Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was the unsung hero of the band. In my eyes that is. He was not only a talented drummer but a genius of composing.
Dennis Wilson was just as complex a man, a musically gifted one and as charismatic as his brother Brian.
Even though today people view the Beach Boys as the god fathers of soft pop surfer hits, cars and girls, they have this other side that is often forgotten. They helped forge the aesthetic psychedelic lifestyle and elevated American visionary musician’s and their cause to main stream culture.
The only difference was that Dennis’s torch burned out long before it should have.
The tragedy of being musically brilliant is not only Brian’s to hold. Due to many factors, he was more then a little mis-understood in the eyes of people long ago. In today’s world, his identity as being a wild man and that he was at constant odds with it, would have been taken into account and we all would have given him more lateral leeway in regards to his actions off the musical stage.
Sadly after 15 years had pasted on their massive Good Vibrations success, he was NSF and more often then not homeless. After being put under arrest once, expelled from the band which he helped found many times, and was also not acknowledged for his brilliant work on all their hits, was sadly taken from us only a short 3 weeks after celebrating his 39th birthday.
Todays poperatzy would sure to of had a field day on this poor soul.
Do any of you have some great positive memories to add to the late great Dennis Wilson. Is there anything else that you would share to the future music aficionados to help celebrate the accomplishes of the under appreciated member of the Beach Boys? Please help untangle the truth and myth of this once great fellow lover of the art of music!
Keep on Jammin’ Dennis, we’re still listening for you
He did catch the ear of everyone from the Rolling Stones all throughout the years to U2, thank heavens someone was paying attention to one of the god fathers of rock guitar! 