It seems the most prolific, legendary artists have one trait that unites them: at some point in their lives, they go crazy. Sometimes they OD; sometimes they just become incomprehensible to friends and family. It’s sad, sure, but it makes for a hell of a read.

Who wants to hear that Brian Wilson had a successful career as a brilliant musician before settling down with a wife and kids in Connecticut? That’s a horribly written ending. Boring. No, we want to read that after producing what is arguably the best album of all time, Brian Wilson does every drug on the planet, fries his brain, balloons up to 300 pounds, loses nearly every member of his family and becomes completely inarticulate and incoherent. That’s just a good story. 

CONTINUED AT: -MAD ATOMS-