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God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth
Originally published in 1978 as The Beach Boys and the California Myth, this groundbreaking study was both the first full-length book on the band and the first to recognize Brian Wilson as one of the most significant and influential artists of the twentieth century. It takes an intimate look at Wilson's rollercoaster of a life and career, told through the eyes of those who were there, including Brian's mother, his best friends and many of his collaborators, such as Tony Asher and Van Dyke Parks - who worked with him on the legendary productions Pet Sounds and SMiLE.
Extensively updated to also cover the last four decades of Brian's career, this indispensable book features unique contributions by Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Barry Gibb, Jimmy Webb, and Melinda Wilson.
Extensively updated to also cover the last four decades of Brian's career, this indispensable book features unique contributions by Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Barry Gibb, Jimmy Webb, and Melinda Wilson.
469 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 17, 2022
Put on your thigh-high wading boots, you are going to need them as you go slish-sloshing through the syrupy-sweet thick squelchy saccharine prose of this hefty volume (sample chapter title : “Beautiful Dreams and Beautiful Dreamer”) to find anything resembling a book about Brian Wilson. I count myself a big Brian fan but by the end of this almost endless book I was begging for less love and more mercy. But David Leaf just doesn’t stop talking. For example there’s a 20 page chapter all about one of those insufferable rock star royalty shindigs called The All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson. Twenty pages on cringey showbiz fluff, who gives a rat’s ass about that. But when Brian rejoins the Beach Boys and creates a late almost-masterpiece for their 50th anniversary called That’s Why God Made the Radio, David Leaf is strangely silent. Perhaps he had nothing to do with it & so couldn’t bask in the reflected glory.
Because the problem with this deformed beast of a book is that young 25 year old David came to LA to write a fanboy book about his hero Brian and did so in 1978 (this is the first 268 pages of the present expanded edition, and this part is not too bad) and then, much to his perpetual joy, became an actual genuine friend of Brian, and showed up in many Brian-related projects from the 80s to the present day in one role or another. All objectivity was thrown out of the window.
David’s self-declared mission during his entire life has been to demonstrate the great genius of Brian Wilson and if possible to free Brian from the evil forces that held him back. These being the other Beach Boys at times, the men in suits, the friendly neighbourhood drug pushers and of course that capering devil Dr Eugene Landy.
David Leaf seems to think that he himself discovered that Brian was a genius and no one noticed before David jumped around yelling that Brian wrote & produced all the Beach Boys’ music. But everyone always knew this. We didn’t need David to tell us.
Brian is a tremendous character and psychologically a remarkable case – a very tall big man with (originally) a very high singing voice who always talks like a very scared child – in every interview he will tell you how something or other really scares him – and of course the source of this never-ending misery is very simple, it was his abusive father Murray. And then the abusive music industry. There’s no doubt his story is compelling, with its downward near-death spirals into obesity and drugs then the rescue performed by Landy and his cult-of-one 24-hour imprisonment, then the dramatic rescue from the rescuer (!) and then the wholly unexpected and delightful lifting up into the heavens like some great soaring bird when Brian completes Smile and starts touring and everything ends with cherubs and nightingales and flights of angels singing Don’t Worry Baby. I couldn’t be more pleased for big Brian. He’s 80 years old. Like Keith Richards he proves that the human body can put up with a lot. So David Leaf has a great subject. What this book needed was a non-starstruck editor.
So I can’t recommend this book. David Leaf writes great sleeve notes for all the Beach Boy brilliant reissues but the 2nd half of this huge book is just hagiography, with David proudly telling us on every other page how immensely proud he is to be Brian’s very bestest friend.
There are a handful of excellent comedy moments inamongst the fulsome praise, like when Brian visited the Vatican City in 2005 :
Finally the five of us were reunited and entered Capella Sistina together; Brian was moved in a way we hadn’t seen him before. Humbled, perhaps. Great art does that to great artists. But, as Ray remembers, “We didn’t stay long. Brian took it all in very quickly. Then it was time to eat.”
David Leaf seems to have several day jobs and currently is a professor at the UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. He says about his students :
My goal is for them to understand that they can achieve their dream, whatever it might be.
Just like David achieved his. :
No more on the outside looking in, here in 2022, I’m on the inside (p437)
Because the problem with this deformed beast of a book is that young 25 year old David came to LA to write a fanboy book about his hero Brian and did so in 1978 (this is the first 268 pages of the present expanded edition, and this part is not too bad) and then, much to his perpetual joy, became an actual genuine friend of Brian, and showed up in many Brian-related projects from the 80s to the present day in one role or another. All objectivity was thrown out of the window.
David’s self-declared mission during his entire life has been to demonstrate the great genius of Brian Wilson and if possible to free Brian from the evil forces that held him back. These being the other Beach Boys at times, the men in suits, the friendly neighbourhood drug pushers and of course that capering devil Dr Eugene Landy.
David Leaf seems to think that he himself discovered that Brian was a genius and no one noticed before David jumped around yelling that Brian wrote & produced all the Beach Boys’ music. But everyone always knew this. We didn’t need David to tell us.
Brian is a tremendous character and psychologically a remarkable case – a very tall big man with (originally) a very high singing voice who always talks like a very scared child – in every interview he will tell you how something or other really scares him – and of course the source of this never-ending misery is very simple, it was his abusive father Murray. And then the abusive music industry. There’s no doubt his story is compelling, with its downward near-death spirals into obesity and drugs then the rescue performed by Landy and his cult-of-one 24-hour imprisonment, then the dramatic rescue from the rescuer (!) and then the wholly unexpected and delightful lifting up into the heavens like some great soaring bird when Brian completes Smile and starts touring and everything ends with cherubs and nightingales and flights of angels singing Don’t Worry Baby. I couldn’t be more pleased for big Brian. He’s 80 years old. Like Keith Richards he proves that the human body can put up with a lot. So David Leaf has a great subject. What this book needed was a non-starstruck editor.
So I can’t recommend this book. David Leaf writes great sleeve notes for all the Beach Boy brilliant reissues but the 2nd half of this huge book is just hagiography, with David proudly telling us on every other page how immensely proud he is to be Brian’s very bestest friend.
There are a handful of excellent comedy moments inamongst the fulsome praise, like when Brian visited the Vatican City in 2005 :
Finally the five of us were reunited and entered Capella Sistina together; Brian was moved in a way we hadn’t seen him before. Humbled, perhaps. Great art does that to great artists. But, as Ray remembers, “We didn’t stay long. Brian took it all in very quickly. Then it was time to eat.”
David Leaf seems to have several day jobs and currently is a professor at the UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. He says about his students :
My goal is for them to understand that they can achieve their dream, whatever it might be.
Just like David achieved his. :
No more on the outside looking in, here in 2022, I’m on the inside (p437)
January 26, 2024
First part of the book wasn't too bad. Leaf could have talked more about the albums instead of what Brian Wilson's mental state he was in when the albums were being made.
For the update, I thought I was reading a book about David Leaf with a little Brian Wilson thrown in.
What really bothers me about the book is when he's tells you to google it. He mentions Mike Love's Hall Of Fame speech and he says google it. I'm reading a book, I don't want to google it. That shows laziness when he says google it.
Oh Yea, he mentions the albums a little in the updates.
For the update, I thought I was reading a book about David Leaf with a little Brian Wilson thrown in.
What really bothers me about the book is when he's tells you to google it. He mentions Mike Love's Hall Of Fame speech and he says google it. I'm reading a book, I don't want to google it. That shows laziness when he says google it.
Oh Yea, he mentions the albums a little in the updates.
August 28, 2023
3 stars for the original book, 1 star for the 2022 add on. David Leaf’s original book is certainly important in the canon of Beach Boys/Brian Wilson literature, being perhaps the first to introduce the ‘real’ Beach Boys and, in particular, the detail around the abandoned SMiLE. His youth at the time helps give the writing and his determination to give the ‘truth’ about Brian some fizz and readability. He relies heavily on quotes which is why perhaps you’re left feeling that there are a lot of words but not a huge amount of detail. The biggest takeaway for me is how Brian could have had a very different life had he gone solo much earlier, and with the more world-weary 1985 edition, Leaf makes a good case.
However this book falls off a cliff with the 2022 edition. Leaf seems to have developed a huge ego in the intervening years, and when he says on one of the endless ‘reflection’ chapters that it’s ‘mainly ‘The Book of David Leaf’’, it’s said without irony, and he couldn’t be more right. It’s really about Leaf’s career, with Brian as a significant character. Who cares?!?! Page after page on projects that he was involved in such as the all star tribute and the SMiLE concerts, and then everything else Brian did without him, barely mentioned. Maddeningly, he doesn’t mention AT ALL Brian’s 2012 reunion album with the Beach Boys, or the 2011 Smile Sessions release. In the context of some the central themes of the book, this is unforgivable. Leaf himself seems a nice enough individual, although somewhat unsettlingly he seems to become another one of the many individuals who have seemed to end up infantilising Brian. My advice is read the original Myth book for historical purposes, forget the rest of it, and instead seek out many of the better books on Brian and the Beach Boys out there.
However this book falls off a cliff with the 2022 edition. Leaf seems to have developed a huge ego in the intervening years, and when he says on one of the endless ‘reflection’ chapters that it’s ‘mainly ‘The Book of David Leaf’’, it’s said without irony, and he couldn’t be more right. It’s really about Leaf’s career, with Brian as a significant character. Who cares?!?! Page after page on projects that he was involved in such as the all star tribute and the SMiLE concerts, and then everything else Brian did without him, barely mentioned. Maddeningly, he doesn’t mention AT ALL Brian’s 2012 reunion album with the Beach Boys, or the 2011 Smile Sessions release. In the context of some the central themes of the book, this is unforgivable. Leaf himself seems a nice enough individual, although somewhat unsettlingly he seems to become another one of the many individuals who have seemed to end up infantilising Brian. My advice is read the original Myth book for historical purposes, forget the rest of it, and instead seek out many of the better books on Brian and the Beach Boys out there.
July 6, 2022
This 3rd update is a strange fish of a book. It starts out an idealistic tale, trying to discover and make known the lost genius of Brian Wilson, but by its final iteration some 50-odd years later it becomes a tale about the author and his role in the piece. This isn't to downplay his role in the life and career of Brian Wilson, but some editing (remove some of the name drops, and the "google it" pieces) would have made this more readable. More a bunt than a home run this one.
April 25, 2023
The story of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys is arguably one of the most important in America pop music history. Products of an abusive home life, the Wilson brothers (Brian, Dennis, and Carl) teamed up with their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine to form one of the most iconic bands in music history. The highs and lows of the group and of Brian's life have been well-documented throughout the years, sometimes respectfully and other times with salacious details. I went into this book unsure what to think about it, and dismayed by the negative reviews I'd seen on here after I'd already purchased the book. There's some validity to the criticisms, to be fair. But I have to say that, on the whole, this is a very good document of Brian Wilson's turbulent life and redemptive late-in-life second act.
"God Only Knows" is actually a reissue of David Leaf's original 1978 book on the group, "The Beach Boys and the California Myth," along with subsequent updates (the 2022 update takes up a good chunk of the book, and seems to be the most contentious for fellow reviewers who came before me). I have to admit that the early fulsome praise from celebs that Leaf has worked with made me suspicious about the merits of the original book. And for the most part, I found the 1978 book (included in the first 268 pages) to be a nice first draft of the band's history, but not an essential read if you've ever come across "The Nearest Faraway Place" (Timothy White's masterful mid-Nineties biography of the group, which I highly recommend). I stand by that assertion, but I get why it is so beloved by many of the people quoted in the latter half of the book (even if "praising the book of the author you're talking to, as it's being included in the update" does smack of something a little tacky at times).
What vaults this above the three-star rating I was leaning towards when I was knee-deep in the 1978 edition, however, is the addendum that covers the period following Dennis Wilson's death and focused on Brian's life after he got out from the clutches of Eugene Landy (the live-in "psychiatrist" who held Brian prisoner for almost a decade). *That* portion of the book was very moving, and while I get that the countless "Google it" or "look it up on YouTube" moments in the narrative might be off-putting for readers who want to read more about the moments (or strike them as signals of how hopelessly old Leaf is, unaware that most readers would likely know how to look up the moments he's describing), I honestly didn't find them as distracting as other reviewers did.
Is this a good Beach Boys book? Yes and no; it's very Brian-centric, as Leaf was very much in the "Brian Wilson Is a Genius" camp (and rightfully so). But is it a good Brian Wilson book? Absolutely. At some point, Leaf stopped being an impersonal biographer of Brian, and became a friend. So objectivity is right out the window, but I don't mind. As I've said, I've read other books about the group and about Brian in particular. What I appreciated were the insights on how "Smile" finally came together, after almost forty years on the shelf, and how Brian has found some measure of peace in the aftermath of his uncoupling from Landy. I suppose the 1978 book has some historical importance, but I wouldn't call it an essential read if you've read other books about the band (in some ways, it's nice to read something from when all three Wilson brothers were still alive, but since Dennis' passing in 1983, the group hasn't really been "The Beach Boys," and especially so after Carl's death in 1998). The selling point for this edition, to me, is the addendum from 2022. I think it's a fitting, if overlong, tribute to a musical genius and great friend to the author.
So I came into this with some hesitation, and ended up enjoying the part of the book that many reviewers seemed to hate. Go figure. Anyway, reading the book caused me to hear Beach Boys songs in my head as I read, which is never a bad thing.
"God Only Knows" is actually a reissue of David Leaf's original 1978 book on the group, "The Beach Boys and the California Myth," along with subsequent updates (the 2022 update takes up a good chunk of the book, and seems to be the most contentious for fellow reviewers who came before me). I have to admit that the early fulsome praise from celebs that Leaf has worked with made me suspicious about the merits of the original book. And for the most part, I found the 1978 book (included in the first 268 pages) to be a nice first draft of the band's history, but not an essential read if you've ever come across "The Nearest Faraway Place" (Timothy White's masterful mid-Nineties biography of the group, which I highly recommend). I stand by that assertion, but I get why it is so beloved by many of the people quoted in the latter half of the book (even if "praising the book of the author you're talking to, as it's being included in the update" does smack of something a little tacky at times).
What vaults this above the three-star rating I was leaning towards when I was knee-deep in the 1978 edition, however, is the addendum that covers the period following Dennis Wilson's death and focused on Brian's life after he got out from the clutches of Eugene Landy (the live-in "psychiatrist" who held Brian prisoner for almost a decade). *That* portion of the book was very moving, and while I get that the countless "Google it" or "look it up on YouTube" moments in the narrative might be off-putting for readers who want to read more about the moments (or strike them as signals of how hopelessly old Leaf is, unaware that most readers would likely know how to look up the moments he's describing), I honestly didn't find them as distracting as other reviewers did.
Is this a good Beach Boys book? Yes and no; it's very Brian-centric, as Leaf was very much in the "Brian Wilson Is a Genius" camp (and rightfully so). But is it a good Brian Wilson book? Absolutely. At some point, Leaf stopped being an impersonal biographer of Brian, and became a friend. So objectivity is right out the window, but I don't mind. As I've said, I've read other books about the group and about Brian in particular. What I appreciated were the insights on how "Smile" finally came together, after almost forty years on the shelf, and how Brian has found some measure of peace in the aftermath of his uncoupling from Landy. I suppose the 1978 book has some historical importance, but I wouldn't call it an essential read if you've read other books about the band (in some ways, it's nice to read something from when all three Wilson brothers were still alive, but since Dennis' passing in 1983, the group hasn't really been "The Beach Boys," and especially so after Carl's death in 1998). The selling point for this edition, to me, is the addendum from 2022. I think it's a fitting, if overlong, tribute to a musical genius and great friend to the author.
So I came into this with some hesitation, and ended up enjoying the part of the book that many reviewers seemed to hate. Go figure. Anyway, reading the book caused me to hear Beach Boys songs in my head as I read, which is never a bad thing.
December 21, 2024
David Leaf likes to be modest and say this isn’t the definitive word on Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys - but it is. Absolutely essential to anyone who is deeply in love with Brian.
August 11, 2022
At last… “the Myth” becomes a reality!
God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys, and the California Myth tells the story of Brian’s journey, from birth right up until today.
Brian Wilson believes that “music is the voice of God.” I do, too.
I became a fan of Brian Wilson just over three years ago, at the age of 26. It was an incredible experience to take a deep-dive into his life and music. I searched for every possible resource to learn about him. One of my favorites was the documentary Beautiful Dreamer, which was made by David Leaf. It was plain to see that he is a very talented storyteller! I kept coming across references to a book written by David about Brian as early as 1978. Try as I might, I could not find a copy anywhere, at least at an affordable price. It had been out of print too long. Imagine my excitement to hear that this edition was being released! Finally, I am able to own a copy of what has come to be considered the most authoritative book about someone I have come to consider one of the greatest artist/composers/arrangers/producers of all time, and certainly the greatest of our time!
This book is the complete 1978 edition, with the new chapters from the 1985 edition, plus a massive update that picks up the story and brings it up to the present. Because I regretted being born too late to be able to experience the music when it happened, I tried to read the 1978 and 1985 editions as if I were living in those times, suspending, for the course of the reading, my knowledge of anything that came after the edition I was currently reading. This was made remarkably easy by the author’s vivid writing style and keen analysis, enabling me to feel as though the events on the pages were unfolding right in front of me. And, because the original texts are allowed to stand, readers also get the sense of learning and growing in our understanding of Brian right alongside the author.
This is an essential piece for any fan of Brian Wilson. It is also, due to the unabridged nature of the earlier texts, an essential piece for understanding this very special aspect of music history as it developed! It isn’t often that one comes across a book that is relatively unaltered by hindsight, where the entire development of the story is documented in a way that feels so immediate to the reader. For new fans like myself, or for people who don’t know Brian’s story, this is one of the best resources out there for understanding him! It is also a compelling tale of beauty and artistry, redemption and hope, that anyone is sure to be able to appreciate!
I give this book my strongest recommendation. For anybody who cares about the Beach Boys, about Brian Wilson. About America. About music and harmony, love and family, an artistic journey with, thankfully, a much happier ending than the first two editions -- this book is for you.
I actually can’t believe this book exists, and that I can finally read it! I love it! I’ve already read it several times!
God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys, and the California Myth tells the story of Brian’s journey, from birth right up until today.
Brian Wilson believes that “music is the voice of God.” I do, too.
I became a fan of Brian Wilson just over three years ago, at the age of 26. It was an incredible experience to take a deep-dive into his life and music. I searched for every possible resource to learn about him. One of my favorites was the documentary Beautiful Dreamer, which was made by David Leaf. It was plain to see that he is a very talented storyteller! I kept coming across references to a book written by David about Brian as early as 1978. Try as I might, I could not find a copy anywhere, at least at an affordable price. It had been out of print too long. Imagine my excitement to hear that this edition was being released! Finally, I am able to own a copy of what has come to be considered the most authoritative book about someone I have come to consider one of the greatest artist/composers/arrangers/producers of all time, and certainly the greatest of our time!
This book is the complete 1978 edition, with the new chapters from the 1985 edition, plus a massive update that picks up the story and brings it up to the present. Because I regretted being born too late to be able to experience the music when it happened, I tried to read the 1978 and 1985 editions as if I were living in those times, suspending, for the course of the reading, my knowledge of anything that came after the edition I was currently reading. This was made remarkably easy by the author’s vivid writing style and keen analysis, enabling me to feel as though the events on the pages were unfolding right in front of me. And, because the original texts are allowed to stand, readers also get the sense of learning and growing in our understanding of Brian right alongside the author.
This is an essential piece for any fan of Brian Wilson. It is also, due to the unabridged nature of the earlier texts, an essential piece for understanding this very special aspect of music history as it developed! It isn’t often that one comes across a book that is relatively unaltered by hindsight, where the entire development of the story is documented in a way that feels so immediate to the reader. For new fans like myself, or for people who don’t know Brian’s story, this is one of the best resources out there for understanding him! It is also a compelling tale of beauty and artistry, redemption and hope, that anyone is sure to be able to appreciate!
I give this book my strongest recommendation. For anybody who cares about the Beach Boys, about Brian Wilson. About America. About music and harmony, love and family, an artistic journey with, thankfully, a much happier ending than the first two editions -- this book is for you.
I actually can’t believe this book exists, and that I can finally read it! I love it! I’ve already read it several times!
July 9, 2022
I first read this book in 1990, ordered it via fax… which dates it from Rockaway Records in LA.
I met David Leaf and at Stomp convention and he was kind enough to say I wasn’t old enough to have a copy.
I first developed my obsession with The Beach Boys in 1979, I was given a cassette of 20 Golden Greats for Christmas that year and played it CONSTANTLY asking my Grandpa Hartley what a Little Deuce Coupe was.. needless to say he had no idea…
I had a tiny picture of the beach boys the one with them standing round the surf board from 1961 and I used to look at the names in the cassette sleeve and wonder who was who.
These were pre internet days and the Beach Boys were not in vogue as much as they once were so information was few and far between, so getting my hands on David Leafs book was one of the first times I knew who the people were and the part they played. I devoured the book then as I have done all these years later, its such a well written book, and also the love written there on the pages is palpable. As most of us reading this will know, it is not the happiest of tales but thankfully the time that has ensued since I read it in 1990 and now, it does have a happier ending… I was lucky enough to be there on many of the occasions written in the final update, and also bore witness to the fear leaving Brian on the opening night of Smile, I remember saying it to Mike Grant, you could visibly see the confidence grow. Van Dyke Parks was a few rows in front of us and was in tears, it was one of the most amazing nights of my life and I was just a witness.. I can’t begin to imagine how it must have felt for all those involved.
The thing I take away from the book (s) is the fact that this was ‘willed’ into being, David Leaf said I am going to move to California and see if Brian can finish Smile and it may have taken a few years but by jove he did it! I posted this on Facebook and David was humble enough to say that was not his intention but it happened and lets face it without the love and support of people like David, Darian, Nick, Probyn et al, the believers this would never have happened.
If you love the Beach Boys or just Love music then do yourself a favour, get yourself a copy of this book, pop on the 1993 box set and immerse yourself in this wonderful world, I can assure you you won’t regret it!
I met David Leaf and at Stomp convention and he was kind enough to say I wasn’t old enough to have a copy.
I first developed my obsession with The Beach Boys in 1979, I was given a cassette of 20 Golden Greats for Christmas that year and played it CONSTANTLY asking my Grandpa Hartley what a Little Deuce Coupe was.. needless to say he had no idea…
I had a tiny picture of the beach boys the one with them standing round the surf board from 1961 and I used to look at the names in the cassette sleeve and wonder who was who.
These were pre internet days and the Beach Boys were not in vogue as much as they once were so information was few and far between, so getting my hands on David Leafs book was one of the first times I knew who the people were and the part they played. I devoured the book then as I have done all these years later, its such a well written book, and also the love written there on the pages is palpable. As most of us reading this will know, it is not the happiest of tales but thankfully the time that has ensued since I read it in 1990 and now, it does have a happier ending… I was lucky enough to be there on many of the occasions written in the final update, and also bore witness to the fear leaving Brian on the opening night of Smile, I remember saying it to Mike Grant, you could visibly see the confidence grow. Van Dyke Parks was a few rows in front of us and was in tears, it was one of the most amazing nights of my life and I was just a witness.. I can’t begin to imagine how it must have felt for all those involved.
The thing I take away from the book (s) is the fact that this was ‘willed’ into being, David Leaf said I am going to move to California and see if Brian can finish Smile and it may have taken a few years but by jove he did it! I posted this on Facebook and David was humble enough to say that was not his intention but it happened and lets face it without the love and support of people like David, Darian, Nick, Probyn et al, the believers this would never have happened.
If you love the Beach Boys or just Love music then do yourself a favour, get yourself a copy of this book, pop on the 1993 box set and immerse yourself in this wonderful world, I can assure you you won’t regret it!
October 11, 2023
Despite being “America’s Band” and featuring an iconic music library that will outlive all of us, The Beach Boys have a complicated history. As author David Leaf intimates here, how can one agree on anything regarding the group when the Boys can’t agree on anything themselves?! To accomplish such a task, Leaf looks at the band through a Brian Wilson-heavy lens, uncovering new truths and making keen observations from 45+ years chronicling them.
The biggest complaint about “California Myth” will surely be that it is too “pro Brian Wilson”. I can’t really argue with that statement but to say that Leaf is the first person to admit that is 100% correct. It was Brian’s melodies and harmonies that inspired him to come to CA to write the first (1978) edition of “Myth”, and that is simply the subject he stayed on the most. Of course, in one aspect it certainly means that this isn’t a comprehensive history of The Beach Boys.
However, focusing on Brian actually serves to reshape a lot of narratives surrounding such an enigmatic figure. Did Brian’s drug use burn him out—or did squabbles with the band and everyone wanting a piece of his greatness lead him to the drugs? Should he have fully embraced the surfin-music classics—or been allowed to make a solo record far earlier than a late-career comeback? Is the far-aware stare and lack of verbiage a result of chemical imbalance—or a self-aware, conflict-avoidance nature of a man still trying to escape the demons of an oppressive father and a business forcing “hits” when he wanted exploration? I was fascinated by all of this discussion from Leaf and feel as if I have an entirely new perspective on Brian’s life and career inside (and outside) The Beach Boys.
Like I said, I would never recommend this as the “final word” on The Beach Boys history/legacy. Leaf’s focus here is far too narrow for such a proclamation. But for what it is—an intensely personal portrait of Brian Wilson—I found it utterly fascinating and an extremely useful entry into The Beach Boys canon.
The biggest complaint about “California Myth” will surely be that it is too “pro Brian Wilson”. I can’t really argue with that statement but to say that Leaf is the first person to admit that is 100% correct. It was Brian’s melodies and harmonies that inspired him to come to CA to write the first (1978) edition of “Myth”, and that is simply the subject he stayed on the most. Of course, in one aspect it certainly means that this isn’t a comprehensive history of The Beach Boys.
However, focusing on Brian actually serves to reshape a lot of narratives surrounding such an enigmatic figure. Did Brian’s drug use burn him out—or did squabbles with the band and everyone wanting a piece of his greatness lead him to the drugs? Should he have fully embraced the surfin-music classics—or been allowed to make a solo record far earlier than a late-career comeback? Is the far-aware stare and lack of verbiage a result of chemical imbalance—or a self-aware, conflict-avoidance nature of a man still trying to escape the demons of an oppressive father and a business forcing “hits” when he wanted exploration? I was fascinated by all of this discussion from Leaf and feel as if I have an entirely new perspective on Brian’s life and career inside (and outside) The Beach Boys.
Like I said, I would never recommend this as the “final word” on The Beach Boys history/legacy. Leaf’s focus here is far too narrow for such a proclamation. But for what it is—an intensely personal portrait of Brian Wilson—I found it utterly fascinating and an extremely useful entry into The Beach Boys canon.
March 18, 2024
*3.5 stars
Original edition: It was just fine, I wouldn't call it an essential read for The Beach Boys fans, especially seeing as to how it focuses on Brian way more than on the rest of the Beach Boys and omits important details. I also felt like I didn't get to know the band and the indidivuals that much just through this book. That said, I didn't actively dislike it and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it.
2022 update: I enjoyed this section much more, even though I can understand why other people criticize it and dislike it. It's true that this section is MUCH more biased but I found myself enjoying it more because I could feel the love the author has for Brian and connect with the way he was talking about him. But it's true that the book suddenly focuses a lot on the author and the section feels more like a memoir/a book about Brian's impact on Leaf, rather than a Brian/Brian and The Beach Boys book, especially seeing as to how certain events related to him working with the Beach Boys are completely omitted, as reviewers have mentioned.
Original edition: It was just fine, I wouldn't call it an essential read for The Beach Boys fans, especially seeing as to how it focuses on Brian way more than on the rest of the Beach Boys and omits important details. I also felt like I didn't get to know the band and the indidivuals that much just through this book. That said, I didn't actively dislike it and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it.
2022 update: I enjoyed this section much more, even though I can understand why other people criticize it and dislike it. It's true that this section is MUCH more biased but I found myself enjoying it more because I could feel the love the author has for Brian and connect with the way he was talking about him. But it's true that the book suddenly focuses a lot on the author and the section feels more like a memoir/a book about Brian's impact on Leaf, rather than a Brian/Brian and The Beach Boys book, especially seeing as to how certain events related to him working with the Beach Boys are completely omitted, as reviewers have mentioned.
August 12, 2022
The original book, and the first half of this edition, written in the seventies and taking us up to 1978 was absolutely fantastic. Unmatched warts and all insight into Brian Wilson, his genius, the pressures on him, the lousy nature of the world of music, acquaintances and family members who used him, his mental illness and his music - oh his wonderful music!
The updated book, written in 2022 and covering the period between 1978 and the MUI album (eek!) and modern day, is much less successful, simply because the author doesn't seem to want to offend anyone - particularly the living Beach Boys, who he dedicates a long almost apology for the errors in the original book (legal arse covering maybe?), or Brian himself, who he openly admits is a close friend. There in lies one of the problems. The second half fails to be subjective, more a case for celebrating Brian's genius - which is lovely and certainly worthy, but fails to make for an insightful or compelling read, which book one definitely was.
Not only that, but huge parts of Brian's create output in the 2000s, both solo and with the living members of the Beach Boys go unmentioned, as if they never happened, such their huge 2012 album "God Made Radio (sic)" and his solo material.
Why is this? Did the author run out of time, pages or didn't wish to risk further antagonising the other Beach Boys members?
Also, what about his touring with Al Jardine with the Brian Wilson band? More questions than answers, and more disappointment than jubilation.
The updated book, written in 2022 and covering the period between 1978 and the MUI album (eek!) and modern day, is much less successful, simply because the author doesn't seem to want to offend anyone - particularly the living Beach Boys, who he dedicates a long almost apology for the errors in the original book (legal arse covering maybe?), or Brian himself, who he openly admits is a close friend. There in lies one of the problems. The second half fails to be subjective, more a case for celebrating Brian's genius - which is lovely and certainly worthy, but fails to make for an insightful or compelling read, which book one definitely was.
Not only that, but huge parts of Brian's create output in the 2000s, both solo and with the living members of the Beach Boys go unmentioned, as if they never happened, such their huge 2012 album "God Made Radio (sic)" and his solo material.
Why is this? Did the author run out of time, pages or didn't wish to risk further antagonising the other Beach Boys members?
Also, what about his touring with Al Jardine with the Brian Wilson band? More questions than answers, and more disappointment than jubilation.
August 10, 2022
This is the 2022 update of author David Leaf's massive examination of The Beach Boys Brian Wilson, the role his music has played in our world and its impact. In short, it's a love story - the author's love of Wilson and music. Having said that, he has plenty of company for there are a great many of us who love the music that Brian Wilson has blessed us with over the years from "Surfin'" in the early 1960's to "SMiLE" his finally completed masterpiece to Wilson's more recent solo career. Strangely, not mentioned, was Wilson's participation in the group's 50th anniversary celebration and tour, but there is so much more in here that not mentioning it is no big deal.
The original book was published in the 1970's, then updated in 1985, then updated again in 2021 to celebrate Wilson's 80th birthday (is Brian Wilson really 80???). (That is unbelievable!) It started out more as a fan writing about his favorite artist, to his becoming a close friend with Wilson and who could ask for more?
For those who wonder what makes - and made - Brian Wilson tick, you'll find the answer in this book which goes into more depth than perhaps any book about Wilson, his own autobiography included. For those who wonder who is Brian Wilson and what's all the fuss? Read the book!
We follow Brian from his days in founding The Beach Boys, through his breakdown, through the years he got back with the group after years of self-imposed isolation and finally - in the newest update - into his solo career. This is must reading for anyone interested in the music of the last 60 years, or who are curious as to who Brian Wilson is and why he's important.
Put quite simply, its the story of a musical genius and his struggles and triumphs. After reading this, you'll want to sit down and listen to endless hours of Brian's music, both with and without the Beach Boys, without a doubt, the most influential and greatest American rock band of all time.
We should all consider ourselves fortunate we have lived in the same time as Brian Wilson and have been blessed with the opportunity to enjoy some of the greatest music ever performed. His music will live forever and in years to come, those who study and analyze music will realize that Brian Wilson is a latter-day musical genius who should never be - and cannot be - ignored.
The original book was published in the 1970's, then updated in 1985, then updated again in 2021 to celebrate Wilson's 80th birthday (is Brian Wilson really 80???). (That is unbelievable!) It started out more as a fan writing about his favorite artist, to his becoming a close friend with Wilson and who could ask for more?
For those who wonder what makes - and made - Brian Wilson tick, you'll find the answer in this book which goes into more depth than perhaps any book about Wilson, his own autobiography included. For those who wonder who is Brian Wilson and what's all the fuss? Read the book!
We follow Brian from his days in founding The Beach Boys, through his breakdown, through the years he got back with the group after years of self-imposed isolation and finally - in the newest update - into his solo career. This is must reading for anyone interested in the music of the last 60 years, or who are curious as to who Brian Wilson is and why he's important.
Put quite simply, its the story of a musical genius and his struggles and triumphs. After reading this, you'll want to sit down and listen to endless hours of Brian's music, both with and without the Beach Boys, without a doubt, the most influential and greatest American rock band of all time.
We should all consider ourselves fortunate we have lived in the same time as Brian Wilson and have been blessed with the opportunity to enjoy some of the greatest music ever performed. His music will live forever and in years to come, those who study and analyze music will realize that Brian Wilson is a latter-day musical genius who should never be - and cannot be - ignored.
April 23, 2023
The Beach Boys and the California Myth was a seminal book in my Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fandom, and I read it relatively early in my development as a fan. Re-reading the material from that was interesting in a number of ways. First, how much I disagreed with Leaf on about the '70s albums, now that I'm more familiar with them. Second, how much I know about the story that I associated with that book that isn't there. I'm honestly not sure what all I read, definitely Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile!, for one...
Those things said, it's still a wonderful book that I was happy to finally re-read after so long.
The 2022 update is worth reading, but is, by its own design, more meandering. Because Leaf decided to focus the new material on his personal relationship with Brian, it does leave out chunks of Brian's life and career that fall outside that. This isn't a complaint. This approach makes a lot of sense, and he explains that he's doing that and gives his reasons, which I understand and appreciate. But it does leave some notable holes in the story, some of which I'd still like to see filled. Has anyone pursued writing anything of note about the Beach Boys 2012 reunion, for example?
Those things said, it's still a wonderful book that I was happy to finally re-read after so long.
The 2022 update is worth reading, but is, by its own design, more meandering. Because Leaf decided to focus the new material on his personal relationship with Brian, it does leave out chunks of Brian's life and career that fall outside that. This isn't a complaint. This approach makes a lot of sense, and he explains that he's doing that and gives his reasons, which I understand and appreciate. But it does leave some notable holes in the story, some of which I'd still like to see filled. Has anyone pursued writing anything of note about the Beach Boys 2012 reunion, for example?
January 25, 2026
3.5 stars overall, but 4 stars for the original 1975 book. The original 1975 book was certainly a fascinating read. I’ve seen a lot of complaints about the emphasis on Brian's mental state but I completely welcome it, I just wish there was as much energy put into delving into the other members psychology too. Unfortunately, throughout the book Leaf makes it clear that he is not really concerned with The Beach Boys and just Brian Wilson (And he even acknowledges this fact a little in the later updates in the book). I also find Leaf's lack of discussion on the band's music/albums to be sad because I believe a lot of interesting discussion could’ve been had pertaining to them. Overall, I'm not really the biggest fan of his writing style, it felt a bit juvenile , especially compared to other biographers like Peter Ames Carls, but the great interviews that are in here make up for it quite a bit.
I have a lot less grace for the 2022 section however, and It honestly brought down my total opinion of the book because of how much it felt like it dragged on despite not even being that long. It felt very…redundant. Like in the 1975 version, not much was said about Brian's music and sort of went in a bunch of directions that I honestly didn't really care for, especially with how much Leaf centered himself and his relationship to Brian. I was also extremely put off by the fact that a lot of the time Leaf just wouldn't bother to put things in his own words and would just refer the reader to look up certain topics on the internet. Using Carl’s words here, the book sort of ended on a bunt rather than a grand slam.
July 1, 2024
I really fascinating study, not only of its subject but of the author’s relationship to Brian Wilson. In its initial form, published in the late 1970s, Leaf’s book borders on fanboyish and maybe even irresponsible. After all, who was he to decide that Brian Wilson needed “saving?” In its new and expanded form, Leaf reflects back on his youthful passion and admits where he made mistakes, building on the original work to create something new, which details his own friendship with Brian as well as Brian’s ups and downs all the way up to 2021. As the author admits, this is a book about Brian, with The Beach Boys themselves playing (relatively) minor roles outside of their relationship to the subject, but Leaf writes about the many people who came and went from Brian’s life in great detail, and gives an incredible, insightful portrait of Brian’s personality changes over the decades. A must-read for fans of Brian and the Beach Bums, rock historians, and people interested in biography as a literary genre.
December 29, 2025
Paul me dijo: «Pet Sounds me dejó boquiabierto [...]. Me encanta ese disco. Hace nada le compré una copia a cada uno de mis hijos como parte de su educación vital; creo que nadie acaba de educarse musicalmente hasta que ha escuchado ese álbum. Yo lo escucho a menudo y siempre se me saltan las lágrimas», confesó. En cuanto a su influencia en The Beatles, explicó: «Se lo puse tantas veces a John que es imposible que no tuviera ninguna influencia en él». Paul lo describía como «un álbum clásico que es insuperable en muchos aspectos». A modo de conclusión, dijo: «Sigo siendo un gran admirador de Brian. Me imagino que, con lo que escribirás de esta entrevista, él lo sabrá. Dile que lo aprecio mucho y que sé que en el futuro va a hacer grandes cosas. Deséale buena suerte y pídele que se cuide y que piense en positivo». Fue una emocionante conversación de media hora que se incluyó casi en su totalidad en el cuadernillo del CD de Pet Sounds de 1990 y en el del cofre ahora descatalogado The Pet Sounds Sessions.
September 29, 2024
As a younger man, I had a copy of Endless Summer and played it quite a bit. I was a fan. Fast forward to college and I buy another Beach Boys compilation, Made in the USA, to hear “God Only Knows” because Paul McCartney had said it was his favorite song or some such. Thus began a distinct appreciation of Brian Wilson the musician and composer and human being.
This book was hard to find in its original form. I found a copy but it was in bad shape. Then the news that it was being updated and released anew. I waited and snapped it up. It was not a disappointment in its original form. It is the later additions that get me. The author is to be lauded for sure for all he did and has done and is doing for Brian Wilson. The new parts of the book just seemed to be a bit too much about the author and the constant reiterating that they were friends grew tiresome.
My two cents. Your mileage may vary. You can’t be a fan and not read this book.
This book was hard to find in its original form. I found a copy but it was in bad shape. Then the news that it was being updated and released anew. I waited and snapped it up. It was not a disappointment in its original form. It is the later additions that get me. The author is to be lauded for sure for all he did and has done and is doing for Brian Wilson. The new parts of the book just seemed to be a bit too much about the author and the constant reiterating that they were friends grew tiresome.
My two cents. Your mileage may vary. You can’t be a fan and not read this book.
August 7, 2025
So the first two-thirds of this book is a fairly fawning but solid biography of Brian Wilson. The Beach Boys are in the title, but David Leaf clearly isn’t interested in telling the band’s story — and that’s fine. I came here more for the Brian Wilson angle anyway.
But then… the updates. My god. Leaf becomes possibly the most egotistical biographer I’ve ever read. He spends hundreds of pages listing his own accomplishments, telling us how vital he was to Brian’s life, and praising his own brilliant work. To be fair, he did become close with Brian and clearly had a real impact. But still — have some modesty, man.
Honestly, I almost recommend the book just so you can experience the sheer audacity of it. My jaw dropped. And I have no doubt that Leaf will eventually read this review. He definitely Googles himself — which, by the way, he tells the reader to do constantly instead of just explaining things himself.
So David, if you’re reading this: please, shut the f*ck up.
But then… the updates. My god. Leaf becomes possibly the most egotistical biographer I’ve ever read. He spends hundreds of pages listing his own accomplishments, telling us how vital he was to Brian’s life, and praising his own brilliant work. To be fair, he did become close with Brian and clearly had a real impact. But still — have some modesty, man.
Honestly, I almost recommend the book just so you can experience the sheer audacity of it. My jaw dropped. And I have no doubt that Leaf will eventually read this review. He definitely Googles himself — which, by the way, he tells the reader to do constantly instead of just explaining things himself.
So David, if you’re reading this: please, shut the f*ck up.
December 17, 2023
Not without personal and historical insight, but the 1978 section is often outdated and poorly written, and the 2022 update is filled with baffling choices by David Leaf. Leaf, a close friend of Brian who has experienced first-hand some the of the biggest events of his life and career, refers the reader to Brian's Wikipedia more than once instead of divulging anything of value. Leaf spends more time describing how much he means to Brian and his work writing on Leave to Beaver than detailing anything about the trial of Dr. Landy. There's also several passages of Leaf describing his heroes validating his work and congratulating how much he has contributed to Brian's image. Good for you, dude! Glad to see Brian is still surrounded by egomaniacs after all these years. The passages on the other Beach Boys are far less of a slog.
August 3, 2023
I've been involved in music for a long time, still practicing my slide playing with the hope of becoming one tenth as good as Ry Cooder, fat chance.
I've read a lot of music bio's. A lot are pretty disappointing, this is no exception. I know Brian Wilson is the main man, but more about the other guys would have been interesting to know. I have not read the updated version, so perhaps that does give more details in that respect.
Maybe I'm being over critical because i've never been a massive fan of the band. There's some great stuff, but there's a lot of awfully cheesey stuff too. I still think Pet Sounds is vastly overrated.
There used to be a joke amongst local musicians in my home town. What is the most pretentious album title of all time?.......
Best of the Beach Boys.
I've read a lot of music bio's. A lot are pretty disappointing, this is no exception. I know Brian Wilson is the main man, but more about the other guys would have been interesting to know. I have not read the updated version, so perhaps that does give more details in that respect.
Maybe I'm being over critical because i've never been a massive fan of the band. There's some great stuff, but there's a lot of awfully cheesey stuff too. I still think Pet Sounds is vastly overrated.
There used to be a joke amongst local musicians in my home town. What is the most pretentious album title of all time?.......
Best of the Beach Boys.
August 14, 2024
Written by one who identifies himself as the “Beach Boys exorcist,” David Leaf’s goal with this book was to rummage through the skeletons in the closet of “America’s Band,” The Beach Boys. He specifically focuses on the co-founder Brian Wilson, exploring the ups and downs of his tumultuous career in the music business. The music produced by this one-of-a-kind innovator served as a "portable California to the world." Wilson believes that making music is “the highest thing one can do.” This imaginative process “takes away fear and adds strength.” Some might like your songs while others may not, but it’s you that has to “face the music.”
July 11, 2022
Long out of print, this book was the biggest absence from my collection of Brian Wilson/Beach Boys literature.
It more than lives up to it's considerable reputation.
Since the publication of the book, the author's relationship with Brian Wilson has developed from being an outsider to being very much an insider.
The 1985 and 2022 updates reflect the change in that relationship, whilst Leaf has resisted any attempts to rewrite the existing texts to reflect wider knowledge and/or hindsight.
Too "pro-Brian"? Damn right. 😎
It more than lives up to it's considerable reputation.
Since the publication of the book, the author's relationship with Brian Wilson has developed from being an outsider to being very much an insider.
The 1985 and 2022 updates reflect the change in that relationship, whilst Leaf has resisted any attempts to rewrite the existing texts to reflect wider knowledge and/or hindsight.
Too "pro-Brian"? Damn right. 😎
January 14, 2025
Good book. As a big fan of the beach boys and Brian Wilson living in the 21st century, I feel as though most of the facts, pieces of information, quotes, etc. have been well circulated through the internet.
I’m guilty of eating up most of the Brian Wilson video essays and documentaries I’ve been able to find, which left me feeling unsurprised during certain sections of this work.
When you consider this book set the mark for Brian lore long before internet media made it so accessible, it make’s it all the more impressive.
I’m guilty of eating up most of the Brian Wilson video essays and documentaries I’ve been able to find, which left me feeling unsurprised during certain sections of this work.
When you consider this book set the mark for Brian lore long before internet media made it so accessible, it make’s it all the more impressive.
November 9, 2023
Great interviews, so – so analysis
Way too much David leaf in the book overall and way way way too much David leaf in the updated edition. The subject of Brian Wilson and his music is so fascinating and unique that the book is a great read. Competently written with a lot of terrific interviews that Leaf accumulated in his younger years.it’s probably the best book one can get if you’re chasing a biography of Brian Wilson. But don’t expect a lot on the other beach boys.
Way too much David leaf in the book overall and way way way too much David leaf in the updated edition. The subject of Brian Wilson and his music is so fascinating and unique that the book is a great read. Competently written with a lot of terrific interviews that Leaf accumulated in his younger years.it’s probably the best book one can get if you’re chasing a biography of Brian Wilson. But don’t expect a lot on the other beach boys.
Read
December 17, 2023also read for my thesis and was Also Fine. the original book was really engaging but it takes kind of a bizarre turn with the 2022 update, why am I suddenly reading a book about david leaf??? you're writing a book about the guys who wrote pet sounds and you wanna talk about yourself instead????? be fr
May 19, 2024
Interesting stories and lore about Brian Wilson, but I really didn’t care about the author’s place in Brian Wilson’s life. Was hoping there’d be some comprehensive stuff about the other Beach Boys too but most of the time in this long, self indulgent book felt like the author was just spending time patting himself on the back which I found to be really off putting.
July 23, 2024
The original 1978 published part pf the book is excellent. Really insightful and engaging. IMHO it is a case of diminishing returns for the updates to it that follow. I felt that there was a lot of explaining done to put things in the '78 part into context and amend because of new information and the benefit of hindsight. Definitely a good book to read if you are a Beach Boys fan.
October 20, 2024
As a longtime Beach Boys fan, this felt like it would be good reading. To be fair, there were several insights about the group that I wasn't previously aware of. I also agree that it provides some very credible insight into Brian Wilson's character, as well as his personal demons.
I found it interesting that the book actually encompasses the author's perspective at two different points in time. In the earlier narrative, he's clearly mindful of the threat of libel litigation from Eugene Landy's legal team, and more openly critical of Landy in the second part of the book when the Stasi wasn't a factor. I do get it, but this underlined to me the fact that he wasn't entirely open in the first place, and that cast a shadow over his credibility as a reporter overall. You can argue with me, but that's what I got from the book.
Also, Brian Wilson is a gifted musician and songwriter, but he isn't guided by the hand of God (my words) as far as I know. As is often done with famous creative types, they're painted as being demi-gods when in reality they simply have some good talent, and a tremendous capacity for hard work. It felt that Leaf laid it on a bit thick about Brian's brilliance. No offence, Mr. Leaf, but it felt like you were kissing Brian's ass. I get that you're his friend, but come on. Again, if you've got rebuttals, bring 'em.
On the more positive side, I didn't truly understand how much the California brand that we know today, came about as a result of the Beach Boys. Yes, there were other factors, but the imagery around cars, surfing and bikinis didn't just invent itself. If Leaf's narrative on this is accurate, those things didn't hold the same emotional charge pre-Beach Boys.
Having said all that, I really felt that the book could have been half as along and it would have been great. Lots of narrative that really didn't introduce new ideas, but either hammered away at points already made, or was otherwise superfluous.
I found it interesting that the book actually encompasses the author's perspective at two different points in time. In the earlier narrative, he's clearly mindful of the threat of libel litigation from Eugene Landy's legal team, and more openly critical of Landy in the second part of the book when the Stasi wasn't a factor. I do get it, but this underlined to me the fact that he wasn't entirely open in the first place, and that cast a shadow over his credibility as a reporter overall. You can argue with me, but that's what I got from the book.
Also, Brian Wilson is a gifted musician and songwriter, but he isn't guided by the hand of God (my words) as far as I know. As is often done with famous creative types, they're painted as being demi-gods when in reality they simply have some good talent, and a tremendous capacity for hard work. It felt that Leaf laid it on a bit thick about Brian's brilliance. No offence, Mr. Leaf, but it felt like you were kissing Brian's ass. I get that you're his friend, but come on. Again, if you've got rebuttals, bring 'em.
On the more positive side, I didn't truly understand how much the California brand that we know today, came about as a result of the Beach Boys. Yes, there were other factors, but the imagery around cars, surfing and bikinis didn't just invent itself. If Leaf's narrative on this is accurate, those things didn't hold the same emotional charge pre-Beach Boys.
Having said all that, I really felt that the book could have been half as along and it would have been great. Lots of narrative that really didn't introduce new ideas, but either hammered away at points already made, or was otherwise superfluous.
February 9, 2025
The first half was published in 1978, and is the essential work of an avid fanboy. The second half covers updates through 1985 and 2002, and is the occasionally rambling fawning of an insider writing in the first person. While his thesis isn't always airtight, being so formed by unabashed, acknowledged opinion, it does have something of a happy ending, which wasn't guaranteed in 1978 or 1985.
June 27, 2025
I enjoyed the first section of this book a great deal, but found the 2022 addendum was tedious. By this time, the author had become friends with the subject and the section reads like a series of blog posts. Still a great insider at one of America’s greatest band, particularly during one of their most frustrating and fascinating eras, the 1970s.
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