Wouldn't it be nice to learn more about Brian Wilson?
September 17, 2015 10:20 PM Subscribe
I'd like to learn more about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. What biographies should I read?
This weekend on a whim I watched Love & Mercy, a biopic about Brian Wilson. I was so fascinated by it, I ended up watching it two more times. I'd like to learn more about the band, which I'd previously dismissed as fluff (I was always a bigger Beatles fan). But I'm overwhelmed by the number of biographies, some of them apparently terribly inaccurate. What books are required reading?
This weekend on a whim I watched Love & Mercy, a biopic about Brian Wilson. I was so fascinated by it, I ended up watching it two more times. I'd like to learn more about the band, which I'd previously dismissed as fluff (I was always a bigger Beatles fan). But I'm overwhelmed by the number of biographies, some of them apparently terribly inaccurate. What books are required reading?
While the definitive Brian Wilson biography has yet to be written, Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson is a good start.
posted by fairmettle at 2:21 AM on September 18, 2015
posted by fairmettle at 2:21 AM on September 18, 2015
Brian wrote an autobiography "Wouldn't it be nice"
Brian himself disputes the provenance of that book, as it was written during his time with Landy. He has since testified in court that he's never even read it.
posted by bluefly at 2:54 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Brian himself disputes the provenance of that book, as it was written during his time with Landy. He has since testified in court that he's never even read it.
posted by bluefly at 2:54 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'd like to learn more about the band, which I'd previously dismissed as fluff (I was always a bigger Beatles fan).
When people have asked me "Which do you like better, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" I've always replied "The Beach Boys."
It's not a book, but you should watch "Beautiful Dreamer," which tells the story of the "Smile" record finally getting made.
posted by jbickers at 5:24 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
When people have asked me "Which do you like better, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" I've always replied "The Beach Boys."
It's not a book, but you should watch "Beautiful Dreamer," which tells the story of the "Smile" record finally getting made.
posted by jbickers at 5:24 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Listen to "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" (producer Don Was) and you'll know everything you ever needed to know.
posted by henry scobie at 7:19 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by henry scobie at 7:19 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Timothy White's The Nearest Far Away Place: Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys, and the Southern California Experience is well-worth a look.
I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but have heard good things about Jon Stebbins' biography of Dennis Wilson. Dennis is in many ways as fascinating and tragic a figure as Brian - the episode focusing on him in Karina Longworth's excellent podcast series "Charles Manson's Hollywood" is another place to start.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:26 AM on September 18, 2015
I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but have heard good things about Jon Stebbins' biography of Dennis Wilson. Dennis is in many ways as fascinating and tragic a figure as Brian - the episode focusing on him in Karina Longworth's excellent podcast series "Charles Manson's Hollywood" is another place to start.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:26 AM on September 18, 2015
It's not a book, but you should watch "Beautiful Dreamer ," which tells the story of the "Smile" record finally getting made.
Another "not a book" suggestion - John Cusack apparently mainlined the "Smile Sessions" raw session recordings when he was preparing for the part, and has been nigh-evangelical about how revelatory they are in terms of illustrating Brian's creative process and proving how innovative he was.
....I actually follow Cusack on Twitter (because I am a fangirl) - I'mma tweet him your question, he just may respond with some other ideas. He became a big fanboy for Wilson in the course of doing the movie and after actually meeting the guy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:07 AM on September 18, 2015
Another "not a book" suggestion - John Cusack apparently mainlined the "Smile Sessions" raw session recordings when he was preparing for the part, and has been nigh-evangelical about how revelatory they are in terms of illustrating Brian's creative process and proving how innovative he was.
....I actually follow Cusack on Twitter (because I am a fangirl) - I'mma tweet him your question, he just may respond with some other ideas. He became a big fanboy for Wilson in the course of doing the movie and after actually meeting the guy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:07 AM on September 18, 2015
Not a bio, but the screenwriter of the film, Oren Moverman, was interviewed on Fresh Air. You can read the transcript here. They also play an interview from '88 with Wilson himself, but he's very closed off, which is in itself fascinating.
posted by missmary6 at 6:40 PM on September 18, 2015
posted by missmary6 at 6:40 PM on September 18, 2015
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posted by HuronBob at 10:49 PM on September 17, 2015