Lost Beach Boy: The True Story of the Unknown Founding Member of the Beach Boys Book

If a three-and-a-half star review were possible, I'd use that. The story told by this book manages to be "stranger than fiction" while still fundamentally chronicling an important individual's rise, fall, and redemption. It is an insider account with clarification and important context setting and is required reading for fans. Appearances by everyone from Warren Zevon to Joe Cocker to Little Richard, as well as accounts of some of the darker, more unjust corners of a shady music business, may ensure it is required reading for some others, as well. A sometimes trite writing style and lapses in objectivity (including no skepticism of the allegedly psychic ability's of the subject's mother) are among its flaws. Some alleged facts and memories may be inaccurate (including a questionable 1971 concert appearance at the Whisky a Go Go). The British publisher's use of British spellings ("mum", "tyre", etc.) in a book written by Americans that takes place almost entirely outside of the British Isles is also curious. This book is ten years old and is not up to date (e.g., Marks's brief re-return to The Beach Boys for their fiftieth anniversary occurred after publication).