Cover of Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys: The Biography

Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys: The Biography

No life in popular music touched on as many major musical milestones as that of The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson. While he is often unjustly overlooked as a mere adjunct to his more famous brothers Brian and Dennis, Carl was a major international rock star from his early teens.

Read more

The proud owner of one of the greatest voices in popular music—one that graced some of the most important records of the pop era, including 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations'—Wilson was also one of the first musicians to bring the electric guitar to the forefront of rock'n'roll. His musical skills provided The Beach Boys' entree into the music business, from which he then stewarded their onstage journey through the ups and downs of the 60s to their comeback in the 70s and into the role of 'America's band' in the 80s. Along the way, Carl quietly endured his own battles with obesity, divorce, substance abuse, and ultimately terminal cancer, all the while working to protect his family's business and legacy. This major new biography reveals the true story of modern rock'n'roll, lived from the center of the most important decades of popular music.

Audience
adult
Length
medium · 288 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

Liked Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys: The Biography? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys: The Biography. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Raising Hell: The Reign, Ruin, and Redemption of Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay Shares music, biography
  2. Keith Jarrett: The Man And His Music Shares music, biography
  3. Heroes And Villains: The True Story Of The Beach Boys Shares music, biography
  4. Duran Duran: Notorious Shares music, biography

“People who read Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys: The Biography tend to reach for these next.”

  1. Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson
  2. Going to Sea in a Sieve
  3. George Harrison: Behind the Locked Door
  4. Naked at the Albert Hall

“If you want more of the same (biography about music), start with these.”

  1. I'd Rather Be The Devil
  2. Lou Reed: The Life
  3. Gimme Danger: The Story of Iggy Pop
  4. Simon and Garfunkel: The Biography

“If it was the music that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Jack Bruce Composing Himself: The authorised biography
  2. 2Stoned
  3. Richard
  4. Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan. Lesley-Ann Jones

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Beatles' Second Album
  2. Twisting My Melon
  3. Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division
  4. Midge Ure: If I Was...: The Autobiography