David Leaf

Author & Filmmaker David Leaf on Writing the Book on Brian Wilson

David, congratulations on the publication of your new book. Since 1978, it’s become the holy grail for books about Brian and The Beach Boys, and now we have a new edition that brings us up to date for Brian’s 80th year. This is a massive update – what made you decide to take this project on?

Actually, Michael I had wanted to reissue the original book with an anthology of all of my writing about Brian and the Beach Boys since the 1985 edition, almost all of which is also out of print or very hard to find.  It would include my college newspaper reviews of the group’s albums to the articles in Pet Sounds magazine that preceded the book to the gigantic 1988 press kit for Brian’s first album and the liner notes for the 1990 “Two-fers.” I would add the books for 1993’s Good Vibrations box set and 1997’s The Pet Sounds Sessions and the essays I’d written for tour programs, liner notes for the re-issue of Brian’s first album, the full text of the interviews I did with him for Beautiful Dreamer…and more.

That project was just a vague dream, in the back of my mind. Last Fall, when I spoke to David Barraclough, the Editor-in-Chief at Omnibus Press, he said they weren’t interested in that, but they would love to publish the book with an extensive update.  So while I hadn’t really intended on updating the book, I agreed.

What I find really interesting is that in your original 1978 book, you wrote about Brian from the perspective of a fan. Since that time, you’ve become a close friend and part of the inner circle and so now you’re bringing the reader into Brian’s life – it’s almost like having a backstage pass for the reader. Can you explain the difference in your writing the update?

I think the primary difference is that I am telling a story that I experienced.  In the 1978 book, I was a journalist with a passion, an obsession. I was a crusader, telling Brian’s story so that the whole world would think, “Oh my goodness, Brian Wilson is really important.”  It’s hard to believe or understand that back then, he wasn’t automatically regarded as a genius. In the 1985 update, I was writing both as a journalist and a new friend.  In this book, I’m writing as an old friend, telling stories about what I experienced with him in the past four decades.  As one friend of mine said, it was like reading my diary.

When we talk, it’s very easy to go down a rabbit hole and start talking about Brian, which can go on forever. What is it about Brian that we fans find so endlessly fascinating? And why do you think that new generations of musicians feel the same way about Brian’s music?

I think we fans find Brian endlessly fascinating because, in the end, he’s is essentially unknowable.  That’s one reason I decided to rename the book God Only Knows.  I’ve probably written more words about Brian than anybody else, so what I can provide in this book, in my documentaries, etc is a glimpse inside.  But the truth is behind his eyes.  I think the Don Was film, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, does a great job of getting inside. I wish it was longer. Brian revealed himself in my doc, Beautiful Dreamer. And I think 2016’s autobiography, I Am Brian Wilson, is terrific.

I’ve spent a lot of time with Brian, but even more time thinking about Brian, talking about Brian, listening to his music.  And I think the ultimate conclusion I’ve come to is that the music…the feeling in the music…tells us the story of his life. 

Which is why I think generation after generation, musicians feel that way about him and his music---it’s so filled with very deep feeling.  Joy and heartbreak. The entire kaleidoscope of emotions.  And musicians marvel and wonder, “How did he do that?”  The answer again, God Only Knows.

As for me, as a fan, it’s always been pretty straightforward. The melodies and the harmonies are so strong, so profound, so powerful, so brilliantly recorded that we can listen endlessly and get endless pleasure from them.  And sometimes, the lyrics blow me away too, especially when they’re so personal like “’Til I Die.”  Perhaps most of all, there’s something in his voice…that falsetto wail…that cuts deep.  But beyond that, I believe the depth of feeling in the music is so strong that you can be six or seventy-six and it will bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, joy to your heart.  All while singing along to these timeless tunes.  Brian’s recent At My Piano album is a good example of what I mean.  He’s playing so many of his most beloved compositions very gently, and it bowls me over.

For those who know Brian, he is so funny and I’m not sure sometimes whether it’s intentional or not. It seems like everyone has a “Brian Story.” Can you tell us one you have – maybe from the book?

It’s tough to single out one. In my experience, it’s not so much a story as the way he is. He loves to laugh; he loves to make people laugh. My favorite picture in the book is one that Mark London took as Brian and I were walking into NBC Studios in Burbank. We were there because he was going on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. And Mark was behind us and just caught this moment where Brian is laughing really hard at something I’ve said. Here’s an example that’s not in the book: When I recorded an interview with him to promote the SMiLE DVD, I introduced it like it was a radio show. And when I welcomed him to the show, he welcomed me too. It could be something as simple as that. As in his musical changes, Brian always seems to say the unexpected and very often, it’s funny.

This book is truly a labor of love: it’s been expanded to about 480 pages and brings us right up to Brian’s 80th birthday. It’s almost like your personal birthday gift to Brian – is that how you see it?

I do see it as a birthday gift to him in the sense that there’s nothing I could give him that he doesn’t already have. But bringing this book, which is something of a love letter, back into the world, it would remind people of why Brian matters. That’s why in the new section that precedes the original edition, I wanted to get so many legendary voices talking about Brian in one place. Some of the quotations will be familiar, but the new contributions from Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Barry Gibb and songwriting legend Jimmy Webb to me are reminders that it’s not just we fans who worship Brian – it’s the whole world of popular music.

It’s been 44 years since the original version was published – hard to believe almost a half-century! So it was really interesting to read about how time has changed your perspective on some things. For instance, you’re quite complimentary about Mike Love’s contributions – about his crafty lyric-writing and keeping The Beach Boys name alive for over sixty years. Can you discuss how some of your views have changed over the years?

I think my views haven’t changed so much as matured. When I wrote the original book, I was a 25 year old “know it all” journalist, out to change the world. In this edition, I’m now looking back, as something of an “Elder Statesman” on the subject. That’s what the section called “Author’s Note 2022” is about. Discussing what I see differently. And that includes addressing Mike’s contributions. When I wrote the book back in 1977/78, I was using the songwriting credits from the 1960s albums that we now know weren’t accurate. So, I felt that it was appropriate to give credit where credit is due. However, I do remind the reader that Brian is capable of writing hits and great songs with lots of other collaborators…and that he’s a terrific lyricist himself. As to keeping the Beach Boys alive, one can’t deny that Mike’s energy and efforts in that regard are tireless, year after year, decade after decade.

You have an Overture by Sir Paul McCartney as well as Forewords by Brian’s wife Melinda, Barry Gibb and Jimmy Webb. Can you tell us how these came about – they really set the story up beautifully.

Thank you. That was my goal. Getting those very busy people to do something like this isn’t easy.  At all. There’s a cliché that says, “If you don’t A-S-K, you don’t G-E-T.”  Fortunately, through the decades, I’ve established relationships through work and friendship with Barry Gibb and Jimmy Webb.  So I sent emails to the person with whom they are closest, and the response was immediate and positive.

As for Sir Paul…or Macca as we fans call him…I sent a request to his attorney, whom I’ve known for decades.  He passed the request along, and Paul, who is always busy doing a million things, was kind enough to give us a new quote about “God Only Knows” and Brian. I decided to call it “An Overture” because it seemed like a great way to begin the book. 

I’ve known Melinda for over thirty years, and rather than interview her, I thought including her voice in one spot was important.  Barry’s essay is so charming and so sweet and touching.  He’s one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and he loves and looks up to Brian.  There’s a real emotion in what he’s written.

And, as a quote from Jimmy Webb opens up the original, 1978 edition, I thought that an introduction to the old book from him would be a great segue.  Immodestly, I have to say I was blown away by what he said about my writing.

You wrote a book about The Bee Gees during their heyday in the late 1970s, as well producing the segments for Grammy Salutes The Bee Gees Tribute TV special. You’ve also stayed in touch with Barry Gibb. Both The Bee Gees and The Beach Boys have three brothers and leaders in Brian and Barry. What parallels do you see between the Gibbs and the Wilsons?

Every family is different, but every family has the same issues. I’m one of three brothers too. But with the Gibbs and the Wilsons, what I found most amazing is that not only are the oldest brothers the primary creative force in their group, but the last surviving brother is the oldest one too. There were lots of other similar issues in terms of dealing with fame and success and “too much, too soon.” Barry Gibb is almost unparalleled in writing catchy melodies. So he and Brian have that in common too.

Your book was released to stellar reviews in the U.K. in June and its scheduled for release in the U.S. this Fall. Judging from the way it’s lit up Brian’s website message board, it looks like it’s going to be quite a hit with fans. What are you hoping readers take away from your book?

I hope you’re right, Michael. What’s exciting for me is that while neither the 1978 edition of the book or the 1985 update had a happy ending – quite the opposite – this one does. The book is a redemption story.  A story of how Brian, having hit bottom repeatedly, had the will to survive, to go forward and again make great and memorable music.  And that because of what he called “emotional security” was able to enjoy a career renaissance that gave us, most unexpectedly, a remarkable body of new work.

It is written to be a celebration of everything good that’s happened since the 1985 edition. It doesn’t ignore the bad or sad things that happened; it just doesn’t dwell upon them.  I hope each reader takes away something different, something meaningful to themselves. Overall, though, I want readers to feel that the book was worth their time and money. Especially those who bought either the first or second edition or both.  The update is, in my opinion, gigantic.  It’s over half the length of the 1978 book.  So, I feel like we’ve given the reader “two books for the price of one.” With some very cool new visual material too.

One more thing that is really exciting for fans. The book is available to purchase on Amazon, but you have some limited editions, signed and numbered, on your website. We start with a “Deluxe Platinum Edition” of only 60 books and these come signed and also include rare collectibles from your private stash. If that’s not cool enough, you’re making yourself available for a 30-minute Zoom call, which I’m sure fans will love. You also have a quantity of 60 “Solid Gold Edition” signed with a few more goodies; and a “Silver Edition” of 80 books plus signed bonus items. This is pretty much a collector’s dream and it’s so great that you’re making these available.

Thank you, Michael. I really tried to figure out how to do this so it would be worthwhile. So most importantly, a portion of the proceeds from these VIP limited editions will be going to the UCLA Brian Wilson Scholarship Fund. The one-on-on Zooms with fellow fans are going to be a blast. As to the collectible items, I dug into my collection and came up with some unique pieces from projects I was involved in during the 1990s and 2000s.  I’ve got a lot of autographing to do. 😊

Visit David’s website to learn more about his new book and for information about his Limited V.I.P. Editions.