I've never had a problem with Bruce Johnston. I find he is the Beach boys biggest fan, knows them inside and out and is ever so grateful that he can be a part of it all. Thats my take anyway.
I was born in '46, the same year as Carl Wilson. And for me, growing up in Denver with parents who LOVED--LOVED!!---music, especially Glen Miller / Tommy Dorsey / Jo Stafford & all the groups of the 40's & 50's----music radically changed in '56 with Elvis / American Bandstand , & for me--late at night, it was Wolfman Jack . Those were the influences. Most of all, Doo-Wop Groups : The Danleers / The Shields / The Elegants / The Skyliners / Dion & The Belmonts/ The Flamingos & the girls : The Chantels & The Shirelles. ------------------Wolfsky9, 69 y/o
Saw all the interview parts.It's an 99 % "musical" interview. The man lives and breathes music. Funny because before this interview i would put him has a "poor's man Mike Love", wich would be awful. But that's how he comes in press and stuff, and the uncool "live" clothes don't help. But i changed completely my opinion after watching this great interview. This guy has his strong ideas about music, that's for sure. (see above pt 2 :)
He rambles a bit here and there, but nonetheless a most interesting perspective from Bruce Johnston, who comes across to me as a pretty decent and honest guy with no axe to grind. Sincere thanks for posting this for those of us who have followed the Beach Boys right from the start.
I was born in '46------------grew up in the 50's---------Dad loved music, so we watched --------with the exception of Liberace, who Mom loved---------we watched everything on TV that had ANYTHING to do with music. Dad loved the albums of Jackie Gleason , Percy Faith, Ray Coniff, & Mantovanni AKA, " Easy Listening Mood Music " , & so, I heard music all the time. But at 10 y/o, 1956, that's when it all changed, with Elvis ! Doo Wop---------Teen-age music , & I remember wanting to BE a teenager more than anything . Black Music ???? That came for me, in '61, late at night, with my transistor radio , & WOLFMAN JACK ! From across the border, 50,000 watts, XERV ! That's when I heard James Brown --------Otis Redding---------Etta James-----Sam & Dave, on & on & on ! -------What a time it was, to be young, raised on the radio , AM Top 40, & all the music on TV. You folks today, have NO idea what you missed out on. The 60's ------The Wild 70's, The 80's ! --------The BEST of times.--------And I was there for all of it. EVERY bit of it. -----------------------MJL< 75 y/o
Funny hearing Bruce talk about him growing up near the Wilsons! The Wilsons grew up in working class Hawthorne, Bruce was the son of a millionaire executive and grew up in Bel Air.
The Wilsons were not working class they were middle class. Thanks to their father who ran his own business they managed quite Well financially. So they were in no way working class but they also didn't have a Ton of money but enough. They had a piano and a organ in their home so yeah they definitely weren't broke.
A lot of people may not remember that Bruce Johnston sang with Brian Wilson on the Imaginations promo film. 1998 was the year that the future of the Beach Boys was uncertain. Brian was not touring yet. So it makes sense that everyone gave Mike Love the right to tour under the Beach Boys name. Financially it made the most sense for all the members involved. No one knew Brian would tour consistently for the next 20 plus years! But why put that pressure on Brian to carry the Beach Boys name and have everyone else dependent on him. Going out as himself allowed to to perform more deep cuts and not do as many shows per year.
No FM in your years Bruce. Available in mine but I'm a bit younger. I had FM and opted for 60's "oldies" on AM with Brucie. I guess I Wasn't Made for These Times, no pun intended. I loved older and newer music, still do to this day. What would we do without Sirius in our cars today? I find your "talks" interesting to this day. People, watch all Parts of this series if you're smart and into music.
Surprised he didn’t mention Elvis, most of the artists he speaks of came with the success of him popularizing R and B, blues, country and gospel calling it rock and roll. Without him who knows the direction music would have taken. Maybe more Pat Boone style!
Michael David If Mike Love has to clap and shake a tambourine, he ain't letting Bruce upstage him by playing an instrument. However, I notice when they're all together, Bruce goes back to keyboard.
(pt 2) Just one thing:i was curious: there's a Kim Fowley interview from this year on YTube where he says Bruce Johnston was part in some kind of serious trouble making, dangerous gang in LA in the 50's or 60's, that would spread terror etc, etc. Is this true? What was it? :)
