by Michael LelloWeekender Editor
Interviewing Brian Wilson is a bit like talking to a child. Wilson gives short answers, but he doesn’t duck the questions. He sees his life and his career in simple, uncomplicated terms: He plays music because he likes to. He has a bunch of dogs. He goes for long walks. He says the Beach Boys won’t be reuniting, doesn’t explain why and doesn’t seem to need a reason.
As the architect that built the Beach Boys lush vocal harmonies, Wilson brought the sunny sounds of California beaches to the rest of the country. But there was always a touch of melancholy in the songs — a lyrical line that expressed doubt, a minor-key turn or a sad wash of strings or horns.
Wilson’s life has mirrored that. Like the sad clown and title character in the opera “Pagliacci,” he brought smiles to millions but couldn’t make himself happy. The fact that an album called “Smile” caused him deep depression — first in the late ’60s, then again when he revisited it in the early ’00s — might be the ultimate irony.
There are sad and bizarre moments in Wilson’s history, like having sand brought into his home and leading his band through exercises when he first started work on “Smile.” To ignore those aspects of Wilson’s life and career would be to leave out important parts of the truth and the legend.
Wilson, who will perform at the F.M. Kirby Center on Wednesday, Nov. 11, took some time in early October to talk to us about, well, just about everything. Shortly after our interview, Wilson, 67, announced that he and his wife Melinda adopted their second son, Dash, and that he had signed with Walt Disney Records to record an album of George and Ira Gershwin tunes as well as a collection of Disney classics.
‘I GET AROUND’
Since the release of “Smile” in 2004, Wilson has toured more frequently than he ever has since he faded out of the Beach Boys. Currently, he’s playing more than 40 songs a night over the course of two sets, mixing in selections from his latest album “That Lucky Old Sun” with some greatest hits from his run as one of the best songwriters, composers and arrangers in pop history.
Weekender: For years, dating back to the mid-’60s, you didn’t tour. Now you’re on the road quite a bit. Is it something you enjoy now?
Brian Wilson: Yeah, because I don’t want to lay around my house all day not doing anything. I have to get off my butt and make some money, make people happy. I enjoy playing.
Weekender: You mention making people happy. When you’re playing, do you look out into the crowd and get a sense of how your music is affecting people?
BW: Yeah, I do. I can just tell by the way they move their hands, the way the smile, all that stuff.
Weekender: You sit behind a keyboard at your shows. Do you play it at all?
BW: I play it on two songs, that’s all.
Weekender: Are you just more comfortable sitting than standing?
BW: Yeah.
Weekender: Tell me a little bit about your touring band. What do they bring to these songs?
BW: They bring energy and love. I have a drummer, a percussionist, a bass player, three guitar players, two keyboards and a horn. And we all play together.
‘ … WASN’T MEANT FOR THESE TIMES’
Wilson, already off the road but still a member of the Beach Boys, began work on “Smile” in 1966, calling it “a teenage symphony to God.” When the rest of the band heard it, they thought it was too strange and rejected it. It became the most famous and mysterious album that never existed, until 2003, when Wilson resurrected and finished the project. He released “Smile” as a solo album in 2004 and debuted it that February at Royal Festival Hall in London, a show which was released on DVD with a documentary in 2005.
Weekender: How did you feel after you played that last note of “Smile” in London?
BW: Well, I felt proud and satisfied both.
Weekender: It took 40 years for you to release “Smile,” and it was a struggle for you. Was it worth the wait?
BW: Oh yeah, yeah. Because we finally realized that it was so far ahead of its time, we decided to do it (later).
Weekender: What kind of reception do you think “Smile” would’ve gotten if it was released in 1967 like you intended?
BW: I don’t think it would’ve done anything.
Weekender: So you think it’s for the best that it came out when it did?
BW: Yeah, yeah.
Weekender: McCartney was at that show.
BW: Well, it’s quite an honor, of course. He’s like the most famous entertainer in the whole world, and I was very honored that he would come to my concert.
‘THAT’S NOT ME’
The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Wilson was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000 and received a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor in 2007.
Weekender: Of all the songs you’ve written, what do you think is the best?
BW: I think “God Only Knows” is my best song, I think “California Girls” is my best record and “Good Vibrations” is the most famous record we made, ya know? We made a few good records.
Weekender: Is there an honor you’ve received that you are most proud of?
BW: When I got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And when I got inducted into the Kennedy Center awards.
Weekender: So many musicians have called you a major influence and show up to perform whenever they hold a tribute show to you. How does that make you feel?
BW: Well, it makes me feel … First of all, who in the hell are the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson? Ya know what I mean? I think it’s great that people like my music, and I’m glad that they like the songs.
‘GOOD VIBRATIONS’
Wilson took little time off between “Smile” and “That Lucky Old Sun,” released last September.
Weekender: After “Smile,” you went right back into the studio and did “That Lucky Old Sun.” Why so soon?
BW: I was inspired. I get very inspired, so we did another album.
Weekender: What are you working on currently?
BW: I’m working on a new album, but I don’t know which direction it’s going to go in. It’s in the beginning stages. There’s a semblance of a few songs but it’s not going very good.
Weekender: Where did you get your talent for singing and arranging harmonies? Was it a natural gift or did you learn it from someone?
BW: I learned from The Four Freshmen, and also from the ’50s records like “Come Go With Me” by The Del Vikings. Some of those songs really inspired me to make harmonies.
Weekender: What type of music do you listen to?
BW: I listen to a radio station KRTH that plays oldies but goodies. The 60s and the 70s music. I don’t listen to that modern rap music.
Weekender: What was it like to know that while the Beach Boys were at their peak, bands like the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles, specifically, were also putting out some tremendous albums?
BW: I was inspired by the Beatles. I wasn’t really jealous, because I was proud of my group, ya know? But for a little while there I was a little jealous when they did the British Invasion, ya know what I mean? I was a little jealous of that, but we just got crankin’ and made some good records.
‘IN MY ROOM’
In the early ’70s, Wilson famously retreated to his Bel Air mansion, rarely leaving his bed. He was mentally ill and began seeing psychotherapist Eugene Landy. Wilson’s struggles with the illness, as well as drugs and stagefright, are the stuff of legend and were documented by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies in their song “Brian Wilson” (which Wilson later himself covered).
Weekender: What did you think when you first heard the song “Brian Wilson”?
BW: I was kind of shocked, ya know? (laughs) But I don’t know. I was proud, actually, that they did it.
Weekender: When you were having your problems in the ’60s, did you ever think you’d still be doing music in 2009?
BW: No. I never dreamed I would.
Weekender: How do you feel now?
BW: I feel creative. I feel like making a song, ya know?
Weekender: Do you have any idea how much longer you’ll be writing music? Are you worried that one day it just won’t come out anymore?
BW: No. Actually, I’m not worried. I don’t know. I’m not worried.
‘PET SOUNDS’
There’s no appropriate way to introduce the next part of the conversation. However, the answers are delightful — especially the stuff about the dogs.
Weekender: Do you consider your music rock music?
BW: I call myself slow rock, or soft rock. I’m not a really a hard rock guy, more of a soft rock kind of guy.
Weekender: In a recent interview, fellow Beach Boys founding member Mike Love said there have been talks about you performing with the Beach Boys again. Is there any truth to that?
BW: No there isn’t. No.
Weekender: How much longer do you see yourself being a musician?
BW: I think ’til I die
Weekender: What do you like to do in your spare time?
BW: I like to exercise. I take long walks.
Weekender: How is everything going at home?
BW: It’s going pretty good. It’s a little hectic around here because we have 14 dogs. Fourteen dogs.
Weekender: Are you able to remember all their names?
BW: Nah. No I don’t. But when they all yell together or bark together, it hurts my ears.
Weekender: Who takes care of these dogs?
BW: My friends and my housekeeper Gloria.
Weekender: What kinds of dogs are they?
BW: They’re all different kinds of dogs. Yorkshire terriers, a black female poodle that’s 12 years old. I don’t know, just all different kinds of dogs.
Weekender: Do you spend a lot of time with them?
BW: Not really spend time with them. But I can hear them all the time. They’re always barking.
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An evening with Brian Wilson, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., F.M. Kirby Center (Public Square, Wilkes-Barre). Tickets: $24.50, $49, $75 at Kirby box office, by calling box office at 570.826.1100,
Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com. Info: www.brianwilson.com
