Kowalski was on the Europe 12/ 68 tour as a percussionist...Dennis did nearly all of the drumming on that tour...and its definitely Dennis playing the drums on "Live in London".

Hey Donald - Audree was definitely the boogie-woogie teacher in that house from what I hear.. Dennis has said that in past interviews, Carl too...Dave Marks as well. Murry spent most of his time on the Hammond. And you're right, Brian will say anything at any moment...sometimes it cuts right to the truth...sometimes it short circuits the truth. Don't know why he does that...but the DW/POB reference in the "Brian as a fan" thread is a perfect example. Or, perhaps Murry taught it to Brian and Audree taught it to the rest of the guys...seems unlikely though. Glad you still find the book useful...though it badly needs an update.

I, too, seem to remember hearing that Brian was a Four Freshmen fan... but what about the Hi-Lo's? Up here, on a TV station with the most uncool monicker of 'Cool TV', is shown a program from the 50's called 'The Rosemary Clooney Show'. I didn't know that Brian is a Rosemary Clooney fan (she was great); featured on this show was The Hi-Lo's, a jazz quartet of male singers with some hair-raising high harmonies. The bandleader on this show was Nelson Riddle, at his 1956 arranging peak.  Seems that the Hi-Lo's were recording artists in their own right, as well as doing jingles and commercials. Does anyone remember Brian mentioning these guys, or any other 50's vocal groups besides the FF, as influences?

I have an interview with Dennis from 1977 in which he mentions the Hi Lo's as being a big influence on the BB's vocal sound(after he'd first mentioned the Four Freshman). The dee jay seems stunned...saying he hadn't heard the name Hi Lo's in so many years. I thought it was really cool that Dennis pulled that one out. Not the kind of name-check you usually heard on rock radio in 1977.

more surprising still was his claim in dublin never to have heard pacific ocean blue. I thought for a moment david leaf was gonna say "cmon brian you've heard that" but he stayed quiet

brian's definitely heard POB and in fact has said he loved it in more than one interview. I'm wondering how that question was put to him? If someone said POB or Pacific ocean Blue it might not have jogged his memory, as opposed to someone saying Dennis' solo LP. I have an interview Brian gave to an east coast radio DJ just a few months ago... and in it he says he liked Dennis solo record, but that he DID NOT  like Carl's two.

There were two parents involved and we hear/speculate alot about one but not so much the other;  I'm thinking the influence of the other is largely unexplored territory.

Well here's some 20/20 hindsight through rose colored glasses...
Actually Audree's influence was prevelant and noted while researching the Dave Marks book. It seems all of the kids and parents in the neighborhood loved Audree, and many felt sorry for her. She seems to have genuinely been a loving and consistent parent. She's the one who taught the kids how to play the piano, and how to get a rock and roll or boogie woogie groove on it. She really nurtured their musical growth and didn't "push" them. She was always very forgiving of their folbles according to many sources.

Jo Ann Marks, who is in her late seventies now... told me the difference between Audree and Murry was like night and day...one, Audree being one of the kindest people she's ever known, while the other, Murry, was probably among the worst human beings she's ever known. I've heard others describe the couple in nearly the same terms. It's hard to find a bad word about Audree from anyone who knew her...with Murry it's not so hard. Perhaps the one thing people point to as a fault of Audree's is that she was so passive when it came to Murry's behavior. And if he was abusive, her tendency to be passive towards that would certainly be a contributing factor in the abuse. I have heard she drank, but have never heard that her consumption was anything out of the ordinary for a 50's/60's housewife, especially one with a husband like Murry. So the bottom line, Audree was a positive influence, a nurturing influence, a significant musical influence, a good and consistent friend to those outside the Wilson family. However, she seems to have let Murry have his way, and set the agenda.

These are all good insights...C-Man, Mark, Cam...I'd say Murry was a huge factor in why the Wilson boys were/are so emotionally raw...or vulnerable. Who knows what his parenting techniques were at the most crucial stage...age two to four. So much of one's ability to process the world is set at that point. I imagine he did the best he could. Murry was full of heart, and it shows in all the boys...but he was extremely controlling, he could be cruel, and then overly apologetic...he spoiled them in many ways. The Dave Marks book deals with the subject of Murry quite a bit...from the late '50's until the mid '60's. I feel I got a clearer picture of Murry , both good ands bad, from talking to people who really knew him like David, Jo Ann Marks, Dave's cousin Toni, Fred Vail, Eddy Medora and others. One thing is for sure...Murry left a lasting impression on all of them. The descriptions run from "horrible" to "brilliant". But in Dave's story you get a clear sense of both the power and weaknesses of Murry Wilson.

Karen Lamm once told me that Dennis' biggest problem was the fact he never felt "accepted" by Murry. I think Brian is still seeking Murry's approval on some level too.

One quick question; is any there any mention in the DM book about his contact with Brian during the Landy years? I know absolutely nothing about it, besides seeing a picture of them together in ghost-written "autobiography".

Yes...that event is recounted in great detail. And I think it's one of the funniest parts of the book.

I used to cringe at the thought of the BB's doing anything without Carl and Dennis...I still do in a way. But...there is still a good possibility this reunion thing will happen. If it does...there are five of the guys who played and sang on most of the signature BB's hits...that's a pretty good number. Any legitimate reunion would have to include...
The front line...
Brian...keyboards, vocals
Mike...vocals
Alan...guitar, vocals
David...guitar, vocals
Bruce...keyboard, vocals

Guests for period appropriate material...
Blondie...guitar, vocals
Ricky...drums, vocals

Backing musicians and vocalists...
Darian Sahanaja
Jeff Foskett
Probyn Gregory
Billy Hinsche
Ed Carter
Mike Meros
Kowalski or Figueroa
Matt Jardine
Carnie Wilson
Wendy Wilson
Justyn Wilson
Carl B. Wilson

With all of this talent, there's still less than 20 people. The BB's had more guys than that on stage in 1973. So I don't think it's out of hand. Do six shows. Two in L.A., Two in N.Y. and two in the UK. Film it, edit the best bits into one concert length feature film. Let Alan Boyd direct it, with interviews and appropriate filler material including plenty of props to Carl and Dennis. Call it "The Last Wave"...as a kind of nod to the Last Waltz. And most importantly...I get to choose the set list. 

[Dennis Wilson: The Real Beach Boy]

Jon, does the book address any possibility of David working with the Beach Boys again?

Well, in a way it does. It explains that Dave has the unique ability to remain connected in a friendly way to all the living BB's. He sat in with Mike and Bruce a couple of times this past December. He's also played some recent gigs with Al...one this past weekend in Alaska...and more later this year. He's also very friendly with Brian. I don't think any of the others, well maybe Bruce, have the bridges intact...but Dave does. It would not surprise me if Dave ended up working with any and all combinations of BB's.

And is there any possibility of Dennis Wilson: The Real Beach Boy being in print again?

There's a great possibility of that happening. I own all the rights to the book, print rights, ancillary rights...everything is 100% mine. This gives me the ability to revise, expand and re-publish the book on my own terms. I have a partner who I'm in the process of working towards this goal with. If everything falls into place...you might see a 350 page version of "The Real Beach Boy" with lots of new material. Nothing is solid yet...but if it does solidify I'll make an announcement here.

And i'm wondering all that, plus this: How's the Chez Jay book coming?

Hey Susan,
The Chez Jay's book has been on and off so many times...it's kind of like my Smile...I hope it ends as nicely. The short answer is... that project needs to be fully backed before I can spend more time and effort to complete it. Much of it is done...but it needs more support to reach a published state. We've been through three agents, two publishers who backed out, another publisher who sat on it for 10 months and backed out, and several proposals, and re-writes. At times I'm really postive about it, and at times I just want to bury it forever. Sometimes adversity can lead to great things...I know the book will be great when it finally surfaces...but who knows when that will be? Not me. When things like the Dennis book, and Dave's book go so smoothly, and are supported so well, it makes something like the Chez Jay's book all the more frustrating.   

Hi Jon, Jason Penick here.  I met you at the Dennis Wilson bash at Chez Jay.  I was wondering what the status was regarding a remixed re-issue of Pacific Ocean Blue, and if a Dennis Wilson box set has been proposed or is in the works.  Everybody really wants to hear "Wouldn't It Be Nice/ To Live Again". 

Hey Jason,
I wish I had an answer for this one. I'm completely out of that loop, if there is such a loop. It seems like even the guys who are in the loop, are wondering the same thing. You might direct this one to the Alan Boyd thread...he's put some effort into making things happen in the past. I just don't know what to say...WIBNTLA is a great, great song...I think we'll see it on something someday. Sheesh...that's pretty vague eh? Maybe this year we'll get some real asnwers on these things...I hope.

SO - just to get everyone up to speed here...

What's this new book I hear you're working on, and when is it coming out??

AB

Hi Alan,
As you know I've spent the last year and a half writing something called "The Lost Beach Boy"...an authorized biography on the life of David Marks. The book is a VERY candid look at the journey Dave has taken through life. I would think any Beach Boy fan will enjoy the inside perspective one gets as eight-year old David moves in across the street from the Wilsons in 1956 and becomes their daily companion for most of the next decade. One gets a great sense of the Wilsons in the pre-BB's years through David's recollections. Brian was his hero, who taught him how to throw a football, Carl was his pal who discovered the guitar and rock and roll with him, and Dennis was the "Indian guide" who gave David an unending string of unforgettable experiences and taught Dave about life...for better or worse. This all happens before the word "Surfin'" is ever uttered.

And then there's the BB's years... the early sessions, the early hits, the first tours. The book gives a very detailed look at what went on inside the band in 1962 and 1963. We had access to Elmer Marks journals as Beach Boys tour manager, Jo Ann Marks records of gigs, locations dates, even attendance records and payment records for many gigs. We have some pretty amazing photos ad memorabilia of the Beach Boys during this period...the book should have over 100 photos, and in general will be very entertaining in a visual way. One thing that becomes obvious while looking through these old concert photos is that Dave sang a lot, and Al played bass a lot...two things we rarely hear about. There are plenty of revelations and new perspectives for BB's fans to argue about for years to come. And once Dave and Murry begin butting heads, and Dave's early tenure with the boys plays out...the story actually gets better. The years 1964 - 1973 are the book's most interesting in my opinion...that's when Dave's roller coaster ride really hits speed. And I'll warn anyone who "just wants the innocence"...don't read this book.

The years from the mid seventies to today are mostly a tale of addiction, recovery, survival, and re-connection. The various Beach Boys show up regularly throughout the story...and a new perspective is given on the '97 - '99 period as well. All in all, I'm very proud of it, and I think it will entertain anyone who reads it...unless Murry gets a copy...he might not like it so much.

The book is currently being edited, we're still a few weeks away from a "final" edit. Luckily, my editor, Emma McKay of Mudscout media is someone who was also involved in the production of my Dennis Wilson book, and our collaboration on the new one is a comfortable situation. The actual launch date has not been set, although I'd estimate we'll see the book's release around June of this year. Anyone can reserve a copy by emailing their contact info to... CSMproductions@aol.com