The Smiley Smile Message Board

What became of her after her and brian divorced? Did she remarry? Are her and brian still on friendly terms? Where and wht is she doing todaY?

I believe she remarried and works as a real estate agent. She has a website, I think.

She is now Marilyn Rutherford. As for her and Brian, I'll put it like this...allegedly, her and Melinda despise each other. Well, at least it seems that way; Melinda has always been real critical of Marilyn's decision to hire Landy, to the point where even Brian spoke up about it in the Larry King interview, saying something to the effect of "Hey, how could she have known she was hiring a crazy person?" The "crazy person" part was quoted verbatim, btw.

yeah, and ive heard her and brian are still real close, like talking on the phone every once in a while. but think about it, they were together for a little under 20 years, how could you not talk?

When I think about the Beach Boys story, I can't help but think about Marilyn. Not to sound too melodramatic, but in many ways the story of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys is a tragic one. And other than the Wilson brothers, who suffered more than Marilyn. It must have been heartbreaking to see Brian deteriorate, shortly after their marriage actually. Brian and Marilyn were married in late 1964. I wonder how many happy years they had after that? I'm sure she could write the book of all books, but fortunately for everyone, she probably won't...

Marilyn is not mentioned in anything BW-related that Melinda had to do with. It's not some massive crazy conspiracy theory, but women being protective and jealous of each other. No big deal really, except that one is being nudged out of the light by the other, quite unfavorably and unfortunately.

Yeah, the Larry King interview kind of showed it all in about a 10 second segment of the interview.  Brian was generally non-commital and quiet, kind of giving the usual ho-hum answers he does when he's bored with an interview or doesn't feel like exerting himself, but as soon as Melinda said something Snooty about Marilyn, he cut her off and sharply rebutted what she said.  It's basically one of the only times I've seen him actually put any effort into a comment, you know what I mean? Usually he's just saying whatever will make the interview end the earliest with no thought behind it.

Anyways, you have to kind of step back and open your eyes about it a little bit.  Apparently Brian was estranged from Carnie and Wendy for several years, and I've heard they resented him a lot (with good reason).  On the first Wilson Phillips album, Carnie and Wendy thank "Brian and Carl" in the liner notes.  They call their own dad by his first name but thank their "mom".  Fortunately they were reaquainted later and from what Brian and the girls have said in interviews, they visit each other frequently and get along great now.   

You've gotta see that Marilyn fits in all of that.  She's the mother of Brian's first two children, whom no matter what has happened I'm sure he loves with all his heart, and they all love each other even if they are a shattered family.  The girls have likely been in touch with their mom everday of their lives, and now that Brian is on good terms with them again I'm sure Marilyns in his picture via the phone or asking his daughters about her or whatever all the time.  I've seen some interviews with her in these documentaries that have came out over the past years and she generally speaks good of Brian even though he must have been incredibly difficult to live with for most of their marriage.

So I would guess, although I don't know, that Brian understands Marilyn's reasons for divorce, and they've both remarried and have been able to be friends again.  You've gotta see too that both of their daughters have married and are apparently happy, so it's not like one's a drug addict and Marilyn still hates Brian for making her like that or whatever.  Their story, apparently, turned out pretty good in the end even if they couldn't stay married. 

Here's her website...pretty cool I'd say.

http://www.marilynwilsonrutherford.com/

I wouldn't be able to take her seriously as a realtor.. too much reliance on Brian et cetera on the website.

Fortunately for everyone?  I'd love to read that book!  To be honest, for what she must have had to put up with from a very young age, Marilyn's probably earned it.  It's probably a testament to her sheer quality as a person that she hasn't written it (yet!).

This thread reminds me on a similiar question: Does Brian still have contact with David Anderle, Vosse and that whole SMiLE-gang? Are they still friends? Just wondering.

Nice website, but I notice there aren't actually any properties listed or displayed on it, which seems a bit of a disadvantage for a property website! Looks like a big plug for Marilyn.

Anyone got the Honeys 1980s Rhino LP with the awful paintings on the front? I listened to this continuously for about a year (for some bizarre reason) - great harmonies on 'Temptation Eyes'!

Very nice person. I like her singing but I really never got into the Rhino album. I do like the It's Like Heaven LP and the earlier Spring and Honey's stuff.

could we turn this into a Marylin Rovell pic thread? I think she's beautiful as all get out.  ;D

Yeah, she's pretty hot.  Isn't she like almost 60 too?  That's a good looking grandma. 

Would it be rather naive to imagine that the surgeon's scalpel hasn't had something to do with that?   ::)

I've never really been 'into' her, myself. Not like that's important, or anything.

And.... who said any different?  All I said was she looks hot to me.  Plastic Surgery or not. 

Sir Rob; do you have a 60 year old ex-wife who doesn't look as good as Marilyn, so you're trying to defend her?  I'm not attacking your ex-wife, just saying that Marilyn looks hot. 

(http://www.bradcoweb.com/rockgroups/honeysp.JPG)

(http://www.bradcoweb.com/rockgroups/honey1.JPG)

(http://www.bradcoweb.com/rockgroups/honey3.JPG)

(http://www.carlwilsonfoundation.org/walk01/pix/rd-honeys.jpg)

(http://www.beachboysfanclub.com/walk99/honeys-bl.jpg)

Hey - I wasn't having a pop at anyone, neither you or Marilyn.  She's a fine looking lady for her age.  I was just honestly wondering whether she'd had cosmetic surgery that's all.  Me being a Brit and she being a native and resident of the Los Angeles area I tend to think she probably has.  But would I be right in thinking that?  

Whoa...treading dangerous ground here... :-\

I always thought Diane had an edge looks wise but a photo of Marilyn at the Pet Sounds cover session is in the Priess book and she looks beautiful with the blonde hair there. The Honeys shot in the Gaines book from the 1980s is quite er revealing for Mare. I liked this picture as a teen!

my diane, she is beautiful as well.

I don't know, I think both Rovell girls are pretty unattractive, in my opinion. I dislike their facial structure and eyebrows.

They're both in "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".

Marilyn Wilson has never had plastic surgery, or at least she didn't as of about five years ago.  I saw her twice at  the Roxy, standing right next to me, and she looks close to her age in person (which is just fine, if you ask me).   I think the make-up and lighting probably help in in TV appearances, if you really think she looks that youthful in the documentaries. 

Looks like a nose job to me. Look at the then/now pictures...

if she really hated brian she would've dropped the 'wilson' in 'wilson-rutherford'

she seems great, but it looks like shes still trying to ride the beach boys wave

Marilyn is awesome.  Married teen, mother of 3 (2 kids and Brian for a while), she had to deal with Brian's stuff that was going on in his life, while trying to raise their 2 girls.   I would LOVE to see a book about Marilyn, she has really had an interesting life.  I was watching a documentary about Brian, there's footage where Marilyn is reading one of his love letters to her, you can see the love there, no doubt, it was in her eyes after she read the letter out loud. Ginger also had a comment that made me take notice, something about the "new" Brian is not the real Brian, that he's given in or something to that extent.   I think Melinda is a completely different personality than Marilyn, and that's probably why some Brian fans have issues with her.

Boy do I agree with you on this. They're a couple of dogs!

Heywood Floyd,
       You got guts, man. I like people who speak their mind, and you do it. I mean, I was feeling bad because I suggested that Marilyn had a nose job. Now I don't feel so bad...

I'll bet Heywood is a living Adonis.  How about favoring us with a photograph, HF?

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Must have been in love then.

Unfashionable concept, I know.

I have to admit that I've never given this much thought, but with all that we know about that marriage, it never would have occurred to me to say that Marilyn wasn't good enough for Brian from 1964-82 (or whatever the years were).  Kind of a surprising turn in the conversation.

I don't know how old Heywood is, but there's more to life than looks.  Even Dennis, the ladies' man, had wives and girlfriends that were merely average-looking.  Marriage is more than just having a trophy on your arm.  There are guys that do that, but the marriages rarely work out in the long run.  Plus, Marilyn is someone Brian was comfortable with.  There are not many people that probably fit that description in Brian's world.  I'm sure Melinda worked out for him for the same reason, along with any other girlfriends along the way.  If you've ever been in Brian's presence in even a very brief, casual way, you can see how painfully shy he is and how difficult it must be for him to achieve a comfort level with anyone. 

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This is the guy who wrote Pet Sounds and you're questioning why he didn't go for blonde bimbo's? 

Yes.   :poke

I hereby nominate Heywood Floyd for the 2006 National Organization for Women  Susan B. Anthony Award.

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You can, as I haven't locked the thread yet.  Just don't expect everybody to be a misogynist.  And yes, I think anybody who uses the phrase "bang some hot poon tang" is by default a misogynist.

At least use the  :hat emoticon if you're going to reference the poon tang.

Not offended at all, just having some fun.  Ask around about my delicate sensibilities.

And don't knock that award- the winner gets all kinds of hot poon tang.

Delicate sensibilities be darned, that's just a funny combination of words.  Meaning aside, is just funny, syllabically.

I remember a funnier phrase from college, but won't repeat it here. :lol

What does the fact that Marilyn is Jewish have to do with anything?

Why not bring it up?

Nice way to deflect my point, Heywood.

What is your point?

There is nothing anti-semitic about mentioning someone is Jewish. It's okay for people to be different Greenberg. Boy, do people love to be "offended."

I guess you can't help acting like a tool.

Sorry we were over-sensitive, Heywood.

Wow, I've never been accused of not having a sense of humor...

well, um...since the real Marylin isnt good enough for some, what does everyone think of the actress who played Marylin in An American Family? I believe she's pretty hot herself....

remembering.....

Marylin: "Brian, the baby is on it's way, I'm goin to the hospital."
Brian: (playing Shortenin Bread riff over & over) "Ok, bye."     :lol

Is that really in the film?


Animators generally are a humorless bunch, man.

"Heywood"--

At least I'm not afraid to use my real name.

And why do I get the feeling you wouldn't dare talk to me like that if you were standing in front of me?

Can we all let this go?  I don't like deleting threads, but I will if the personal stuff keeps going.  Let's just leave it at discussions about Marilyn's personality or contributions to the Beach Boys World, and maybe leave our subjective analyses of her looks out of it?

Words of wisdom.

Still my choice for the lead in "The Marilyn Wilson Story":

(http://www.mopan.org/imagesfv99/hacksdouglas.jpeg)

Ms. Illeana Douglas

yeah, that really happend in the movie...i love it! though it's a poor portrail; i believe brian would have been right at her side. but mean, look at all the flaws in that film...brian w/ a beard in late 69, brian playin the With me Tonite riff before Pet Sounds comes out, the Help Me Rhonda affair with Murrry happening at the Pet Sounds sessions...on that point, did Murry show up to any PS sessions? or at least give his view on the album. the only thing i heard was that he advised Brian to speed up his voice on Caroline No to make him sound younger...which was also said in the movie, but during the Be True to Your School vocal sessions; weren't they young enough? it was their 3rd album for crying out loud. Also, on tape speeds, are there any slowed down or faster than the original take? I know the version of With a little help from my friends is slow, and it sounds very smiley to me...

Ow yeah! good call Joe!

Seconded.

I dunno, I think once a woman has achieved the status of wife and mother of a man's children, she should be off-limits.  Just MO.  It's in bad taste.  She's also the grandmother of Brian's grandchildren.  Would you like people talking that way about your mom, or your grandmother, or wife, or girlfriend?  Look around.  Most human beings do not look like models or actors/actresses, yet they somehow manage to get together, and even get married and have kids. 

Marilyn is truly one of the most charming and warm people I've ever met- Diane, too.  If there's one person in this whole story who's definitely not asking for it, it's her.

The funny thing about the Illeana Douglas resemblance is that she actually did play Brian's wife- sort of- in "Grace Of My Heart".  She played a Carole King type character who marries a Brian Wilson-meets-Norman Maine (Matt Dillon).

When we got home from the theatre, I showed my girlfriend the cover of the Honeys CD and she was just blown away.

(http://www.filmscouts.com/zgifclip/gra-hea/gra-hea2.gif)


(http://www.unl.edu/scarlet/v7n6/beach.gif)


(http://cinebel.be/pics/b10541.jpg)

Dude, remember, you don't know me. You don't know what I'd do.

Last reminder.  Take it to PMs or the thread goes.

I think you should get rid of this thread. I'm all for deleting it. No sarcasm at all.

I think Marilyn is an incredible person and deserves a thread, and Her role in the Beach Boys should be discussed.  that's why I've kept the thread going despite everything.

I once heard Marilyn say that she had sung on pretty much every Beach Boys album (maybe after the first two or  three, I don't know).  Other than the duet on Love You, obviously, is there anyplace she's particularly apparent in the mix?

"Busy Doin' Nothing" and "Funky Pretty" immediately spring to mind.  She's very prominent in those two, but I'm sure there are others.

Really?! Did not know that.

I know that's her on "Be True to Your School", and on a lot of songs off 15 Big Ones.

Thanks, I'll check those two out...

I know she sang during the chorus of "Do You Wanna Dance" (although it's hard to pick her out with all that is going on).  As others have said, I'm sure she probably sang on other songs but was uncredited for her work.   

Marilyn is quite prominent on Side A of 15 Big Ones.

You can really hear her on "Rock And Roll Music", "It's OK", and at the very end of "Had To Phone Ya", she can be heard going "Hey, Brian". She is also very audible on "That Same Song".

I was mildly surprised to hear Brian using a female voice on the background vocal mix on 15 Big Ones. He didn't do that OFTEN did he? Bruce helped out on the "high part" in the late 70's, Matt Jardine was used on Stars And Stripes, and, of course, Jeff Foskett has been used most recently.

and on Feel Flows, she is very prominent there

This Whole World and Beaks of Eagles she is prominent. She told me Trader is her proudest moment with them though.

I can't believe she's on 'Funky Pretty' I've been diggin that track so hard since I came to Spain. I wanted to even start an appreciation thread for it. I remember the last few listens Ive been wanting to ask if there were some of the guys kids in that song because I could hear some really high voices in there (in pitch not drugged) but I guess its her.

I cant believe she's in Trader too...how awesome.

Ah, come on!  All old ladies in LA (the wealthy ones anyway) look like Jackie Stallone, don't they?!  :lol

                                           
                                                          :jedi

<<Dude, remember, you don't know me. You don't know what I'd do.>>


Well, I don't want to see the thread get deleted, so I'll refrain from responding.

But BOY, is it tempting...

                           ;D

I wouldn't kick her outta bed. 

That whole Melinda/Marilyn thing...yeah, I could possibly see that.   Being surrounded by musicians, who are usually eccentric in their own ways, I'm sure it gets a little weird.  Besides...she was pretty young when Brian married her.   It's not like she ever had that "early 20's" chance to sow her oats and to find out how things could be.  Just imagine...you're a 16 year old chick being thrown into a top recording artist's world with all this money.   Bet her ego being that young could probably topple bridges.   16 year olds seem to know everything - or so they think, so her frame of mind isn't, I wouldn't say "damaged" but more of a loopy alternate reality than we'd ever know.  Let's not forget...Melinda seems a little spacey at times...so as you can imagine, two spacey women affiliated with a rich once-top-form rock star...the claws may come out from time to time. 

Jeez, can you imagine if Brian wasn't "Brian" and hooking up with a 16 year old?   Try that being your average Joe.  Cops would be busting down your doors in two seconds.   I wouldn't thought.  Couldn't stand teenagers when I was a teenager...but that's another story...and I'm getting already quite off topic anyway.

Let me also add...two women who have been very protective of Brian.

I often wonder what Marilyn thinks of Brian *now* though...

I stood next to Melinda during the Saturday night Roxy show- she was sitting at a little table-  and I thought about just telling her "thanks for taking care of the big guy for us", but decided to thank her by leaving her alone with her friends.  I feel the same way about Marilyn-  they were the guardians of a fragile human being who happens to be an international treasure.

(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8610/marilynrovell1pb.png)

yeah! Yeah! more! more!  ;D

         :o

We get it.  You don't like her.  So noted.

Marilyn was hot as heck as a late teenager. Anyone remember that home movie that I guess Brian took of her popping in and out of the house in the striped shirt? Cute as anything she is.  :afro

i agree...the home video of her winking at the camera when Caroline No was played on the A&E bio

That's probably the best pic I've ever seen of her; she actually looks good in that one.

(http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4759/marilynav12fd.png) (http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5664/k2jh.png) (http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3024/scan00039yk.png)

How's that? And if you have a reply, try not to filter it through some crappy emoticon. Cheers.

nice pics! whered you get them? she's looking good...

Just scans from the 'Honeys Collection' booklet. They're only diddy on the page, hence the pixely look. I thought the last of the 3 was a nice pic. Taken at the session that yielded The Honeys last Capitol 45.

(http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3706/bwhoneys4mi.png)

That's a neat picture.  Sums up everything that is right about recording in the 60s.  What studio is that?

Yeah, it's a lovely shot.
They used 2 studios for that single. I'm guessing vocals were done at the latter date, so it's probably Wally Heider Studios.

Marilyn has always spoken affectionately and  honestly about Brian. It was hard for her to leave him, but she had to think of Carnie and Wendy and perhaps she felt that she couldn't help him anymore.

I wonder if anyone has read the book 'Rock Wives' which came out in the 80's?  I understand Marilyn wrote about her life with Brian for this.

I think she is still an attractive woman and an important part of the Beach Boy's history; after all she was the inspiration for many of Brian's best songs.

 :D

She was also in the bg vocals for VegaTables and Time To Get Alone. Don't forget that crazy Honey's Row Row Row Your Boat.