Landy era I vs. Landy era II

[CenturyDeprived]

Landy era I ('75-'76) is much less documented when compare to Landy era II (which is featured in the film), right?

-What type of Landy scumbaggery went on during the 1st era?

-Was Landy fired solely over increasing his rates?

-Was the band and Brian's family otherwise happy with his era I actions?

-Were the band and Brian's family ever seriously afraid Brian would relapse, or did they think that the appropriate work had been done to prevent such from happening?

-How was the firing handled?

[petsite]

Landy era I ('75-'76) is much less documented when compare to Landy era II (which is featured in the film), right?

-What type of Landy scumbaggery went on during the 1st era? Over bearing take control only in studio when Landy said.

-Was Landy fired solely over increasing his rates? That and he wanted to keep Brian out of the studio instead of working night and day to deliver Love You.

-Was the band and Brian's family otherwise happy with his era I actions? Mixed.

-Were the band and Brian's family ever seriously afraid Brian would relapse, or did they think that the appropriate work had been done to prevent such from happening? Mixed.

-How was the firing handled? Stephen Love fired Landy.

[Lonely Summer]

Landy I came across as an overbearing control freak in David Leaf's book. The impression I got from reading that was that Landy was pushing Brian to get back in the studio, to tour with the group. Other reports suggest it was the Beach Boys themselves pushing the whole "Brian is Back" thing. Landy II seemed to start of more promisingly; no big rush to get Brian back to recording. He did a few concert appearances with the group here and there, but the focus seemed to be on getting his life in order. And it was agreed that Landy would work with Brian until he was well. But how long that might be? In the meantime, Landy is getting co-writing credits with Brian on BB85, and then doing a solo album deal with him, and it just got worse and worse and worse. I don't doubt Landy did some good for Brian initially, getting him off the hard drugs, getting him to exercise, Brian could not have lasted much longer the way he was going in 1982. But then Landy just could not let go. I think he pictured he and Brian going on forever, making records, songwriting, etc. When BW88 got critical praise, Landy probably saw it as confirmation that his contributions to Brian's art raised it to another level. Landy was every bit the egomaniac that Mike Love is. He probably thought Sweet Insanity was going to burn up the charts and make Brian a solo star.

[John Malone]

Landy era I ('75-'76) is much less documented when compare to Landy era II (which is featured in the film), right?

-What type of Landy scumbaggery went on during the 1st era? Over bearing take control only in studio when Landy said.

-Was Landy fired solely over increasing his rates? That and he wanted to keep Brian out of the studio instead of working night and day to deliver Love You.

-Was the band and Brian's family otherwise happy with his era I actions? Mixed.

-Were the band and Brian's family ever seriously afraid Brian would relapse, or did they think that the appropriate work had been done to prevent such from happening? Mixed.

-How was the firing handled? Stephen Love fired Landy.

These explanations are pretty much the version told in the discredited 1991 autobiography. I thought it was Marilyn that had put an end to it after hearing about the flagrant rate increases.

[CenturyDeprived]

Landy era I ('75-'76) is much less documented when compare to Landy era II (which is featured in the film), right?

-What type of Landy scumbaggery went on during the 1st era? Over bearing take control only in studio when Landy said.

-Was Landy fired solely over increasing his rates? That and he wanted to keep Brian out of the studio instead of working night and day to deliver Love You.

-Was the band and Brian's family otherwise happy with his era I actions? Mixed.

-Were the band and Brian's family ever seriously afraid Brian would relapse, or did they think that the appropriate work had been done to prevent such from happening? Mixed.

-How was the firing handled? Stephen Love fired Landy.

These explanations are pretty much the version told in the discredited 1991 autobiography. I thought it was Marilyn that had put an end to it after hearing about the flagrant rate increases.

So is it pretty much considered that Landy was fired in 1976 primarily because of the shadiness of rate increases, and not because of any other overstepping of bounds? In other words, if Landy had just kept his rates the same, is it probable that he would have continued on with Brian past 1976?

And how did Brian react to Landy being fired in 1976? Did Landy ever try to be in touch with Brian after that (before being contacted again in 1982)?

[adamghost]

What I've heard, and seen alluded to in passing in various biographies, is that the death of Brian's post-Landy I psychologist in a mountaineering accident had a lot to do with Brian's post-'77 spiral.  Supposedly the new psychologist was a good guy who Brian got along with well, and the sudden death and subsequent void were a less obvious factor to Brian's decline starting around '78.  

[CenturyDeprived]

What I've heard, and seen alluded to in passing in various biographies, is that the death of Brian's post-Landy I psychologist in a mountaineering accident had a lot to do with Brian's post-'77 spiral.  Supposedly the new psychologist was a good guy who Brian got along with well, and the sudden death and subsequent void were a less obvious factor to Brian's decline starting around '78.  

So sad (both for Brian, and of course the psychologist) how history might have played out differently had that not happened. What's the timeline when that psychologist passed away? Did Brian go directly to him post Landy I's firing?

[Rocky Raccoon]

You can get a sense of Landy era I in this Rolling Stone cover story from 1976.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-healing-of-brother-brian-the-rolling-stone-interview-with-the-beach-boys-19761104

[petsite]

Landy era I ('75-'76) is much less documented when compare to Landy era II (which is featured in the film), right?

-What type of Landy scumbaggery went on during the 1st era? Over bearing take control only in studio when Landy said.

-Was Landy fired solely over increasing his rates? That and he wanted to keep Brian out of the studio instead of working night and day to deliver Love You.

-Was the band and Brian's family otherwise happy with his era I actions? Mixed.

-Were the band and Brian's family ever seriously afraid Brian would relapse, or did they think that the appropriate work had been done to prevent such from happening? Mixed.

-How was the firing handled? Stephen Love fired Landy.

These explanations are pretty much the version told in the discredited 1991 autobiography. I thought it was Marilyn that had put an end to it after hearing about the flagrant rate increases.

So is it pretty much considered that Landy was fired in 1976 primarily because of the shadiness of rate increases, and not because of any other overstepping of bounds? In other words, if Landy had just kept his rates the same, is it probable that he would have continued on with Brian past 1976?

And how did Brian react to Landy being fired in 1976? Did Landy ever try to be in touch with Brian after that (before being contacted again in 1982)?

Nope not from Brian's book, tho that book may have said the same things. These answers are from other people's accounts. Steve Love himself said he fired Landy.

[ben plumbrook]

Catch A Wave by Peter Carlin does a good job on Landy era one. He had a lot more supervision from the other Beach Boys and Marilyn the first time out and could not go as far. He tried his later tricks and was justly fired. Why he was rehired was desperation, and because of this Landy had a lot less rules the second time out. He played them good in 1982.

[Lonely Summer]

Catch A Wave by Peter Carlin does a good job on Landy era one. He had a lot more supervision from the other Beach Boys and Marilyn the first time out and could not go as far. He tried his later tricks and was justly fired. Why he was rehired was desperation, and because of this Landy had a lot less rules the second time out. He played them good in 1982.

And because Landy's early dismissal the first time around seemed to lead to Brian's regression into drugs and obesity, I was pleased to see the same thing didn't happen in the 80's. Only problem was, as the years went on, there seemed to be absolutely NO TIMELINE for the 'program' to end. Brian LOOKED great, and he was making music again, but I had to wonder how 'well' he really was.

[CosmicDancer]

I was thinking through some of these same questions yesterday.  Specifically, I was wondering to myself if at any time during his time with Brian, Landy had good intentions and if so, where did it all go wrong.  I can't answer the first part of the question, but I'm assuming that after some time with Brian, Landy realized just how fragile Brian really was and saw the opportunity to exploit that for his own gain.  I just wonder if that was the goal from day one, or if Landy slowly gravitated to the villian that he obviously became.  It's such a tragic story.

[Andrew G. Doe]

There's a view that says Brian was doing pretty well post-Landy I until his new therapist, Steve Schwartz, was killed in a rock climbing accident in mid-1977 (ish). I understand that shook him up pretty badly.

Ah, just seen that Adam's said exactly the same thing. Memo to self: next time read the whole thread before posting. Phooey.

[Cyncie]

Catch A Wave by Peter Carlin does a good job on Landy era one. He had a lot more supervision from the other Beach Boys and Marilyn the first time out and could not go as far. He tried his later tricks and was justly fired. Why he was rehired was desperation, and because of this Landy had a lot less rules the second time out. He played them good in 1982.

And because Landy's early dismissal the first time around seemed to lead to Brian's regression into drugs and obesity, I was pleased to see the same thing didn't happen in the 80's. Only problem was, as the years went on, there seemed to be absolutely NO TIMELINE for the 'program' to end. Brian LOOKED great, and he was making music again, but I had to wonder how 'well' he really was.

My guess is that Brian was as "well" as Landy needed him to be for any particular occasion.