Could be, but if would have to stop listening to every musician who I probably wouldn't like as a person, I'd miss out on an awful lot of great music. And in all honesty, although I really believe that he had a good heart, it's not like Dennis never gave anyone a very good reason for wanting to give him a serious beating...
May I ask how you got to meet The Beach Boys?
I agree. For a guy who was written off and as good as dead thirty years ago, he's done extremely well in the last decade or so. If you would've said in 1980 that at almost 70, Brian would be touring the world, releasing really good solo albums fairly regularly and have a finished 'SMiLE' on his name, nobody would have believed it.
Please don't get me wrong Joost, just because I dislike Mike doesn't mean that I am going to let him make me miss out on a lot of great BEACH BOYS music. I still love THE BEACH BOYS! Believe me, Denny was no saint either. Denny pi*sed off a lot of people, but he did have a good heart.
I have to shorten this story since it is a very long story. I met Denny first by accident at a party in Long Beach on my 20th "B" day which is 7 April 1981. I lived in Sacramento, California at the time and a friend (Co-worker who was a kin to Ed Roach) of mine invited me to a party at a beach house in Long Beach, California. I accepted since I wanted to meet some women at the beach.
I must confess something to you Joost, prior to driving to Long Beach, I did not know that I was going to meet Denny. I was also not a devout BEACH BOYS fan in the beginning. I've heard of THE BEACH BOYS and have heard their music but I was not a big fan of theirs prior to meeting Denny. I was a big fan of LED ZEPPELIN, THE BEATLES, THE STONES and FLEETWOOD MAC just to name a few.
At the beach house, I remember that there was a beautiful black shiny piano in the big family room. My friend introduced me to Ed and he really gave me a warm welcome. When Denny showed up, he was the center of attention at the party. Denny approached me and introduced himself to me. I shook his hand and I introduced myself to him. Denny was the nicest guy, we started talking about LED ZEPPELIN. You'll never believe this Joost but I was stupid enough to ask Denny what he did for a living. Denny then asked me "do you know who I am?" Here I am, standing there, feeling like sh*t, and I didn't know who Denny was. Denny told me that he's Dennis Wilson, drummer for THE BEACH BOYS! I swear Joost, I just didn't recognize him with the long hair and beard. In reality, I was in denial, I just didn't believe that it was Denny. I told Denny that it was my "B" day, Denny, on the spur of the moment, gave me the greatest present that any Rock star could ever give me, two beautiful women and a bag of coke! Denny told me to have a great time on him! AND BOY DID I EVER! Joost, I have so many stories to tell about Denny, especially between 1981 to 1983.
As for meeting THE BEACH BOYS, in general, I met them all after the first BEACH BOYS concert I ever saw, which is the Greek Theatre in L.A. on Friday, 17 July 1981. After the concert, my friend and Ed Roach took me to someone's house (I don't remember who's house it was) and that's where I met all of THE BEACH BOYS for the first time. It was also at this house where I got into a yelling confrontation with Mike which almost got violent. It was over a stupid f*c*ing drink! Mike wanted me to pay for it since he was convinced that I was a leach. I walked up to Mike, told him f*c* you and shoved him in his face with my hand. Then Denny would get between the both of us and break us apart. That's how I met THE BEACH BOYS! Take care Joost.