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Resissued in 2008 with the unreleased Bambu, this is one solo Beach Boy album you MUST own
Beach Boy drummer Dennis Wilson was cooler than an ice lolly dressed like Elvis. He was the Beach Boy that actually surfed - it was Dennis who suggested that the group write about surfing in the first place.
Depending on your point of view, his 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue is often regarded a masterpiece (listen to River Song here) but one of Dennis’ greatest contributions to pop culture was his appearance in the 1971 nihilistic road movie Two-Lane Blacktop (watch this Critics' Pick doc for proof).
Wilson played The Mechanic while fellow musician James Taylor portrayed The Driver. The movie follows the characters blasting across America in a ’55 Chevy earning money by street racing. Nothing much happens but it's very, very cool.
Dick Heads is the affectionate name adopted by the many obsessed fans of Dick Dale. Isn’t that nice? You can even buy badges and t-shirts emblazoned with the legend ‘I’m a Dick Head.’ Fans of James Blunt or <insert your own musical nemesis here> could probably work up their own versions too…
In other news, one of Dick’s fans has put together an interesting online museum dedicated to his hero - head here for info.
