A Christmas present from 2011

[maryw7]

  

This interview from December of 2011 is more than cool.

It is RICH of insight from Dean and OF Dean

To me, that is quite satisfying as  Jan and Dean fan

Wanna know how Dean feels?  Read this article ...enjoy!!

http://rockabillynblues.blogspot.com/2011/12/dean-torrence-garage-doo-wop-with-jan.html?m=1. 

[Mike1965]

Thank you for sharing this Mary.  Very good interview with Dean.  Interesting mention of his high priced collectibles on the Jan & Dean website.  I have seen them many times wishing I was wealthy

[sweetdudejim]

Very good interview. Super informative.

His attitude is kinda shitty though, just in general. Kinda put Jan's last 30 years down in a way that I don't think he would if Jan was still alive.

I also think it's a shame he acted like he "couldn't be creative anymore" or whatever because of the "political or economic situation." So reading between the lines with that one, it sounds like he's more worried about protecting his money from taxes by President Obama. Kinda stupid if you ask me. He should be trying to have fun with life instead of acting like a cranky old fart.

[2dean2]

Well I think Dean was telling the truth. Which is what we hide while someone we love is still alive.  I'm sure Jan was very frustrated . After all Jan was a winner, genius, ladies man , singer. Going to be a doctor. Then he wakes up one day and he's so damaged he will never be those again. Ever. And he knows it. He still has the mind to remember and if he dont his fans will want him to sign pics from the old days that remind him. Of what once was and what could've been. And Dean was there before and after the show. When he was Jan & Dean but just Jan a brain damaged cripple.
As far as Dean being worried about the political/economic future a lot of business people were/are and due 100% to Obama and the rest of the ASSHOLE's running/ruining this country

[Surfin Again]

Well said, 2dean2

As part of "Jan & Dean", Jan was not important anymore in Phase 2

Actually, there would not have been a Phase 2 without Dean

The TV movie: Even if it was not accurate (and never pretended to be as it was a TV entertainment movie), it triggered the whole thing again and without that, nobody would have taken notice of Jan & Dean anymore

The K-Tel re-recordings: Not as bad as everyone is making them. They found the way on countless comps and oldies best-ofs and kept the name and interest alive. Without them, Jan & Dean just would not have been present on all those releases and sunk into oblivion

The concerts: It was Dean & the Band, with Jan being there. All those tours and successful concerts would not have happend otherwise. To be honest, who cared about Jan & the Alohas?

Further re-recordings: A lot of the stuff on "Silver Summer" or the Legendeary Masked Surfers releases were mighty fine pop songs

I am not putting Jan down as I liked him a lot, but after the accident, the roles within Jan & Dean were (and had to be) reversed

Pinning all the talent and importance solely on Jan is as bad as being one of those Brianistas within the Beach Boys camp (he was important but is not any more)

Give Dean his due and stop putting him down all the time. Without him, Jan & Dean would have ended in April 1966

[2dean2]

Yes it was Dean who had to say yes . And at the same time Jan had to too. Both tried to do their "solo/duo" thing . But management said the fans want the other guy up there too. Not in anyway putting Jan down . But you never knew what Jan you would see in concert . Bob talks about a show he missed in Kansas City Mo where Jan passed out. I was there Jan in the first show was just hanging back in front of the drum set . With the occasional "Bomp" "Yeah". Then passed out during the second show. I thought they were done as an act . Then supriise next year or was it two . Jan had one of the best shows I'd ever seen !!!!!!

[jdman]

We can go back and forth on this issue. There is no question that Jan Berry is the reason that Jan and Dean and Jan & Arnie happened. He was the work horse and brains behind the whole thing. Dean kept it alive in Phase II. All of you are correct.

All I know is when I'm having a bad day, I put on Jan & Dean and it puts a smile on my face. Sometimes it's the bopping early years, sometimes it's the Jan Berry productions of 63-66. Whatever the case, they are by far my favorite artists and their music was awesome! Everything else takes a back seat to that.

[Mark A. Moore]

The original era of J&D is all that matters, from a relevance standpoint. J&D never had hit records again, either together or separately. The re-recordings hurt rather than helped, as they flooded the market with false advertising, and did little to steer casual fans to the original recordings.

The bottom line is that Jan had three lucrative (creative) contracts with Screen Gems, and was highly paid during J&D's original era. Dean was not highly paid in the original era. He did okay (far better than many), but nothing approaching Jan's financial situation. Those contracts gave Jan deadlines to meet, with consequences if he didn't.

You'll see the breakdown in the Sessionography. I'm very close to having 1964 ready for publication.

After the accident, Jan was never himself again; and Dean is right. Jan was always frustrtated.

The oldies touring act gave Dean a chance to finally make the most money between the two; and Jan got to be on-stage. And fans got to see them together. Live performances were never Jan's first love, but they were all he had left on a consistent basis (aside from his occasional studio sessions and releases). At least Jan did continue to write, record, and release new material on occasion.

And in the final analysis, they each needed the other to make it work -- in both eras.

Dean's own sister summed it up pretty well in 1977:

"He didn't get that much involved in music. I mean Jan was the one who really got involved with the producing. Also, Jan was a lot stronger character than my brother was . . . like cool . . . and the girls fell over him. My brother was one of those who kinda watched it all . . . stood on the sidelines, you know. He was always kinda there . . . right place at the right time, but he wasn't the one who was putting in all the big energy. He kinda went along with it all. He lived with my mom and dad for a real long time. Like when he was 19 up to when he was 25 he still lived at home. Jan (on the other hand) had a house . . . whereas Dean liked living at home and saving his money, and having a nice Corvette. His parents and me kinda bolstered all the insanity away from his life. He didn't get into drugs or hang out with weird people."

[craig]

2dean2 your dislike for Jan is sad. How many of J and D hits that dean sings in his concerts did he have anything to do with? I saw them in concert twice, 1978 and  1979. Jan was front and center both times and sang his hits and the concerts were great. I saw Dean and his band after Jan was gone and all he wanted to sing were mostly Beach Boy songs with a few of Jan and Dean songs thrown in. So to say phase 2 was all Dean is a slap in the face to a man who struggled  and should be in the R and R hall of  Fame.

[2dean2]

Hey Craig .  I hate to say but you are not understanding my post at all.
I saw Jan & Dean apox 6 times 81 , 83 , 84 , 86 and very late 90's 2000's  Sorry the last two dates are fuzzy.  I  have / had NO Dislike for Jan ! I was simply saying I understood what Dean was saying by Jan being frustrated.  And as far as Jan 's post accident performances go . Sometimes he was spot on as good as a lot of other people who never got hurt . And others he would have a "bad brain day" And Dean and the others would fill in. Even when he was going good members of the band would step in on parts of songs  he used to sing . As he could no longer sing that part . I never liked the amount of BB songs J&D or Dean had in their act . Of course when I saw Dean by himself it was him and Dave Marks of the BB's . So that's understandable. If you knew how many bands never played and still dont play or sing on their recordings you would flip . Dean is just the tip of the iceberg .

[craig]

2dean2  YOU think Dean  should get the credit for phase 2 because Jan was frustrated. There would have  been no Dean with out Jan. We had this discussion on the old board a long time ago. I asked Dean about Mark writing Jans biography, he made it clear that he didn't have a lot of nice things to say about Mark. Why? The title was  All is not well in Surf City. Mark, do you remember that?

[Mark A. Moore]

Craig,

There have been a number of topics like this on the boards over the years. I can't keep 'em all straight.

[BlackSea]

The only thing that makes sense on this post is the image of the alternative Carnival Of Sound photo.  I can use this for one of my J & D comps.  Thanks Dean,  keep on.

[1WALLY1]

SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF NASH THE SLASH TO ME WITH A BIT OF WALLY YAGI ADDED IN FOR GOOD MEASURE

CHEERS
1WALLY1

[RockabillyNBlues]

Thanks for posting and reading this.  It was a pleasure to speak with Dean and get some of the inside scoop.  I became a fan as a kid and have remained one well into my 40's.  I found him to be witty and insightful.  Understandably, there are some issues that are a bit touchy but he continues to keep the J&D name alive and for that I'm very thankful!!