Brian to 'write' autobiography

[AndrewHickey]

From Brian's site

Beach Boys, to Write Long-Awaited Autobiography Da Capo Press to Publish in Fall 2015
April 14, 2013

BOSTON, MA (April 15, 2013) - Da Capo Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group, announced today that it has acquired US rights to publish the autobiography of music legend Brian Wilson. Da Capo Executive Editor Ben Schafer made the acquisition from Marc Gerald, Head of the US Literary Division of the Agency Group.

“I’ve been working harder in the last ten years than I ever did in my whole career,” Brian Wilson says. “And I love it! I love working. I started the Beach Boys when I was still in high school, and I guess I’ve never spent too much time thinking about all the things we went through—all the good times and bad times. I don’t like to dwell on the bad times, it makes me sad in my heart. But I feel a little stronger now. And I’m feeling a little bit like maybe now is a good time to look back.”

As the chief songwriter and producer of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson has been making music for over fifty years—and during that time has recorded some of the most iconic songs in American rock. Pet Sounds, Wilson’s masterwork from 1966, was named the #2 best album in rock history by Rolling Stone. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2007, Wilson most recently recorded the critically acclaimed That’s Why God Made the Radio with the Beach Boys and joined the group for their worldwide 50th anniversary tour in 2012. In February of this year he received a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for The SMiLE Sessions.

For his memoir Wilson will be working with Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal editor Jason Fine. Wilson will describe, for the first time, the epic highs and lows of his life—from his tumultuous relationship with his father, the loss of his mother and brothers, his fears about live performance, and the struggles he faced to lead the Beach Boys away from surf music into experimental terrain to his remarkable personal and professional comeback from drug addiction and mental illness with the support of his second wife, Melinda. He will share a new level of emotional honesty never before expressed in earlier books about him.

John Radziewicz, Publisher of Da Capo Press, says: “On every level—musical, personal, cultural—this is a story that begs to be told. ‘Icon’ and ‘legend’ are frequently overused words, but they apply perfectly here. We’re thrilled to have Brian Wilson on the Da Capo list.”

[Wirestone]

Fine wrote the really excellent BB reunion piece that was in RS over the summer ...

If the BW book is anything near that level of quality or insight, we could have something pretty special.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-beach-boys-last-wave-20120621

[Lowbacca]

I'm cautiously optimistic. Hope it's not redundant next to this one:

[Wirestone]

As long as there are lots of scenes like this, I'll be happy. (This guy gets Brian.)

"Those are nice pants," says Brian Wilson to a woman sitting next to him on the flight from Tampa to New York. "Are they cotton or something?"

"Cotton blend, I think," the woman responds, hesitantly.

"What are you drinking?"

"Bloody Mary."

"Vodka? Is it good?"

"A little strong."

Wilson laughs, a little too loudly. "That's good," he says. "Those are really nice pants."

Then he closes his eyes and munches some nuts. After a while, he tries to pick up the conversation.

"You keep stirring it!"

"It's too strong if I don't."

"How you feeling? A little woozy?"

"It takes more than one. Do you drink?"

"Not really. Do you feel relaxed?"

"Yes. You?"

"Very."

Then, after another long pause, Wilson says, "What day is it?"

"Sunday. [Laughs] Have you been flying a lot?"

"Yeah, we're in a band. We're called the Beach Boys."

[Emdeeh]

Finally, we'll get to read Brian's real autobiography?

[hypehat]

Sweet

[SMiLE Brian]

Looking forward to it!

[Mikie]

People who remember the last "autobigraphy" written by Landy and Gold around 1990 will ask themselves, "What will be in this book that wasn't in the last one?" Well, obviously the last 13 years of his life will be written about, but it will be very interesting to see what more 'revelations' will come out in the new one covering the years of his childhood years up to 1990 that wasn't included in the last "Brian Wilson" autobiography.

And there are other people who will ask themselves (and others), "Why do we need another Brian Wilson autobiography"? And the hardcore fans in the know will answer, "Because it wasn't done right the first time!".

[hypehat]

It might actually be readable, for one thing! WIBN is one of the worst books I've ever read. If it weren't for the fact that I love me some B-Pain, I'd have thrown it out. I still might.

[Awesoman]

Here's hopin' that BW writes the whole thing himself.  Book would be about ten pages held together by one staple, and over half of it discusses the film Norbit.  

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

[G.C]

Great news!

[Shady]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

Was just about to say that.

I guess this means the biopic is seriously getting made this time.

[Rob Dean]

From Brian's site

Beach Boys, to Write Long-Awaited Autobiography Da Capo Press to Publish in Fall 2015
April 14, 2013

BOSTON, MA (April 15, 2013) - Da Capo Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group, announced today that it has acquired US rights to publish the autobiography of music legend Brian Wilson. Da Capo Executive Editor Ben Schafer made the acquisition from Marc Gerald, Head of the US Literary Division of the Agency Group.

“I’ve been working harder in the last ten years than I ever did in my whole career,” Brian Wilson says. “And I love it! I love working. I started the Beach Boys when I was still in high school, and I guess I’ve never spent too much time thinking about all the things we went through—all the good times and bad times. I don’t like to dwell on the bad times, it makes me sad in my heart. But I feel a little stronger now. And I’m feeling a little bit like maybe now is a good time to look back.”

As the chief songwriter and producer of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson has been making music for over fifty years—and during that time has recorded some of the most iconic songs in American rock. Pet Sounds, Wilson’s masterwork from 1966, was named the #2 best album in rock history by Rolling Stone. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2007, Wilson most recently recorded the critically acclaimed That’s Why God Made the Radio with the Beach Boys and joined the group for their worldwide 50th anniversary tour in 2012. In February of this year he received a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for The SMiLE Sessions.

For his memoir Wilson will be working with Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal editor Jason Fine. Wilson will describe, for the first time, the epic highs and lows of his life—from his tumultuous relationship with his father, the loss of his mother and brothers, his fears about live performance, and the struggles he faced to lead the Beach Boys away from surf music into experimental terrain to his remarkable personal and professional comeback from drug addiction and mental illness with the support of his second wife, Melinda. He will share a new level of emotional honesty never before expressed in earlier books about him.

John Radziewicz, Publisher of Da Capo Press, says: “On every level—musical, personal, cultural—this is a story that begs to be told. ‘Icon’ and ‘legend’ are frequently overused words, but they apply perfectly here. We’re thrilled to have Brian Wilson on the Da Capo list.”

Fall of 2015 Blimey this will be out before the MIC Box Set  ( says Phil C ) 

[lostbeachboy]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

Better late then never about the great marketing... 

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

Better late then never about the great marketing... 

The C50 was a textbook example of great marketing until the Mike fires Brian debacle.

[bgas]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

Better late then never about the great marketing... 

The C50 was a textbook example of great marketing until the Mike fires Brian debacle.

The new autobio will include what Melinda told Brian to think about that

[Sheriff John Stone]

Melinda is determined. I wish Brian wasn't doing this.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Melinda is determined. I wish Brian wasn't doing this.

Well, having a Rolling Stone writer involved is a hell of a lot better than  Landy. I will buy this book.

And just think about all the Smiley Smile threads it will bring forth. 

[SMiLE-addict]

Is it too early to put in a pre-order at amazon.com?

[lostbeachboy]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

Better late then never about the great marketing... 

The C50 was a textbook example of great marketing until the Mike fires Brian debacle.

Just outta curiosity what was great marketing about the reunion?

[Bicyclerider]

While it sounds intriguing, I see nothing good coming out of this.  His previous writings have been less than illuminating - 2fer booklet notes? And interviewers rarely get more than one sentence responses from Brian.  I suspect the cowriter/ collaborator will have to rely on other sources for stories and then get Brian's "take" on the story.  Brian's been asked about every aspect of the BB's story and his personal history over the years, what new does he really have to add?

[Shady]

Just take Brian out for dinner, order him a hot sizzling steak and sit a cute blond beside him and he'll talk for hours.

Best biography ever.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Natural tie-in to the new Brian biopic.  Brian really has a great marketing team going these days!

Better late then never about the great marketing... 

The C50 was a textbook example of great marketing until the Mike fires Brian debacle.

Just outta curiosity what was great marketing about the reunion?

Holy crap, were you living in a cave?

Starting with the Grammy Awards "Do It Again", new top 10 album and single,  huge tour sellouts, fedtivals, Live at Rolling Stone,  C50 logo, videos, the Walmart sampler, QVC appearsnce,.... lots more and I wasn't even paying that  close attention.

[Mr. Cohen]

The beginning of Brian's biography, as relayed to me:

Hi, my name is Brian Wilson. I am taller than my two brothers, Carl and Dennis, and older, too. Yet I'm still kicking. I once wrote a song for Carl, "God Only Knows". He sang like an angel, just beautiful. Dennis was always a troublemaker. He f***ed my wife once.  My mom convinced me to have him in our group, the Beach Boys. I originally only wanted Carl in the group.

My cousin Mike Love, I remember, always had a very distinctive voice. He was a great bass vocalist and stood out in the mix. He was perfect for the Beach Boys. That's why I used him right away for "409" and "Surfin' Safari". I knew people would flip for his voice, and they did.

The last member of the group, besides myself, was Al Jardine. We both played football for Hawthorne High. I ran the wrong play at quarterback and got our halfback, Al, creamed. I think he broke his leg. Or was it his elbow? At any rate, he was a bit sore with me after but later agreed to form the group with me when we were at El Camino college.