Dennis Wilson (1944-1983)
Dennis Wilson (1944-1983)
Dennis Wilson was born December 4th, 1944. He was a musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was the drummer in band. Dennis was what most would consider the only true surfer in the band and his life celebrated the “California myth” lifestyle. He was also briefly associated with Charles Manson, and was involved in many scary scenarios involving Charles and the Manson Family. In 1983 Dennis was banned from performing with the band and told that the only way he could rejoin them would be if he admitted himself into a 24 hour detoxification program. From November to December of 1983 Wilson was homeless and lived a very nomadic lifestyle; constantly moving and checking in and out of various hospitals and rehabs for help with wounds and addiction.
Wilson served mainly on drums and backing vocals for the Beach Boys, and contrary to popular belief, his playing can be heard on many of the group's hits. He originally had few lead vocals on the band's songs, but starting with their 1968 album Friends, his prominence as a singer-songwriter increased. Unlike Brian's music, Dennis' is characterized for reflecting his "edginess" and "little of his happy charm". His original songs for the group included "Little Bird" (1968), "Forever" (1970), and "Slip On Through" (1970). Friends and biographers also say that Wilson was an uncredited writer on "You Are So Beautiful", a hit for Joe Cocker in 1974.
Accomplishments:
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Beach Boys.
Solo album released in 1977: Pacific Ocean Blue.
In June 2008, the album was reissued on CD as an expanded edition. It was voted the 2008 "Reissue of the Year" in both Rolling Stone and Mojo magazines and made No. 16 on the British LP charts and No. 8 on both the Billboard Catalog chart and the Billboard Internet Sales chart.
In 1971, Dennis starred alongside James Taylor and Warren Oates in the film Two-Lane Blacktop as "The Mechanic". The film depicts "The Driver" (Taylor) and "The Mechanic" driving aimlessly across the United States in their 1955 Chevy, surviving on money earned from street racing. That same year, he injured his hand badly enough to prevent him from playing drums for some time. Ricky Fataar took over as the group's drummer between 1972 and 1974. During this period Dennis acted as a co-frontman alongside Mike Love, as well as playing keyboards and singing. The 1973 live album The Beach Boys in Concert features only Dennis onstage among thousands of fans on the album cover.
Charity:
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