Teaser // Dennis Wilson: BAMBU with Steven Hyden

Summary

Podcast Summary: Jokermen Episode – Teaser // Dennis Wilson: BAMBU with Steven Hyden

Release Date: May 15, 2025
Hosts: Jokermen (Steve and Ian)
Guest: Brian
Platform: Cross-posted on Neverending Stories and Patreon feeds

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Introduction and Episode Crossover

The episode opens with a brief musical intro, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion about Dennis Wilson’s solo work. Steve and Ian of Jokermen announce an exciting crossover with Neverending Stories, highlighting the collaborative nature of this special episode.

Brian enthusiastically welcomes listeners from both audiences:

"I always like to say hello to the Jokerman audience. If they're not subscribing to Neverending Stories, you should check us out." (01:08)

Exploring Dennis Wilson's Bamboo vs. Pacific Ocean Blue

The primary focus centers on Dennis Wilson’s solo albums, comparing Bamboo with his earlier work, Pacific Ocean Blue.

Steve candidly shares his perspective:

"I don't think Pacific Ocean Blue is like a great record. Do I think Bamboo is a better record? Yeah, I do." (03:21)

Brian adds depth to the conversation by emphasizing the unique qualities of Bamboo:

"It's good to revel in the filth dark side of beach bum life, which is what Dennis Wilson is the master of." (02:03)

The hosts delve into the thematic differences between the albums. While Pacific Ocean Blue contains reflective and apologetic themes such as "I'm so sorry", Bamboo presents a more assertive and authentic self-expression:

"It's just I am who I am. It says together through life type record." (03:33)

Dennis Wilson: The Artist and His Struggles

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Dennis Wilson's personal struggles and how they influenced his music. The hosts highlight Dennis's consistent state of inebriation and its impact on his creative process.

Steve humorously yet thoughtfully remarks:

"He's the maestro of getting drunk at 11 in the morning and then just keeping." (02:16)

Brian reflects on Dennis’s relentless state of drunkenness:

"I think he was probably already drunk from the night before and he was just rolling it forward." (02:25)

Despite these challenges, Dennis managed to produce beautiful and emotionally charged music. Brian articulates the balance Dennis struck between darkness and beauty:

"That combination of pathos and beauty and sleaze and spirituality, that's the sweet spot for me musically. And that's what you get from Dennis Wilson." (02:40)

Unreleased Versions and Legacy of Bamboo

The conversation shifts to the various releases of Bamboo, noting the differences between the 2008 CD reissue of Pacific Ocean Blue and the 2017 vinyl version.

Brian clarifies the specific version being discussed:

"One thing we should maybe clarify at the top here is what bamboo we're talking about because there are different versions of this record." (05:29)

This segment underscores the enduring interest in Dennis Wilson's work and the complexities involved in his posthumous releases.

Concluding Thoughts

The hosts express a sense of admiration and sadness regarding Dennis Wilson's untapped potential. They reflect on how Bamboo offers a glimpse into what could have been a more expansive and evolved body of work.

Steve muses:

"It's very sad to see that that needn't have been the case. He had many more records in him." (04:05)

Brian echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the unfinished nature of Dennis's solo career and the tantalizing possibilities it holds for fans and historians alike.

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Key Takeaways

• Comparative Analysis: Bamboo is regarded as a more authentic and multifaceted record compared to Pacific Ocean Blue, showcasing Dennis Wilson's depth as an artist.

• Personal Struggles: Dennis's ongoing battle with alcoholism profoundly influenced his music, blending themes of darkness with profound beauty.

• Legacy and Releases: Different versions of Bamboo have surfaced posthumously, each offering unique perspectives on Dennis Wilson's artistic vision.

• Unfulfilled Potential: The hosts express both admiration for Dennis's work and sorrow over the untapped potential that his early passing curtailed.

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Notable Quotes:

• "I feel like it just gets a little too clean talking about Bob Dylan. You know, we definitely have the dirt bag eras of Bob that we talk about on the Neverending Tour. But, you know, it's good to get full blown sleazy." — Brian (01:08)

• "It's good to revel in the filth dark side of beach bum life, which is what Dennis Wilson is the master of." — Brian (02:03)

• "I don't think Pacific Ocean Blue is like a great record. Do I think Bamboo is a better record? Yeah, I do." — Steve (03:21)

• "He had many more records in him. Should he have been able to continue?" — Steve (04:05)

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Stay Connected:

• Subscribe on Patreon: Access all episodes ad-free and explore the complete catalogs of artists like Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, Steely Dan, Lou Reed, and John Cale at patreon.com/jokermen.

• Follow on Social Media: Stay updated with the latest episodes and discussions by following @jokermenpodcast on Instagram and Twitter.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the first five minutes of the episode. For a comprehensive understanding, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full podcast.

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Timestamp Reference

• 01:08 Brian welcomes the Jokerman audience.
• 02:03 Brian discusses Dennis Wilson's mastery of the "filth dark side."
• 02:16 Steve humorously describes Dennis's drinking habits.
• 02:25 Brian elaborates on Dennis's constant state of drunkenness.
• 02:40 Brian talks about the balance in Dennis's music.
• 03:21 Steve compares Pacific Ocean Blue with Bamboo.
• 03:33 Steve delves into the thematic differences between the albums.
• 04:05 Steve reflects on Dennis's untapped potential.
• 05:29 Brian clarifies the versions of Bamboo being discussed.

Transcript

[Steve]

This could be considered a track.

[Brian]

Not really, though.

[Steve]

We don't want to do that. This is a little intro, you know, Brian.

[Ian]

All right, here we go.

[Steve]

Countdown time. One, two, three, go. Marijuana.

[Brian]

For me.

[Steve]

Don'T care about my mama and my dad.

[Ian]

Welcome back to. Well, I guess this is. It's Jokerman and it's also Never Ending Stories. We're actually gonna cross post this one.

[Steve]

Wow.

[Ian]

For the first time, an auspicious event on both the bonus feed of Neverending Stories as well as the Patreon feed on Jokerman. Because we knew that we wanted to have you for this episode, Steve. Yeah, but, you know, it seemed to just kind of all dovetail together. Dennis Wilson, Bamboo. Evan, I promise it's the last time you're gonna have to talk about Dennis Wilson until the episode where he dies.

[Brian]

Hey, hey, hey.

[Steve]

You don't even know how I feel about Bamboo in relation to the other record. Pacific Ocean.

[Ian]

That's true.

[Steve]

Pacific Ocean, boo. Pacific Ocean Bamboo, the previous one.

[Brian]

I can't imagine ever not wanting to talk about Dennis Wilson. And can I just say I'm happy about this crossover event. I always like to say hello to the Jokerman audience. If they're not subscribing to Neverending Stories. Can I do a plug for Neverending Stories? You should check us out. It's where a lot of the Dylan stuff, that's where a lot of it is. Right now we're talking about Bob, but we're also talking about Jokerman type topics too, including Dennis Wilson. And look, it's good to talk about Dennis because I feel like it just gets a little too clean talking about Bob Dylan. You know, we definitely have the dirt bag eras of Bob that we talk about on the Neverending Tour. But, you know, it's good to get full blown sleazy. And if you're going to do that, you got to talk about late 70s Dennis Wilson, I think.

[Ian]

Sure did.

[Brian]

So it's good to revel in the filth dark side of beach bum life, which is what Dennis Wilson he's the master of.

[Steve]

Yeah, he's the master. He's the maestro of getting drunk at 11 in the morning and then just keeping.

[Brian]

Not just drunk.

[Steve]

Not just drunk. Just getting. You know, it doesn't actually matter. He probably does. It's a master of not knowing what time it is, not caring.

[Brian]

I don't even think he was getting drunk. It was maintaining drunkenness every morning. I think he was probably already drunk from the night before and he was just rolling it forward.

[Steve]

Yeah. And if you don't have alcohol. If you've run out, then throw something else in the mix.

[Brian]

But at the same time writing beautiful songs about it. And if you're like me, and if you listen to these shows, you probably are like me or you're like Evan and Ian. That combination of pathos and beauty and sleaze and spirituality, that's the sweet spot for me musically. And that's what you get from Dennis Wilson.

[Steve]

Well said. I do think though that, you know, to address some of the things Ian has alluded to.

[Ian]

The allegations. Address the allegations.

[Steve]

Let me just say it as bluntly as I can. I don't think Pacific Ocean Blue is like a great record. Do I think Bamboo is a better record? Yeah, I do. I do think so.

[Ian]

Wow, there's a zag.

[Steve]

Bamboo is more interesting. It's like, do I really want the person that we've described to be making a self serious album about his relationships and his, his, you know, I'm so sorry. Like, that is like one thing that you get a lot of on Pacific Ocean Blue. And I feel like on Bamboo, it's less of. It's not even like I'm so sorry. It's just like. It's just I am who I am. It says together through life type record.

[Ian]

Together through life.

[Steve]

Dennis Wilson's just kind of like it's a record by him that, you know, tragically did not actually come out. And I do feel like this record more than the other one, Pacific Ocean Blue. I feel like this is the thing that makes me feel like, oh, because you start to see like he had more. There are more angles and more ideas than I think one could conclude there were on the. On the previous solo effort. He wasn't finished with that. Like, I do think that's a first record. I mean, it's. It literally is, but like it also.

[Ian]

It is a first record.

[Steve]

It's got some of a first record thing going. And it's. It's just very sad to see that that needn't have been the case. Like he, he had many more records in him. Should he have been able to continue? And I do feel like this. More this continuing saga, like the peek at what that could have been, I think is for me a bit more fun and also more fascinating than what he was able to cobble together and make as his first official record, which we already discussed.

[Brian]

One thing we should maybe clarify at the top here is what bamboo we're talking about because there are different versions of this record. Like for me, the Bamboo that I'm talking about is the one that was released in 2008 with the CD reissue of Pacific Ocean Blue. There's also a vinyl version that came out in 2017 that's apparently a little bit different.