Does the book ever come across as somewhat melodramatic? Of course! How could it not be considering the turbulent and downright chaotic history of the band and its main protagonist? There was an abundance of drama back in the 60s and 70s – the crushing weight and burden of the Wilson brothers’ relationship with their father and one-time manager Murry being but one example. Leaf is fairly balanced with respect to the seemingly endless feud between Brian and the other members of the group, and if the text occasionally feels slightly one-sided, it is because Wilson is the focal point of the chronicle. Is it a survivor’s tale? Well, it is about greatness and tragedy, deep-seated pain and profound love, trauma and redemption, family ties and fragile friendships, and perhaps more than anything else, it is about unwavering hope.
Then again, Brian and the Beach Boys are inextricably linked in so many ways, so the original title is still an apt one from my perspective.Įloquently written, well-structured, and told with warmth and affection for the subject matter, God Only Knows is as memorable as it is inspired. I am of course referring to the inimitable Brian Wilson, and as the author states in the chapters that were composed in 2022, a more appropriate title of the book would have been Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys as the narrative very much revolves around this brilliant composer. What we have here is not only a groundbreaking and thorough discussion of arguably the most important US band of all time but also an enthralling and borderline poetic story of a musical genius whose journey in life simply defies belief.
This legendary and outright essential book on Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, which originally saw the light of day back in 1978, was extensively updated by author David Leaf quite recently and then published by the ever-reliable purveyors of quality literature, namely Omnibus Press.
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