During the recent heatwave of Christmas 2012 in WA,
I read a good read.
Here's a short blurb about the book.

Like the tide,
the Beach Boys have been rolling for more than 30 years,
reaching professional peaks and tragic personal depths.
Heroes and Villains - The true story of the Beach Boys by Steven Gaines ...
reveals the gothic tale of violence, addiction, greed, genius, madness, and rock 'n' roll,
behind the wholesome, surf-and-sun image of the time.

The book portrays and evaluates all those who propelled the California myth.
Murry Wilson, the corrosive father who abused them as children and exploited them as adults.
Dennis Wilson, who explored every avenue of excess (including welcoming the entire Manson Family into his home).
The Wilsons' cousin and Beach Boys frontman Mike Love, whose devotion to eastern religion,
could not quell his violent temper.
It's a story about the wives, mistresses, managers and producers who consumed huge pieces of the musical pie.

And of course the band's artistic centre, Brian Wilson ...
the mentally fragile musical genius, who achieved so much and then so little.