From the Tiger Beat Archives, April 1967
IT’S HAPPENING IN HOLLYWOOD by Groovy Duke Lewis *
This is the story of a young genius, a giant among pop musicians, who cracked up under pressure of loyalty to his group and their fans. He continued writing their songs, producing their records, steering their business affairs and traveling on one night tours long after physical, mental and emotional strain had drained his last ounce of strength. He kept doing it because he hated to let his people down. And it almost killed him.
It’s the story of Brian Wilson, leader laddie of the Beach Boys, told in his own words when we showed him a stack of mail from girls protesting his absence from the concerts. Brian speaking:
“I was run down mentally and emotionally trying to be everything to everybody, writing, arranging, producing, planning, teaching and traveling until I had no peace of mind, no chance to sit down and rest or think.
“Two days before Christmas, we started on a two week tour. I said goodbye to Marilyn at the airport but it was strained because we weren’t getting along too well then.
“After about five minutes in the air I felt myself going to pieces and I turned to Al Jardine in the next seat to me and I said I was cracking up. He told me to cool it. I couldn’t. I put a pillow over my face and began screaming that I wouldn’t get off the plane when we arrived in Houston, Texas. The boys were scared. They could see I was breaking up but they were as understanding as they could be. But I was help. The rubber band had stretched as far as it would go.
“That night I felt a little better and played the show although I have no memory of it. Next morning I awoke with a terrible knot in my stomach. I felt I was going out of my mind. I must’ve cried about 15 times that day. Though I fought for control I’d start crying every half hour. When Carl came to my hotel room I slammed the door in his face. I didn’t want to see him or anyone. The truth is I was flipping out fast.
“The road manager took me back to Los Angeles that night but the other boys had to finish the tour. I wouldn’t talk to him or anyone except my mother, Audrey. She was at the airport to meet me. As soon as I saw her I began crying again. I needed to hear her gentle voice. It’s a real security to be able to talk to your mother as I can talk to her.
“She drove me to the house and we talked half the night. I told her things I’d never told anyone in my life. Generally I dumped all my lifelong hangups and she helped straighten me out as she always does.
“When the other Beach Boys returned from the tour they had to know what was happening yet they didn’t press because they didn’t want to bug me. I wasn’t ready to express myself and needed more time to evaluate what I am, what I’m doing and what I should be doing. I was also under pressure from my old man who said I’d be a traitor if I didn’t travel one nighters with the other guys. Everyone outside the group was giving me a lot of static, too. I guess my subconscious defense was to break down as I did.
“At a recording session one night I laid it on the line to the boys. I told him I wasn’t going to ever travel or perform on the stage again. I said the Beach Boys could have a beautiful future if they did their job and I did mine. There would have to be a replacement for me on the road.
“Man, they all broke down. I’d already gone through my breakdown, now it was their turn. They couldn’t accept the reality of their big brother never appearing on the stage with them again. It was a terrible blow to their security. They felt like it was no use going on as a group.
“Mike had tears in his eyes. Dennis lost his cool, picked up an ashtray and told the people to get out of the control room or he’d hit them. Al Jardine broke out in tears and had a seizure of stomach cramps. My mother, who was there, had to take care of them.
“Good old Carl was the only one who didn’t get uptight. He’s the group’s greatest stabilizing influence. Without him we probably have split up long ago. Carl has mastered his emotions. He calmed Dennis, Mike and Al.
“Now the guys realized they had to learn to adjust to the new scene. Our first replacement, Glen Campbell, had his own career and he wasn’t really a Beach Boy type. When he got sick and couldn’t tour with the boys, they were really in trouble as it was too late to cancel the tour. At the last minute Mike phoned Bruce Johnston who happened to be free and was happy to go with the guys. Carl taught Bruce enough songs in one day to perform with the group the following night. Bruce, now a Beach Boy regular, is happy with us and we with him.
“Well, that’s the story. I always knew what I should do but I had difficulty communicating it to the people. The Beach Boys are improving all the time and I’m completely dedicated to them.
“No, I’m no genius. I’m just a hard-working guy who loves the whole great big wonderful bag were in.” Perhaps Brian’s frank and honest confession of a never before told story may help BB lovers to understand his reasons for cutting out on the concert tours.
*Editor’s note: Groovy Duke Lewis was the Tiger Beat pen name for Earl Leaf. Earl was a well-known Hollywood writer/photographer in the 50s and 60s. In the early years of the Beach Boys, he was their group photographer and went on many tours around the world with them.
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