The Smiley Smile Message Board

Is it me or am I the only one annoyed by all the questions he asks to Brian? particularly on the bonus cd that came with the Beautiful Dreamer DVD..."how did that feel?" oh my gosh, how many times did he ask that? and Brian would always say proud? After a while, Brian just says...you know how i felt david....I like what david leaf has done for brian but man, does he have to be a brown noser for BW for life and rub it in our faces we can't have a career like his?  :lol

The only thing about David Leaf's interviews that bothers me is that it appears not only does David ask Brian the questions, but also supplies the scripted answers. :police:

You have to take the good with the bad, because David Leaf is probably the best friend Brian Wilson ever had.

Wow, someone actually said something nice about David Leaf!

As far as Brian's answers being scripted, I would say maybe it's more that David asks very leading questions and Brian says what he thinks David wants to hear.

For all of what people say about David Leaf, I'd say overall, his efforts have had a very positive impact on Brian's reputation and legacy. He's getting the word out, and for the people who aren't diehard fans, a little hyperbole is a good sell.

I agree that he's done a good job in hyping the Brian story, but he's also been pretty rough on the Beach Boys' story.

As I said before I have heard that David gave Brian a very hard time after some subpar shows. Having spoken to the guy and read the snooty overtone to his writing if that's Brian's best friend he must be a lonely man. Just my two cents, I admittedly am not around to see them interact.

It's funny that those who don't have a high opinion are those who have actually met the guy. Aside from that, though, if I never read another one of his liner notes, it'll still be too soon.

That's true-- he has contributed to the one-sidedness of it all.

May I add something positive. I have talked to many over the years who know Brian who seem like very decent people. I don't know how often he is "allowed" to see them but he does have some real genuine friends.

Actually, I have met David Leaf and found him to be a decent, sincere guy. I agree that he has championed Brian over the rest of the band and should not be viewed as an objective journalist, which is probably fine with him since his main gig these days is as a film producer. I like that he has called Brian out on occasion if he thinks Brian is giving a BS answer and, if he is acting as a co-manager of Brian's career, he has every right to complain about sub-par shows.

I'd be interested in what constitutes "a hard time." If he just said, "Brian, you were a little out of tune," then I don't think that's so bad. If he said, "You call that a show? What's the matter with you" and turned into Murry, then that's a different story. Based on what little I've seen, I can't see Brian being intimidated by David Leaf.

Is he really that restrained anymore? I mean, if he is I guess I can understand it-- Brian is still a drug addict at heart and always will be, I guess. But "allowed"-- doesn't he supposedly go out nearly every day on his own to the place where he eats breakfast? I don't think he has a chaperone 24/7.

The situation surrounding Brian is, and always has been, far more complex than any of us know.

According to a fan who claimed to have witnessed it, Leaf and Melinda were berating Brian in a very harsh manner over a bad show. While I will say openly that I wasn't there, in my judgment the fan was being honest with me. Leaf is no longer manager and I'm not sure he ever was. He told me he wasn't. I am sure Leaf has his good days but I can only report how he was to me or what others have told me. As far as Brian's freedom is concerned he like all stars is sheltered. Yet Brian seems to be sheltered to a level that is unhealthy. I can only go by what certain friends of his have told me about the limited access they have to him. I think you have to play ball with a lot of people to get close to him, and that is something he may not be remotely aware of. Is it as bad as the Landy days? I hope not, but he certainly doesn't have the kind of freedom he had in his twenties. Again I am not trying to be downbeat, but let's face facts about Brian not being in a normal situation. Perhaps he cannot be, I certainly have no background in how to take care of a 65 year old rock star. Still I have questions over how many choices he can make for himself.

Well said, Mike.