[Glenn UK]

I have often wondered where the band stands politically. I know Carl made a stand about Vietnam when he was classified 1A- the other band members were never called up and Mike Love would have been above the draft age by 1966- but the other band members have never been too clear on where they stand politically. I would suggest Mike Love is probably the most right-wing member of the band, although he certainly isn't a neo con, and the other surviving members I would suggest fall into the centre of American politics, possibly Clinton style Democrats or moderate Californian Republicans. Student Demonstration Time also suggests that, while the band knew Vietnam was being lost, they did condemn radical protesters and rioters and seems to suggest centrist views.

[deltabighat]

Hard to say......they get along with one another like squabblling democrats and make money like republicans...but my take on them is like a famous line out of "American Graffitti" when Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford) says to the young girl he picked up in his hot rod (forgot her name, Phillips I believe) said......"rock and roll has been going downhill since Elvis died"" The BB have never been the same since Carl died. He was the heart and soul of the perfoming Beach Boys. Just my opinion.

DBH

[Glenn UK]

deltabighat, on May 13 2007, 08:24 PM, said:

Hard to say......they get along with one another like squabblling democrats and make money like republicans...but my take on them is like a famous line out of "American Graffitti" when Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford) says to the young girl he picked up in his hot rod (forgot her name, Phillips I believe) said......"rock and roll has been going downhill since Elvis died"" The BB have never been the same since Carl died. He was the heart and soul of the perfoming Beach Boys. Just my opinion.

DBH

They seem to me to be pretty mainstream in their views and, barring Student Demonstration Time and Carl's draft protest, have never come out with anything openly political and also have been liked by both Democratic and Republican presidents. I've always classed them as moderates.

[Endless Anthropomorphism]

Glenn UK, on May 13 2007, 02:34 PM, said:

...liked by both Democratic and Republican presidents. I've always classed them as moderates.

As I recall, in an embarrassing moment, a cabinet member of the Reaganista regime spoke unfavourably about an upcoming, Washington, DC, Beach Boys concert.

[eb2]

Actually Harrison Ford didn't say since Elvis died, since Elvis wouldn't have been dead for either 4 years by when they shot the film, or almost 15 from when it was set. His actual lines were:

I don't like that surfing shit. Rock 'n Roll's been going
downhill ever since Buddy Holly died.

I remember seeing it in the theater when it came out and being kind of pissed that he was ragging on the Beach Boys. Post-Buddy, a lot of rock and roll had no guts. Carl's death pretty much ended the Beach Boys. Though you have to love that they dug up Marks for the Mike Love band.

So screw that Harrison Ford!!!

I believe the Reagan cabinet member was James Watts, who did not speak unkindly of them but actually cancelled them from playing in DC for the 4th of July. He was over-ruled by RR shortly afterwards, who publicly declared himself a Beach Boys fan. Don't know if that was true, but he did have better pr skills than most of them.

[brianmargo67]

It is not often that I get to quote dialogue from my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE (American Graffiti).

First of all, NO... it was not the Harrison Ford character who spoke the line about hating surf music... it was the "good guy" drag racer (John Milner, played by Paul LeMat). The 14-year-old girl (Carol) was played by Mackenzie Phillips. Milner gets stuck cruising around with Carol after her big sister dumps her on him at a stoplight.

The dialogue, from the copy of the script I just so happened to have handy...


"Surfin' Safari" is blaring on the radio and Carol starts twisting with the music. John turns the radio off.

CAROL: Why'd you do that?

JOHN: I don't like that surfin' sh*t. Rock 'n' roll's been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died.

CAROL: Don't you think the Beach Boys are boss?

JOHN: You would, you grungy little twerp.

CAROL: Grungy? You big weenie. If I had a boyfriend, he'd pound you.

JOHN (looking in the rearview mirror) Sure - ah, sh*t.

CAROL (looks around and sees a police car following them, bubble light aglow): Good! A cop. I'm going to tell him you tried to rape me!

JOHN (pulling the car over): Oh no - no - hey--

CAROL: --It's past my curfew. I'm going to tell him how old I am, my parents don't know I'm out, and you tried to rape me. Boy, are you up a creek!

JOHN: Hey, really, uhhhh... don't say anything.

CAROL: If you say "I was a dirty bird. Carol's not grungy, she's bitchin'."

The cop is tapping on John's window. John is wiping his face.

CAROL: Say it - I'll tell him.

JOHN: (quietly) I was a dirty bird, Carol's not grungy, she's bitchin'.

LONG PAUSE

CAROL: O.K.... I'll think about it.

John rolls down his window and looks at the surly cop...

[deltabighat]

You guys have me there. That movie was made in 1973 and when you get my age, you forget details. Thanks for the correction, but my thought is the same.....a huge part of the BB's died along with Carl.. Great stuff folks and I did and do love "American Graffiti...the movie was made about two hours north of me in Petaluma, California. It was completed shooting from about midnight to six am in six weeks. Rumor has it that it was Dreyfuss that pee'd in the ice machinge.

DBH

[Endless Anthropomorphism]

My understanding is that they were/are affiliated with the Whig party.

[brianmargo67]

Endless Anthropomorphism, on May 23 2007, 03:05 AM, said:

My understanding is that they were/are affiliated with the Whig party.

Of course, Al became rhythm guitarist by gunning down Dave Marks in a duel.

[Mark]

deltabighat, on May 22 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

You guys have me there. That movie was made in 1973 and when you get my age, you forget details. Thanks for the correction, but my thought is the same.....a huge part of the BB's died along with Carl.. Great stuff folks and I did and do love "American Graffiti...the movie was made about two hours north of me in Petaluma, California. It was completed shooting from about midnight to six am in six weeks. Rumor has it that it was Dreyfuss that pee'd in the ice machinge.

DBH

Actually the main drag/cruising sequence was filmed on the main street ( D street) in San Rafael, Delta. The other sequences were as you said Petaluma as George didn't have the budget he does now

[brianmargo67]

Mark, on May 23 2007, 10:00 AM, said:

Actually the main drag/cruising sequence was filmed on the main street ( D street) in San Rafael, Delta. The other sequences were as you said Petaluma as George didn't have the budget he does now

Where was Mel's Drive In?

[john k]

brianmargo67, on May 23 2007, 01:23 PM, said:

Where was Mel's Drive In?

This page may be of interest to you.

[brianmargo67]

john k, on May 23 2007, 11:52 AM, said:

This page may be of interest to you.

And this page may be of interest to you!

I just was wondering if any of the people who come to this board ever WENT to Mel's before it saw the wrecking ball.

[john k]

brianmargo67, on May 23 2007, 02:44 PM, said:

And this page may be of interest to you!

Thanks... The food looks good!

I noticed that site too but I was put off by the yellow (and sometimes even green) letters on a green background!!!!

[eb2]

Paul LeMat. My bad. Still rankles me.

[Mark]

Mike was hanging with a Camel on the un-seen photo shot pictures of Pet Sounds, so a Bactrian or Libertarian may be more an option ???? I'd walk a mile for a camel was the old line in WW2

[Landlocked]

ok, without sounding stupid...

ok, i am stupid - can someone relate the US Democrates/Republicans parties to the UK's Labour/Conservative/Lib Dem parties over here?

And it seems that in the states you vote for the leader, but at the same time vote for the party you want in. e.g the President may not have the leading party in congress?

Not looking for a huge debate here - just trying to relate it to the uk

Ta everso

[Glenn UK]

Landlocked, on Jun 21 2007, 06:33 PM, said:

ok, without sounding stupid...

ok, i am stupid - can someone relate the US Democrates/Republicans parties to the UK's Labour/Conservative/Lib Dem parties over here?

And it seems that in the states you vote for the leader, but at the same time vote for the party you want in. e.g the President may not have the leading party in congress?

Not looking for a huge debate here - just trying to relate it to the uk

Ta everso

[Glenn UK]

Well, Landlocked, here goes on American politics. The Democrats are slightly to the Left of the Republicans, but this is like saying New Labour is slightly to the Left of the Conservatives, as both parties are committed to the capitalist system and the Democrats aren't the same as a European socialist party. I think, and Americans on here will know better, the differences between the Republicans and Democrats are mostly over the war and social issues rather than economics. The Democrats, although many Republicans now feel this way, want to set a timetable to withdraw from Iraq and tend to be more liberal on issues such as gay rights, the death penalty, abortion and health care. However, you can get a Republican like Arnie who is quite liberal on social issues and a Democrat who can be conservative on some issues.

[brianmargo67]

Glenn UK, on Jun 23 2007, 01:23 PM, said:

Well, Landlocked, here goes on American politics. The Democrats are slightly to the Left of the Republicans, but this is like saying New Labour is slightly to the Left of the Conservatives, as both parties are committed to the capitalist system and the Democrats aren't the same as a European socialist party. I think, and Americans on here will know better, the differences between the Republicans and Democrats are mostly over the war and social issues rather than economics. The Democrats, although many Republicans now feel this way, want to set a timetable to withdraw from Iraq and tend to be more liberal on issues such as gay rights, the death penalty, abortion and health care. However, you can get a Republican like Arnie who is quite liberal on social issues and a Democrat who can be conservative on some issues.

As a lifelong resident of the USA, and the son of a civics teacher, I wouldn't argue with any of your characterizations.

You are so right about there not really being any BIG difference between the two major parties. They're both centrist, both at the beck and call of special interest groups-lobbyists-etc. The smaller parties that seem truly committed to change (the Green Party, for instance) can't seem to get a foothold.

One thing of many that I love about Vermont is that it makes so-called liberals in the rest of the country seem conservative by comparison. I've seen many a bumper sticker and roadside sign reading US OUT OF VERMONT on my trips up there. As my brother said, "They're kind of like the USA equivalent of Quebec, except they don't speak a different language."

Right now, the main difference between the Democratic and Republican parties seems to be that the Democrats never supported George W. Bush or that Nazi Cheney (oopsy, sorry, baby burped, beg pardon) to begin with, while Republicans only started turning against him recently.

Really, I will be SO SO SO SO SO SO glad when this evil, crooked bunch is out of power. It cannot happen soon enough. As a diplomat quoted in MACLEANS said recently, "There's nothing wrong with the United States that an OPEN UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT sign in the window wouldn't fix." It's been a nightmare for all but the ultra-rich.

Best characterized by Cheney on the floor of the Senate telling a fellow congressman to "Go f*** yourself." That, to me, epitomizes this administration. "We're going to do what we want, and if you don't like it, go f*** yourself."

On behalf of embarrassed, ashamed Yankees everywhere, I truly apologize... because as Michael Moore told someone in Europe recently, you can say that it's not the American people, it's just their government, but we have a saying over here: government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Really makes me feel ashamed for my country.

You had to ask, didn't you...