The Smiley Smile Message Board

http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/i-can-hear-music-author-mike-eder-reveals-his-dream-project-on-the-beach-boys-1
This was really fun to do and I hope will stir up some interest so it can be sold.

Looking forward to the book!

Looking forward to this one. Best of luck with it Mike and I'm sure that it will do very well. :)

Billy, nearly spat beer at the screen thanks to your new screen name  :lol :lol :lol

Thanks for your support guys. Without this place it never would have happened!

Just modified the title as all three parts are now up. Jeremy Roberts and I had a lot of fun putting this together and I just wanted to thank him here.

Really enjoyed reading these interviews Mike. It's about time we all had a well balanced book on the Beach Boys esp from the years 1967-1973. And as much as I love Brian (He is my fav Beach Boy hands down) It would be good to hear from the other boys there thoughts and feelings esp with reguarding Brian's issues and breakdowns. Not one person or situation in the world of the Beach Boys is black and white, It's mostly grey as I'm sure Mike you will tell within your book.
Hope to see this in the U.K. I will be the first to buy it. Good luck with the book and future projects. Happy new year :)) :-D

Part Two = "Did Brian Wilson Kill Smile? The Lowdown..."
http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/did-brian-wilson-kill-smile-the-lowdown-with-beach-boys-author-mike-eder

Mike explains whether Brian would have become a success without The Beach Boys, their greatest songs/albums prior to Pet Sounds, his assessment of Smile, and exactly how Brian killed that album in 1967.  In addition, he debunks the long-held belief that Brian became a complete recluse after Smile was abandoned.  Later, Mike talks about the progress of I Can Hear Music, plus the connection between Kenny Rogers & The First Edition and The Beach Boys (he is in the early stages of penning their authorized biography).

I also had a blast doing the interview; I'm especially looking forward to reading the book...And here is Part Three, the conclusion


"Remembering Dennis Wilson: Plus, 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

Mike gives weight to Dennis' contributions to the band as a musician, performer, and singer/songwriter. He also straightens out whether there was internal jealousy within the band when Pacific Ocean Blue came out as well as Dennis' legacy.  Finally, he discusses Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, L.A. (Light Album - the final release by the band that had any sense of quality), the always colorful personality of Mike Love & its negative effect on the band in later years, and whether it's a good idea for The Beach Boys to reunite...

Thanks! I hope to get it out in the UK too. Omnibus Press has been contacted on it but their editor is out of the office until the 3rd so I won't know for a week or so if he decides to do this.
Honestly all I did was remember that these are real people with good and bad points who did some great things together. I think the problem is when writing something like this one can just look at them as some sort of comic book figures who don't really exist.  The funny thing is we do know so much about what they took, who they fought with, who they slept with, but at the end of the day that's not what is important. What matters is the positive difference they have made to so many of our lives. They all did a lot more good than harm in this world. That doesn't mean I softsoap things. Of course I am in awe of their best work, but I don't hold back if I think they didn't try their hardest later on. As people I just try to present the facts and aim to let the reader decide if they like them personally or not.

I can't wait for your book!  ;D As a fellow Three Stooges fan, I found that portion of the interview to be just as interesting.  :)

Isn't that funny how one gets started sometimes? Yes I love The 3 Stooges and I enjoy the work of all of them. There's all that "which one was the best" stuff with them too, but because I saw talent all the members I think I was inspired to try to present a less competitive vibe. That's grown into what I do now with the people I write about. I mean Curly was a genious but just because Shemp and Besser had to recyle some old gags and deal with smaller budgets doesn't mean I don't enjoy their work. Even Derita was fine when they didn't try to appeal directly to kids. Still though many people won't give the others a chance. My advice then and now is to watch the solo work and then it will be easier to enjoy what everyone could do comedy wise.

You know, it would be awsome to hang out with you.  ;D For years I thought I was the only Stooges fan that actually liked and defended Joe Besser and Joe Derita.  ;D I can kind of see a Beach Boys parallel too. Not many people want to pay attention to their "unpopular era", so to speak. But if you listen to Keepin The Summer Alive, and watch The Three Stooges Meet Hercules or Around The World In A Daze, you'll see and hear an occasional spark of the old magic.  :)

Hopefully the renewed interest in the Boys due the 50th celebration will help persuade someone to publish your book.

You could form your own publishing company. If nobody wants to publish you, publish yourself.  ;)

Thanks for all the kind words. The world of media can be tough going, but all you have to do is find a few people who like what you do to get somewhere in it. 

Can't wait to read this. :)

You're not the only Three Stooges fan.  I say Shemp was just as talented as his two brothers.  And I'll defend Curly Joe DeRita.  I'm watching the Columbia DVD shorts from 1955 to 1959 now; about 8 shorts away from the intro to Joe Besser.  I've always said I couldn't defend his work with the team, but I'll see if the passage of time has altered my opinion.  I'll probably just focus on Larry during these later years.  And 3 Stooges Go Around The World In A Daze is very good, too.  Thanks for adding the Beach Boys connection -- I never thought of that.

Excellent work, Mike and Jeremy! I'm very much looking forward to reading this book.

Watch Joe on Abbott and Costello before you see those shorts. Or anything solo you can find on youtube. Then I think you will get the dynamic and why he did fit so well at the time. Besser has made me laugh so much over years.
In a Daze is easily the best Derita film. The only Stooge film I just can't find some good in (after the funny intro) is Snow White.

Again thank you all for the feedback!

To Mike & Jeremy,

That is one terrific interview. What a refreshing approach for a book; a balanced look at the band. To separate the myths and present the facts. I wish you the best in finding a publisher. Hopefully, 2012 will be the perfect timing to get this released. Another beautiful way to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Best of luck to you, Mike.

Thank you for saying such nice things. Hopefully it will sell in the next few weeks. I will let everyone here know about it as soon as I can figure out who is putting it out.

Loved the interview! You're only a few years younger than me and I too saw the AB doc, but I think it was '86 that I saw a cut of it on TV, and fell in love with Brian singing PLMW and his weird eye and lips movements...I could identify with a weirdo like that!
Anyway, I like your matter-of-fact approach and find your opinions closely matching my own. Count me in for a copy!

It sounds like we went through the same thing at the same time! Glad you liked it. Even if the movie itself has some false things (especally the Brian in bed right ater Smile stuff), it still is musically a great introduction to the group.