The Smiley Smile Message Board

So, I and probably many other members of this board fondly remember Reverend Bob and his hours-long phone calls. (I remember one time when I went back to the office one day from a trade show many years ago and he left me a voice mail message at work that was literally the alternate lyrics recording of "Add Some Music"!)

But what exactly was his connection to Brian and/or the group?? He never would give me a straight answer to that...all I know is he was a track coach from Oregon. How was he able to rub elbows with everybody, get his name on the "thanks to" credits in Beach Boys projects, etc.????

I won't even try to answer that question about Bob but he was just a good friend to all and never expected anything in return.  I had the pleasure of eating with him at Cantor's in LA  after one of Brian's Pet Sounds shows  at the Hollywood Bowl and a meal with him at his home and just talking for hours and hours.  I received a call from him in the hospital just days before he passed.  Amen - Rev Bob Hanes forever.

Les in San Francisco

Bob was a national high school caliber pole vault coach and he and his collection were something to see. He was also a learned man and inveterate reader. He showed kindness to guys beginning their Brian/BB journey repeatedly. He was an old fashioned liberal, a quality that endeared him to me. He railed against injustice. was a passionate advocta for mental health, and a man who lived and breathed his desire for health and balance. He insipred hundreds of kids he coached, and inspired them to be greater than they thought they could be. Oh yeah...and he loved Brian Wilson.

I had the pleasure of talking to him a few times on the phone on.01+02.. My cell phone  battery died everytime + had to plug in charger so who knows how long we talked 2-3-4 hrs..He shared some stuff over the phone that was unbelivable + once told me BW helped write Liittle Bird with no.song writing credit.. He told me something else about that song that i wont divulge here.. By no means were we close friends + i never met him but he was a nice friendly charming guy on the phone.. I should have been better at keeping in touch with him but 70hr weeks driving big rigs took up alot of time..RIP..

Coach was a hero in a scene full of villains. He was a true friend when Brian needed him. He was the consummate collector. He spread the word. It will forever be a sadness to me that I never got to meet him. This upcoming box is in some ways a tribute, memorial if you like, to him.

Heh...yeah, he'd ask me for my phone number, and when he'd call he'd repeatedly say he can't talk long because it's a long distance call for him (guess he never heard of "unlimited long distance" plans!), but he'd keep me on the phone for a LONG time. :)


Considering it has a little snatchet of "Child is Father of the Man," that's no surprise...


He told me some stuff about OTHER things that I won't divulge here...but all I can say is if what he said was true, it's yet another thing about Beach Boys history that has been reported EXTREMELY incorrect for years, to say the least...heh...

But still, anybody know how the heck he got to be an insider???

all this talk about inside info reminds me of when brian told me that one thing that would have shocked the world -- but not before playing me surfs up part 8. interesting piece considering he expanded musical notation to the letter S for it.

I guess same way as a few other folk - right place, right time. Plus, he was a genuinely nice guy.

The reason Bob became close to Brian is because he really cared for Brian, and showed Brian he did. Brian knows who`s for real, and Bob was for real.

You guys are titillating me! You're titillists!

Still no one will say how Coach (whose name i recognise from the 1993 box set but never met or spoke to) was involved with Brian, or when, but Peter, you said earlier that "he was a passionate advocta for mental health, and a man who lived and breathed his desire for health and balance." Does this have something to do with it?

More info, please!

Coach was a very private man, never flaunted his connections: Peter knew him far better than I did, if he wants to expand I'm sure he will, but all we really need to know is, Coach was there for Brian when he most needed it, never put any demands or pressure on him and was just the perfect friend. We all wish he was still around to see this release but, as I said, that it's happening is in some small way a tribute to him, and to all of Brian's other true friends. He was a good, good man. It's not the how/what/where/when that matters, it's that it happened.

Oh now you're just making things worse!

OK - howsabout this ?

I'm not going to tell you.   ;D

You any kin to Phil Cohen ?  ::)

Hey, Loaf Cohen is no relation! And if i was you probably wouldn't believe it.

Actually 'Loaf cohen' sounds like some kind of weird artisan bread.

I never talked to him, but prior to the 2004 premiere Bob was very helpful for me with a problem I had at the time. Probably the most warm hearted emails I ever received. A truly caring person he was. I was so sad when I learned he had passed away.

My lasting final impression about Bob was that he felt that, to some extent, the life he led paralleled that of Brian Wilson.

Because of this Bob not only felt a closeness to and insight into what made Brian tick.

That was my impression.

How Bob first got introduced into Brian's circle I have no idea, but I do know he was friends with Marilyn and her husband and had spoken with and knew  many of Brian's high school friends.  He told me several things about Brian and the Boys that definitely surprised me, was a great source of information and tireless supporter of the music, a true gentleman who was always willing to share his knowledge and the music with others.  God bless bob Hanes!