Originally Posted by yanks7543

I have read all the posts regarding The Beach Boys versus Beatles. Listen, both bands were great. The Beatles were more iconic in culture, soley because they had professional management in Brian Epstein. Also, being foreign, they were embraced by the media while the BB were virtually ignored. Yet, in the UK, the BB were voted number 1 over the Beatles. The BB were actually much bigger in the UK than in the U.S., as the Beatles were more favored in the U.S. than in the U.K.
Familiarity does breed contempt, indeed.
But lets look at the press role in elevating the Beatles popularity. Jenn Wenner, the publisher of the Rock Magazine Rolling Stone actually wrote the BB were NOT cool and it was square to like them. When you are 20-21 and the rock and roll bible tells you who is cool you pay attention to it.
The BB certainly were victims. Their critics said of them "All they do is surf songs, they can do little else." Yet, when the BB did more "adult-themed" songs, those same critics said "who are YOU to do those type of songs. Stick to your surf songs." So the BB were damned if they did and damned if they did not.
Bottom line is both bands were great.
Lets just clear up a few things. Biographer Jon Stebbins has cut through the myth the BB did not play their own instruments. Yes, Brian did have the wrecking crew lay down musical tracks when the BB were on the road. When they were in the studio, the rest of the BB DID do their own tracks and Brian used both. On Pets Sounds, Carl, AL and Brian played instruments on many songs.
And, if the BB were NOT able musicians, how did they play LIVE? Look at some of the LIVE clips of them int he 1960s and 1970's and you can see they played well. You Tube the Lost Concert and you will see just the four of them, plus Mike Love, all by themselves, no backups. As the music became more complex, and Brian recorded with 50-60 musicians on tracks, they BB had to use more back up musicians to replicate the sound.
NOw, the BB made many mistakes. One, the failure to put out Smile. Two, Brian backing out of HEADLINING the Monterrey Pops Fesitval, which had more influence on music than Woodstock. Three, Mike Love taking control of the group and turning into a nostaligic act and then forcing Brian in the 1970s to support him.
And for those who asked who the stange guy at the piano is, it is Brian Wilson. He is mentally ill. He also was given psycotropic drugs by Gene Landy which had a negative effect upon Brian's brain, giving him almost stroke life effects. It is sad to see him on stage and I, as a fan, would rather see him never appear again onstage. It is a shame.

Remember. John Lennon had Paul McCartney. Paul McCartney had John Lennon. Paul and John had George Martin.
Brian Wilson had Mike Love
Enough said