12 Facts About Jules Siegel

Jules Siegel was a novelist, journalist, and graphic designer who is best known as one of the earliest writers to treat rock music as a serious art form, although his writings about rock constituted only a small part of his total output.

Jules Siegel's work appeared over the years in Playboy, Best American Short Stories, Library of America's Writing Los Angeles, and many other publications.

Jules Siegel occasionally contributed book reviews to the San Francisco Chronicle, and he administered newsroom-l, an email discussion list for journalists.

Jules Siegel was involved in politics, working for both the Nixon and Kennedy campaigns.

Conversely, in a 1977 article, Jules Siegel supported that Pynchon had suggested that he write about the Beach Boys, but added that he himself introduced Pet Sounds to Pynchon.

From late 1966 to early 1967, Jules Siegel had a close acquaintance with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

Jules Siegel was first introduced to Wilson by Beach Boys associate David Anderle, who had enjoyed Siegel's article about Dylan and suggested that Siegel write about Wilson.

Jules Siegel, who had recently migrated from New York to Los Angeles, was impressed with Wilson, and he documented his experiences for an article which he had presold for The Saturday Evening Post.

Jules Siegel became part of a coterie that accompanied Wilson for much of the band's Smile era, a circle that Siegel later referred to as the "Beach Boys marijuana-consumption squad".

Brian disliked the article, according to Jules Siegel, for portraying his "flip-out" during the sessions.

Jules Siegel lived and worked in Mexico, beginning in 1981, where he was a witness of the Hurricane Gilbert landfall.

On November 17,2012, Jules Siegel died of a heart attack at age 77.