The Latest from Jon (Stebbins, that is)

[c-man]

Check this out...sounds pretty cool, huh?

Stebbins to write Beach Boys edition for Backbeat Books

Author Jon Stebbins has been signed to Backbeat Books, an imprint of the Hal Leonard Publishing Group, to write the Beach Boys edition for their popular FAQ book series.  The FAQ series is subtitled “All That’s Left to Know and More” with an emphasis on digging deeply into the details and minutia of the evolution of the band and its recordings. Books covering The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, The Doors and others have either been released or are on the horizon for Backbeat’s FAQ series. The Beach Boys FAQ title will be among the most extensive volumes in the series with Stebbins meticulously investigating the entire 50-year history of the band. The approximately 400-page book will be illustrated with rare photos and memorabilia images.

Stebbins also has a revised and updated edition of his Dennis Wilson – The Real Beach Boy book in the works, as well as a new collaboration in development with New York writer Howie Edelson. The Beach Boys FAQ will be the first of the three books to see release, as Backbeat expects it in the market prior to The Beach Boys 50th anniversary year of 2011.

[KokoMoses]

I love those books!!!!! They look easy and breezy but are actually quite thickly informative!!!

I'm thrilled it isn't Peter Ames Carlin or David Leaf who's doing it, btw!

And ah, something new for us to squabble about! 

[Glenn Greenberg]

I'm thrilled it isn't Peter Ames Carlin or David Leaf who's doing it, btw!

Whatcha got against Peter Ames Carlin?  His book on Brian was excellent.

[Jay]

I'm thrilled it isn't Peter Ames Carlin or David Leaf who's doing it, btw!

Whatcha got against Peter Ames Carlin?  His book on Brian was excellent.

Damn straight. 

[Chris Brown]

Looking forward to reading everything Jon has in the pipeline...thanks for the update!

[KokoMoses]

I liked the Book, and as far as a book about Brian goes, it was great. But I just felt like he treated the other Beach Boys as essentially trash. As if their hopes, dreams, and cares meant nothing other than to serve as obstacles in Brian's way.

I'm being a little harsh, but I've read the damn thing about 20 times and have tried and tried to see it differently.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Have to disagree there - Mike in particular was presented in a more-than-usually fair light, and for once Brian wasn't deified. Peter's book is the single best introduction to The Beach Boys there is.

[TdHabib]

Agreed.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

The look at Mike's parents was revealing, and cast him in a different light. I do wish there was more dirt, but it was fair and even-handed.

[Jay]

The only negative thing I have to say about Mr. Carlin's book is his dismissal of Adult/Child. Which is moot, considering that it boils down to personal musical taste.

[MBE]

Well I like the book a lot. My personal taste is different at times, and there was one or two stories that seemed off chronologically, but essentially it's very good. I think it went a little easy on Melinda and Leaf but I guess that was out of tact or his own positive experience with them.

Some people have said the book was rough on Mike but I think it showed a nice side to him. The perception of Carl seemed colored by Melinda but I don't think the facts about him were wrong.

[c-man]

The look at Mike's parents was revealing, and cast him in a different light. I do wish there was more dirt, but it was fair and even-handed.

Timothy White's book beat him to it, though (in 1994). 

[Jay]

The perception of Carl seemed colored by Melinda but I don't think the facts about him were wrong.

I think the book was a little hard on Carl during the second post Landy phase. Specifically around the time of Brian's second marriage.

[Howie Edelson]

How did this thread end up being about Peter Ames Carlin, who wrote one good book on The Beach Boys and then a lazy clip job on Paul McCartney???

To Stebbins' credit he's STILL writing about the Beach Boys. Still involved. Still seeing things from cool and new angles.

I for one am excited that he's still working on new projects about the band, rather than take an easy pay day writing the schlock that Rock Writers get offered for a quick buck -- which undoubtedly would help pay his rent a hell of a lot easier than bios on the Hawthorne clan.

[Paulos]

This is excellent news and I am sure Jon will do a great job, not that we won't pick it apart in great detail of course...

[Jason]

Looking forward to the new book very much. And still waiting for an affordable copy of the Dennis book!

[KokoMoses]

It became about Peter Ames Carlin because I used his book as an example of why I, for one, am happy that Jon Stebbins will be writing this one! Srebbins is a truely "evolved" Beach Boys fan, and we need more like him keeping the torch lit, so to speak.

I didn't mean to sound so harsh toward Carlin, but I stand by my opinion of his book.

[Awesoman]

Check this out...sounds pretty cool, huh?

Stebbins to write Beach Boys edition for Backbeat Books

Author Jon Stebbins has been signed to Backbeat Books, an imprint of the Hal Leonard Publishing Group, to write the Beach Boys edition for their popular FAQ book series.  The FAQ series is subtitled “All That’s Left to Know and More” with an emphasis on digging deeply into the details and minutia of the evolution of the band and its recordings. Books covering The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, The Doors and others have either been released or are on the horizon for Backbeat’s FAQ series. The Beach Boys FAQ title will be among the most extensive volumes in the series with Stebbins meticulously investigating the entire 50-year history of the band. The approximately 400-page book will be illustrated with rare photos and memorabilia images.

Stebbins also has a revised and updated edition of his Dennis Wilson – The Real Beach Boy book in the works, as well as a new collaboration in development with New York writer Howie Edelson. The Beach Boys FAQ will be the first of the three books to see release, as Backbeat expects it in the market prior to The Beach Boys 50th anniversary year of 2011.

Sounds cool!

[Wirestone]

Peter's book on Brian is excellent. And to call the McCartney book a lazy clip job is just silly.

[Wilsonista]

Peter's book on Brian is excellent. And to call the McCartney book a lazy clip job is just silly.

Peter's McCartney book maybe suffers from the lack of access to McCartney himself (say what you will about the lack of Melinda-bashing and Leaf-bashing in Catch a Wave, Peter DID get access and input from Brian). And to trash Peter for "abandoning" the BB as a subject matter is also silly as well. 

[Howie Edelson]

Clay and Rob: You guys should check out the definitions for both "Clip Job" and "Silly."
(Or just read more McCartney books...)

NOW!!! Back to serious business at hand -- like the Beach Boys' sexuality, etc, (e.g. who is easiest and/or most difficult to picture being intimate with a lover, etc.)

Carl??? Al??? Kenyatta?

Pretty spot on:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/books/review/Vega-t.html/partner/rssnyt

[KokoMoses]

I'd say Al's the most difficult to imagine due to the height situation and the fact that rock stars tend to attract stauesque model types!

[TdHabib]

Hell, I liked the McCartney book quite a bit...not as good as Brian's but still a good job as far as I was concerned.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Clay and Rob: You guys should check out the definitions for both "Clip Job" and "Silly."
(Or just read more McCartney books...)

NOW!!! Back to serious business at hand -- like the Beach Boys' sexuality, etc, (e.g. who is easiest and/or most difficult to picture being intimate with a lover, etc.)

Carl??? Al??? Kenyatta?

Pretty spot on:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/20/books/review/Vega-t.html/partner/rssnyt

Wow Howie, Suzanne Vega not only can rock, she 'rocks the review'.  You were being kind to Carlin compared to Vega's skillful 'execution' of the book.  Clip Job indeed!

For those of you that don't know Suzanne Vega, her "Marlene On The Wall" is one of the best Dylanesque  folk songs of the 90's.

[Jay]

I'd say Al's the most difficult to imagine due to the height situation and the fact that rock stars tend to attract stauesque model types!

There's a dirty joke somewhere in this topic about Al, teeth, and "mouth love". I'll refrain, though.