Dennis Wilson documentary to premiere in UK on Feb. 26th.

[Nicko]

What period was he talking about? Mid-seventies? Early eighties?

I think Dennis was talking in the mid-70s if I remember correctly. So he was probably talking about Brian before the 'Brian's Back' campaign.

[c-man]

This was very well done.  Filmed beautifully...the part where Dennis talks about Brian's mental illness and says "I would go daily to  his house and beg what can I do to  help you?" was very touching.

What period was he talking about? Mid-seventies? Early eighties?

Not having see the docu yet, but based just on the quote above, I would say this is from an interview with Pete Fornatale on WNEW-FM, New York City, November 1976.  Dennis said something like, "Forget recording...it got to Brian's health", as well as the above quote.

[Mike's Beard]

After 5 days of my computer being knackered I can finally post my thoughts and feelings on this super documentary. FANTASTIC JOB TO ALL INVOLVED! Got to say it again TOP JOB! It made me miss a man I'd never met and whom died when I was still in nappies. It gave me the chance to put faces to names I'd read about for the past few years concerning the big man. (Jon Stebbins, you looked nothing like I imagined you would!). It made me wish that someone at the time would've grabbed Dennis and shook him and screamed "WAKE UP!" It made me want to put on POB for the 100th time. It gave me about a zillionth of the sense of redemption , gratification and pure joy his sons and friends must have felt to see both POB and Bambu get a decent release for the first time in 30 years. Would dearly love to see Carl get similar treatment in the future.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It made me wish that someone at the time would've grabbed Dennis and shook him and screamed "WAKE UP!"

All his friends & family did, repeatedly. Nothing worked. This is Dennis Wilson we're talking about, remember.

[grillo]

Really well done, guys. Can't wait for the DVD with all the expanded interviews (fingers crossed).
     I have a question about one of the photos shown twice early in the film; Denny is playing drums and looking at the camera but the guy playing bass, and the other guys around him, look like they're from the Hondells or some Gary Usher 'band'. Anyone?

[Carrie Marks]

Really well done, guys. Can't wait for the DVD with all the expanded interviews (fingers crossed).
     I have a question about one of the photos shown twice early in the film; Denny is playing drums and looking at the camera but the guy playing bass, and the other guys around him, look like they're from the Hondells or some Gary Usher 'band'. Anyone?

That is one of David's photos. The best he can remember, one of the other band's on the bill must've been down a drummer and Dennis filled in at the last minute...but he has no idea what band.

[TdHabib]

It made me wish that someone at the time would've grabbed Dennis and shook him and screamed "WAKE UP!"

All his friends & family did, repeatedly. Nothing worked. This is Dennis Wilson we're talking about, remember.

I've never heard this confirmed, but there was going to be a January 1984 intervention, right?

[Mike's Beard]

It made me wish that someone at the time would've grabbed Dennis and shook him and screamed "WAKE UP!"

All his friends & family did, repeatedly. Nothing worked. This is Dennis Wilson we're talking about, remember.

I've never heard this confirmed, but there was going to be a January 1984 intervention, right?

I've read somewhere or other that there were talks for Dennis to enter Landys 24 hour program as well in Jan '84.  Hmmmmmmnnn...  It would have been more like the 24 minute program because Dennis had NEVER obeyed orders from anyone ever. I think he would have had Landy and his surf nazies weeping in a corner in no time at all from sheer frustration!!!

[The Heartical Don]

It made me wish that someone at the time would've grabbed Dennis and shook him and screamed "WAKE UP!"

All his friends & family did, repeatedly. Nothing worked. This is Dennis Wilson we're talking about, remember.

It's hard to imagine Dennis as a perfectly sober, earnest man of age 42 or so. Let's face it: he was a multiple drug abuser, on a large scale for every type of habit. He must have lived in some sort of inner haze for most of his life; almost always guys like him get less and less out of the habits, but just can't kick them. Result: brief periods of euphoria (after just having scored and ingested), followed by long spells of depression and tiredness.

I recall a quote, somewhere, stating that Dennis was completely used up in his last year, not looking all to human anymore. I fear that detoxing wouldn't have been successful in his case; I'd guess that he simply lacked conviction, motivation to get all clean.

[Ed Roach]

Whew!  This is a lot to digest/comment on here.  I've been trying to grab time to respond to Andrew since yesterday:

It made me wish that someone at the time would've grabbed Dennis and shook him and screamed "WAKE UP!"

All his friends & family did, repeatedly. Nothing worked. This is Dennis Wilson we're talking about, remember.

For myself, I can't begin to tell you the number of times I either bitch-slapped him or cradled him while he sobbed, trying to convince him to snap out of it.  The pain, wherever it emanated from, just became too unbearable for him.

I've read somewhere or other that there were talks for Dennis to enter Landys 24 hour program as well in Jan '84.  Hmmmmmmnnn...  It would have been more like the 24 minute program because Dennis had NEVER obeyed orders from anyone ever. I think he would have had Landy and his surf nazies weeping in a corner in no time at all from sheer frustration!!!

Funny enough, (and we can't discuss Dennis without a certain amount of levity, can we?), this is almost exactly what his words were, regarding Landy getting involved with him!

It's hard to imagine Dennis as a perfectly sober, earnest man of age 42 or so. Let's face it: he was a multiple drug abuser, on a large scale for every type of habit. He must have lived in some sort of inner haze for most of his life; almost always guys like him get less and less out of the habits, but just can't kick them. Result: brief periods of euphoria (after just having scored and ingested), followed by long spells of depression and tiredness.

I recall a quote, somewhere, stating that Dennis was completely used up in his last year, not looking all to human anymore. I fear that detoxing wouldn't have been successful in his case; I'd guess that he simply lacked conviction, motivation to get all clean.

While I've lived these years felling the same way, (and he swore to me all that last year he'd never see 40), I then step back and look at Brian!  There were those that doubted Brian would even make it out of the 1960's, and look at him now!  Not to compare their individual problems, but it could have been conceivable...
And finally, yes, he was somewhat an empty vessel, especially right there near the end.  You might be recalling Barbara's quote from "Endless Harmony", one of the saddest and most profound statements about him.

[TdHabib]

Sorry Ed, but I didn't say anything you said I did: a quoting error.

[Ed Roach]

Sorry Ed, but I didn't say anything you said I did: a quoting error.

Jeez, you're right, and I apologize.  I was trying to get too fancy, or complicated or something, answering those things in one shot, and I obviously screwed up somehow.
That quote about Landy came from mike's beard; the one about not making it to 42 came from The Heartical Don.
You did, however, bring up the January '84 intervention.  This was something discussed by Tom Hullett with Carl, Jerry Schilling & Jim Guercio, I believe.

[kirt]

  First off ,GREAT documentary!  
From what I've read , it seems as if Dennis hit the ground running at full speed from birth. Had he never been famous ,I think the out come would have been the same, he would have self destructed at some point.   And the things he did, by any other person, would be unforgivable by most of us  (and yet we do for Dennis). I sure wouldn't want him dating my daughter...ha.   It's hard /impossible for people to help guys like Dennis. Only God knows what's going on in their heads and only he can help..  As a fan you don't have all the pieces. You get just get snippets of someones life. Family and friends get it the whole picture day by day.   You can tell it wasn't pretty, everyone interviewed had to hold back tears after 27 years.  
 

[grillo]

Really well done, guys. Can't wait for the DVD with all the expanded interviews (fingers crossed).
     I have a question about one of the photos shown twice early in the film; Denny is playing drums and looking at the camera but the guy playing bass, and the other guys around him, look like they're from the Hondells or some Gary Usher 'band'. Anyone?

That is one of David's photos. The best he can remember, one of the other band's on the bill must've been down a drummer and Dennis filled in at the last minute...but he has no idea what band.

Thanks Carrie. It's really great knowing you (and David) keep your eyes on this board and willingly help out us nerds. I really enjoyed David's guide through the early years of Dennis (and the BBs) life and hope to see more of him in the future. He seems like a pretty funny guy.

[Shady]

Sorry if this has been asked, but does anyone know when the next repeat is on, I gotta record it next time so I can watch it whenever I want.

[Jon Stebbins]

Sorry if this has been asked, but does anyone know when the next repeat is on, I gotta record it next time so I can watch it whenever I want.

I believe it will repeat on BBC4 this coming Saturday night.

[Mike's Beard]

Yes this Sat unless the Beeb has one of it's "in a change to the advertised program" moments! On that subject does anybody know why the Brian/Smile documentary that was initially due to follow was pulled?

[Shady]

Sorry if this has been asked, but does anyone know when the next repeat is on, I gotta record it next time so I can watch it whenever I want.

I believe it will repeat on BBC4 this coming Saturday night.

Awesome, don't mind it if I sky+ it 

[Sam_BFC]

Hope this isn't a real silly question:

What is the background music in the first 10 or so mins of the doc ? (excluding Surfin and Surfin Safari of course)

Cheers
Sam

PS Great doc watched it a second time this evening

[Jon Stebbins]

Hope this isn't a real silly question:

What is the background music in the first 10 or so mins of the doc ? (excluding Surfin and Surfin Safari of course)

Cheers
Sam

PS Great doc watched it a second time this evening

Well there's some of Be With Me(no vocals)...and there's two Link Wray songs, Rumble and Ace of Spades.

[Matt H]

Finally got to see this.  Unbelievable, it is great!  I hope I can buy it here in the states soon.

[punkinhead]

is it on any US channels? how'd you see it?

[TdHabib]

Oh sweet BBC, PLEASE let the US see this docu. Hell, I will PAY for it, just let it air in the US. Anywhere, anytime. I might even support putting it onto the Youtube. But PLEASE don't let the UK people be the only ones to see this.

Great review Dan!

You'll love it. Oddly, it being just an hour works in favor. There's no padding, no waffle.

By some miracle I just finished watchng this. Yeah, it's just as good as everyone has said. Just an additional note that it's easily the most emotional BB docu I've seen in some time. My god, the talent this man had and the charisma. I thank everyone involved for letting me get to know him a little better.

[rogerlancelot]

It made me laugh. It made me cry. That was wonderful! Thank you so much for all of you involved in this documentary. Dennis is one of my idols.

[tomstuart]

For those who haven't seen this great doc it's available (worldwide i think) to watch on BBC iplayer.

I thought it was a fantastic doc, very well balanced - he was painted as neither saint nor sinner; just as a very talented and kind, but damaged man.
I completely agreed with the comment made in the film re if Brian had done River Song everyone would've been screaming its praise. Very accurate indeed! It remains light years ahead of anything Brian (or any other member) was doing at the time - and that goes for everything on Love You.

The doc also reminded me of something that always bothers me - whenever Brian talks about SMiLE or Pet Sounds, he always says, the Beach Boys hated it, they didn't support me, they said it was too weird etc etc. He never ever bothers to mention that, in fact, both Carl and in particular Dennis were always supportive of everything he did during this period. There's mountains of evidence to support this, yet Brian never bothers to mention that his brothers did in fact support him - he just slings em in with the rest of the group. I'm sure it's not intentional - we all know Brian is a damn good guy - but it'd be nice if he'd not generalise so much, and in doing so sideline his brothers.
(I know, before anyone says it, that Brian's Brian, he doesn't know what he's saying half the time, and so on).