He picked up Good Vibrations and gave us excitations; he made us Smile, he Hung Onto His Ego. Wouldn’t It Have Been Nice if he could have hung around for ever. God Only Knows where music would have been without the great Brian Wilson.

UNFORGETTABLE

Visonary, pioneer, perfectionist, innovator, music guru,  pop music icon. Whichever of these is your perception of Brian Wilson one description is universal….unforgettable.  Everyone will also have their favourite Beach Boys era, whether it be their pioneering Surf sounds of the band’s early days, the lush chamber pop of the Pet Sounds era or the later avant garde experimentation of albums like Smile, Surf’s Up and Friends. Even when he wasn’t on stage, for the Holland era, he was behind the scenes, making sure the cool again band had the songs to sing. Whatever your preference, Brian Wilson led the way.

His fellow band members were awesome musicians themselves and, whether they performed vocally or instrumentally, he encouraged them and brought out the best in them.  His harmony  and instrumental arrangements set the bench mark for the 60’s pop revolution and his groundbreaking songs:  Surfin’  USA,  Fun Fun Fun, Help Me Rhonda, California Girls, Don’t Worry Baby, Surfer Girl, Barbara Ann and of course Good Vibrations were amongst the many memorable and timeless songs that were sure fire hits.

ONE OF THE BEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN

If only once you were able to see Brian Wilson live on stage then that majestic moment would  make any concert or festival attendee’s  musical experience complete. It was obvious even in his later years as he shuffled on supported by band members  that not only did he receive much love from the audience but also the adoration and joy of playing with him was shared too.

Indeed, although his voice was almost shot by the time he made his sensational appearance on our beloved Cropredy stage (2018), the memory of hearing – and seeing – God Only Knows (one of the best songs ever written, according to Paul McCartney) sung by its creator, on THAT stage, in THAT field, is a memory that will endure as long as there are stars above us. His music reached people of all ages  as his many early fans grew up with him and their children joined the bus too.

BRIAN WILSON: THANK YOU

He gathered the respect of his contemporaries along the way as well as evidenced by the mutual respect he shared with The Beatles. He inspired them as much as he was inspired by them. As we’ve already noted, Paul McCartney chose Brian Wilson’s masterpiece God Only Knows as one of the best songs ever written. We anticipate a glut of respectful tributes to this global star and surely the media, concert and festival venue planners will prepare pleasant  memories. He was prolific in emitting cheerfulness and sheer joy. Let’s remember him for that and return it in equal measure.

One thing for sure is that his music will live on,  it has not died with him and for time immemorial any lover of  music will be able to get up Do It Again! Brian Wilson: Thank You.

Genius at work: Watch Brian Wilson direct The Beach Boys as they produce their boundary-pushing magnum opus, Good Vibrations, in 1966:

Keep up with At The Barrier: Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube