|Listed in category:
Have one to sell?

Heroes and Villains: The True Story of the Beach Boys by Steven Gaines: Used

US $19.59
ApproximatelyC $26.98
Condition:
Good
Last one3 sold
Hurry before it's gone. 1 person is watching this item.
Popular item. 3 have already sold.
Shipping:
Free Standard Shipping.
Located in: Sparks, Nevada, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Mon, Aug 18 and Sat, Aug 23 to 94104
Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's shipping history, and other factors. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.
Returns:
30 days return. Buyer pays for return shipping. If you use an eBay shipping label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
Payments:
     Diners Club

Shop with confidence

eBay Money Back Guarantee
Get the item you ordered or your money back. Learn moreeBay Money Back Guarantee - opens new window or tab
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:403987307085
Last updated on Aug 12, 2025 08:17:20 EDTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Good: A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including ...
Publication Date
1995-08-22
Pages
416
ISBN
0306806479

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Hachette Books
ISBN-10
0306806479
ISBN-13
9780306806476
eBay Product ID (ePID)
138660

Product Key Features

Book Title
Heroes and Villains : the True Story of the Beach Boys
Number of Pages
416 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
1995
Topic
Composers & Musicians, Genres & Styles / Rock, Individual Composer & Musician
Genre
Music, Biography & Autobiography
Author
Steven Gaines
Format
Trade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height
1.1 in
Item Weight
15.2 Oz
Item Length
8.5 in
Item Width
5.5 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
19
Dewey Decimal
784.5/0092/2
Synopsis
The Beach Boys have been rolling, like the tide their great songs evoke, for more than thirty years, reaching professional peaks and tragic personal depths. In this electrifying account Steven Gaines reveals the gothic tale of violence, addiction, greed, genius, madness, and rock'n' roll behind the wholesome, surf-and-sun image. Through candid interviews with close friends, family, and the Beach Boys themselves, Heroes and Villains portrays and evaluates all those who propelled the California myth, and the group who sang about it, into worldwide prominence: 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) to his inevitable self-destruction the Wilsons' cousin, frontman Mike Love, whose devotion to eastern religion could not quell his violent temper the wives (more than ten), 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. With dozens of photos, Heroes and Villains recounts the bitter saga of the American dream realized and distorted and the music that survived., The Beach Boys have been rolling, like the tide their great songs evoke, for more than thirty years, reaching professional peaks and tragic personal depths. In this electrifying account Steven Gaines reveals the gothic tale of violence, addiction, greed, genius, madness, and rock 'n' roll behind the wholesome, surf-and-sun image. Through candid interviews with close friends, family, and the Beach Boys themselves, Heroes and Villains portrays and evaluates all those who propelled the California myth, and the group who sang about it, into worldwide prominence: 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) to his inevitable self-destruction; the Wilsons' cousin, frontman Mike Love, whose devotion to Eastern religion could not quell his violent temper; the wives (more than ten), mistresses, managers, and producers who consumed huge pieces of the musical pie; and of course, the band's artistic center, Brian Wilson, the mentally fragile musical genius who achieved so much and then so little. With dozens of photos, Heroes and Villains recounts the bitter saga of the American dream realized and distorted and the music that survived., The Beach Boys have been rolling, like the tide their great songs evoke, for more than thirty years, reaching professional peaks and tragic personal depths. In this electrifying account Steven Gaines reveals the gothic tale of violence, addiction, greed, genius, madness, and rock 'n' roll behind the wholesome, surf-and-sun image. Through candid interviews with close friends, family, and the Beach Boys themselves, Heroes and Villains portrays and evaluates all those who propelled the California myth, and the group who sang about it, into worldwide prominence: 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) to his inevitable self-destruction; the Wilsons' cousin, frontman Mike Love, whose devotion to Eastern religion could not quell his violent temper; the wives (more than ten), mistresses, managers, and producers who consumed huge pieces of the "musical pie"; and of course, the band's artistic center, Brian Wilson, the mentally fragile musical genius who achieved so much and then so little. With dozens of photos, Heroes and Villains recounts the bitter saga of the American dream realized and distorted and the music that survived.

Item description from the seller

About this seller

AlibrisBooks

98.6% positive feedback1.9M items sold

Joined May 2008
Usually responds within 24 hours
Alibris is the premier online marketplace for independent sellers of new & used books, as well as rare & collectible titles. We connect people who love books to thousands of independent sellers around ...
See more

Detailed seller ratings

Average for the last 12 months
Accurate description
4.9
Reasonable shipping cost
5.0
Shipping speed
5.0
Communication
5.0

Seller feedback (514,872)

All ratings
Positive
Neutral
Negative
  • m***m (2307)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    I’m thrilled with my recent purchase . The website was user-friendly, and the product descriptions were accurate. Customer service was prompt and helpful, answering all my questions. My order arrived quickly, well-packaged, and the product exceeded my expectations in quality. I’m impressed with the attention to detail and the overall experience. I’ll definitely shop here again and highly recommend from this seller to others. Thank you for a fantastic experience!
  • a***n (51)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    Mistakenly ordered a paperback that I thought was a hardcover, not sellers fault; it was described properly on the listing. Seller still processed a refund the day I went to return the item and let me keep the item anyway. A+++ service. Book arrived quickly in great condition and for a great price. Thank you so much! Amazing seller!
  • n***c (95)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    seller was communicative about my shipment, media mail took a while and tracking wasn't updated frequently, but seller communicated to me very quickly on status. the item came new and wrapped as described, though the packaging in it was packed wasn't sturdy and falling apart when it got to me.

Product ratings and reviews

4.5
2 product ratings
  • 1 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
  • 1 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 3 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 2 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 1 out of 5 stars

Would recommend

Good value

Compelling content

Most relevant reviews

  • Hero’s and Villians

    Good read. If you want the dirt this is the book. It really got my attention.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: thrift.books

  • Great biography of a quintessential American band.

    Great biography of a quintessential American band.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: second.sale