Rushton "Rocky" Pamplin (born August 3, 1949) is an American former college football player and model who was employed as a bodyguard and caretaker for
the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...
'
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
from 1977 to 1979. He was also the
Playgirl
''Playgirl'' was an American magazine that featured general interest articles, lifestyle and celebrity news, in addition to nude or semi-nude men. In the 1970s and 1980s, the magazine printed monthly and was marketed mainly to women, although i ...
cover and centerfold model for the May 1976 issue.
Background
Pamplin was born in
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...
. In the 1960s, he attended Newark High School, in
Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. He attended the
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
and the
University of Hawaii
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
, where he played college football as a running back. He was drafted in 1971 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, chosen 5th in the 10th round (239th overall), but did not play in an NFL game, being cut in preseason.
Despite reports to the contrary, there is no evidence that Pamplin later played for the
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
's
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the Canadian F ...
, as his name appears nowhere on their rosters for the relevant period.
Caretaker to Brian Wilson
Pamplin was – along with
Stan Love, a former NBA player and younger brother to Beach Boy
Mike Love
Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Characterized by his nasal tenor and occasional bass-bari ...
– hired as an extrajudicial warden for Beach Boy
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
, also the Loves' cousin. Stan would later claim that he and Pamplin were asked "to prevent
rian's_brother_and_the_band's_drummer_Dennis_Wilson.html" ;"title="Dennis_Wilson.html" ;"title="rian's brother and the band's drummer Dennis Wilson">rian's brother and the band's drummer Dennis Wilson">Dennis_Wilson.html" ;"title="rian's brother and the band's drummer Dennis Wilson">rian's brother and the band's drummer Dennis Wilsonfrom providing cocaine and other dangerous drugs to Brian Wilson." They were relieved of their services in January 1979.
Pamplin joined the band American Spring for one year in 1977. The band was fronted by Marilyn Wilson, with whom Pamplin was having an affair, and consisted of her sister Diane Rovell on vocals and Brian Wilson in a writing/producing role. Pamplin sang lead vocals on the unreleased track "
California Feelin'
"California Feelin" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Stephen Kalinich that was recorded by the Beach Boys in the 1970s. Wilson recorded a solo version in 2002 for the Beach Boys compilation '' Classics Selected by Brian Wilson''. Two compos ...
", a song written by Brian Wilson and Steve Kalinich. He also co-wrote the song "It's Like Heaven" with Wilson and Diane Rovell for American Spring, which would later appear on the
Shaun Cassidy
Shaun Paul Cassidy (born September 27, 1958) is an American singer, actor, writer, and producer. He has created and/or produced a number of television series including '' American Gothic'', '' Roar'' and ''Invasion''. Cassidy currently serves as ...
album ''Under Wraps''.
In January 1981, Stan and Pamplin followed Dennis to his house in Los Angeles. They observed Dennis consuming cocaine with several other people and kicked down the door posing as police officers. Stan and Pamplin then chased Dennis and engaged, in Stan's words, "one of the most brutal beatings ever." Dennis pressed charges, and in March, both Stan and Pamplin agreed to a mutual restraining order in a Santa Monica Superior Court. Love was fined $750 and Pamplin was fined $250 for the beating. Both were put on six months probation.
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamplin, Rocky
Musicians from Youngstown, Ohio
University of Hawaiʻi alumni
Bodyguards
Oregon Ducks football players
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players
Montreal Alouettes players
1949 births
Living people