Kaine Lies Again

According to an email from the Kaine team I received a few minutes ago, The Beach Boys will be headlining at Tim Kaine's inaugural concert on Friday January 13th at the Kaplan Arena at William and Mary Hall.

What he really means is Mike Love, replacement member Bruce Johnston, and nameless stand-ins will be headlining. I'd never felt any problem seeing Love use the Beach Boys mantle. Though often lampooned for the way he prostituted himself on numerous episodes of Full House and other formulaic family sit-coms in the 1980s and 1990s, he was a principle lyricist on some of the band's most popular hits, and a lead vocalist. You could argue that all the mistakes he made getting in the way of Brian Wilson's musical growth were in what he perceived to be Brian and the band's best interest.

But last month, he stepped over the line. He's filing suit against Wilson for the 2004 release of Smile. Smile was the follow up to Good Vibrations (1966) had it been completed. Wilson's personal demons and Love's fear that the sound was too far removed from their musical roots shelved the album in 1967. Wilson, in a great story of redemption and personal triumph, finished the album and released it in 2004. Love claims that the Beach Boys' imagery and iconography was used to promote the album. Love claims Wilson "shamelessly misappropriated Mike Love's songs, likeness and the Beach Boys trademark, as well as the ‘Smile' album itself."

Which would all be fine and good if Love didn't tour to this day as "The Beach Boys" knowing full well that he owes so much of his personal success to his genius cousin. Until Love relents, I will therefore, refuse to acknowledge him as a Beach Boy.

Not like anyone asked me, but still.