Wilson says no more Beach Boys reunions
On the night the Beach Boys won the first performance Grammy Award of the group’s half-century-long career, it was the spirit of another artist’s song that Brian Wilson invoked backstage after collecting the award for historical album bestowed on “The Smile Sessions” on Sunday: We are never, ever getting back together.
Asked whether he anticipates another round of Beach Boys reunion shows following the successful 50th anniversary tour the group mounted in 2012, Wilson told reporters “No, I don’t think so.”
The tour notoriously ended on a sour note when singer Mike Love announced he would resume touring with his own lineup of the group, including longtime member Bruce Johnston, but without founding members Wilson, Al Jardine and guitarist David Marks.
Love’s move set off a firestorm of media coverage and fan comments, much of it critical of Love, who years ago was granted sole permission to use the Beach Boys name by Wilson, Jardine and the estates of deceased members Carl and Dennis Wilson.
Accepting the Grammy last Sunday, Wilson didn’t mention the Beach Boys by name, but did salute his “Smile” lyricist collaborator: “ Van Dyke Parks and I knew we were ahead of our time in 1965. In 2004, we released it. So, good!”
Cain joining Fox News Channel
Former presidential candidate Herman Cain will be getting some regular TV work at Fox News Channel.
The network announced Friday that Cain, a failed Republican presidential contender in 2012, will be a network contributor. Cain, the former president and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza from Georgia, will also contribute to the Fox Business Network.
Cain said he’s looking forward to the job because it is “an opportunity to be one more voice for intelligent thinking in America.”
Fox has been shuffling its contributor lineup since the election. It has hired Dennis Kucinich, Scott Brown and now Cain, while cutting ties with Sarah Palin and Dick Morris.
The birthday bunch
Actor George Kennedy is 88. Author Toni Morrison is 82. Movie director Milos Forman is 81. Vocalist Yoko Ono is 80. Singer Herman Santiago (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers) is 72. Singer Dennis DeYoung (Styx) is 66. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 63. Singer Juice Newton is 61. Singer Randy Crawford is 61. Drummer Robbie Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is 60. Keyboardist Larry Rust (Iron Butterfly) is 60. Actor John Travolta is 59. Game-show hostess Vanna White is 56. Actress Greta Scacchi is 53. Actor Matt Dillon is 49. Rapper Dr. Dre is 48. Actress Molly Ringwald is 45. Actor Tyrone Burton (“The Parent Hood”) is 34. Musician Regina Spektor is 33. Bassist Zac Cockrell (Alabama Shakes) is 25.