Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys: The fateful day America's greatest musician was told to hit the road
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA: On November 5, 1982, The Beach Boys ousted Brian Wilson, one of the founding members of the rock band.
Brian Wilson, along with his brothers Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine formed a music group called The Pendletones which was soon renamed as The Beach Boys by Candix Records after their song 'Surfin' became a hit in Los Angeles.
The band soared high on success between 1962–1966, shaping the American rock music. What goes up eventually has to come down, and this was the case for The Beach Boys, who experienced a prolonged period of decline.
Disney+'s upcoming documentary 'The Beach Boys' explores the band's origins, rise to fame, and their influence on pop music. Ahead of its release, discover how the band had a fallout with Brian's dismissal.
Substance abuse cost Brian Wilson his position in The Beach Boys
As Wilson gained recognition as a successful, influential, and sought-after young musicians in Los Angeles, nervous breakdowns and consumption of drugs socially distanced him from the rest of the band members.
The 70s marked the decline of both Brian Wilson and his band. While The Beach Boys failed to churn hit music consecutively and their popularity began to sank, Wilson had his own battles to fight.
His mental condition worsened with his erratic behaviour causing troubles. The overconsumption of drugs and alcohol marked his fateful decline.
'Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson', by Peter Ames Carlin, narrates the musician's journey in depth, revealing how he ended up in psychiatric hospital in mid-1968 and even expressed suicidal thoughts.
It was in the early 80s, when the time came to record 1980's 'Keepin' the Summer Alive', the CBS executives demanded Brian Wilson to be an active part of the process.
Far Out Magazine quoted Carl Wilson from his 1980 interview where he talked about the band's decline. He said, "The last two years have been the most important and difficult time of our career. We were at the ultimate crossroads.”
The Beach Boys parted ways with Brian Wilson in 1982
In 1982, when Brian Wilson yet overdosed on a combination of alcohol, cocaine, and other psychoactive drugs, the band, struggling to stay afloat, showed him the door.
As his mental and physical condition continued to deteriorate, a meeting at the band's lawyer's office was organised where Wilson was handed a letter stating his dismissal from the band.
A part of the letter, as quoted by Far Out Magazine, read, "This is to advise you that your services as an employee of Brother Records Inc. and otherwise are hereby terminated, effective immediately. ... This action is taken in your best interest, and is not reversible. We wish you the best of health."
The heavy substance abuse over the years took a toll on Brian Wilson's physical and mental well-being, making him incapable of being the highly creative man he once was!
Brian Wilson's recovery and comeback
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Following his overdose episode in 1982, his family and management convinced him to join the program of a physiologist called Eugene Landy.
Carlin, in his book, told that Landy controlled every movement of Brian, put him on a rigorous diet and retaught him basic etiquettes.
As he finally recovered by 1985, he actively participated in the recording of the album 'The Beach Boys'. This marked Brian's much-awaited comeback. Later, he stopped working with his band members and focused on his solo music career.
Brian shared an on-and-off relationship with The Beach Boys since then.
What did Mike Love say about "firing" Brian Wilson?
In 2012, Brian's cousin, Mike Love, who has been a part of the band since its inception clarified his stance on Brian's dismissal.
In his column for Los Angeles Times, Love denied the reports of firing Wilson. He wrote, “Let me get right to it: I did not fire Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys,” Love writes. “I cannot fire Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. I am not his employer. I do not have such authority. And even if I did, I would never fire Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys. I love Brian Wilson. We are partners. He’s my cousin by birth and my brother in music.”
When will 'The Beach Boys' release?
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'The Beach Boys' is an upcoming documentary in music genre with a run time of 1 hour 53 minutes. Directed by Frank Marshall, Thom Zimny, the film narrates the journey of the band since its inception in 1961.
It is set to release on May 24, 2024, exclusively on Disney+.
'The Beach Boys' trailer