I’m going for 75 minutes until I am 90!
Living the dream!!!

Peter Noone 
____________________________________________

Great write-up on Mike Love.  Mike was my boss for 23 years, including when I met you at the Vilar in 2019.  You’ve hit the nail on the head – Mike really loves performing for the fans.  Summers on tour with The Beach Boys were often brutal – like 32 shows in the month of August alone, each in a different city!  But as hard as it was for the band and crew, I never forgot that Mike would also spend all day doing phone interviews for radio, print and the web for upcoming shows, even early “drive time” hours.  Fielding show offers, planning the routing, and more. He is truly the epitome of a hard-working guy!  So to your point #6 “was this the last Mike Love show?”  If he can regain his health and strength, I am sure he will be back out there!

Scott Totten
Guitar, Voice,
Production and Arranging
ScottTotten.com
____________________________________________

An old friend of mine has been the tour accountant/lighting director for Mike Love and the current Beach Boys for the past twelve years. When they passed through San Diego last summer we connected and my wife and I had a chance to see the show, catch up with my friend, and hang a bit backstage. Here’s my two cents.??Is Mike in great voice? No, but that’s not the point. He’s 86 and  the last living link to justify The Beach Boys touring and being on stage, and, as you pointed out, he’s all heart and genuinely loves it. The rest of the band, including Mike’s son as well as John Stamos, longtime genuine fan and talented goofball, are fantastic. The audience loved every second of it. These songs are timeless, but the original members aren’t. Mike is there. Literally, that’s all that matters. Whiners gonna whine and haters gonna hate. The show will sell out long before they should choose to not buy their ticket. More seats for the rest of us.??And Mike works hard. When we saw them they were fresh off playing some dates in Ireland, and heading out the next morning to travel up the West Coast.. My friend that works for him and everybody else I talked to in the organization had nothing but positive things to say. We are lucky to be alive in this era when these folks are still among us and, in Mike’s case, wanting to share the experience with us, then let’s celebrate every moment of it we can.??Thanks for all you do.?Ralph Covert
____________________________________________

Mike is five years older than me. I hope I can hang on as long.
 
In 1980, I was a promotion rep for Boardwalk when he released his solo LP “Looking Back with Love.” The label had booked a promo tour, and I met up with him in Houston to hit the stations, do some press and visit some record stores. I figured “nothing but the best for a legend,” so I rented a loaded red Caddy to chauffeur him around in. When I picked him up at the airport, he smirked, “Got your daddy’s car, huh?” Fortunately, I managed to catch myself just before blurting out, “No, it’s from Avis.” 
 
Jon Sullivan
____________________________________________

I produced a project with BILL CHAMPLIN for Warner Japan , and took him to Tokyo to compete in the Tokyo Music Festival in 1990. We sat in First Class and I had the seat next to Mike Love,  who was also going for the festival as the guest artist. 
?He got pretty blasted and liked to talk a lot. Very friendly and nice. He told me a lot of fun and interesting stories in the 12 hour flight. He talked  of how he was suing Brian Wilson for co-authorship on many songs. He seemed very confident that he would win . At the time, I was thinking he was talking thru the booze and that for him to win would be a long shot. Lo and behold, he did win! ?Mike’s guest performance at the Festival was great ! He and his  polished band did an impressive 45 minute set of Beach Boys hits . 
?During the competition segment, Bill won Best Vocal Performance (beating out Bobby McFerrin , among others) and he and I shared the award for Best Composer. ?Fun memories (seemed like yesterday!)??Joey Carbone
____________________________________________

What a beautiful tribute to and analysis of Mike Love.  Mike’s a problematic guy if you’re a Beach Boys fan.  We know about the rants, the dumb interviews.  But even for the Brian-centric Beach Boys fans who think they hate Mike Love – who could ever have done Mike Love’s parts better?  The music is what will last and I have no problem giving Mike his respect for making literally millions of people happy since the 1960’s.  And as you pointed out – Mike had more to do creatively with the early Beach Boys stuff than people think.  His strong work ethic kept the band on the road – and money coming in for Brian, Al and the Beach Boys families.   Because of his snippy personality, it’s hard for many of us to do what I am about to do now – which is to say THANK YOU MIKE LOVE!  The pleasure was all mine.

-Ted Schreiber
____________________________________________

Thanks Bob. I hate it when people speak negatively of Mike Love. He did write the lyrics on most of the hits and he did sing the lead on many of them. He didn’t have the advantage of having his father be their manager (who worked to promote Brian).   ??And he kept the band going and relevant when Brian couldn’t or didn’t want to. I always respected him for that. He put a great product out there too. The current band is excellent and I’ve seen them many years in a row. ??All good things come to an end but what a great ride it has been and of course we’ll always have the music. Feeling down? Just put on the Beach Boys and you can’t help but feel better. The lyrics, melodies and the harmonies are timeless and emotionally evocative – like no other band! ??They’re America’s Band!  ??Patrick Whitaker
____________________________________________

Beautifully expressed, Bob. And people need to lay off Mike Love. He’s been unfairly overlooked for his role in those songs for decades and unfairly compared to Brian Wilson who was hardly a saint, just more spectacularly f*cked-up. And apparently had much better publicists.

Cheers
David Vawter
____________________________________________

Been a fan since..well… before the Beatles…first time live…Winterland 1973… opening with Blondie belting out a fabulous Sail On Sailor…after ball games…arenas…amphitheaters every time they played Maui (even a private gig)..

That video of Mike hit hard… I know he’s been in bad shape but to see him like this? First thought was”time to hang it up”… but man what do I know? He’s been doing this pretty much nonstop his whole adult life…it’s his fuel…Over 40 songs every night…he’s going against Doctors orders and even his band…if he wants to ride this wave to the very end… he’s earned that right…we’re all a leaf on a windy day…

Tom Clark
____________________________________________

Bravo for giving another face to the man.  I saw that pic of him onstage and could only think of how Paul Atkinson was at the Zombies “reunion” show at HOB in Hollywood years ago, not long before he died. Paul was a mensch, a lovely man.??Oh, well….

Hugo Burnham
____________________________________________

‘”Today, unless you live here, California is a pariah, a veritable joke, a hellhole with a government that doesn’t work, stratospheric taxes and unaffordable real estate.”

Keep in mind, California is the most populous state in the USA.   It is #1 in tech, #1 in entertainment, #1 in start up companies, #1 in agriculture, #1 in GDP (and is #4 worldwide !), #1 in venture capital, #1 in Fortune 500 companies headquarters.

It ain’t perfect (I got my real estate tax bill today)……but it beats the sh*t out of Texas and Florida.
?Mike Bone

P.S. AND I will put the UC and Cal State colleges up against ANY other states colleges
____________________________________________

Interesting piece, Bob. Lots to think about and lots to unpack. 
I will tell you this: I had the honor of seeing Glen Campbell’s “The Goodbye Tour”, accompanied by several of his children, namely Ashley, a good artist in her own right…and it was a very special evening. Not without its “ouch” moments – but mostly, it was heartfelt, there were dashes of his brilliance, his playing and that voice. But, mostly – about how his kids and none other than the legendary TJ Kuenster embraced, protected and celebrated him and his music. Thank you for mentioning him in your piece, even if briefly. 

Respect, 
Alex Lopez Negrete 
____________________________________________

so much truth in your writing about mike love. these musicians still out there soaking up whatever love they can get from fans…and fans wanting the last ounce of whatever their rock idols have to share. seems like a win-win to me. 
tom petty had it right:
“i don’t know but i’ve been told
you never slow down, you never grow old.”
rock on!

mary e.
____________________________________________

I went to Buddy Guy’s 90th Birthday at Radio City about a week ago. 

He was doing it for the love of the music and the love of the crowd and for the love of other musicians. 

A few years back I saw an 87 year old BB King delivering on his music. 

So, maybe 85 isn’t so old if you love what you do. 

John Parikhal
____________________________________________

I’ve seen the Beach Boys several times, mostly in the early 1980s. Even saw Brian with them in an odd one-off in Huntington WV of all places (Carl was sick so Brian filled in). 
Point is, I love ‘em. The splintering makes me sad and I wouldn’t go to a show now. That said, I don’t have any problem with anyone who wants to go or if Mike et Al want to keep playing. They deserve to be the ones to choose when they hang up the forever symbolic surf boards.

Tim Wood
____________________________________________

Hey Bob, the Beach Boys were the REASON I came to California.  Even though by 1965 I was more of a British invasion guy, the BB came first.  Ever since I heard their first hits in 10th grade I knew I would be California bound some day.  High school was 1961 to 1965 in Arlington, VA.  I went to one of the best public schools in the country, where almost everyone that graduated went to a 4 year college.  Not me, I had C minus average and barely graduated so I was off for Glendale Junior College.  Why California?  Hottest chicks, hottest hotrods, hottest weather is what the Beach Boys said, so why would anyone want to go anywhere else?

So I tossed my drum set in the trunk of our 1960 Imperial and my mom and I drove across country.  We arrived on Friday the 13th of August,1965 and got a motel room in Glendale, close to the college.  My mom went to sleep and I drove off for the beach, with no map, but made it to Santa Monica via the freeway.  Coming back was another affair, got lost for hours, (half the fun), almost ran into the Watts riots, finally made it back to the motel by 3 am by asking numerous folks “Which direction is Glendale?”  I had arrived. The dream had started. My first night in CA! The Beach Boys were RIGHT!

Sterling Howard, founder/owner ?https://www.MusiciansContact.com
____________________________________________

If we are taking a side trip on musicians that died on stage, Col. Bruce Hampton comes to mind.??Thank you,??David Howard
____________________________________________

Mark Sandman from Morphine died on stage.

Roderick Smith
____________________________________________

Man I love you for writing this. Mike Love is a living legend. Thank you.

Jordan Holman
____________________________________________

Totally agree with you.

Van Fletcher
____________________________________________

Loved this. So true.?Two facts for you.?One , I took my Mother to see Perry Como at Royal Albert Hall about 50 years ago . He was brilliant!?Two, somewhere sometime I met Mike Love. He was brilliant! Sadly I was so fu*ked up I can’t remember where or when but I do remember he was so lovely.

Richard Griffiths
____________________________________________

Hi Bob, nice piece. I had mixed emotions when I saw the first clips of Mike in his stool with Stamos championing the crowd around him … as you note it’s tough to see your hero’s lose their vocal chops and push through a show, largely on goodwill. But I think if anyone has earned the right to go out on his terms it’s Mike Love. I really appreciated your interview with him, I think he’s lived in the Wilson’s shadow way too long but he’s really been the glue that’s kept that band alive and a legit touring force. The footage wasn’t great but I hope he was basking in the adoration of that crowd, and however many more he can make.
 
Cheers
Craig Eagleson
____________________________________________

I saw Brian maybe 10/15 yrs ago at the majestic Beacon Theater.??I saw Mike with Uncle Jesse Stamos on drums after a AAA  baseball game in Buffalo in maybe 92? The latter was a celebration…people, all different stripes, singing songs and dancing in the aisles together . I was young , as were they relatively. Too much fun.  I actually sat through a baseball game to see the band. Not my sport. ??The former I did to say that I saw him… like my friend saw Elvis in Niagara Falls the year he died.  

Daniel C. Dwyer
____________________________________________

Thanks, Bob.

John Stamos

1

He’s always been nice to me.

There’s an assumption that our musical heroes are just like you and me.

They’re not.

And they’re not like movie stars, not like politicians, not like any other performers, because they are their music, and their music speaks to us in a way no other medium does.

Especially when the act writes its own material. This is something the Beatles ushered in which has been lost in the dash for cash, pop star twenty first century. If it’s a hit, it can’t be criticized, but as popular as today’s music might be, it doesn’t quite resonate the same way those tracks of yore did, that went directly from the musician’s heart into yours.

The Beach Boys… Only they and the Four Seasons survived the British Invasion. The rest of the acts, old crooners like Perry Como, pop constructs like Bobby Rydell, they were wiped from the hit parade.

Think about that, the Beatle revolution was so strong, such a great leap forward, that it left everything in its wake. Other than in tech, we haven’t experienced a similar phenomenon since. That’s the essence of tech, something is the new thing and then something else comes along and wipes it from the map. The iPod supplants overcomplicated lame MP3 players and then it is supplanted by the iPhone. Streaming not only supersedes the iTunes Store, when is the last time you heard anybody quote “Rip. Mix. Burn.,” the Apple phrase that got the record industry’s knickers in a twist. Hell, computers don’t even come with a disc drive anymore, never mind one that burns.

As for the Beach Boys…

Today, unless you live here, California is a pariah, a veritable joke, a hellhole with a government that doesn’t work, stratospheric taxes and unaffordable real estate. You’d think people would be leaving in droves. Well, some did, but so many of them came back. And there are new immigrants too. It’s the California lifestyle, and although Hollywood had existed for decades, the best advertisement the state ever got was the music of the Beach Boys.

You were living in a landlocked state. Or one where the weather was hit or miss. And there was a place where the sun always shined, where it never got cold and you could parade with little clothing as you lived an outdoor lifestyle. Turns out life didn’t have to be oppressive, but fun, who didn’t want that?

Seemingly everybody wanted to buy in. California burgeoned after the war, when many soldiers remained here. When aerospace grew. It was the antithesis, the counterweight to the east coast, and it was extremely appealing to the youth.

This was in an era when old people were old. They weren’t best friends with their children. The mind-set was different, one of calcification as opposed to movement. But the Boomer generation, large in numbers and wealth, cottoned to acts that spoke to them, and when it came to America, none so much as the Beach Boys.

Was Brian Wilson a musical genius? That word is thrown around too easily today, furthermore, I’m not exactly sure what it means. But did Brian go on his own hejira, inspired by the harmony groups of his youth, and push the envelope of popular music?

Absolutely.

But he rarely wrote the lyrics. Most were written by Mike Love. He wanted credit for that. And suing for his rights was one of the many perceived missteps that have contributed to the negative perception of him in popular culture.

But the music remains.

And other than Al Jardine, he’s the last man standing.

The Wilsons are all gone. Mike is still here.

But the band hasn’t had a hit in eons.

2

Most acts have an era, and then it’s over. The Beach Boys peaked a number of times. And just when it looked like their old act had run out of time and juice, Brian delivered “Pet Sounds” and then “Good Vibrations.” There were a few hits thereafter, “Darlin'” and “Do It Again,” but the world had changed, now it was about FM rock, extended numbers as opposed to ditties. No coordinated stage outfits.

But unlike the Four Seasons, the Beach Boys were not out of time. They came from a world which constantly progressed, and they did too. The only problem with their first album for Warner Bros. was it didn’t have an AM hit. But it was their spin on the modern world, both musically and thematically, it was a triumph.

And there were a few more early seventies albums before…

The renaissance of “Endless Summer.”

Hard to think of sixties nostalgia in 1974, but the public ate it right up. The Beach Boys had built their live business back to arenas, but now… Everyone agreed that their music was special and deserved to live forever.

And it has.

We can talk about the ensuing half a century. Brian being back and then not being so. And then ultimately coming back with a frazzled voice and not quite all of his identity, but still he was revered for what he had done.

Mike?

He was just the singer.

But he had written a lot of those words, encompassing the California Dream, but Mike was not warm and fuzzy, and had a way of sticking his foot in his mouth, so the music maintained and…

Mike was its number one purveyor. After all, it was he who was the vocalist on most of the major hits.

But somewhere along the line, respect evaporated. Mike was competing with Brian, he was singing the hits, but there was no gravitas, it wasn’t quite akin to a jukebox, but it was good-timey as opposed to soul-fulfilling. Seemed like the Beach Boys would show up anywhere, it was no longer special, but they were never relegated to clubs, they always drew a reasonable number of patrons, and one thing is for sure, everyone who was there loved it, none so much as Mike.

3

You’re probably looking forward to retirement. When you can lay back and do just what you want to. You’ve worked your whole life for this. Endured bad bosses, been knocked around, all to build a nest egg such that you can sail into the sunset satisfied.

But this is not the life of a successful musician.

First and foremost, you can’t be this successful if you’re well-adjusted, absolutely impossible. Sure, you could have a personality disorder, but it could be as simple as a bad upbringing, physical or emotional abuse. Music was your refuge. Another space where you felt soothed and understood. Once again, this paradigm is different from today’s hit parade. Today the audience is as important as the act. People go to shoot selfies, to have a party, to create FOMO, whereas in the sixties and seventies the venues still had seats, and you sat in rapt attention, these were gods on stage.

And they knew it.

But the funny thing is, as much success as you have, it does not fill the hole inside that motivated you to do it.

Therefore we have ultra-successful and even wealthy acts who O.D., way past the peak of their fame. The money, the sex…it wasn’t enough.

What they were looking for was love. And no amount of love satiates them. But where they get their love most is on stage.

4

The hits are in the rearview mirror. You might get royalty checks, but you can truly only feel your fame when you’re on stage. It’s a hit mere mortals are never exposed to. All that love coming back from the fans. It’s validation of you and your life’s work. People love you.

Of course at the end of the night they go home and you’re left alone in your hotel room or bus, crashing, but they were there and…

Your only option is to do it again.

Of course there are aged acts who go on the road for the money. Actually, the dirty little secret is everybody can always use more money. But some are up against the wall and some are not. Some have alimony and child support and rehab fees, others are comfortable financially, but what are they going to do, sit around the house and stare at the walls? Or go out into public and be treated like a has-been?

No, the only solution is to be active, to go on the road.

And this is what Mike Love has done.

Can he do it anymore?

5

This is a question I ask all aged rockers, are they going to die on stage? Rarely does this actually happen, then again comedian Dick Shawn died on stage and the audience thought it was part of the act!

No one seems to be able to retire. The Scorpions have been on their final tour for nearly a decade. Sinatra couldn’t stay away. McCartney’s voice has taken a hit, but he is not preserving his legacy, he’s out there doing it. In order to really retire, you must not be able to do it anymore. Literally.

And we just saw that with the member of Judas Priest. You don’t think about arthritis when you’re twenty one.

And it’s hardest for vocalists. That’s the instrument that usually goes first.

But even Frankie Valli says he’s not retired. Even though he’s been lip-synching for years and there are videos of him bewildered at shows.

So…

You saw the video of Mike Love on stage. Was it sad? Absolutely! Should you criticize him?

This is one thing that angers critics, who wish their words had more power. People still pay to see these acts, they still want to. We can analyze why, whether it’s the actual performance or the opportunity to relive your life or…

We were not prepared for this. Rock and roll was never going to die, nor were the artists. I mean it’s one thing to be a member of the 27 club, but if you make it through your twenties…

But they’ve been dropping like flies for over a decade. First David Bowie, then Glenn Frey, and now not a week goes by that the news doesn’t tell us someone from the past has gone. Might have only been a member of a regional band, but…

They’re gone.

But before they go, so many are locked into the past. Still sporting their long hair, the old threads, getting plastic surgery to look young. Sure, they’re worried about public perception, but they also do it for themselves, they can’t accept that they’re old, they don’t want to be over the hill, they believe they’re still vital.

That they’re contenders.

And that’s what brought Mike Love to the stage in Cincinnati Saturday night.

Oh, he’d taken time off. But he couldn’t let go. He’ll say there were commitments, and there were, and money involved too, but every deal is breakable, think of all the acts who die mid-tour, never mind those who become ill.

But if Mike doesn’t go out, who is he? An 85 year old guy…

Think about that, if someone is not a performer, in what other walk of life are people still working at that age, oftentimes at a level similar to what they did in their heyday. Many 85 year old civilians are too old to travel, but these musicians are on the road constantly.

Old people worry about their balance, their faculties…

Then again, Glen Campbell went on the road with Alzheimer’s. And Tony Bennett was lauded for performing with Alzheimer’s too.

Mike Love seems to have all his faculties, it’s just his body that has betrayed him. It gives out, we’re all just mortal. And even if you do your best to stay healthy, it’s hard to beat genetics, and ultimately the Grim Reaper comes to get you, no one here gets out alive.

6

So, was this the last Mike Love show?

Possibly, but not if he has anything to say about it.

Then again, will the Beach Boys die, or will they be like Foreigner or Lynyrd Skynyrd, touring without one original member, the songs keeping the band name alive.

But if you’re beating up on Mike, you’re missing the point. You’re evidencing your smallness. You’re sitting at home, in judgment. You don’t know what it’s like on the other side of the footlights, how hard it is to give it up.

To these performers it’s everything, they need the love of the audience, it makes them whole, if just for ninety minutes, would you pass on this opportunity?

I don’t think so.

Tune in Saturday October 10th to Faction Talk, channel 137, at 4 PM East, 1 PM West.

Phone #: 844-686-5863 

If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app. Search: Lefsetz

Before stereos, before computers. before the internet…

There were cars. And they changed every year and we knew not only the bodies, but what was under the hood. You were your car, assuming you were old enough to drive. And cars didn’t last, if you got three or four years and 70,000 miles you had to pat yourself on the back, you’d done well.

Now Oldsmobile was famous for a few things. Like the Rocket 88 engine. Which led to what many believe is the first rock and roll song ever. And then there was the 4-4-2. But it was eclipsed in the mind of the public by the Pontiac GTO, there was even a song about it by Ronny & the Daytonas (and a good one to boot!) Oldsmobile started to fade into the background, and then in 1966 came the Toronado.

The Toronado was front-wheel drive! In an era when everything else was rear-wheel drive. As for four-wheel drive, there was the Jeep Wagoneer, and a few trucks, like the Dodge Power Wagon, but if you were driving in snow, you grinned and bared it. And ultimately white-knuckled it. Then again, back then everybody switched to snow tires in the winter. More than a few decades back they came up with the “all-season” tire and many now forgo snow tires, which is a big mistake, but you can’t convince them otherwise. I could point you to articles about stopping distances, but the truth is so many are cheap, good is good enough, if their lives are in danger…nah, they never consider that.

Now Buick had the Riviera.

These were the old days, when GM was comprised of Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac, in that order. You were supposed to work your way up the line. Then the crash of 2008 eliminated Pontiac and Oldsmobile, and the late to the game Saturn. As a matter of fact, sales at GM are down, Mary Barra, the CEO, is fine with that, she’s focused on profitability.

Now you may be following the European car market, which is in turmoil. Volkswagen is trying to save itself. Porsche? Killed by the Chinese, they just laid off a ton of people and are now going to raise prices to make their margins. So that 911? Buy it now. As for the Macan, that ruined the image of the brand…it sold, but Porsches used to be exotic performance automobiles (except for the 914-but if you had a six instead of the four, it was a monster; the 944 was a bit better, but never truly gained traction with the public), now it’s seen as an SUV brand, and ultimately a fashion statement, the Macan is a girl’s car, a girl who can’t afford a Mercedes Geländewagen, which is uber-expensive and makes no sense whatsoever unless you’re going through a treacherous landscape, it’s got a ladder frame and the ride is stiff, but the Kardashians drive them, and now a lot of other women do too. I don’t remember any women clamoring to drive 911s. Although they did cotton to the Boxster, which was not a bad car, but mostly seen as a cute little convertible, no man would be caught dead driving one, they don’t even make them anymore.

So… The Toronado was marketed to men. Who wanted a two door as opposed to a family sedan. Something sexy. If you were a doctor…

And if you were ever in one, the amazing thing is there were two door handles on the inside, one in the usual place and one in the way back, so those in the rear seat could open the doors themselves, the doors were extremely long, but they did look very cool, the entire Toronado looked cool.

And did I say they had hidden headlights? That was true exotica, expected on a Corvette, America’s sports car, before it was neutered by emissions regulations, before it was reborn.

So I’m on the 405 barely moving. And when I finally merge from the on-ramp onto the freeway, the mental debate begins, which lane should I drive in?

I try to avoid lanes with trucks. If for no other reason as they go uphill… It takes a lot of torque for them to get moving again after stopping, they accelerate slowly.

And then there’s the diamond lane, but it’s only me in the car.

The slow lane… I always think people are getting on and off, not worried about making time, whereas I want to break on through to the other side.

However, go too far to the left towards the center median then it’s an obstacle course getting back to the right for your exit.

So I’m working my way across the lanes, I’m one from the diamond, which is kind of risky, but that’s the mood I’m in, I’ll deal with merging right to get off when I get there.

And you’ve got a lot of time to think and observe when you’re barely moving. And the car in front of me…

Had a unique back, a rear end unlike any of today’s cars. Closer to Italian exotica then what is manufactured for the masses.

And it sported a finish of gold flake metallic… People today buy white, that’s number one, maybe black, the days of colors that stand out…they affect resale value, nobody wants to buy them (remember the orange Judge?, worth a fortune today).

And I’m flummoxed trying to figure out what kind of car this is when it finally registers, this is a TORONADO! This is the epitome of GM engineering in the mid-sixties, sixty years ago.

They were still figuring out automobiles back then, they were really only about sixty years old, at least the ones for the masses, the Ford Model A was released in 1903.

And I’m thinking about Dr. Meltzer. He was a SURGEON! Surgeons got a pass when I was growing up, whatever their personality, they were doing God’s work, they had a higher calling, they were married to their job.

He drove a ’63 Riviera.

Which he then traded in for a Toronado.

And I’m thinking about him and his family as the Toronado moves one lane over and I pull up alongside.

Of course a white-haired dude is driving it. Many of today’s young ‘uns don’t even have licenses, never mind care about cars (I have been seeing those new boxy Waymo Ojais out there by the way, cornflower blue, like minibuses). No, he probably bought it to luxuriate in it.

And you see this in L.A. Not only because of the wealth, but with the weather the cars don’t rust, don’t fade away and not radiate.

And the tires were wide, not the skinny white walls of the era, this was a driving machine.

And then I pulled forward…

And that’s when I saw the hood, seemingly longer than some cars out there! A vast landscape of metal. The engine didn’t need all this space, sans emissions gadgets there used to be so much room under the hood, no, this was about STYLE!

That’s what sold cars back then. I mean how do you drive the damn thing? How can you judge lengths in front of you, how can you maneuver around curves!

But that didn’t matter.

Now somewhere along the line, all cars started to look alike. And when people still bought them anyway, Detroit stopped updating them every year. Oh, there might be changes, but very minor, you have to be an aficionado to tell one year apart from the other.

And they’re all relatively good. Longevity might be better with a Toyota or Lexus, but now even Detroit iron can be driven a hundred thousand miles. Cars are utilitarian, transportation, whereas they used to not only be evidence of your identity, in the best cases, they were FUN TO DRIVE!

And drive we did. Oftentimes to nowhere, we just got behind the wheel, cranked up the tunes and went.

Now people stay home, glued to their screens. And gasoline is no longer dirt cheap.

So the cars on the highway all look the same. There’s a plethora of Teslas, all with a similar body shape (except for the Cybertruck!). And how much innovation can you embody in an SUV? I see those Rolls-Royce SUVs, the Bentleys too, people drive those in L.A., and I wonder why. They don’t look cool, they don’t look radically different from the econoboxes. Whereas it used to be these brands were a statement, very different from what the hoi polloi were driving.

But not anymore.

So seeing that gold Toronado made my day. Made me feel like I’d lived through something, that will never return, but had value in its day. History.

Put a smile on my face.

And now I’m at home, still smiling.