The Smiley Smile Message Board

Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson passed away this day in 1983.  Take a look back at some select videos featuring him here- http://rockabillynblues.blogspot.com/2011/12/dennis-wilson-passed-away-this-day-in.html

Really tragic that he passed so young.  He had the potential of being every bit as impressive a creative musician as his celebrated older brother.  His restless spirit is what propelled his talent, but is also what destroyed his life.

I miss Dennis as much as I miss Carl and Lennon and Harrison. I wish to hell he could have pulled himself together and been with the group on the 50th Anniversary celebration next year. I clearly remember where I was on the late afternoon of 12/28/83 when I heard on the radio that Dennis had died and how sad I was. I was driving in my car and actually pulled to the side of the road to think about it. I was hoping I'd heard it wrong, but then it was on the TV news that night. It really doesn't seem like 28 years has gone by since he passed away.

One of the saddest days of the year :'( There's only 4 days out of the year that make me feel this bad (the day I lost my Pap, and the days Elvis, Dennis & Carl died). They'll never be another like Dennis. He truly was "so beautiful", inside and out.

I remember the evening of Dec 28th well.  Dozens of messages were left on my phone answering machine but it wasn't until the 7th or 8th message, did anyone say whom had died.  I assumed it was Brian but it was the surfer in the group.  The following evening  musician Scott Mathews and I did a 1 hr tribute to Dennis on K101 Radio( San Francisco) from 6pm - 7 pm with DJ Jackie Scarr and ended the show with End Of The Show.   During the 1 hr tribute, we offered stories about Denny and played Mona, Angel Come Home, In The Back of My Mind, Little Bird, etc  and what we believed to be Dennis' favorite Beach Boys' song, Surfer Girl.    Unbelievable that is has been 28 years already.  I always play Forever on the anniversary and I will be doing this later tonight.   God Bless Dennis and the legacy he left behind.

Thanks for the music Dennis.

I had just turned 12.  I don't remember if I heard about Denny's death on the news, but I do remember opening the mailbox and seeing the People magazine with "Death of a Beach Boy" on the cover.  It just made me incredibly sad...it was about that time that I was learning that celebrities aren't the shiny, happy people you see on TV or in the movies.  At that time, I had no idea that the Beach Boys were such a troubled lot...all I knew was their music. 

Thank you Dennis for making this difficult and often dark world just a little brighter with your beautiful music, we miss you...

RIP Dennis

In case folks missed the thread, one of our members completed his first major interview yesterday.  The final installment below focused on Dennis extensively.  Dennis The Musician, Dennis The Performer, Dennis The Songwriter, His Best Songs, whether there was jealously when he released Pacific Ocean Blue, how Dennis' lifestyle changed, what happened to Dennis' hand, Blondie/Ricky, his contributions on L.A. Light Album, and how he would like to be remembered...

"Remembering Dennis Wilson: Plus, Author Mike Eder on The Beach Boys In The 1970s"
http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/remembering-dennis-wilson-plus-author-mike-eder-on-the-beach-boys-the-1970s