John Stamos Says He Broke the News of Brian Wilson's Death to Cousin and Beach Boys Vocalist Mike Love: ‘His Face Went Blank'
'I was with Mike, I got off the plane, and I got the text,' Stamos told the New York Post at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday at the Marriott Marquis.
'I was like, 'Oh boy, I guess I better [tell him].' I said, 'Mike, your cousin passed away,' and his face went blank.'
The 'Full House' actor added, 'We sat in the car for 2½ hours or so … he didn't say one word. And I didn't ask him anything, ask him how he was feeling. I knew how he was feeling.'
Stamos reflected on the connection between the two original Beach Boys members: You know, they had 80-plus years together. They made beautiful music together.'
Love co-founded the band with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, and friend Al Jardine in 1961. Brian was also a lead singer, but he left the iconic California band in 1964. He briefly returned in the '80s.
Stamos first played with the Beach Boys at a Fourth of July concert at the Washington Monument in 1985. 'This July 4th will be 40 years of nagging them and stalking them,' he told the Post.
The actor said he was lucky to have 'spent a good amount of time' with Wilson, recalling the time when the late music legend stepped in for Love.
'We were doing some shows in Montreal, I was with them, and Mike couldn't make about five shows,' he said. 'And so Brian came out, and he's the lead singer of the band … and it was great.'
'Without Brian Wilson, life would be a mistake,' Stamos added. 'It's been a big blow to all of us.'
The post John Stamos Says He Broke the News of Brian Wilson's Death to Cousin and Beach Boys Vocalist Mike Love: 'His Face Went Blank' appeared first on TheWrap.
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New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson regretted he wasn't involved with hit song due to ‘weak mental state,' book reveals
John Mason knew that Brian Wilson needed help – but it came at a high price. 'Brian was in a weak mental state,' the entertainment lawyer, who once represented the fragile leader of the Beach Boys, told Fox News Digital. 'Brian often said to me, as sad as it sounds … 'I fried my brain. I took too many drugs.' Brian couldn't get up in the morning without somebody getting him up. He couldn't eat healthily without somebody giving him something healthy to eat.' 'So, the good and bad of Dr. Eugene Landy in Brian's life was that he motivated Brian to become a participant in his own life,' Mason shared. 'But the bad part was that, as time went by and years went by, Dr. Landy expected more and more to replace Brian in the Beach Boys… Brian wasn't allowed to do anything without a Landy handler being with him.' Mason, who has worked with Roy Orbison, Reba McEntire, Shakira and Quincy Jones, among others, has written a new memoir, 'Crazy Lucky.' It explores what it takes to defend the famous during career-defining moments. 8 John Mason, an entertainment lawyer who once represented Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, discussed one if Wilson's regrets and mental state. FOX NEWS 8 Mason has written a new memoir, 'Crazy Lucky,' exploring what it takes to defend the famous during career-defining moments. The Unnamed Press The book delves into Wilson's relationship with Landy, a psychotherapist accused of holding a Svengali-like power over him. Mason said it led to one of the singer/songwriter's biggest regrets. 'Mike [Love] and Carl [Wilson] came into my office and said to Brian, 'Hey, we have the opportunity to write a song for this movie, [1988's] 'Cocktail,'' said Mason. ''It's going to be starring Tom Cruise. It's really great. We'd love you to join us. And Brian was really excited. He said, 'Oh, I'd love to do that.' But later in the evening, Brian called and said, 'I shouldn't do that. Dr. Landy said I shouldn't do that. Well, that turned out to be 'Kokomo,' the biggest hit the Beach Boys had had probably forever. And Brian felt really badly about not working on 'Kokomo.'' 8 'Mike [Love] and Carl [Wilson] came into my office and said to Brian, 'Hey, we have the opportunity to write a song for this movie, [1988's] 'Cocktail'' with Tom Cruise, said Mason, which Wilson turned down. ©Buena Vista Pictures/courtesy E 8 The project 'turned out to be 'Kokomo,' the biggest hit the Beach Boys had had probably forever. And Brian felt really badly about not working on 'Kokomo,'' Mason said. Getty Images 'When he heard it, and when I heard it, we went, 'Oh my gosh, was that a missed opportunity?'' Mason recalled. Mason wrote that Landy refused to let Wilson participate unless he, too, were listed as a writer on the song. However, Carl and Bruce Johnson, along with Love, refused. They went on to write 'Kokomo' without Wilson's input. It was a decision that Wilson deeply regretted over the years. 'Brian is truly a giant teddy bear and genius who regrets bad decisions and lives for better ones,' wrote Mason. According to Mason's book, Wilson's struggles began in 1968, when he quit performing and devoted himself to songwriting instead. While Wilson was determined 'to make the greatest music,' his mental health began to deteriorate. 8 The Beach Boys in 1964. From left to right: Dennis Wilson, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Carl Wilson. Getty Images Mason wrote that Wilson's experiments with drugs, specifically LSD and cocaine, had 'diminished his mental capacity.' He rarely left his bed and, according to reports, would go without brushing his teeth or showering for weeks. 'He eventually became so bizarre that he would sit at the piano in his living room surrounded by actual sand that had been dumped in big piles in a sort of playpen,' Mason wrote. 'He was forsaking his young family — wife Marilyn Rovell, a singer with the group the Honeys, and young kids Carnie and Wendy — for his strange kind of creative peace. Four years passed, and he never left the house. His weight ballooned to 350 pounds from eating entire birthday cakes as a late-night snack.' 8 Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys perform onstage at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images In 1975, a 'devastated' Marilyn brought in Landy, a psychologist known for his unconventional 24-hour treatment of celebrities. Wilson, who reportedly feared being committed to a psychiatric hospital, completely surrendered. Their first session took place in Wilson's bedroom closet, where the artist felt safe, the Los Angeles Times reported. Landy was successful. He padlocked Wilson's fridge, put the star on a diet and shooed away drug-enabling pals, The Telegraph reported. 'Dr. Eugene Landy [helped] Brian overcome his fears of everything,' Mason told Fox News Digital. 'I would call it an agoraphobia. . . . He feared going outside. . . . And he needed outside help.' 8 Mason's book explores the nature of the relationship between Wilson and Dr. Eugene Landy, accused of holding a Svengali-like power over the singer. Mark Sullivan Landy's strict methods worked. But in 1976, Landy was fired over a dispute involving fees, the Los Angeles Times reported. When Wilson was regressing into drugs and obesity, Landy was rehired six years later, the outlet shared. The 24-hour therapy resumed from 1983 to 1986. Landy said he was paid $35,000 a month. And as Wilson began recording and playing live again, Landy was a constant shadow looming over him. Manager Tom Hulett, who knew that Mason was friendly with the Beach Boys, suggested that he could be 'a strong, independent balance.' In 1984, Mason was hired. 'I was asked . . . if I would be Brian's lawyer, and I agreed,' said Mason. 'At that time, Brian was, I think, doing better, but he had a lot of issues. . . . Brian came to my office at least once a week. We started having Beach Boys meetings at my office once a month, and we all insisted that Brian come to those meetings without Landy.' 'Brian was my client. . . . [But] Brian did check in with Landy after our meetings, after our phone calls. Too often I would get a call back from Brian saying, 'I know I said that, but I have to change my mind.'' Mason wrote that Landy was eager to insert himself into every part of Wilson's life. Wilson was controlled by both prescription drugs and the 'Landy handlers' who 'secretly or openly recorded everything Brian and anyone else said' for the doctor. No decision was made without Landy's approval, leaving Mason bewildered and frustrated. 'Ultimately, it led me to say to Brian, 'I can't work with you if Dr. Landy is in a position to change your mind or to second-guess me,'' said Mason. 'And he said, 'I understand that.' But then, Dr. Landy called me and said, 'You told Brian that he can't work with me … so you are fired.' 'That's a shame, but that is the kind of control Dr. Landy had over Brian Wilson,' said Mason. After Mason was fired in 1990, Landy continued to tighten his grip. At one point, he was co-credited as a songwriter on several tracks. Wilson was 'an obsession' to Landy, Mason wrote. 8 Wilson died in June of this year at the age of 82. Getty Images But in 1991, the Wilson family took legal action to appoint an independent conservatorship. The goal was to stop Landy from further influencing Wilson both personally and financially, the Los Angeles Times reported. In 1992, Landy was barred by court order from contacting Wilson. 'The court ordered Landy to disassociate from Brian,' said Mason. 'Ultimately, Landy's license to practice psychotherapy in the state of California was revoked. And Brian's second wife, Melinda, was able to keep Brian motivated to perform.' 'He did a lot of shows,' said Mason. 'He wrote songs, he did a lot of work. His health seemed to be pretty good. I saw Brian a number of times after I wasn't his lawyer, and he looked good. He felt good. He was in a good mental state.' Landy passed away in 2006 at age 71. Wilson died in June of this year. He was 82. In his lifetime, Wilson admitted he didn't entirely regret his association with Landy. Mason doesn't either. 'I have to say that, in Brian's case, I don't think there was a better outcome,' Mason explained. 'Had Landy not become involved, Brian would have become an ineffective vegetable. He was taking too many drugs and couldn't find focus.' 'I don't think that, at that point, back when Landy came in, either Brian's ex-wife Marilyn or his daughters were able to motivate him to be independent. Drugs and alcohol have led to the demise of too many people. Many people we see end up dead from the process.' 'Saving Brian's life probably necessitated a Eugene Landy who could come in and force him to take control of himself,' Mason continued. 'I think they were the best years of his health, but the worst of his years with Dr. Landy.'
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Fox News
Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson regretted being blocked from band's hit song: book
John Mason knew that Brian Wilson needed help – but it came at a high price. "Brian was in a weak mental state," the entertainment lawyer, who once represented the fragile leader of the Beach Boys, told Fox News Digital. "Brian often said to me, as sad as it sounds … 'I fried my brain. I took too many drugs.' Brian couldn't get up in the morning without somebody getting him up. He couldn't eat healthily without somebody giving him something healthy to eat." "So, the good and bad of Dr. Eugene Landy in Brian's life was that he motivated Brian to become a participant in his own life," Mason shared. "But the bad part was that, as time went by and years went by, Dr. Landy expected more and more to replace Brian in the Beach Boys… Brian wasn't allowed to do anything without a Landy handler being with him." Mason, who has worked with Roy Orbison, Reba McEntire, Shakira and Quincy Jones, among others, has written a new memoir, "Crazy Lucky." It explores what it takes to defend the famous during career-defining moments. The book delves into Wilson's relationship with Landy, a psychotherapist accused of holding a Svengali-like power over him. Mason said it led to one of the singer/songwriter's biggest regrets. "Mike [Love] and Carl [Wilson] came into my office and said to Brian, 'Hey, we have the opportunity to write a song for this movie, [1988's] 'Cocktail,'" said Mason. "'It's going to be starring Tom Cruise. It's really great. We'd love you to join us. And Brian was really excited. He said, 'Oh, I'd love to do that.' But later in the evening, Brian called and said, 'I shouldn't do that. Dr. Landy said I shouldn't do that. Well, that turned out to be 'Kokomo,' the biggest hit the Beach Boys had had probably forever. And Brian felt really badly about not working on 'Kokomo.'" "When he heard it, and when I heard it, we went, 'Oh my gosh, was that a missed opportunity?'" Mason recalled. WATCH: BEACH BOYS FOUNDER BRIAN WILSON HAD ONE BIG MUSIC REGRET: PAL Mason wrote that Landy refused to let Wilson participate unless he, too, were listed as a writer on the song. However, Carl and Bruce Johnson, along with Love, refused. They went on to write "Kokomo" without Wilson's input. It was a decision that Wilson deeply regretted over the years. "Brian is truly a giant teddy bear and genius who regrets bad decisions and lives for better ones," wrote Mason. According to Mason's book, Wilson's struggles began in 1968, when he quit performing and devoted himself to songwriting instead. While Wilson was determined "to make the greatest music," his mental health began to deteriorate. Mason wrote that Wilson's experiments with drugs, specifically LSD and cocaine, had "diminished his mental capacity." He rarely left his bed and, according to reports, would go without brushing his teeth or showering for weeks. "He eventually became so bizarre that he would sit at the piano in his living room surrounded by actual sand that had been dumped in big piles in a sort of playpen," Mason wrote. "He was forsaking his young family — wife Marilyn Rovell, a singer with the group the Honeys, and young kids Carnie and Wendy — for his strange kind of creative peace. Four years passed, and he never left the house. His weight ballooned to 350 pounds from eating entire birthday cakes as a late-night snack." In 1975, a "devastated" Marilyn brought in Landy, a psychologist known for his unconventional 24-hour treatment of celebrities. Wilson, who reportedly feared being committed to a psychiatric hospital, completely surrendered. Their first session took place in Wilson's bedroom closet, where the artist felt safe, the Los Angeles Times reported. Landy was successful. He padlocked Wilson's fridge, put the star on a diet and shooed away drug-enabling pals, The Telegraph reported. "Dr. Eugene Landy [helped] Brian overcome his fears of everything," Mason told Fox News Digital. "I would call it an agoraphobia. . . . He feared going outside. . . . And he needed outside help." Landy's strict methods worked. But in 1976, Landy was fired over a dispute involving fees, the Los Angeles Times reported. When Wilson was regressing into drugs and obesity, Landy was rehired six years later, the outlet shared. The 24-hour therapy resumed from 1983 to 1986. Landy said he was paid $35,000 a month. And as Wilson began recording and playing live again, Landy was a constant shadow looming over him. Manager Tom Hulett, who knew that Mason was friendly with the Beach Boys, suggested that he could be "a strong, independent balance." In 1984, Mason was hired. "I was asked . . . if I would be Brian's lawyer, and I agreed," said Mason. "At that time, Brian was, I think, doing better, but he had a lot of issues. . . . Brian came to my office at least once a week. We started having Beach Boys meetings at my office once a month, and we all insisted that Brian come to those meetings without Landy." "Brian was my client. . . . [But] Brian did check in with Landy after our meetings, after our phone calls. Too often I would get a call back from Brian saying, 'I know I said that, but I have to change my mind.'" Mason wrote that Landy was eager to insert himself into every part of Wilson's life. Wilson was controlled by both prescription drugs and the "Landy handlers" who "secretly or openly recorded everything Brian and anyone else said" for the doctor. No decision was made without Landy's approval, leaving Mason bewildered and frustrated. "Ultimately, it led me to say to Brian, 'I can't work with you if Dr. Landy is in a position to change your mind or to second-guess me,'" said Mason. "And he said, 'I understand that.' But then, Dr. Landy called me and said, 'You told Brian that he can't work with me … so you are fired." "That's a shame, but that is the kind of control Dr. Landy had over Brian Wilson," said Mason." After Mason was fired in 1990, Landy continued to tighten his grip. At one point, he was co-credited as a songwriter on several tracks. Wilson was "an obsession" to Landy, Mason wrote. But in 1991, the Wilson family took legal action to appoint an independent conservatorship. The goal was to stop Landy from further influencing Wilson both personally and financially, the Los Angeles Times reported. In 1992, Landy was barred by court order from contacting Wilson. "The court ordered Landy to disassociate from Brian," said Mason. "Ultimately, Landy's license to practice psychotherapy in the state of California was revoked. And Brian's second wife, Melinda, was able to keep Brian motivated to perform." "He did a lot of shows," said Mason. "He wrote songs, he did a lot of work. His health seemed to be pretty good. I saw Brian a number of times after I wasn't his lawyer, and he looked good. He felt good. He was in a good mental state." Landy passed away in 2006 at age 71. Wilson died in June of this year. He was 82. In his lifetime, Wilson admitted he didn't entirely regret his association with Landy. Mason doesn't either. "I have to say that, in Brian's case, I don't think there was a better outcome," Mason explained. "Had Landy not become involved, Brian would have become an ineffective vegetable. He was taking too many drugs and couldn't find focus." "I don't think that, at that point, back when Landy came in, either Brian's ex-wife Marilyn or his daughters were able to motivate him to be independent. Drugs and alcohol have led to the demise of too many people. Many people we see end up dead from the process." "Saving Brian's life probably necessitated a Eugene Landy who could come in and force him to take control of himself," Mason continued. "I think they were the best years of his health, but the worst of his years with Dr. Landy."
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
How much are the cheapest tickets to see ‘Mamma Mia' on Broadway?
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. 'Mamma Mia,' here we go again. Following the final curtain call on the popular jukebox musical's initial Broadway run in October 2013, ABBA's beloved stage show about a daughter's journey to unearth her father's identity dating back to a Greek vacation her mom took two decades prior, has returned to the Great White Way's Winter Garden Theatre for a six-month stint from now until Feb. 1, 2026. As always, the production includes classic songs including 'Dancing Queen,' 'Money, Money, Money,' 'The Winner Takes It All' and 'Take A Chance On Me' among other iconic tracks from the Swedish pop hitmakers' expansive back catalog. Taking the stage this time around are stars Christine Sherrill, who's stepping in the role as Donna Sheridan, Amy Weaver (Sophie Sheridan) and Carly Sakolove (Rosie). And, they're already receiving rave reviews. 'Audiences certainly won't be able to resist Christine Sherrill, the fabulous actress playing Donna. She's among the most memorable to take on the part,' The New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski raved. '…Sherrill has the flighty fun and smile of Goldie Hawn in 'Overboard.' So, her pathos sneaks up on us quite powerfully during 'Slipping Through My Fingers' and the 11 O'clock 'Winner Takes It All.' [She] bats the ballad right outta the park.' Oleksinski adds Weaver is 'as sweet as ever' and Sherrill's gal pals 'breathe new life into well-worn gags.' Sound like the breezy musical you need in your life? If so, tickets are available for all upcoming 'Mamma Mia!' performances. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one production was $122 including fees on Vivid Seats. Other shows have tickets starting anywhere from $123 to $333 including fees. Not in New York? No worries. The popular show is also running overseas at London, GB's Novello Theatre as well. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about 'Mamma Mia!' on Broadway below. All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. The musical runs 2 hours and 35 minutes, with one intermission. 'Mamma Mia!' Broadway ticket prices 2025-26 There are a lot of 'Mamma Mia!' dates coming up. Rather than have you sift through all of them, we found the ten shows with the cheapest seats available. Below, you'll find the dates, start times and links to the lowest-priced tickets in chronological order. 'Mamma Mia!' Broadway dates Ticket prices start at Tuesday, Sept. 30 7 p.m. $124 (including fees) Wednesday, Oct. 1 2 p.m. $124 (including fees) Wednesday, Oct. 8 2 p.m. $124 (including fees) Tuesday, Oct. 14 7 p.m. $124 (including fees) Thursday, Oct. 16 7 p.m. $124 (including fees) Thursday, Oct. 23 7 p.m. $123 (including fees) Friday, Nov. 21 7 p.m. $122 (including fees) Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 7 p.m. $122 (including fees) Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 2 p.m. $123 (including fees) Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 7 p.m. $124 (including fees) (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. 'Mamma Mia' Broadway cast To match credits to characters, here's a bit about five of the biggest 'Mamma Mia!' players in the current cast, courtesy of the show's official website. Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan) won't be playing Donna for the first time with this production. She also portrayed Sheridan in the Las Vegas 'Mamma Mia!' as part of a residency with the company. Notable TV and film roles of hers include 'FBI Most Wanted,' 'Prophet,' 'Red Dead Redemption' and 'Landline.' Amy Weaver (Sophie Sheridan) makes her Broadway debut with 'Mamma Mia!' Prior to the show, she was in the 'Mamma Mia!' 25th Anniversary National Tour for the last two years. Carly Sakolove (Rosie) is also making her Broadway debut. However, she has been in 'Mamma Mia!' before; she played Rosie in the 2013/14 and 25th Anniversary tours. Eagle-eyed fans may recall her work on Netflix's 'The Watchers' as well. Jalynn Steele (Tanya) has been on The Great White Way before in 'The Lightning Thief.' She also popped up on TV in 'Titanique: The Musical: Livestream' and 'Sesame Street.' Rob Marnell (Harry Bright) appeared on Broadway in 'Tina: The Turner Musical,' 'Beautiful' and 'Gettin' The Band Back Together.' You may also recognize him from Clint Eastwood's 'Jersey Boys' film. Huge musicals on Broadway in 2025 Need even more upbeat live entertainment in the near future? Here are just five more crowd-pleasing musicals you won't want to miss these next few months. • 'Wicked' • 'Aladdin' • 'The Lion King' • 'Chicago' with Mira Sorvino • 'Hamilton' with Leslie Odom Jr. If you're curious what else is out there, we recommend sneaking a peek at our list of all the Tony-nominated shows running on Broadway to find the play or musical that makes the most sense for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
