'Dumb Angel', the first working title of 'Smile', is said to have been an expression of Brian Wilson's insight into the character of his brother Dennis.
Dennis Wilson started out as drummer with the Beach Boys, a '60s teenage pin-up and the only true surfer in the group. He died prematurely in 1983, shortly after marrying his cousin's illegitimate love child. In between, he indulged copiously in sex and drugs, hung out with Charles Manson, married on three other occasions, wrote and sang on over twenty Beach Boys tracks, released one solo LP, and left a vast wealth of rare, beautiful studio material that remains largely unavailable to this day.
Dumb Angel is an illustrated testament which reveals not only the highs and lows of Wilson's amazing rock and roll life and the details of his tragic early death, but focuses on the man's true legacy: his soulful, fractured voice and music.
With a preface by Peter Buck of REM.
