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Post by Mikie on Mar 2, 2020 22:03:10 GMT -5
... a half expect someone to invite me for the Gateshead gig... and I’d really love to, but June 6th happens to be my wife’s birthday ... JP says he would love to see you both there. It would probably help if you got him a ticket too, because when he rang me this morning he'd been trying to contact Jeff and Nelson with a view to getting him on the guest list. I told him good luck with that (JP's a little behind the times, bless). Yeah, just a tad! Jeff and Nelson are long gone.
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Post by sneakypete77 on Mar 3, 2020 7:55:28 GMT -5
The very last time I saw him was at The Sage in July 2009, and that performance was pretty ropey; just couldn't bring myself to sit through something like that again. Memories of a better time, following his triumphant SMiLE show at Newcastle City Hall almost 16 years ago (jeez, that's insane when you say it out loud). We were staying at The Malmaison on the Quayside, as was the band, and this was the occasion that I alluded to in the Nicky Wonder thread from last September. The one looking a bit worse for wear (it was about 2.30am in the upstairs bar) - that would be me.
Ah, you were there as well? Were you at the pre-SMiLE - party at Pet Sounds in Bewick Street too? That was a great day. And ditto concert, if even Brian wasn't feeling too well that afternoon and evening. In fact the setlist was shortened a bit because of that.
That was a weird day; yes I was at JP’s afternoon shindig with the band members and stayed until they had to go for their sound check. Later, after a quick room service dinner at the Malmaison Julia and I were getting dressed for the show when she flicked through a well-thumbed in-house magazine and said “Hey, you should look at this”. It was an article by mouthy ex-NME hack Paul Morley titled “Brian Wilson Is Dead”. As time was pressing, I decided to leave it until we got back. Unfortunately, by that time the turn-down service had been, the room service trays had been cleared, and the magazine had been replaced with a new issue. The SMiLE show was almost 30 minutes late in starting, and Brian looked haunted, really out of it, sporting a huge scarf wrapped around his throat. Give him his due, he soon perked up, dug deep, and produced a memorable (for all the right reasons) set. Afterwards he tried valiantly to do a meet and greet at a small table set up in one of the aisles, but part way through he began to bend forwards from the waist in slow motion and bonked his head with a hearty thud on the table top. Three security guys lifted him up and took him outside to the tour bus, which whisked him back to the Malmaison. The next morning at breakfast, various bedraggled band members began filling up the table next to ours. Jerry Weiss, who was looking after Brian and rooming with him for part of the tour, came in and seeing that the band’s table was full, we invited him to join us. He said that Brian wasn’t feeling too good and was having breakfast in their suite. I decided to dive straight in and I asked him if either he or Brian had read any of the house magazines the previous day. It was an innocuous question but he managed to evade it quite skilfully, and preferred talking about the health benefits of eating an omelette made only with egg whites! From there he started quizzing us about what we’d like to hear most – a new studio recording of the SMiLE show or an album of new solo material from Brian. I elected for the latter, not realising that he meant GIOMH, but then what the hell do I know? So, did Brian open that mag and see the Morley article, and was that why he appeared totally freaked out when he took the stage half an hour late that night? I never could put my hands on a copy but further investigation revealed that Morley’s 2003 tome “Words and Music – A History of Pop in the Shape of a City” was due for its paperback release and he may have been doing some advance promotion with ad hoc articles (I don’t have the book so I don’t know if that piece is in it). Has anybody else ever come across that particular article?
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Post by John Manning on Mar 3, 2020 8:18:33 GMT -5
It was an article by mouthy ex-NME hack Paul Morley titled “Brian Wilson Is Dead”… Has anybody else ever come across that particular article? Not thinking of this 'orrible thing, which was some months later (and not by Morley, so you're probably not thinking of this thing!)?:
Plan B magazine, September/October 2004
"Festival Internacional de Benicassim (FIB), Spain … Day Three Brian Wilson is utterly awful. He's on the verge of his last breath, out of tune, unable to remember lyrics without an autocue and leaving the difficult bits to his backing band. It's like extended karaoke to a crowd salivating with nostalgia because these songs almost sound like Pet Sounds outtake… Brian Wilson is dead. There's something creepy and ghoulish about this over-egged adulation - this shell of avant-pop wheeled out for the clapping seals like the Shroud of Turin - so we swap this Wondermints-backed necrophilia for the loose-limbed liquid-funk of Spektrum. Where we wilt, Lola just bends herself and her band into the jelly-mould shapes cast by ESG, 'Walking On Thin Ice'."
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Post by sneakypete77 on Mar 3, 2020 11:23:13 GMT -5
That was a good spot John, but the BW concert was on March 6th, a good six months beforehand. And that was a pretty acerbic review - maybe Brian's performances during the year merited some adverse criticism, but that was just plain mean. Perhaps also, the writer of that piece was using Morley's article as a convenient template for some lazy journalese, especially with the use of those same four words?
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Post by pendlewitch on Mar 3, 2020 13:45:22 GMT -5
and also on Facebook at
Opens at 10 am tomorrow.
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Post by bluemarble on Mar 4, 2020 11:20:52 GMT -5
Tickets for the Leeds show in the bag
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Post by andrewhickey on Mar 4, 2020 13:23:10 GMT -5
Got a front-row seat for Manchester. Hoping the show will be on the level of the Pet Sounds shows I saw in 2016, rather than the one I saw in 2018...
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Post by AGD on Mar 4, 2020 18:03:34 GMT -5
Those RAH prices are a bit rich for me.
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micd95
Grommet
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Post by micd95 on Mar 6, 2020 5:17:53 GMT -5
Just got my two tickets for Birmingham. Now to convince someone to go with me...
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on Mar 6, 2020 9:56:08 GMT -5
Ah, you were there as well? Were you at the pre-SMiLE - party at Pet Sounds in Bewick Street too? That was a great day. And ditto concert, if even Brian wasn't feeling too well that afternoon and evening. In fact the setlist was shortened a bit because of that.
That was a weird day; yes I was at JP’s afternoon shindig with the band members and stayed until they had to go for their sound check. Later, after a quick room service dinner at the Malmaison Julia and I were getting dressed for the show when she flicked through a well-thumbed in-house magazine and said “Hey, you should look at this”. It was an article by mouthy ex-NME hack Paul Morley titled “Brian Wilson Is Dead”. As time was pressing, I decided to leave it until we got back. Unfortunately, by that time the turn-down service had been, the room service trays had been cleared, and the magazine had been replaced with a new issue. The SMiLE show was almost 30 minutes late in starting, and Brian looked haunted, really out of it, sporting a huge scarf wrapped around his throat. Give him his due, he soon perked up, dug deep, and produced a memorable (for all the right reasons) set. Afterwards he tried valiantly to do a meet and greet at a small table set up in one of the aisles, but part way through he began to bend forwards from the waist in slow motion and bonked his head with a hearty thud on the table top. Three security guys lifted him up and took him outside to the tour bus, which whisked him back to the Malmaison. The next morning at breakfast, various bedraggled band members began filling up the table next to ours. Jerry Weiss, who was looking after Brian and rooming with him for part of the tour, came in and seeing that the band’s table was full, we invited him to join us. He said that Brian wasn’t feeling too good and was having breakfast in their suite. I decided to dive straight in and I asked him if either he or Brian had read any of the house magazines the previous day. It was an innocuous question but he managed to evade it quite skilfully, and preferred talking about the health benefits of eating an omelette made only with egg whites! From there he started quizzing us about what we’d like to hear most – a new studio recording of the SMiLE show or an album of new solo material from Brian. I elected for the latter, not realising that he meant GIOMH, but then what the hell do I know? So, did Brian open that mag and see the Morley article, and was that why he appeared totally freaked out when he took the stage half an hour late that night? I never could put my hands on a copy but further investigation revealed that Morley’s 2003 tome “Words and Music – A History of Pop in the Shape of a City” was due for its paperback release and he may have been doing some advance promotion with ad hoc articles (I don’t have the book so I don’t know if that piece is in it). Has anybody else ever come across that particular article?
I missed that specific moment. I remember that the group invited backstage was divided in 2 groups for meeting Brian, me being in the 2nd group. So I was talking with someone else from the band when we suddenly heard some romour, and we saw a couple of security guys supporting Brian outside. At the moment that felt as the downer of the evening as it would have been my first meet & greet with Brian. But talking with all the other band members was cool enough. And indeed the concert was a memorable event. And years later I got a 2nd chance in either Glasgow or Gateshead in 2011, and Brian was kind enough to sign my SMiLE program then, being the last one of the whole band to do so.
I have never seen that article btw.
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on Mar 6, 2020 9:58:32 GMT -5
Got my Amsterdam tickets for June 22nd. Way too pricy, but I consider it the last opportunity to see him playing in The Netherlands (I'm skipping Groningen on the 26th).
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Post by pendlewitch on Mar 9, 2020 14:40:58 GMT -5
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Post by Autotune on Mar 9, 2020 21:30:45 GMT -5
Ah, you were there as well? Were you at the pre-SMiLE - party at Pet Sounds in Bewick Street too? That was a great day. And ditto concert, if even Brian wasn't feeling too well that afternoon and evening. In fact the setlist was shortened a bit because of that.
That was a weird day; yes I was at JP’s afternoon shindig with the band members and stayed until they had to go for their sound check. Later, after a quick room service dinner at the Malmaison Julia and I were getting dressed for the show when she flicked through a well-thumbed in-house magazine and said “Hey, you should look at this”. It was an article by mouthy ex-NME hack Paul Morley titled “Brian Wilson Is Dead”. As time was pressing, I decided to leave it until we got back. Unfortunately, by that time the turn-down service had been, the room service trays had been cleared, and the magazine had been replaced with a new issue. The SMiLE show was almost 30 minutes late in starting, and Brian looked haunted, really out of it, sporting a huge scarf wrapped around his throat. Give him his due, he soon perked up, dug deep, and produced a memorable (for all the right reasons) set. Afterwards he tried valiantly to do a meet and greet at a small table set up in one of the aisles, but part way through he began to bend forwards from the waist in slow motion and bonked his head with a hearty thud on the table top. Three security guys lifted him up and took him outside to the tour bus, which whisked him back to the Malmaison. The next morning at breakfast, various bedraggled band members began filling up the table next to ours. Jerry Weiss, who was looking after Brian and rooming with him for part of the tour, came in and seeing that the band’s table was full, we invited him to join us. He said that Brian wasn’t feeling too good and was having breakfast in their suite. I decided to dive straight in and I asked him if either he or Brian had read any of the house magazines the previous day. It was an innocuous question but he managed to evade it quite skilfully, and preferred talking about the health benefits of eating an omelette made only with egg whites! From there he started quizzing us about what we’d like to hear most – a new studio recording of the SMiLE show or an album of new solo material from Brian. I elected for the latter, not realising that he meant GIOMH, but then what the hell do I know? So, did Brian open that mag and see the Morley article, and was that why he appeared totally freaked out when he took the stage half an hour late that night? I never could put my hands on a copy but further investigation revealed that Morley’s 2003 tome “Words and Music – A History of Pop in the Shape of a City” was due for its paperback release and he may have been doing some advance promotion with ad hoc articles (I don’t have the book so I don’t know if that piece is in it). Has anybody else ever come across that particular article? Interesting. I saw the Paris show, which was immediately after or before the one you attended. He sported the same scarf, his voice was shot and looked like he didn’t want to be at the Olympia. I felt guilty for supporting a show built around a man in pain.
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Post by AGD on Mar 12, 2020 14:05:45 GMT -5
Given the developing CoVid19 situation in the UK and Europe, there has to be growing doubt that Brian's tour will go ahead.
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Post by andrewhickey on Mar 12, 2020 16:28:40 GMT -5
Given the developing CoVid19 situation in the UK and Europe, there has to be growing doubt that Brian's tour will go ahead. Indeed -- I suspect also Mike and Bruce's tour might be affected. Given the age of the performers and much of the audience, things could get very nasty. On the other hand, the UK tour is in June, and from what I'm seeing about this so far it seems likely that the warmer weather will mean things are much better by then. Fingers crossed everyone remains healthy.
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Post by Emdeeh on Mar 12, 2020 19:36:46 GMT -5
Given all the sports and entertainment cancellations that have been announced in the US in the last two days (Disneyland is closed!), I fully expect Mike and Bruce's, David's, and Al's March and/or April dates to be postponed.
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Post by AGD on Mar 13, 2020 3:56:02 GMT -5
The government estimate for the outbreak to peak is 10-14 weeks from now. Or May/June...
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Post by jay on Mar 13, 2020 8:16:29 GMT -5
The Who has cancelled their upcoming UK tour, so I'd say it's almost a sure bet that Brian will do the same. In his current condition it would be highly advisable.
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Post by John Manning on Mar 13, 2020 11:44:33 GMT -5
The Who has cancelled their upcoming UK tour, so I'd say it's almost a sure bet that Brian will do the same. In his current condition it would be highly advisable. That was my thought too - afraid his age probably puts him in a vulnerable group.
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Departed
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2020 12:29:47 GMT -5
Stay healthy and stay home, Brian! Meanwhile let’s make In my Room the official comfort song of the crisis.
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Post by jay on Mar 13, 2020 12:37:13 GMT -5
The Who has cancelled their upcoming UK tour, so I'd say it's almost a sure bet that Brian will do the same. In his current condition it would be highly advisable. That was my thought too - afraid his age probably puts him in a vulnerable group. Not just his age, but also the fact that he went through a major back operation(that was unsuccessful), and is still on medication. Being old in general, your immune system won't be what it used to be, but Brian isn't exactly a "healthy" old man, so the risks are amplified, you know what I mean?
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Post by AGD on Mar 16, 2020 17:48:08 GMT -5
Given the government annoucement earlier today, and the immediate voluntary closure of all West End theatres, it's increasingly unlikely that the tour will be able to go ahead.
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Departed
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 1:43:29 GMT -5
I applied for the presale for Brian's concert in Japan, but I'm not counting on it happening
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Post by AGD on Mar 17, 2020 4:53:52 GMT -5
I'm astonished they even announced it when they did.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2020 4:25:15 GMT -5
Brian's Japan tour is now cancelled*, quite understandably. www.creativeman.co.jp/artist/2020/05brianwilson/*technically it's announced to have been postponed, but the rescheduled date is to be determined and there will be refund for tickets.
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