Tag: muses

Button Sunday

“The Beach Boys are not a superstar group. The music is the superstar of the group.” –Dennis Wilson

He lived with celebrities from the time he was seventeen–his brothers and their band. But here are other recognizable people from his life.


September 12 — With other celebs
Al, Dennis, Mike, Carl, and Brian with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1967 ©Linda Eastman


Carl, Bruce, Princess Margaret, and Dennis at the Royal Albert Hall, 1970 (still looking for copyright attribution)


Then-girlfriend/fiancee Christine McVie and Dennis at the keyboards. ©Ed Roach


This one is just fun for me. The Grateful Dead and the Beach Boys jamming together at the Fillmore East in 1971. I don’t know who shot the photo (Ed Roach was there, but not sure if this is his photo); it’s SO SO Seventies. Dennis is one of the front men here. He was busier composing and singing for the band in that period, as was Carl, because Brian was less involved, plus injuries to Dennis’s hand/arm kept him off drums for a while.


Dennis with Paul McCartney, shot probably snagged from video of Brian Wilson’s birthday party in 1976, although Linda McCartney was shooting with her camera.

Below is a video of the band performing “Good Vibrations” live at two separate concerts, with Dennis hammering away at drums in both. I relish seeing Dennis and Carl working together this way, and I’m always happy when Brian is on stage, too. Interspersed with the concert footage is tape from Brian’s birthday party showing Dennis with then-wife Karen talking to Paul.

ETA 2022: This video is no longer available on YouTube.

A Movable Feast

From the classic Pet Sounds album photo shoot.


September 9 — Eating ©Capitol Archives

Two GOATS–one my muse, the other who looks like Lush from my favorite rescue, Squirrelwood Sanctuary. If you ever have some extra funds for an animal rescue group, they are terrific. Or if you just want to see the fun and challenge of rescuing animals, you can follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

ETA: Found another!

September 9 — Eating ©Capitol Archives


Me wearing my Squirrelwood Luscious OG mask.

Few Words

I’ll revisit this again in a few days, but here’s some of the cast of the movie Two Lane Blacktop for today’s challenge. The movie, whether loved or hated by viewers, is a cult classic. Lynne and I saw it when it came out in 1971, a night that would change everything for me for always. Enough said.


September 8 — In a car Dennis Wilson as The Mechanic, James Taylor as The Driver ©Universal Pictures


With Laurie Bird as The Girl ©Universal Pictures


And the big star, The Car: 1955 Chevy sedan ©Barrett-Jackson

Tiny Tuesday!


Not long after we moved into Houndstooth Hall, I spotted this Hot Wheels car next to our driveway. I’d hoped it was a Cobra (reason will soon be evident), but it’s a ’97 Mazda RX-7. Maybe my favorite part is the sticker with the 55 crossed out (hey, Sammy Hagar!).

If you’re familiar with the Beach Boys’ 1960s music, then you know they began with surf and moved to cars. A band of teenagers suddenly rolling in money and pulling in girls naturally bought the coolest cars, but Dennis, always a daredevil, liked to race his. His car exploits are part of the legend.

Dennis’s cars included: ’63 Corvette Stingray, Jaguar XKE, a yellow Cobra, Ferrari Lusso (former car of the late Sam Cooke), Rolls Royce, Ferrari 275 GTB long-nose, VW camper, 1955 Thunderbird, 1934 Ford… and who knows how many others.

All of that is why I chose the sporty photo I did for today’s 30 Days Idol Challenge.


September 7 — With a hat ©Ed Roach

Who said it was easy
Driver drive on
Let the wind carry your blues away

Lyric from “Dreamer,” by Dennis Wilson, 1977

Labor Day and Mood: Monday


Today’s mood is gratitude to everyone who works or who has worked to keep things going for all of us through the years, especially in 2020 and 2021. For those looking for work, I hope you find it. For those retired or unable to work, you contribute in more ways than you may realize. For those whose labor is unpaid or disrespected, I hope you know people who recognize your value. I’ve been in all of those categories at one time or another; I know it’s hard sometimes to keep on keeping on, yet you do it. Salute!

Continuing the 30 Days Idol Challenge.


September 6 — With kids ©Estate of Dennis Wilson
With his daughter and three sons in September 1983.

My brain

Revisiting the 30 Days Idol Challenge, when I looked over the list and thought of possible photos, I remembered a photo (maybe two photos) that I thought I bought at a record show in Austin probably in the early 1990s. I knew what bin I’d likely find it in, but I thought it was pointless to look for it, because I had no idea how to credit the photographer. At record shows, there are albums and folders full of concert and celebrity photos, and the seller may not be the original photographer. It’s a free-for-all (but NOT free).

Then my brain–the brain that can’t remember if I took my medicine, can’t remember exactly how old my dogs are without looking up their records, can’t remember what I had for dinner last night or what Tom said he had to do the next day–yes, THAT brain, said, The photographer was an amateur named Dorian Boese. And I was all, “For real, brain? After maybe thirty years, you expect me to believe that factoid? Did you just pull that name out of thin air? WTF?”

Whatever; the brain was right. I dug through the bin, found the photo, and it was stamped on the back with the photographer’s name and address. This is why I tell people not to lie to me, because I remember VERY STRANGE shit and can catch someone when what s/he says contradicts what s/he said even decades ago. I could better manage my daily life if only another person would narrate what I’ve eaten, read, and watched, or why I walked into the kitchen. I’d probably remember if it was something I’d heard. (I shouldn’t joke about this. As a female in Texas, I could be assigned someone to monitor me anytime to report me and collect a bounty if the state and its snitch don’t approve of my choices.)

I have no idea why I remembered this photographer’s name. But here’s brother Carl giving bunny ears to Dennis in red.


September 3 — In red ©Dorian Boese

P.S. Dear Gov Abbott and spies: No need to worry about monitoring my meds. I have a system.