BRIAN WILSON

Brian’s brand-new website is up and running. Check it out...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:33:47 -0400

Brian’s brand-new website is up and running. Check it out for some really cool things!

The Los Angeles Times: 'It kinda feels like getting fired' – Brian Wilson to Mike Love

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:35:01 -0400

By Brian Wilson

October 9, 2012, 7:01 a.m.

The Beach Boys recent 50th anniversary tour reunited original members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and longtime member Bruce Johnston for the first time in almost two decades.

Near the end of the tour in London, and the day before the band was saluted with a new 50th anniversary exhibition at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, Love announced that he and Johnston would continue touring under the Beach Boys’ name in his pre-anniversary edition of the band, minus Wilson, Jardine and Marks.

His announcement, which he said was issued to avoid confusion in smaller markets where the Love-Johnston band had been booked, caused a firestorm of publicity as some media outlets interpreted the move as Love firing Wilson, his cousin.

Love’s response to the reaction, published exclusively in The Times on Saturday, stated among other things that he never fired Wilson and does not have the authority to do so, adding that even if he did have the authority, he never would fire the man considered the group’s creative leader.

Wilson and Jardine submitted the following response to Love’s letter, in Wilson’s words:

I’ve been asked to respond to a letter that my cousin Mike wrote to the L.A. Times regarding the circumstances of the last couple weeks and the confusion of the future of The Beach Boys. Normally I wouldn’t respond to something like this, but because I love what the 50th has done for the band’s image and its legacy, I feel I need to.

First, I want to say that the last few months have been some of the happiest in my life. Recording “That’s Why God Made The Radio” was a dream come true, to be able to co-write and produce an album for the boys and have it so well received by fans all over the world was the best!

The tour that followed blew away all my expectations. We had a blast, the fans were so supportive and I loved being able to record and sing with the guys. My only regret was that Carl and Dennis were not there to share this experience with us.

Now on to the rumors: As far as I know I can’t be fired—that wouldn’t be cool. The negativity surrounding all the comments bummed me out. What’s confusing is that by Mike not wanting or letting Al, David and me tour with the band, it sort of feels like we’re being fired.

What’s a bummer to Al and me is that we have numerous offers to continue, so why wouldn’t we want to? We all poured our hearts and souls into that album and the fans rewarded us by giving us a No. 3 debut on the Billboard charts, and selling out our shows. We were all blown away by the response.

Al and I would like to be included in the continuous promotion of “That’s Why God Made The Radio.” That’s what I’ve been doing for over a decade: making records and going out and supporting them. It’s what I do. Capitol Records has been so cool to us this year in terms of supporting the 50th and I personally want to say thanks.

Mike kept saying throughout the tour “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” and both Al and I agree, which made us all think that he wanted to continue. We originally started out with 50 shows, but the success and the demand kept growing and we obliged. No one knew in the beginning that this was going to be so rewarding and popular with our fans. Once we got cooking we were all stoked!

After Mike booked a couple of shows with Bruce, Al and I were, of course, disappointed. Then there was confusion in some markets when photos of me, Al and David and the 50th reunion band appeared on websites advertising his shows.

At that point my attorney merely suggested to Mike’s attorney that a possible press release in those markets might be appropriate to stop the confusion, which was in no one’s best interest. That’s it, plain and simple, and a strategy was open for discussion, which never happened.

That’s why I was completely blindsided by his press release. I had no idea that it was coming out, since it was crafted by Mike’s personal PR firm without my knowledge or approval. No one in my camp would have approved it or the timing.

I’m disappointed that Mike would now say that the release was done at the request of my representative. The first I heard about it was at the Grammy Museum event. We hadn’t even discussed as a band what we were going to do with all the offers that were coming in for more 50th shows.

Al and I just assumed based on everyone’s enthusiasm we would at least want to take those offers into consideration since we all knew about them. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play the Hollywood Bowl again, Madison Square Garden and Wrigley Field? And what better way to celebrate New Year’s Evethan with the 50th band? That would have blown the lid off things.

There were also offers for more shows in the U.K. and markets we weren’t able to play during the tour. As I said before, it’s my opinion that we should all go out together as the Beach Boys in support of all our new releases. We really weren’t out on the road that long for an anniversary of this magnitude and I actually think we should make one last record together.

It’s Al and my opinion that all of us together makes for a great representation of the Beach Boys.

While I appreciate the nice cool things Mike said about me in his letter, and I do and always will love him as my cousin and bandmate, at the same time I’m still left wondering why he doesn’t want to continue this great trip we’re on. Al and I want to keep going because we believe we owe it to the music.

That’s it in a nutshell, all these conversations need to be between the shareholders, and I welcome Mike to call me.

In any case happy anniversary, I loved it and I think we knocked it out of the park for what it’s worth.

Love and Mercy,

Brian Wilson

Beach Boys "Greatest Hits," "50 Big Ones" and Remastered Studio Albums Now Available

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:47:00 -0400

“The Beach Boys Greatest Hits”
The Beach Boys’ new 50th Anniversary Greatest Hits collection features 20 of the band’s most popular songs, including “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” “Kokomo,” their latest single “That’s Why God Made The Radio,” and many more.

Amazon.com | iTunes

“The Beach Boys Greatest Hits: 50 Big Ones”
Fifty classic songs on two discs packaged in a lift top box including an extended booklet with newly written liner notes by Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild + 7 collectible band postcards. Contains new stereo versions of a few tracks and the single version of “Isn’t It Time,” the new single from the Beach Boys latest studio release “That’s Why God Made The Radio.”

Amazon.com | iTunes

Remastered Studio Albums: (links to Amazon to purchase)

Surfer Girl
Surfin’ USA
Shut Down Volume 2
Little Deuce Coupe
All Summer Long
Summer Days (and Summer Nights!)
The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys Party!
Pet Sounds
Smiley Smile
Sunflower
Surf’s Up

Who knew Brian played guitar?

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:00:51 -0400

Who knew Brian played guitar?

The Beach Boys perform at the Royal Albert Hall on September 27,...

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:44:00 -0400

The Beach Boys perform at the Royal Albert Hall on September 27, 2012. Click on the photo to view a slideshow.

Brian and the ‘Boys perform “That’s Why God...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:31:46 -0400

Brian and the ‘Boys perform “That’s Why God Made The Radio” on “Later with Jools Holland” last night

Brian and the ‘Boys perform “Do It Again” on...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:28:45 -0400

Brian and the ‘Boys perform “Do It Again” on “Later with Jools Holland” last night

Brian with Johnny Rotten

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:52:42 -0400

Brian with Johnny Rotten

Brian hosted a band and crew dinner last night in London to show...

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:36:22 -0400

Brian hosted a band and crew dinner last night in London to show his appreciation for a job well done!

The Wilson’s enjoying London!

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:41:31 -0400

The Wilson’s enjoying London!

On my way to London.

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 07:54:16 -0400

On my way to London.

Brian Wilson Holds Out Hope for New Beach Boys...

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:06:00 -0400

Brian Wilson Holds Out Hope for New Beach Boys Music

‘I’m sure by early next year we’ll be ready to rock’

If the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary reunion tour is coming to an end, the legendary group is going out with a bang.

On Tuesday evening, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks gathered at Los Angeles’ Grammy Museum for a night of festivities, including an acoustic performance and the launch of a new exhibit chronicling the group’s history. Among the items featured: a high school philosophy paper written by Brian Wilson, signed copies of Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (by Wilson and Paul McCartney, respectively), old tour posters and some of the group’s most iconic surfer shirts.

The the complete Rolling Stone article

Brian and the ‘Boys at the Grammy Museum last night.

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:12:31 -0400

Brian and the ‘Boys at the Grammy Museum last night.

Brian at the Grammy Museum event tonight featuring the Beach...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:00:44 -0400

Brian at the Grammy Museum event tonight featuring the Beach Boys.

Back to work.

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:47:16 -0400

Back to work.

To everyone from Brian

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:10:28 -0400

Hi all,

I’ve been reading the posts where some of you are concerned about my health in general.

I want to let you know that before the Beach Boys 50th tour started I was having some lower back issues right around the time we performed on the Grammys in February. This is the same type of problem that Carl used to suffer from, it’s hereditary. But being able to tour with the Boys again meant so much to me that I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Luckily, I was able to get this new cutting edge procedure that totally worked. But after this last run in Australia it came back and I had the procedure redone this week.

I feel so much better already and can’t wait to get back to my second home, London!!

See you soon

Love & Mercy

Brian Wilson

50 years of teen bliss: Serenaded by the Beach Boys A pre-teen...

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:54:00 -0400

50 years of teen bliss: Serenaded by the Beach Boys

A pre-teen me once learned how to slow dance to “Surfer Girl.”

Picture a middle school auditorium circa 1987. I was that retainer-wearing girl at the school dance, clumsily shuffling along to the Beach Boys classic with a nervous boy about a full arms-length away from me.

It was an awkward moment, yet my heart still flutters when I hear those harmonies.

So when I learned CNN’s Talk Asia had booked the Beach Boys for an interview in Hong Kong, I jumped at the chance to interview Al Jardine, Mike Love and Brian Wilson.

Read the complete article at CNN

The Beach Boys return to Los Angeles Tuesday, September 18 to launch year-long exhibit at the Grammy Museum with special event, 'An Evening with the Beach Boys'

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:53:00 -0400

Capitol/EMI to Present Triple-Platinum Awards to The Beach Boys at GRAMMY Museum for ‘Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys’

WHO:

The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, celebrating the legendary California band’s 50^th Anniversary with the launch of a special GRAMMY Museum exhibit.

WHERE:

The GRAMMY Museum

714 West Olympic Blvd. (in the L.A. Live complex)

Los Angeles, CA 90015

WHAT:

Special event for The GRAMMY Museum’s new year-long ‘Good Vibrations: 50 Years of The Beach Boys’ exhibit, launching September 18^thwith ‘An Evening With The Beach Boys’ event featuring the band’s reunited members.

Triple-Platinum sales award presentation to The Beach Boys in the museum’s exhibit space for their Capitol/EMI release, ‘Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys,’ which has sold more than three million copies in the U.S. alone.

WHEN:

Tuesday, September 18^th

5:30pm: triple-Platinum sales award presentation to The Beach Boys in The GRAMMY Museum’s Beach Boys exhibit space

8pm: ‘An Evening With The Beach Boys’ in museum’s Clive Davis Theater: Q&A with The Beach Boys’ five reunited principals by GRAMMY Museum’s executive director Bob Santelli, followed by a brief acoustic performance.

DETAILS:

The Beach Boys, celebrating their 50^th anniversary throughout 2012 with a major international tour, a critically acclaimed new studio album, and commemorative hits titles to be released in October, continue their banner celebration with the September 18^th launch of a special year-long exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum, ‘Good Vibrations: 50 Years of The Beach Boys.’ The legendary Southern California band’s five reunited principals will share memories and music during ‘An Evening With The Beach Boys,’ including a Q&A with the museum’s executive director, Bob Santelli, and a brief acoustic performance of some of their biggest sun-splashed hits.

Before the public event, The Beach Boys will be presented with custom sales award plaques in the museum’s new Beach Boys-dedicated exhibit space for the RIAA-certified triple-Platinum success of ‘Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys.’ Crew and photographer coverage of this special presentation is welcome.

I had a wonderful time on tour and am looking forward to more...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 23:15:11 -0400

I had a wonderful time on tour and am looking forward to more fun with the guys. Thank you everybody for all your support. We loved playing for all of you and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Your friend,

Brian Wilson

Brian waits backstage at sound check in Perth

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:28:35 -0400

Brian waits backstage at sound check in Perth