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Post by kds on Jan 31, 2022 15:39:01 GMT
I think the fan resistance to a possible 60th anniversary tour is due to the romanticized idea of bands / artists riding into the sunset gracefully. But, while we can quibble about the drop in quality from 2012 to now (I mean we're talking about guys in their early 70s v. guys in their early 80s), if we really wanted these acts to walk away while they're at the top of their craft, they all would've packed in it decades ago.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 12, 2023 14:03:04 GMT
Brian Wilson left the road a few shows before his 2022 summer tour was supposed to end, and as far as I know, he not performed live in public since. While I do not believe he or his organization has said anything official even these 6-8 months later (I forget exactly when he backed out of the tour), Carnie did tell beachboystalkmatt that she thought he was done touring. On the recording front, I don't think we've had any significant post- No Pier Pressure recording. The "new" studio material since then comprises either Paley-era recordings or tunes apparently done just before NPP ("Run James Run") or shortly after (the other material from the Long Promised Road soundtrack). A few related questions for consideration: 1) Is Brian Wilson effectively retired? 2) Do you think his organization will do some kind of official retirement campaign, perhaps releasing new product or organzing events to celebrate him? (These things often are either accompanied by a tour--which I assume ain't gonna happen--or are done after the artist dies.) 3) Would you prefer some kind of hoopla around it, or for him to just quietly back out of public life?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 12, 2023 14:21:41 GMT
1) Yes, I believe Brian Wilson is effectively retired and I would be surprised if he is seen in public again. The last few times we did see him - on the Brian Wilson/Chicago tour, wishing/singing "Happy Birthday" to Al Jardine, and some more recent photos - he did not look well. Father Time waits for no one.
2) I do not think there will be a retirement campaign or any events to celebrate him, at least while he is living. There have been tributes, mini-documentaries, albums, movies, etc. If Iconic ever finishes their documentary, that will be another...kind of tribute.
3) I would like to see Brian quietly back out of public life. I did/do not like seeing him being made a public spectacle of. I thought his last tours were embarrassing, degrading, and demeaning to him as a performer and as an individual with a disability.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 12, 2023 14:24:08 GMT
1) Yes, I think so. He might make an appearance or two of some kind, and we’ll probably get a few newish recordings at some point. (Wasn’t he at a recording studio back in the fall?) But, effectively retired? Yes.
2) Maybe we’ll get a compilation or some sort of minor release to that effect, but nothing significant - no campaign. I think the timing of this Grammy tribute probably precludes another tribute event. I think it’s pretty clear that the current approach is a quiet retirement. And it doesn’t look like that’s about to change.
3) I prefer this approach. I think it’s dignified. I know some fans want an official announcement and/or have been critical of how the tour ended and the subsequent silence but, again, I think they are doing the right thing. Isn’t it annoying how other artists retire/comeback/retire/comeback? No one knows what the future will bring. Why corner yourself when you can keep your options open? In Brian’s case, maybe his health will dramatically and unexpectedly improve? And perhaps I just don’t see the need of a formal retirement announcement considering his profession. Not until it’s absolutely certain, anyway.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 12, 2023 15:13:22 GMT
The idea of a retirement campaign occurred to me mostly because I was thinking how those things usually are built around tours. And hopefully everyone involved knows that would be a terrible idea. Yet this would be a way to keep milking the cash cow, frankly. If he's not going to tour, and he's not going to record, you could try to do something along those lines. That's all I was thinking.
I would love such a thing if it comprised well-done, quality archival material. Sometime, we're going to get a lot more of what we know exists. But I have long-since assumed that would more likely come after Brian was gone. (Does he really want to be around to witness Sweet Insanity coming out? Or the "cocaine tapes"? Then again, if he's not touring, appearing, or doing press in conjunction with any of it, does it affect him anyway?)
My impatient side hopes for something like this sooner than later. Maybe that's why I projected the concept as something his team might consider. But I don't think I truly have a strong opinion.
I do think he's retired, though, in all but name. And once you're in your 80s, not scheduling shows (after having abruptly canceled a rough tour), and with no word of future recording projects, it seems like announcing a retirement is just a formality anyway.
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Post by kds on Feb 12, 2023 15:30:12 GMT
1. He seems to be retired. He hasn't released an album in nearly 8 years (not including the LPR soundtrack).
2. I doubt Team Brian will do any major campaign. At this point, I'm not sure if they'll even make a major announcement.
3. I don't know about hoopla, but the retirement of somebody of Brian's stature is a big deal, and should be treated as such. Its too bad he likely won't get a triumphant victory lap, but such is life.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by Emdeeh on Feb 12, 2023 17:28:52 GMT
1. Maybe. I don't expect to see him do another tour of outdoor/shed venues again.
2. Probably not.
3. It's up to Brian, but I am no fan of "farewell" tours. If he does retire, I hope he sends his band out on tour in his stead.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 12, 2023 17:59:07 GMT
3. It's up to Brian, but I am no fan of "farewell" tours. If he does retire, I hope he sends his band out on tour in his stead. I agree 100% on both of these points. Farewell tours seem so cynical to me, in that almost any I've ever heard of turned out not to be a farewell tour after all. Time and time again, it seems, the artist/band decides to do it again, and again, and again...sometimes for decades! And while the idea has always been a bit controversial among fans, I also think it would be great for Brian's band or something like it to continue without him. In fact, I would 100% support a band officially sanctioned by the Beach Boys to tour under that banner. (I realize that's a bridge too far for many.) My analogy has always been bands like the Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Charles Mingus orchestras. I believe all three still perform to this day, despite their namesakes all being long gone. I think the music of the Beach Boys belongs right up there with those masters, and I think the Beach Boys similarly don't depend on the unique individual genius in a performance capacity of any of their band members. The approach would not work for, say, The Jimi Hendrix Experience. But the Beach Boys? Certainly! I would love it. And using the official name could likely keep such a group in quality venues and bring in good revenue for BRI, while also delivering something really good to fans that is a step above your average tribute band--though some of those are great in their own rights.
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Post by lonelysummer on Feb 12, 2023 21:47:27 GMT
It won't surprise me if, when Mike finally hangs up the hat, something is set up for a continuation of the BB brand. Maybe it would involve some family and friends (Matt, Carnie, Wendy, current members of Mike's band). How would such a band draw? Will large crowds still turn out to see a BB band with NO original members? I see the new Dylan Bootleg Series disc is in the Billboard top 10. Why don't similar BB archive sets have similar success? It's always SOS that gets the sales.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by Emdeeh on Feb 12, 2023 22:05:03 GMT
It works as long as the billing is the "MUSIC of the Beach Boys," instead just the group's name. There is already one BB cover band, California Surf, Inc., that is sanctioned by BRI.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 13, 2023 12:36:48 GMT
I am skeptical of a band assembled and making a go of it performing The Beach Boys' music live - and that includes a band comprised of members of Brian's and Mike's bands. I think ticket sales would be an issue. They would basically be a very-skilled tribute band, and most tribute bands play small venues. Now, if they wouldn't mind playing select, small(er) venues. I have no question the music would be performed immaculately, but I don't know if "I/we played with Brian Wilson (and/or Mike Love) for years..." would have that big of an impact ticket sales-wise. I wouldn't be surprised if the members of Brian/Mike's bands focus more on session work or latch onto other bands (like Jeff Foskett did with Heart and Darian has done with The Zombies).
I would have some interest in a band comprised of Beach Boys' children/family like that short-lived California Saga. I'm always more interested in the emotional aspect or connection. There is some talent there - Carnie & Wendy, Christian Love, Matt Jardine, Justyn Wilson, maybe Ambha Love, maybe Rob Bonfiglio, and I think one of Dennis's sons plays an instrument. And - and - maybe they could backed by a band of ex-Brian/Mike & Bruce band members. Now, THAT would interest me, but, you know, I can't help but wonder if a band like that would face the same problems (disagreements) that plagued their parents' band.
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Post by kds on Feb 13, 2023 13:31:37 GMT
I don't think that an official BB/BW tribute band featuring members of the various touring bands would move the needle too much in terms of tickets, but I really don't think it would have to.
I think there will always be a demand for that music. And I know tributes to dormant acts like The Beatles and Pink Floyd do quite well, even without any official ties to the band whose catalogs they play.
I couldn't help but wonder (please let me) how long Mike would keep The Beach Boys on the road should Brian actually retire. I think it's no secret that Mike's pretty competitive, and have seemed to keep tabs on Brian's band. In the 2000s, Mike really stepped up the live game of his version of The Beach Boys in response to the rave reviews of Brian's shows.
So, if Brian were off the road, might that convince Mike to pack in it, and not spend every year doing a crazy amount of shows for someone his age? Or, does he really just not know any other way, and continue on until....well, you know.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 13, 2023 13:35:56 GMT
I don't know that having any of the kids/grandkids would matter much in terms of ticket sales, but I'm sure there are a lot of fans like Sheriff John Stone who would be more interested in such an act for that reason. For me, a "family and friends" sort of situation wouldn't really matter: I wouldn't be opposed in principle, but I wouldn't feel their absence, either. And I'd definitely look to quality over genetics.
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Post by kds on Feb 13, 2023 13:43:03 GMT
I don't know that having any of the kids/grandkids would matter much in terms of ticket sales, but I'm sure there are a lot of fans like Sheriff John Stone who would be more interested in such an act for that reason. For me, a "family and friends" sort of situation wouldn't really matter: I wouldn't be opposed in principle, but I wouldn't feel their absence, either. And I'd definitely look to quality over genetics. I know, personally, I'd probably be more likely to buy a ticket if the band included Scott Totten, Darian, John Cowsill, Paul Mertens, etc. But, I think geeks like me who would be excited to see players from later day BB live acts in the mix are probably in the minority.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 13, 2023 13:58:07 GMT
I don't know that having any of the kids/grandkids would matter much in terms of ticket sales, but I'm sure there are a lot of fans like Sheriff John Stone who would be more interested in such an act for that reason. For me, a "family and friends" sort of situation wouldn't really matter: I wouldn't be opposed in principle, but I wouldn't feel their absence, either. And I'd definitely look to quality over genetics. I know, personally, I'd probably be more likely to buy a ticket if the band included Scott Totten, Darian, John Cowsill, Paul Mertens, etc. But, I think geeks like me who would be excited to see players from later day BB live acts in the mix are probably in the minority. And, as Kapitan pointed out above, I guess I'm the opposite. Am I shallow? No, seriously, while I love 'em and they're great, I don't know if I'd spring for tickets to see a Totten, Sahanaja, Mertens et al. But then again, I'm not a big tribute band fan. I need more of a connection, an emotional connection, and the kids might provide that.
That being said, a few years ago I did see a Led Zeppelin tribute band, UnLEDded, and they were awesome. I know what I mean but I'm not sure how to word it. There's something about the music of a Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin or The Doors or even The Beatles which makes it more of a fit for a tribute band than The Beach Boys' music. Maybe it's the separation of the instruments or the solos or the type of music. It comes off better live as a rock & roll concert. Do you know what I mean? Does that make any sense?
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