Beach Boys and Fleet Foxes Rumble in Back Alley, Both Claiming Better Harmonies
SEATTLE—Angered over Fleet Foxes’ use of multiple voice harmonies and the similarities to their own, the Beach Boys (including longtime shutout, Brian Wilson) journeyed to Seattle to face off against the group of youngsters in a back alley brawl. The fight, lasting only three minutes, ended with most of the Beach Boys bloody and beaten, while the members of Fleet Foxes tended to the bruises and scrapes on their knuckles.
“It wasn’t even a fight really,” said Robin Pecknold, one of the group’s singers. “How hard is it to beat up guys in their sixties? All you have to do is take the legs out, then once their on the ground, you pound the shit out of them. Case closed.”
Surprisingly, the one Beach Boy that managed to get the best of a Fleet Fox was Brian Wilson. Wilson, known for his delicate mental and emotional state, appeared confident and prepared to fight and was able to get in some pretty decent punches, smashing the face of lead guitarist, Skylar Skjelset. When asked how he was able to fight so proficiently, Wilson replied, “How hard is it to beat up a kid named ‘Sklyar?’ I mean, c’mon. Really. Case closed.”
The remaining Beach Boys, however, weren’t so lucky. Mike Love, who had once visited the Maharishi in India (along with the Beatles), sustained a severe concussion, causing him to walk around the alley in a daze, asking “Where’s Mia? Where’s Mia?” (It was assumed he was referring to Mia Farrow, who was also part of the transcendental journey.)
In regards to Fleet Foxes’ use of harmonies compared to the Beach Boys’, Pecknold commented, “So what? We borrowed some harmony arrangements from them. They were a huge influence on us. They should’ve taken it as a compliment. I mean, Brian Wilson was heavily influenced by Phil Spector as a producer. What if Phil Spector had challenged them to a…Okay, bad example. He probably would’ve shot them in the face. But still, my point is, it’s no big deal.”
In response, Brian Wilson told this reporter, “Hey. I think it’s cool that kids are influenced by the Beach Boys. It was the other guys that were bothered by it. They just don’t believe that bands like the Fleet Foxes do it as well as the Beach Boys. Which they don’t. We had a better sense of melody to go along with the harmonies. But I could care less either way. I was just looking to crack skulls.”
As they were being carted away in ambulances, the remaining Beach Boys were unable to comment on their own. According to the medics on the scene, most of them will have to have their jaws wired shut for quite a while, leaving them unable to sing for at least six to seven months.
Witnesses left the alley feeling anything but “Good Vibrations.”
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That’s a tough one. Both great harmonists. Harmonists?
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The BEach Boys from back in the day would win this fight. Dennis WIlson was a tough mother. HE hung out with Manson.
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