Brian on God Only Knows last night:
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