1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson Quotes

Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded and led the rock band the Beach Boys. After signing with Capitol Records in 1962, Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits for the group. In addition to his lifelong struggles with mental illness, Wilson is known for his unorthodox approaches to pop composition and mastery of recording techniques, and he is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the late 20th century.

The Beach Boys were formed by Brian, his brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Brian, who grew up influenced by boogie-woogie and jazz-based vocal groups, originally functioned as the band's songwriter, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and de facto leader. He co-wrote, arranged, and produced their LP Pet Sounds , considered one of the greatest albums ever made. The intended follow-up, Smile, was canceled for various reasons, which included Wilson's deteriorating mental health. As he suffered repeated nervous breakdowns, Wilson's contributions to the Beach Boys diminished, and his erratic behavior led to tensions with the band. In the 1970s, he was increasingly reputed for his hermitic lifestyle and substance abuse. Following a court-ordered removal from the care of psychologist Eugene Landy, Wilson started receiving conventional medical treatment, and in the late 1990s, he began performing and recording consistently as a solo artist. He remains a member of the Beach Boys' corporation, Brother Records Incorporated.

Wilson was the first pop artist credited for writing, arranging, producing, and performing his own material. He is considered a major innovator in the field of music production, the principal originator of the California Sound, one of the first music producer auteurs, and one of the most famous examples of the outsider musician. Only 21 years old when he received the freedom to produce his own records with total creative autonomy, he ignited an explosion of like-minded California producers, supplanting New York as the center of popular records, and becoming the first rock producer to use the studio as its own instrument. Wilson effectively set a precedent that allowed bands and artists to enter a recording studio and act as their own producers or co-producers. The zeitgeist of the early 1960s is commonly associated to his early songs, and he helped develop the sound of the wistful Flower Power era that proceeded. In later years, Wilson was regarded as a "godfather" to an era of indie musicians who were inspired by his melodic sensibilities, chamber pop orchestrations, and recording explorations. He is often depicted in media as a "genius".

His honors include being inducted into the 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and winning Grammy Awards for Brian Wilson Presents Smile and The Smile Sessions . In lists published by Rolling Stone, Wilson ranked 52 for the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" in 2008 and 12 for the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time in 2015. In 2012, music publication NME ranked Wilson number 8 in its "50 Greatest Producers Ever" list, elaborating "few consider quite how groundbreaking Brian Wilson's studio techniques were in the mid-60s". He is an occasional actor and voice actor, having appeared in television shows, films, and other artists' music videos. His life was dramatized in the 2014 biopic Love & Mercy.



✵ 20. June 1942
Brian Wilson photo
Brian Wilson: 32   quotes 0   likes

Famous Brian Wilson Quotes

“I talked to Paul McCartney over the years ranging from 1967 to 2004. … At the landmine show he did "God Only Knows" with me and I did "Let It Be" with him. And then I called him about four months ago asking him if he could come out and do — sing a song called "A Friend Like You," which I wrote for him, me and my collaborator wrote for him. And he said he'd love to come out. And he came to the studio and that was one of the bigger thrills of my life to tell you the truth, to produce Paul McCartney. And that was a thrill for me. That was a thrill.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

“Humor — it helps to make the vibe better — it loosens up the vibrations.”

Brian Wilson

OffBeat interview (2005)

“I think because I felt so sad I had to bring out my feelings, and try to create music that would make me and all my friends feel better.”

Brian Wilson

Caroline Now! interview (20 April 2000) http://www.marina.com/brian.htm

“Spirituality amounts to love with me. I consider it the same as love. And my band members are full of love.”

Brian Wilson

OffBeat interview (2005)

“A voice or a song can be so comforting to someone who really needs it.”

Brian Wilson

The Beach Boys – “Can’t Wait Too Long” (1998)

“Did I suffer from depression? Yes, a little, from time to time. Yes. … I'm not as depressed as I was. I get depressed now and then but not very much anymore. … At the height of it it was just God-awful. It was really bad.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

Brian Wilson Quotes about love

“I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it
God only knows what I'd be without you…”

Brian Wilson

God Only Knows (co-written with Tony Asher) ·  1966 Beach Boys performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpd4jzKA4SA · David Bowie performance (1984) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOadV_CPT_k&spfreload=1 · Brian Wilson and The Corrs at Buckingham Palace (2002) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEMGE9cPwmk · "The Impossible Orchestra" — BBC multi-star performance (2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqLTe8h0-jo · Brian Wilson and She & Him : "On The Island" + "God Only Knows" (2015) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sruOAvMRjhs
Pet Sounds (1966)

“It was very competitive in the '60s. And everybody caught the bug, y'know? It was like a “competitive bug.” And, as far as I could see, everybody was turning everybody on. … The Beatles were a part of that whole “competition” thing. Rubber Soul blew my mind. It really made me wanna record; it made me wanna cut. It sounds like a collection of songs that belong together, and it was an uplifting feeling. So I thought I'd make a collection of songs — called Pet Sounds — together. That's how I got that idea. … I'm proud of it. I think it's a very everlasting album. I'm very proud of the love that went into it. A lot of love went into that album. And people pick up on that too, and they really like it 'cause they feel the love.”

Brian Wilson

Bassics interview (1999)

“We wanted to bring some love to the world. I thought we were good at doing that. Bringin' love to the world.”

Brian Wilson

"A Pop Genius Speaks of Love, Mercy, and Melody " (6 November 2001)

“If there's not love present, it's much, much harder to function. When there's love present, it's easier to deal with life.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

“Take all the time you need
It's a lovely night
If you decide to come
You're gonna do it right.”

Brian Wilson

"Busy Doin' Nothin'"
Friends (1968)

Brian Wilson Quotes about God

“All of us have the privilege of making music that helps and heals — to make music that makes people happier, stronger and kinder. Don't forget: music is God's voice.”

Brian Wilson

At the induction ceremony of The Beach Boys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (January 1988) · Video of acceptance speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZSAQX2uuUY

“If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would livin' do me
God only knows what I'd be without you…”

Brian Wilson

God Only Knows (co-written with Tony Asher)
Pet Sounds (1966)

“I think about God, yes, and I wonder if there is a God. And if there is a God, will God please help me through my hard trips.”

Brian Wilson

OffBeat interview (2005)

“When people hear music that is spiritual it gets through. Music that is Godlike and loving gets through. I don’t have any power in this world, but I have spiritual power. I think God gave me my music and my talent. I’m trying to get across a feeling of spirituality; I think I have a spiritual influence on people.”

Brian Wilson

OffBeat interview (2005)

Brian Wilson Quotes

“My mother used to tell me about vibrations.”

Brian Wilson

"The Beach Boys: The Healing of Brother Brian" http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-healing-of-brother-brian-the-rolling-stone-interview-with-the-beach-boys-19761104?page=6 in Rolling Stone (4 November 1976)
Context: My mother used to tell me about vibrations. I didn't really understand too much of what that meant when I was just a boy. It scared me, the word "vibrations." To think that invisible feelings, invisible vibrations existed, scared me to death. But she told about dogs that would bark at people and then not bark at others, that a dog would pick up vibrations from these people that you can't see, but you can feel. And the same existed with people.

“I wanted to write joyful music that made other people feel good.”

Brian Wilson

At the induction ceremony of The Beach Boys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (January 1988)
Context: I wanted to write joyful music that made other people feel good. That’s what I tried to do for the past 27 years.

People , Music , Feeling

“Being called a musical genius was a cross to bear. Genius is a big word. But if you have to live up to something, you might as well live up to that.”

Brian Wilson

"Brian Wilson: God Only Knows" http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/god-only-knows-19880811 in Rolling Stone (11 August 1988)

Music

“Dennis surfed. I couldn't surf. I never learned how.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

Learning

“It started out — my mom and dad took a little vacation to Mexico and they left $250 for food. But instead of food we went and bought some instruments. We got a bass, guitar and a set of drums. … I was 19. Dennis was 15. Carl was 17. Mike was 18. Al was 19. And so we wrote a song called "Surfin'" in my living room. We were all playing and singing and Mike and I wrote a song called "Surfin'" and that's how it all started.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

Food , Moms , Singing

“I met Paul in 1967, Ringo in 1985, and I saw George Harrison in a nightclub somewhere in L. A. I never met John.”

Brian Wilson

On the Beatles. "A Pop Genius Speaks of Love, Mercy, and Melody " (6 November 2001) http://web.archive.org/web/20061231041958/http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/interview.asp?z=y&CTR=662203

“I would have the musicians keep playing over and over again till the sound made sense. I worked overtime on that; I worked hours to get it right. If the sound didn't make any sense, then I wouldn't know what to do — I'd be lost! It's instinct that tells me. I have an instinct for music, or a feeling about it, and I'll have my feelings guide my hands.”

Brian Wilson

Bassics interview (1999)

Music , Feeling , Sense

“Drive for a couple miles
You'll see a sign and turn left
For a couple blocks
Next is mine, you'll turn left on a little road
It's a bumpy one.”

Brian Wilson

"Busy Doin' Nothin'"
Friends (1968)

“My cousin came over to my house one day just to fool around and we said — he said, some day we should start a rock n' roll group. We could all get together. And I said, I know I guy named Al Jardine who plays bass and could probably sing good. You know. So we went from there.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

Fools , Guy , Singing , Housing

“Now and then I'll be a little brief with some of my band members. I won't talk or I'll refrain from talking to my band while we're rehearsing. But basically I am friendly with people. … I'll go on cold streaks. I'll work with a collaborator then I'll stop calling the collaborator for a couple weeks. I'll say I need a break from you for a couple weeks. But they're "OK, fine, fine, I'll see you in two weeks."”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

People

“I'm doing good. I've had a slight nervous breakdown in the '60s. I got through that. And I got through the '70s. And I was in a doctor's program during the '80s and then I met Melinda and we've been together ever since. I've got a happy life.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

Life , Happiness

“Being single is like liking a Phil Spector record.”

Brian Wilson

Wilson at the Tonight Show (1984)

“It's funny how people are pickin' up on our music now, you know? I think it's wonderful that people like our music.”

Brian Wilson

Caroline Now! interview (20 April 2000)

People , Music , Thinking

“The sound was essentially background sound, myself, and Carl, Dennis and Al Jardine, Mike was our lead singer. The four of us put our voices together. We had done it really beautifully. We had a beautiful blend. We really did.”

Brian Wilson

CNN interview (2004)

Beauty

“You know Chuck, Buddy, and Elvis paved the road
The roots are deep inside us
It's the rhythm in our soul.”

Brian Wilson

The Spirit of Rock'n'Roll
Sweet Insanity (1991)

Soul

Similar authors

Freddie Mercury photo
Freddie Mercury 29
British singer, songwriter and record producer
Bob Dylan photo
Bob Dylan 523
American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and artist
Bruce Springsteen photo
Bruce Springsteen 102
American singer and songwriter
John Lydon photo
John Lydon 22
English singer, songwriter, and musician
John Lennon photo
John Lennon 228
English singer and songwriter
Franco Battiato photo
Franco Battiato 4
Italian singer-songwriter, composer, and filmmaker
Jimi Hendrix photo
Jimi Hendrix 52
American musician, singer and songwriter
David Bowie photo
David Bowie 105
British musician, actor, record producer and arranger
Frank Zappa photo
Frank Zappa 129
American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and fil…
Dolly Parton photo
Dolly Parton 36
American singer-songwriter and actress