REVIEW: The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys

‘I think it’s the heart that you put into what you’re doing that’s important. Each member of the Beach Boys puts their whole heart and soul’ Dennis Wilson, ‘We were really an accident, but a good accident.’ Al Jardine, ‘There’s love in the music and people can relate to the love, regardless of whether you’re 2 years old or 92 years old.’ Brian Wilson

A tomb of great significance has been unearthed after years of visionary inspiration, tales of high jinks and music of the highest order. The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys is a first of its kind to feature all the band members together telling their lore of innocently starting the band up in Hawthorne CA in the 50’s, to writing what some might say is the greatest album of all time, hidden demons whilst worldwide success was afoot plus tales of debauchery and aloofness.

The beginning of the 15 chapter book has a newly scribed introductory abode from Brian Wilson who reminisces fondly about starting the band up with cousin Mike Love and how they used to make each other laugh in hysterics around the motels and beaches they lived around in CA in the 1950’s plus their love of all things sport related was the thing to be seen as good at the time, Wilson being sought after for his natural athletic build.

There are some genuinely lovely child and high school photos of all the band in the first pages of the book of all the band, the aforementioned Brian, plus his brothers the mischievous Dennis who was more interested in causing trouble in and around school plus a enjoying new craze of surf boarding rather than learning to play the drums, Carl was the opposite and firmly focused on music and doing well at school, Al Jardine was a familiar face around the band and was infact the one who encouraged the band to record what they were playing, final piece of the jigsaw Bruce Johnston was there from the get go and drafted into the main focus of the band when Brian was faltering under extreme mental pressures. These introductory pages glean genuinely heart stopping affectionate recollections of all the band.

When Brian turned his hand to music his incredible voice was the point of bullying from school members because ‘he sounded like a girl’, however Brian would obviously have the last laugh with a memorable quote form the book being ‘Brian Wilsons grasp on popular music is iron clad and total’, this perfectly sums up the genius of the man, nothing but perfection would do for his creations, and his devotion to perfection might have been the cause for taking a step back from the limelight whilst his devotion was clear, with many anecdotes mentioned here of not only Brians contributions but the band as a collective.

There are tales a plenty of from all of the band members, including the sadly departed Dennis and Carl, retelling tales of creative juices flowing both on stage and in the studio with a breathtaking set of mind-boggling images from throughout their career. With any band from the 60’s who went into success in the 70’s and beyond, it’s interesting to note the widening of the trouser leg, but the band had true style all over this period. Maybe unlike other books released by the band there is genuine affection shown from all members towards each other, including rating solo projects, this vastly informative often poignant catalogue of woven words is probably the last word on a band that means so much to so many. Its satisfying the bands as much if not more the each of the members of the band as they recall their history in such vivid words and photos. A true treasure Blackbeard would have been proud to own.

The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys can be orders via the following link