Brian Wilson (4)
In the early 1980s Brian was in such a poor state of health that he was actually 'sacked' from the group. They insisted he either clean himself up and stop (effectively) killing himself or he would have no part to play in any BB projects. So, Brian was 'hooked up' again with the mysterious Dr Landy. This time, it worked. Brian shed an enormous amount of weight and was well on the way to recovery by the time Carl rejoined the group and they released another 'comeback' album in 1985.
In a move which may have had good commercial motives but led to a 'mixed' album at best, the group asked Steve Levine (the producer behind early 80s chart-toppers Culture Club) to produce the new, eponymous album. It is another fans either like or dislike, mainly due to the now 'out-of-fashion' instrumentation which, to some ears, make it sound dated. It also featured songs written by 'popular' artists like Stevie Wonder and Boy George which just don't seem to fit right on a Beach Boys album. For the single 'Getcha Back', a 'formula' Beach Boys song was released - with a pop video to match and chart success followed. However, the obvious follow-up single 'California Calling' (even MORE formula AND with Ringo Starr on drums!) did not happen and it was to be another 7 years before the next full BB album was released.
In 1988 a very slim, almost unrecognisable Brian Wilson appeared in public to promote his first solo album, 'Brian Wilson'. Alongside a beaming Eugene Landy and with assistance from friend and producer Andy Paley, Brian had produced an album which made a massive critical success. Voted 'Album of the Year' by several prominent publications it seemed that, this time, Brian really WAS back!
Featuring lovely ballads like 'Love and Mercy' (Brian's theme-song right to the present) and 'Melt Away' it had something for Pet Sounds fans, 'One For the Boys' was a 1988 'Our Prayer', and there was even a SMiLE like mini-epic in 'Rio Grande' to boot!
But there was something very sinister developing with Landy. The good Dr's name appeared very prominently on the album, Brian could not appear in public, seemingly, without him...now, a doctor might want to keep an eye on his patient but, surely, this was going too far?Landy physically prevented Brian participating in the recording of 'Kokomo', a one-off Beach Boys song recorded for the Tom Cruise movie 'Cocktail' - and which soared - completely unexpectedly - to the top of the charts! But Landy's hold could only get worse! Over the next few years Landy dominated Brian's life so thoroughly that it took litigation to ultimately remove him! Only then could Brian TRULY complete his recovery. In the meantime, the Beach Boys released their only COMPLETELY Brian-less album 'Summer in Paradise'
Brian met Melinda Ledbetter and started once again to start thinking about
forming a family unit. family had always been important to Brian, even
though he had become estranged from his parents, estranged from Marilyn and
very, very distant from daughters Carnie and Wendy (2/3 of the group
Wilson/Phillips). He tried very hard to re-establish contact with all of
these and results can
clearly
be seen in the lovely 1985 Don Was produced film documentary 'I Just Wasn't Made
For These Times' in which all appear. So nice, in retrospect, to see Brian
and Carl as friends again, bearing in mind that Carl was diagnosed with cancer
shortly afterwards and died in 1998.
At the same time Brian was trying to produce a new solo album. The follow-up to his first solo effort was rejected twice by the label, although the Landy-led 'Sweet Insanity' is one of my favourite all-time albums! Brian recorded for some time with Andy Paley producing about two dozen songs (some with all the Beach Boys!) but none of these were released. Brian did record and release an album of songs by old friend Van Dyke Parks called 'Orange Crate Art' - all part of the healing process...moving on and away from the demons of the past. Thinks had to be looking up for Brian!
Brian and Melinda married in February 1995 and they have adopted 3 lovely children, daughters Daria and Delaney and son Dylan. Family life seems to suit the new Brian as he dotes on his children. In his own words, he works when he has to! he recorded and released a new solo album in1998 called 'Imagination' (featuring a truly gorgeous tribute to his late brother Carl - 'Lay Down Burden') and Brian even began touring shortly afterwards. Yet Brian could never have envisaged the effects that decision would have on his life...