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For anyone interested in my work in helping to free Brian Wilson from the clutches of Eugene Landy, I have put together a summary of the work I did in helping Brian to cutoff his abusive relationship.The article, entitled Free Brian Wilson, may be found at my Reuminations blog at blogspot.com The address is: peternreum @blogspot.com

Did it again, Peter  - that's your email addy.  Still.  ;D

Seriously, Peter was a vital cog in the machine that helped liberate Brian. Anything he has to say is essential reading.

Edit: just read it. As Hemingway would phrase it, the true gen.

What a heart-warming read, Peter. You saved Brian's life, period.

At http://peternreum.blogspot.nl/

I continued reading and eventually revisited your "search of the perfect record" article. Your first choice (they're in no particular order, but still) is one of mine, The Flamingos' astonishing "I Only Have Eyes For You". "Don't Worry, Baby" is another. It's hard to imagine a life without music.

Peter - ya know ya coulda just BEAT LANDY UP! Oops, wrong thread...

Love a guy who does his homework!   :love

Going to the conference on the deleterious effects of early/mid gen of psychotropic drugs, prior to your under-the-radar assessment at the BB fan conference!  

Thank you for your bold and brave initiative and role in the rescue mission.  

And for finding that Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue tape, that helped Brian hold on in that dark hour.  Brian's work, with Pet Sounds has done that for the whole world in an hour of darkness.  You returned the favor in kind for us all.

Thanks again, Peter.  ;)

perfect! :lol

Thanks for sharing! Do you remember which version of Rhapsody in Blue you tracked down?

:lol

Be fair, Landy was sober, well, and capable of defending himself. It's only right and proper to beat up ill people, and only then if they're also intoxicated and you're bigger than them. And ideally either they'll be a pacifist or you'll bring your friend to help...


Yes, Peter's description here is of how people managed *effectively* to remove Brian from a damaging situation, without hurting *anyone*, and with genuine concern for Brian's wellbeing. This is (one reason) why Peter is such a respected figure.

You partially joke, but you effectively point out the difference between respectable and contemptible.

I found the cd version of the recording Brian wanted   some years ago. It is by Stanley Black and the Royal Festival Orchestra, and also includes two other Gershwin compositions, An American in Paris, and the Porgy and Bess Suite.

Peter, thank you for doing what you did for Brian along with the others.

When I watched the Love and Mercy Film Kevin Leslie appears concerned and tells Melinda that Gene doesn't know he's there.  He also has a look on his face in the studio scene when he's standing next to Landy.  The look is apologetic and sympathetic.  At the time I wondered about his role with Brian and it got me thinking about the role those guys played in the whole sorry saga.  Kevin's reaction in the film makes more sense after reading your article.  Is it possible he passed the tapes on which helped to save Brian?

There was a link to a Facebook page on here not too long ago purporting to be Kevin's.  I think many people assumed those guys were all like Landy but seeing the film and reading your article has made me reappraise their role. 

In this interview (posted recently on another thread), Mark Linett distinguishes a bit between Kevin Leslie and Carl Andy Dean.

eta - here's the link: http://www.examiner.com/article/examiner-exclusive-mark-linett-discusses-brian-wilson-s-1988-solo-album

Yeah, Kevin Leslie is definitely the one that people seem to have thought was the worst. There's a lot of stuff in The Wilson Project about how Leslie was trying to learn how to engineer records, so that he, Brian, and Landy could work without any "outside interference", and he kept trying to take over the Usher/Wilson sessions...

(No knowledge about which "Surf Nazi" was passing information to Peter, I'm just talking about other publicly-available stuff).

Yes!  I have that on CD, purchased probably summer of 1993 when we moved to Guam.  I love the version of "I Loves You Porgy".

Fascinating, much thanks for the insight.

I wonder what Landy's motivation was to have all of Brian's daily activities videotaped. I mean, did it NEVER dawn on Landy that they could one day be used against him? I guess Landy only thought they were a means of controlling Brian, making Brian afraid to break Landy's rules while being recorded doing so... but how truly weird is it that Landy - as conniving and crafty as he was - never realized that it's not good to do illegal things like fudge with medical prescriptions while being videotaped doing such? What a dummy.

Peter - I've always wanted to hear the details of your role in getting Brian away from Landy and into appropriate support.

Thanks for doing that for Brian, or anyone else in need of help and for the continued support you provide to people who need it - Alan

Thinking you're invulnerable is an aspect of grandiose narcissism.

So I guess at least one of the 'surf nazi's' had some concern for Brian. All I can say is, Brian is really blessed to have fans like Peter that would help him like this.

Andy Dean...

oop. Thanks.

Yeah, look at Richard Nixon.

Peter, that was a great read and puts so much in context.  You've done a great service to a lot of people. Thank you.

Peter, thank you.

Thank you Emily for the link to the interview with Mark Linett.

Still begs the question why the film makes the character of Kevin Leslie sympathetic and 'likeable'.  There was also the dinner seen when Kevin and his GF leave Brian and Melinda alone.  I thought Kevin would never do that.  Maybe artistic license?

More likely because Leslie is still alive and they didn't want to risk a lawsuit. Though I have to say the character never came across as especially likeable in my viewing...

Peter, this was insightful and fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

I don't think there was a character in the movie named Kevin; in other words, I don't think the character that you are thinking is meant to be Kevin Leslie is particularly meant to be Kevin Leslie; I think the character is a composite, so we don't know if it was Andy Dean, Kevin Leslie or someone else who was actually being represented at any moment.
My guess is that Melinda and/or Brian had related specific incidents (the restaurant, the studio) that were important to their story and those incidents happened to be ones in which whichever thug was with them eased up a bit. Those are the incidents that got into the movie. I don't think the movie meant it to be a character statement.

I'm sure he's mentioned by name.  I could be wrong though.

In the credits, that character (the one who brings Melinda to the studio because Brian wants to see her and who has dinner with them and his girlfriend, is called "Doug"

Thanks for clearing that up! That answers it then.  I think the character was a composite of all the Surf Nazi's then, just like you said.  Cheers.

Peter, thanks for posting the story of your work in helping to free Brian from Dr. Landy.

While you mentioned that the only time you encountered Landy was in 1986, he was also (along with Alexandra Morgan, Kevin Leslie, and others in his entourage) at the July 28, 1990 Endless Summer Quarterly Beach Boys convention in San Diego. But like me and just about all the other fans in attendance, you probably went out of your way to avoid Landy, since while he had once been seen as the guy who had saved Brian, by the summer of 1990 Landy was seen by most fans as a miscreant who had completely isolated Brian from his family while exerting total control over all aspects of BWs life, including his creative endeavors. But what most of us didn't know about at that time was Landy's overmedication of his client.

For those who haven't seen it, here's a clip of Brian's "surprise" appearance at the convention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPwnJ07cJjY

You are correct.....he was there in San Diego. I had forgotten that episode. When I was writing this piece,I think I was remembering  times when I had occasion to speak to him personally

Maybe Landy was mentally ill.

Mr Reum (Dr Reum?), God bless you for what you did for Brian.

I've been treated for depression from time to time, and the psychologist always referred me to a psychiatrist to get a prescription for sertraline.  Gaines's book said that Landy had a PhD (I don't think it was even in psychology), so I'd always wondered how it was that Landy was prescribing medication for Brian.  From your account it sounds like he was dictating to "a very old psychiatrist."

The first place I saw your name was in the booklet in the World Records box set from 1981.  Good job on that too!

Hi MTG  Great to hear from you! If you're the MTG from the Male Ego board it's great to have you here...Hello Mojoman3061,  psychiatrists can write prescriptions for mental health  concerns, although in smaller cities  and rural areas (like here in Montana), prescriptions for mental health concerns are written by family physicians, internal medicine M.D.s, and even nurse practitioners and  physician assistants under an M.D.'s supervision. With respect to Dr. Landy, there are psychiatrists who are attached to a clinical psychologist's practice.This was the case with Dr. Landy.

As always, a fascinating and highly illuminating writeup, Peter--proving again that you are an incalculable treasure to the world of the Beach Boys and those of us who remain in their thrall. The most wonderful part of your essay is the discovery that the so-called "surf nazis" actually came to realize the wrongful events they had become entwined in, and became agents in the slow, agonizing process of delivering Brian from a man who had crossed the line into evil. This shows us that even "hired goons" have consciences, and I'd like to think that their exposure to the inherent goodness/sweetness in Brian, which radiates so strongly from his person and from his music, is what made them act against their employer when it became clear to them that he was engaged in such treachery.

Amazing stuff--thanks so, so much for sharing with us!

Peter, thank you for sharing your story.  I knew that you were involved, but I never knew the extent of your involvement.  You deserve a debt of gratitude for your unwavering loyalty to Brian over the years.

Take care,

Lee

Do you think the symptoms of "tardive dyskenisia" have vanished for Brian or do they linger?

I haven't been around Brian since 2005. The symptoms can be reduced by ceasing the  meds that brought  them on.
Based  on interviews   with  Brian   and Melinda, I have confidence they have been stopped.

Peter, thanks for your great work to save Brian.

While on your site I read your very good piece on Adult Child. It reminded me of one of the greatest "what-ifs" in Brian's life: What if Dr. Steve Schwartz hadn't died in a rock-climbing accident?

Do you think Brian was truly on the road to good health working with Dr. Schwartz? And I know Brian had some hospitalizations in that time, but did he ever have a regular therapist between Dr. Schwartz and his second stint? If not, do you know why?

The development of therapeutic trust with someone like Brian is the necessary situation for any therapy to work.  The trust, once established, has  to be carefully maintained. The agenda is based on therapeutic goals and cannot proceed unless both parties are onboard. I do remember Brian being hospitalized during those years. If my memory is correct, these inpatient experiences were psychiatric in nature. Most inpatient care  revolves around stabilization  and  medication review. Some inpatient psychiatric  programs have group  and individual therapy, but most of that is provided in  outpatient services. The first therapist after Dr. Schwartz sadly bore the brunt  of Brian's grief regarding the divorce and Dr. Schwartz 's sudden death.After  placing his trust with  Dr. Schwartz , Brian was wary of doing that again. That is very understandable.  Separation from a trusted professional in what was to Brian his first  risk to trust someone in years, there was genuine grief, and Brian understandably would be dealing with  that grief with a new therapist. It is only human nature to avoid situations that could cause further grief.

Thanks for your answer, Peter!

We often muse out loud how it was even possible that Brian made it this far with all the bad times he's been through in life... and the answer is, because he had good friends and family who loved him around him that helped him through those bad times.  Thank you Peter. 

Very well said.

Peter,

Words cannot adequately express the appreciation I feel for your vital role in helping Brian.  Your concern and dedication to Brian's health, as well as your humbleness while being such an important factor in his remarkable improvement is admirable.  You have my utmost respect.

Is there any particular reason why it has been more than 10 years since you have seen Brian?

If any of you have seen the Lucky Old Sun video, that was the most recent time that I have listened to Brian and his incredible band. The  primary reason I haven't seen Brian and band is that my family and I are about 550 miles from the city where his recent  tours have played. I love hearing. Brian and his band  live, but family commitments have to be the first considerations   that we consider. I'd go again if circumstances allowed it, but having retired, my financial income is not what it was. I worked  with Capitol on the Smile box and with  the  wonderful folks who did Love and Mercy on their dvd/blue ray release of that movie. Those projects did not require  travel,which  I don't do  because of family commitments. While I am thinking about it I want to thank Domenic Priore , Tom Recchion, Alan Boyd, and Melinda Wilson for including me in those projects