Uncanny

THE DAWN PATROL "By the end of 1965, [Mike Deasy] was doing 15 sessions a week including ones for the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, which he remembers fondly. 'Brian Wilson couldn't write out the musicians’ parts, and he didn't hire an arranger to do it. Instead, he would say to each musician, 'Now, you play this,' and he would hum out a part. He could describe sounds to you, too. If you just listened to one part of it without hearing all the others, it almost didn't make sense. But we all knew that we were going somewhere with this music.'"

TIMES LEADER “You can’t be the quarterback on a football team for more than 40 years,” Mike Love says. “Some people try, and they get clobbered by linemen too many times. But a great actor is always a great actor, and music is similar. As long as you have your chops, and the desire and creativity is inherent in you, then you can hit a home run, musically. Certainly there are younger groups and lots of competition, and that can be very tough and exacting as well. But we feel pretty good. I think you haven’t heard the last of our creative efforts. We go for years without doing something then come up with an incredibly nifty thing to do.”

“Some of our songs sound so beautiful with an orchestra,” he says. “I’m looking forward to touring in that configuration. I think it would be great to do that with various orchestras in cities around the country. We can go out on tour in a different way than we have done. We haven’t had a summer off in over 40 years. That infuses the night with a lot of energy and positivity, which is inherent in the songs. I’ve been to see the Stones, James Brown, Britney Spears and ’N Sync, where teens are screaming like the Beatles in the mid-’60s. As far as overall response by all ages, though, nobody beats the Beach Boys. Everybody is up dancing and having a good time and singing along.”

“It’s a very good feeling when you see children singing your songs. It tells you that you didn’t waste your time, and you weren’t confined to just one aspect of musical history.”

“They are songs about cars and beach life and surfing and be true to your school. Who doesn’t know about being true to your school if you grew up in America? Or who doesn’t know about cars? And even if you don’t have an ocean, you can identify with the escapism of ‘Surfin’ USA’ or ‘Surfin’ Safari.’ People go to water in the summer for vacation.”

“’Good Vibrations’ is probably the most unique single. It is so different than every other rock single ever made; so different, yet successful. It had creativity and brilliance, but yet it was successful in the market place. A lot of the other singles were quite derivative. ’Good Vibrations’ was so unique. We slaved over making the Pet Sounds album with the vocal harmonies and care and attention in making them perfect.”

ANTI MUSIC "(PR) Eagle Rock Entertainment will release 'Various Artists DVD-MusicCares Presents a Tribute To Brian Wilson' on 8/22/06! Picture the Red Hot Chili Peppers doing 'I Get Around.' Or Jeff Beck doing 'Surfin' USA.' This one-time-only eclectic concert, in tribute to the 2005 'Person Of The Year,' Brian Wilson, has a wonderfully oddball lineup of musicians covering the former Beach Boy's music."

"Wilson himself chips in with five of his own compositions to close the show. Performers include Earth, Wind & Fire, Darlene Love, Richie Sambora, Barenaked Ladies (who perform their own 'Brian Wilson'), John Legend, Jamie Cullum with Fred Martin & The Levite Camp, Backstreet Boys, Shelby Lynne, and a duet with Michael McDonald & the late Billy Preston. "

LAS VEGAS SUN How are you?
I feel unbelievably well. I go on a five-mile walk every morning, then work at my piano. Then I play with my kids for a while, and go back to the piano. Then I have dinner and work at the piano some more.

Are you performing at more concerts these days?
Not really. I don't go on the road too often, just every few months.

What can fans expect at the concert?
Beach Boys hits. Mostly Beach Boys hits, but also some of my new songs.

Your music has endured for decades. What do you attribute that to?
I can only accredit it to good harmonies and good melodies that have brought a lot of joy into the lives of a lot of people.

The music world has changed dramatically since the '60s. Do you think it's for the better, or worse?
I don't like what's happening in music at all. I'm disappointed in the condition the music business is in now.

Do you think it will ever turn around?
It will get worse to the point where someone records a record that is so great everyone will just flip over it. Then things will get better.

How do you keep busy these days?
I'm working, always working on my music.

And how is the music going?
Things are going pretty fast. I'm writing all these songs, and I hope to do some recording this year. Lately I've been writing with Burt Bacharach. We're going to do some recording.

You've had some legal issues with Mike Love. Have they been resolved?
We had a meeting recently. Things have gotten a little bit better between us. We discussed business, but I don't know what's going to happen.

Do you ever foresee rejoining the Beach Boys?
I would not be opposed to recording again with the Beach Boys, if it is OK with all of the managers. I might consider some studio work - that would be very exciting.

POP MATTERS
Also, see our PREVIOUS POST for additional information.

VILLAGE VOICE

MASSLIVE "I've just written with Brian Wilson, and all I know is they're damn good songs.” -- Burt Bacharach

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE “The Beach Boys, led by Mike Love, 65, require a licensed masseur qualified in either Swedish or Oriental deep-tissue massage.”

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION MARK BANNERMAN: For many artists 'Sergeant Pepper's could have been the high point and the beginning of an endless decline. Not so for the now Sir Peter Blake. There have been many more record covers amidst a massive body of work. There had to be a Brian Wilson here, didn't there?

SIR PETER BLAKE: There was always going to be Brian Wilson.