Surf City: The Jan and Dean Story

Full disclosure: 40-plus years ago when, as a teen, this East Coaster with music biz dreams landed on the Left Coast, I dialed 411 Information --got the phone number for Kittyhawk Graphics in Hollywood-- and spoke with the sole proprietor, Dean O. Torrence. He invited me down to his office on Sunset Blvd. for an interview. By the time we hit Hour #4, he was giving me pre-recorded cassettes to jimmy to keep the conversation going on tape. By the time we wrapped up, he said it would be good for Jan Berry's spirit if I were to conduct a similar interview with him. And he gave me Jan's number.That launched an ongoing friendship with both Jan & Dean-- Jan on a more daily basis, Dean periodically; Jan was surely more in need of friends at that time. I mention this not to insert myself into their story, but to confirm that Dean's narrative in "Surf City: The Jan & Dean Story" is indeed candid and honest. Dean's account of the initial seven years of the duo's saga echoes our four-hour conversation from years ago, and the tale of J&D's improbable second act (1978 - 2004) after Jan's '66 automobile crash and resulting catastrophic brain injury reads like a movie script. And, in fact, at least the first half of that tale did form the basis of "Deadman's Curve," a highly-rated 1978 TV movie.Jan, blessed with enormous music talent and a robust ego, largely called the shots in the First Act of their career. Act II was orchestrated by Dean, and despite the money and renewed fame that rained down on the duo as a result, Jan couldn't stand not being in charge. In the throes of a cocaine addiction in the early-'80s, he was impossible. To be a friend to both Jan & Dean for a time was to be a referee. Dean's candid antipathy for Jan during the early days of their reunion may initially seem shocking to readers, but I can ensure that it was warranted. After a temporary hiatus to the duo's revival, they resumed their touring up until a few weeks before Jan's death in 2004.There's no other true tale I can think of that quite parallels "Surf City: The Jan & Dean Story." Without Jan Berry's talent and ambition, Dean would surely have gone on to be the successful graphic artist he became during the duo's dozen-year hiatus. Without Dean's creative and business acumen --and compassion for his childhood friend-- Jan would have withered away in anonymity.Jan never abandoned his dream of landing another hit on the charts, and I have offered up his heroic efforts in that attempt as an example to others who are too quick to fold their tents and wallow in self-pity. And just as frequently, I have cited Dean as an exemplar of the individual who does not abandon a friend, no matter how challenging they may become. I admire them both. And I believe that even the casual reader will be amused, informed and moved by Dean Torrence's account of Jan & Dean's saga.

Many will read the book and wonder if Dean was all the good things that flow from the pages, the simple answer is yes and more . I was fortunate to have benefited from having had him as a friend 60 years ago while we were at University High. I would look over at Dean sitting at the next desk. His notebook is open and his hand and pen busy. A few words here and there but mostly beautiful sketches of cars and designs. The prior year Dean and I had played on the B football team; but this year he had not only moved on to varsity but distinguished himself. Although smaller than most his fluidity , precision and enthusiasm made him a standout. In the weeks prior to the start of the season we would leave surfing early, meeting in the long shadows of the summer evening and the cool of the girls field to workout in anticipation of the season. Despite the abundance of talents the most impressive things about Dean were that he was such a genuine guy, a great human and so incredibly thoughtful.The book filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge of the start of his career. Their sound was "So Southern California" and the energy matched the lifestyles. My guess is that She'll Have Fun Fun Fun Till Her Daddy Takes Her T'bird Away was inspired by Nancy Sinatra's little pink T Bird (with its McCullough supercharger). There's nothing exaggerated about the racing on Sunset Boulevard. In those days there were very few traffic signals between Beverly Hills and Pacific Coast Highway. Sunday mornings there were usually a number of sets of long black tire marks and freshly dinged guardrails or disturbed brush. Many of the legends of early road racing in Southern California lived on the westside and "played" on Sunset.The book shed a lot of light on the impact of Jan's accident on the group. Hearing of the accident from the East Coast most of us assumed it was the end of the group. Dean's evolution from letting Jan run the business side of the show to taking the adult role and making it possible for them to go back onstage was great.On the flight from LA to Boston for grad school I happened to run across an article on Harvard professor Timothy Leary , extolling the virtues of LSD. The times they were a changing. Sex (the pill) drugs including LSD , Kennedy assignation, war in Vietnam and the arrival of the Beatles. I give Dean immense credit for keeping Jan and Dean and their music relevant through this convulsive period.Dean does a great and balanced job of telling the story of dealing with Jan's coke addiction. When coke first came on the scene Time Magazine celebrated its arrival as a harmless recreational drug including a cover with a large pile of cocaine and a razor blade. Dean captures the struggle of wishing his partner could end his addiction, splitting and finally making a huge gesture to take Jan back on tour for what neither knew was he final tour. It's hard not to laugh at the stories of getting the security officers to fake a raid on Jan's dressing room in a futile attempt to get him off coke. Dean's stories from the road sound like they might have been written by Hunter S Thompson or perhaps Tom Wolfe.The music they made was fantastic. Although the lyrics were often simple the music was very complex and the presentation great. I found myself rooting for Dean as he developed the relationship with Budweiser, including bringing his songwriting, graphic artist and business talents into the process.Dean Torrance had done an awesome job capturing their story in print and made it very readable in the process. Highly recommended.

This is a great read! It made me laugh out loud many times, especially in the first half. Those Jan & Dean shenanigans! I was Intrigued from the beginning with the story of how these two met and the part about how Dean ended up singing lead on the Beach Boys' rendition of Barbara Ann is hilarious! There were many other great stories. It leaves you asking how things might've been different if Jan hadn't been in that terrible car crash. But the thing is he survived and was able to carry on, and thanks to Dean, with a lot of dedication & perseverance, they were able to continue to share the joy with a lot of people. This book is a great telling of that journey.Thanks Dean, for finally getting this story out from your point of view and for helping to keep the Jan & Dean legacy alive. This is one act that should never be forgotten. You were a great friend to the end and have made lot of people happy through the years. Jan & Dean really do belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I really don't get why that hasn't happened yet.

excellent

good

Just reading the book now very interesting book with them and the beach boys Love beach music

A very conversational book with plenty of humor and eye-opening revelations about Jan Berry's drug abuse. But Dean, too much football detail!

Great story and pictures. One of favorites band. Recommanded