Bruce Belland, Icons, Idols and Idiots of Hollywood - My Adventures in America’s First Boy Band, Bear Manor Media July 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected proof for review.

Bruce Belland’s story of the Four Preps, named in haste during their first public appearance, is a delightful, informative and inspiring read. I say inspiring because it is the story of young people who followed their first love, being members of a band producing popular chart worthy music, recognition that their aspirations had to change, and willingness to do so, and again, successfully. Their journey from meeting at Hollywood High School, through their development as chart favourites, to the advent of The Beatles and new music styles which resulted in the group’s break up in 1969 and move into other professions, is wonderfully told by Bruce Belland.

Belland seems to be a mixture of humility; self-confidence verging on arrogance; self-awareness and the concomitant self-deprecation; and 1950s sexism, later tempered by awareness so that he recognises this and talks of feminism. He is an excellent storyteller and communicator, and this, together with the intelligence which shines throughout this work makes Icons, Idols and Idiots of Hollywood - My Adventures in America’s First Boy Band a worthy read, even if you have never heard of “26 Miles”.

The book is arranged well, with the band’s story taking up a major part of the work, with minor asides to the young men’s personal lives. These form the later part of the book, given their due as a memoir to their partners, failed and successful marriages, health issues, and the deaths of Bellamy’s long-time companions in The Four Preps. Here the details of the lives the band members made for themselves after The Four Preps disbanded also make fascinating stories. They certainly were successes after their glory days on the popular music charts. These stories, while less detailed, fraught and exciting than their early successes demonstrate the men’s willingness to relinquish a dream that served them well and move into other lives – something that is never easy to do. It is Bellamy’s ability to weave a story that remains positive, while showing all the pitfalls and problems, which make this a unique read.

Bellamy’s story begins in Chicago, in a fundamentalist church where for the ‘price’ of a whole stick of chewing gum he sang God Bless America. His father remained hopeful that this (singing for the church, not the Wrigley’s spearmint gum) would remain Bruce’s life. His mother, recognising his aspirations were different supported him, later joined by his father. The family’s move to West Hollywood, and Bellamy’s eventual enrolment in the more salubrious area’s Hollywood High School opened a world that was promised by the (then) Hollywoodland sign.
The Four Preps story is from a world before TikTok and all the modern devices that a group seeking publicity uses. These are the days of radio playing hits (and a great story is told about the B side of the group’s record being an introduction to more fame); television variety shows; and, as for today, live appearances. So, it is a history of 1950s and 1960s bands, radio and television shows, songs, the business of becoming successful, show business management and law, overseas appearances, meeting idols and one-time idols who become disappointments, and dreams. Bruce Belland brings all of this into a witty, thoroughly engaging narrative. As I stated at the beginning, you do not need to know “26 Miles” (but it is worth playing to get a feel for the era), in some ways even a huge interest in The Four Preps is not even a requisite, to enjoy this book. Of course, it’s the story of The Four Preps, but there is so much more to mine from the wealth of ideas, information and history Belland tells.

There is a comprehensive index which also makes an interesting read with its wide range of names, songs and events. In addition, Bellamy’s proposed publications are listed: Famous Friends and Fabulous Unknowns, My Adventures with Well-Known Greats and Unheard-of Heroes; and The Lives of Our Days, My Adventures in the Wacky World of Daytime TV – Game Shows, Soaps, Divas and Dopes.