A Car Ride Conversation with Barry and Richard Cowsill

[@Ron-Usmc-Vietnam]

And since I am alone I will observe a moment of silence for Richard, my brother in arms, my fellow Vietnam veteran……….Rest in Peace my brother.

[@louisepalanker]

Yes.

[@lizadivine3785]

Louise you did a great job helping this family to come to terms in such a loving and respectful way. You asked the right questions…because you cared.

[@louisepalanker]

I do, and thank you.

[@vickipetrotta8167]

I look just like my mom

[@lonh6744]

I wonder if Richard had any forgiveness for his dad before he died. It's so nice to see the band let him come up and sing with them the few times that he did. I love this family.

[@animaljustice7774]

Honestly, I don’t think his father deserved any forgiveness, he was a real bastard

[@deborahrowland4264]

How aweful, Their father was a beast. So glad The Cowsills kept their positive inspiration and support Ed each other,. Thank you Louise, for sharing this video.

[@cwilson6990]

God Bless Barry Bill Richard 🙏✝️❤️

[@alangray9117]

I've been on a cowsills binge all weekend. Thanks for these. What stories and talent. Thank you Miss Louise.

[@louisepalanker]

You are very welcome.

[@ogr7771]

Rest in peace the both of you.

[@janetmavis6796]

Thank you for sending these sure do miss Richard and Barry not to mention Barbara and Billy keep them coming please

[@Ron-Usmc-Vietnam]

This room was vacated a year ago but I recently discovered Louise’s work and have been binge watching ever since!

[@shirleypena4133]

I'm 90% sure that I recall seeing a Cowsills lunch box ages ago, when I was a young teen (I'm 66 now) so I agree with Richard. I pretty much agree with everything that Richard says here and elsewhere.

[@7JANEWAY]

It’s hard to fathom that both of these men have been dead for several years now. Thank you, Louise, for leaving a legacy for them by sharing your experience with them with the world!

[@louisepalanker]

They were quite a duo!

[@7JANEWAY]

@@louisepalanker What year was this filmed?

[@louisepalanker]

@@7JANEWAY Around about 2004, I believe. It was the year the Red Sox won the World Series.

[@lonh6744]

Yes Louise, thank you. The work you put into all of this and the results are amazing to me. When seeing some of the TV appearances in their heyday, I'm recognizing some of the episodes. The one where Susan "likes Bill" is very familiar to me. But I don't think I had put together the family band thing with the "Hair" 45 that I bought when I was a kid. I worked with a guy back in the 90s who asked me if I had ever heard of The Cowsills. I told him I had and that Hair was the first record I had ever bought when I was a kid. Used to play that over and over and just laugh and laugh standing by the phonograph. Anyway, it turns out that that he was married to a cousin of the Cowsills. He had never heard of them until they went visiting and one of them said, " say, I think Bob is playing tonight. Should we go see him?" And that's when he found out about the Cowsills. I've had a lot of fun keeping up with them these days. Bought the new CD. Even some of the old vinyl records. I hope that Omnivore re releases the old CDs (especially Cocaine drain and Global) They sure seem to be having a lot of fun these days. Hope things get better and better for them! Thanks again, Louise. 🙂

[@goodtimefolkrock]

Wow theyre dead now......whose left? Susan and.....?

[@axlturn1144]

I just found out who the Cowsills are. I honestly never heard of them but I ran across a live performance that was played on KZbin. I really liked it. I start looking into the groups biography. They're definitely very interesting and very talented family. I like that they had different styles of music later in life. I love this interview, Richard and Barry seem like very good people. I know they're were speaking of serious subjects but both had good sense of humor. They have their differences but what siblings don't. How unfortunate that Bill, Barry and Richard had passed away. I honestly would've love to have seen them perform with the Cowsills. My favorite is Barry. Barry seemed like a very likable and talented man. Richard I know didn't sing but still done great on stage with his siblings. I'm glad the remaining Cowsills are doing good and still performing. Thank you so much for this great interview.

[@louisepalanker]

Thank you so much for watching, Lori. You have some good insights. Richard and Barry are both sweet and brilliant souls.

[@BeautifulSpirit-kf5ld]

John and Barry suffered (And not just getting smacked around by Bud.) They always had too much class to give details. Protecting the Cowsill brand. But we know how Cali works. How you get a TV show... There is a cost. Rest well Barry.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

It's not the brand they're protecting. They understand that any discussion on their part of the traumas they experienced as children serves only to bring up bad memories and traumas in their other siblings.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Back again, 19 Nov 24. I really enjoyed this video. Great job.... thank you again, Louise.

[@louisepalanker]

You're so welcome!

[@patrickhackett3878]

My two favorite Cowsills. Except for all the rest.

[@louisepalanker]

Haha! They were a trip, alright.

[@patrickhackett3878]

@@louisepalanker Lucky you!

[@HankFinkle11]

@@louisepalankerthank you for bringing to light just how gifted these people are.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Back again, another great video, Louise. Thanks.

[@nicholasmelfi4684]

I miss Barry so much. He showed up in Stuart Florida back in the early 80's. I took him and and still do not regret it to this day. Never had so much fun in my life. He was wild then and I would argue if he was a drunk that could drive.He talked me into going to a Fleetwood Mac concert in West Palm Beach. Forty miles of me arguing there is no way to get in. Son of a bitch, second request to a sercurity that Barry Cowsill was here to see Stevie Nicks we were in!

[@louisepalanker]

Haha! I would call that story very Barry. A phrase we used often while making the film. A truly remarkable soul.

[@nicholasmelfi4684]

@@louisepalanker I have a time in my life I will never forget. I have some pictures of him and me with my girlfriend from guessing 1981 if you are inteestd

[@nicholasmelfi4684]

sorry interested. And no, just having fun, no sex.

[@louisepalanker]

@@nicholasmelfi4684 There are a few Facebook groups that will be very interested. Here's one: facebook.com/groups/1704902933197264

[@garyschwartz1958]

I meet Barry in Newport RI in 2003 or so in a small bar

[@louisepalanker]

Oh, that's awesome.

[@sharonscott4600]

I feel for Richard. He was singled out and then separated from and by his own family.

[@HankFinkle11]

No. Not by the siblings. By the awful dad.

[@lol3p488]

miss them lots

[@allkindsamusicchick]

Can't believe I'm just seeing this now. Thanks for the extra footage, LP!

[@louisepalanker]

Enjoy!

[@Dana-wq5tp]

Very sad how Barry defends his parents when he knows exactly what happened. Denial is always the element that keeps the abuse going.

[@Davenemetzmusic]

Wow, Barry and Richard had the same voice!

[@louisepalanker]

Yes, pretty much!

[@SUPERFLY-ky7yh]

Wow, so our family wasn't the only one!

[@louisepalanker]

It's good to know, isn't it?

[@elifoust7664]

Great guys RIP

[@louisepalanker]

So entertaining!

[@ThePoobears]

Louise thank you for posting this great footage and sad to hear they had such a rotten father... Rip Billy Barry and Richard and of course Barbara .....

[@connieshoemaker1458]

Poor Richard, and all of them, horribly sad.

[@dcole2133]

Ha ha ha they were wonderful and funny wish I could have taken away their pain, but coming from a family of 7 kids also with dysfunctions I know all too well … rip Richard and Barry 💕

[@louisepalanker]

Oh, they were characters alright!

[@dannyabe6452]

The father did so much damage to these kids.

[@HankFinkle11]

Rich had talent. That’s clear in some of the videos that were made of him singing later in life.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

I'm not sure either way - but it's clear to me from interviews and such that there has always been something not quite right in his brain and that he was very likely a liability to the band because his behavior was the least stable of any of them. Part of his brain just never seems to have developed past childhood.

[@HankFinkle11]

@@chuckschillingvideos that’s ridiculous.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

@@HankFinkle11 No, it's clearly NOT ridiculous. You would have to be the most obtuse person on earth not to notice this - oh....wait....that makes you the most obtuse person on earth.

[@kimworkman2425]

I love Barry but there's no excuse for buds abuse. Even if other parents thought it was ok

[@cowsills.enthusiast]

Hey Louise, I love your videos and documentary and I am a huge Cowsills fan! I was just wondering if you have more footage to upload of them? They are sooooo interesting and I just cannot get enough of them. Thank you so very much for all of your work and research!

[@louisepalanker]

I do. I have a ton of footage. It's a lot of working editing pieces to put up and then making sure that The Cowsill sign off on it. But, yes, I will put some more online soon!

[@cowsills.enthusiast]

@@louisepalanker Thank you so much!!! Means a lot to us Cowsills fans!!!!! ❤️

[@donnamcgowan4063]

Thank you.

[@louisepalanker]

You're welcome!

[@tuskedbeast]

I guess you go through stages taking in Richard and might end up feeling more positive, but I get so sad. Damn that father.

[@jrzerelocatedpatriots3862]

I spent 17 years not knowing which dad was going to come home. The happy drunk, or the nasty abusive one

[@louisepalanker]

Oh, no. I’m so sorry.

[@cathymarie8304]

Once I pumped gas and no gas went in. I didn’t notice until I was several miles down the road. I didn’t get the receipt either. I learned a valuable lesson…

[@louisepalanker]

Haha. Chalk it up to distraction but in this case, I went in to buy something and Richard was on pump detail. I think it had been awhile since last he pumped gas. But it was very human.

[@nickiemartin1426]

Yes, every time I see these guys try taking, they constantly interrupt each other. I guess they enjoyed singing because they got to express themselves without interruptions, lol

[@louisepalanker]

Good Point!

[@tod3msn]

The father is not here as well as some of the children so it’s so all in the past now. I think the remaining Cowsills Bob and Paul and Susan are light in their public presentations. And doing great in their shows. In the end, we need to move on and forgive and love.

[@rhostatton8944]

abusive parents are never nurturing parents...imho

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks so much Louise. What year was this recorded?

[@louisepalanker]

This would have been 2004. It was the year the Red Sox won the World Series.

[@cwilson6990]

Thank you ❤️ love this 😉 Cathy

[@louisepalanker]

You are so welcome!

[@bryanforis1839]

Before this movie I listen to Howard talk with them and everyone family would talk over each other and half of stuff they talk of good stuff it was half and half I like at least someone in family come out great 👍

[@aptadpamu]

Louise, thank you for your hard work making the documentary, posting these clips and the insights. Do you have a sense of the differences between Billy, Barry and Richard and their lives derailing vs Bob, Paul, John, and Susan who's lives have flourished (with some bumps in the road for sure)? I mean, they all had the same parents, but different outcomes. Thanks again for sharing.

[@louisepalanker]

The siblings have a green eye, brown eye theory. They say that the brown eyed kids got Mom's better nature and the green eyed kids got some of Dad's demons.(mental illness, substance abuse, etc.) It's so hard to know but I think it's a study in who we are when we come to Earth and how that interacts with our circumstances.

[@margaretgonzolez5759]

So, if Bud Cowsill had not been so evil, how does one think the Cowsills would have turned out differently?

[@chuckschillingvideos]

There's absolutely no way to know, and it is a creepy thing to think about - because the mind always wanders to the inevitable question of whether his abuse and brutality toward his children, particularly the oldest sons, was a necessary precursor to their pursuit of music and determination to excel at it. So it's a very uncomfortable question to pose.

[@vilstef6988]

I really enjoyed this interview. I think Richard and Barry the the two most like me, which is a bit odd because it seems to me they are the two brothers least alike! An advantage which rests with me is I got along with my parents and didn't have a houseful of siblings.

[@louisepalanker]

They both went out of their way to understand each other. Interesting team!

[@vilstef6988]

@@louisepalanker It's interesting they worked hard for understanding. The only Cowsill I don't think highly of is Bud.

[@vilstef6988]

I searched images and found no Cowsills lunchbox. I'm sure Becky Presley would have a picture of one if it existed.

[@louisepalanker]

There was no Cowsills lunchbox, sadly.

[@vilstef6988]

@Louise Palanker, if such a wonder existed, I'd want it to have the Jack Davis art from the MGM Greatest Hits album!

[@louisepalanker]

@@vilstef6988 I just don't know about that. I'm sure it's out there.

[@vilstef6988]

On Etsy, I found a somewhat flat ornament with the Jack Davis art. I could make my own Cowsills lunchbox with the preferred art!

[@louisepalanker]

@@vilstef6988 That sounds awesome!

[@bethpent8851]

Barry became good friends with Bud i dont even understand how that could happen.

[@rinaticson390]

I didn't know that Richard passed away.

[@louisepalanker]

Yes, sadly.

[@margaretgonzolez5759]

Louise Palanker- weren't you nervous with these two in the car with you?

[@louisepalanker]

I had Ian with me and honestly, you get used to them and they are sweethearts.

[@just_ben1951]

Why?

[@riverebec1]

I have to admit that my patience grew thin with the Cowsill siblings when it came to hearing Richard's side of the story. Their constant interruptions and denial of his feelings (possibly out of guilt?) drove me crazy.

[@Ron-Usmc-Vietnam]

Work on your patience.

[@fredcloud9668]

What kind of bizarre interview is this ? Brian Wilson comes to mind.

[@Ron-Usmc-Vietnam]

Move along.

[@gwendolynkaren5933]

Susan is letting Richard talk. Wow

[@vickipetrotta8167]

Me too

[@louisepalanker]

I'm so sorry.

[@donisepatrick5098]

No children should have to suffer for what their fathers went through serving our country it’s just a sad situation it’s like my father he covered his time spent in the Navy by drinking and it it really put airy dysfunction in my family as well as my older brother got older my dad would always pick on him and try to build literally saying he was going to mount a hell of beans and all the stuff I know exactly what they’re talking about

[@donisepatrick5098]

Actually this is good therapy I mean in their telling what happens when you become famous and have an alcoholic or drug addict parents

[@louisepalanker]

My theory is that this type of male rage is passed from father to son through bullying.

[@just_ben1951]

@@louisepalanker Looks like these kids broke the cycle and supported one another.

[@louisepalanker]

@@just_ben1951 Yes, for sure!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

That was a shame with Barry After Susan relocated to New Orleans Barry fell in love with the city too. unfortunately it took him in Katrina floodwaters Basically bud cowsill turned out to be a Bing Crosby. Beat the hell out of his kids after drinking but acted like everything was perfect on screen Richard of course more like the family promoter never really played any instruments while the rest of the family were musically gifted

[@HankFinkle11]

NO! They “all didn’t do it!” Barry is alibiing. Rich is right.

[@lonh6744]

Louise I just watched a recent interview with Bob, Paul and Susan where he says that you started coming out to his shows in 2007? to talk to him about doing a documentary. But here's Barry who died in Katrina. And I thought I saw you with them doing the Star Spangled Banner so was Bob incorrect on that date? He must have known you long before that.

[@louisepalanker]

Yes, I think it was more like 2003 or 2004.

[@lonh6744]

And from this video I have wondered...what happened with the gas?

[@louisepalanker]

@@lonh6744 It's such a good question. Richard volunteered to pump the gas while I went into the shop to get coffee. I assumed that he had, in fact, pumped the gas, since the nozzle was in the car and then returned to the pump. It turned out, as I pulled away and looked down at the meter, that Richard did not know how to pump gas. I was attempting to communicate this to Bob's car as diplomatically as possible. We were following them and this was before GPS was on phones and in cars.

[@melanieobremki4876]

Why is so little said about their mother? Were any of them close to her in childhood or before she died?

[@louisepalanker]

I think this is the sort of question they would each have to answer. Our relationships with our parents can be very layered and complicated.

[@hrhbear]

Its sad about the way they were raised but even sadder the way they turned out.......they seem to all be under the influence of something in almost all the videos Ive seen them in and they talk openly about it and to date 3 of the boys are dead due to the addictions and its so sad at what they could have been,,,,,if they had believed in themselves and surrounded themselves with good people........

[@Ron-Usmc-Vietnam]

They DO believe in themselves and they ARE surrounded by good people!

[@VonL]

Adult children of alcoholics. Constantly enabling, rationalizing the irrational, excusing the inexcusable. A thoroughly dysfunctional family. Richard provided an outsiders view & opinion of the dysfunction, the Fool in this Tragic Kingdom. He obviously wasn’t taking the official position. Walking wounded, all. Shocking & disgusting.

[@louisepalanker]

Yes, we all deal differently.

[@crichardson2990]

The Cowsills had brilliant writers and chose good covers. Mom & little girl additions were unfortunate. Fans hated that. Their father was the worst manager ever, and destroyed a band that would have been legendary.

[@sharonnorthern1525]

Boy, Dick was a LOT. I feel bad for him but man, he must’ve been hard to be around much.

[@louisepalanker]

He was a lot but he was very perceptive and I am glad we captured his personality.

[@sharonnorthern1525]

@@louisepalankeroh yeah! All of these interviews are just priceless. I’m so glad you were able to capture them.

[@louisepalanker]

@@sharonnorthern1525 Thank you for watching, Sharon.