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Music Books [Issue
#22]
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Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson By
Dean Truitt
Like so many great
artists throughout history, The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson has endured inconceivable
bouts of depression, chemical addiction, fear, crippling self-doubt, and a myriad
of other obstacles.
Perhaps the greatest
tragedy is that the man who virtually rewrote the Great American Songbook in the
latter half of the 20th century endured emotional and physical abuse at the hands
of his controlling, maniacal father well into his adulthood. Whether causing his
son’s deafness in one ear, physically beating him, emotionally abusing him, or
selling off his multimillion-dollar publishing catalog, Murry Wilson spent his
life destroying Brian’s yet forcefully driving him to become the brilliant artist
the world would ultimately adore. Author Peter Ames Carlin collected hours of
material, interviews, and unreleased recordings to passionately but fairly tells
the genius’ tragic, yet miraculous life that he is finally coming to terms with
well after turning 60. Upon the 2004 release of Smile!, the onerous project that
nearly pushed Wilson beyond the point of regaining his sanity for decades, Ames
paints an inspirational portrait of a man who has gradually learned how to rise
above his troubled past.
Rodale
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