Recommendations of the Editorial team
The last time I saw Brian Wilson in March this year. Since the death of his wife Melinda in 2024 I visited him every few months. Brian had stopped touring two years earlier, so it was retired. We looked at music documentaries and lakers games or relaxed in his garden while his children swam in the pool or did homework at the kitchen table. His favorite dog, a twelve -year -old black poodle called Jet with arthritis, did not give away from the side, while a crowd of other dogs jealously barked in the kitchen. Every few minutes, Jet dropped his Kielzeiten in Brian’s lap. Brian, once a sports star at the high school, who dreamed of playing Center Field at the New York Yankees before the music business “off the way”, the toy kept threw across the room – at the age of 82 he still had a natural litter arm.
Sometimes we drove to Malibu for seafood and milkshakes in Paradise Cove or ate Thai on his favorite place at the PCH. Or we gathered a group of Brian’s close friends for dinner with ribeye steaks and crème brûlée im Musso & Frank in Hollywood.
A man full of warmth – despite all losses
When I arrived today, he called enthusiastically: “Jason Fucking Fine, I can’t believe it!” And broke out in laughter. He looked emaciated and pale, but still boyish – the silver hair combed back, which shone clear blue eyes. I have known Brian for almost 30 years, and for me he was not just a fascinating topic to write – he was a caring and funny friend, one of the most friendly and sensitive people I ever knew. I have never experienced that Brian said a negative word about someone (even about people who exploited or abused him), and he always tried to give friends and strangers a good feeling.
Not too long ago we climbed from a hotel elevator in New York when a man started and at the sight of Brian Wilson (even in his eighties he was recognized everywhere). Brian gently put his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, sir,” he reassured him. “We will bring you to the lobby.”
A friend with clever, honest words
Brian suffered enormous losses – his mother and father, his two brothers, his wife, members of his band. When my own father died, he called me. “I have to give you advice and it will not be easy to hear it,” he said. “As bad as it feels now – it never gets better. You can see that you love him and he too. That’s how it stays connected to her.”
We had planned to eat sushi, but the fires in LA had blocked many streets and the air was bad. So Brian asked if we could “just chill” at home and “attach a few songs”. Brian called the songs he wanted to hear, started with “Be my Baby”, the hit of the Ronettes, which Brian sees as the ultimate of all pop songs. He estimates that he has heard the song “at least 100,000 times” since 1963 – but if you see it today how he smiles and sings his own harmonies, it looks like it was the first time. We heard George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Beach-Boys rarities and a selection of his favorite rock & roll songs from the Stones, Creedence and Buddy Holly. Brian had long dreamed of picking up an album with rock & roll covers. “I hope I still have it in myself,” he said.
The doubt of a genius – and the power of his music
As we listened to music, I remembered a conversation with Brian a few years ago. He had just come off the stage in La after playing Pet Sounds, his most famous album – in fact he left the stage about 45 seconds before the last sound of the last song “Caroline, No” and sank heavily into his black armchair on the edge of the stage. “I hope you like my music, but I will probably never really know,” he said depressed, despite the thunderous applause on the other side of the curtain.
It worried me that Brian, despite the fact that he had created some of the most beautiful and life -affirming songs in the world, did not always understand how much they meant people. I spoke to him again today and asked if he now felt that his own music gives people as much joy and comfort as “be my baby”.
Positive vibes until the end
“I know that people like my music, Jason,” he said. “It gives a lot of hope and a lot of love. People need more positive vibrations in their lives – just like me.”
Brian Wilson’s playlist
- The Ronettes, “Be My Baby”
- George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord”
- The Rolling Stones, “My Obsession”
- The Bee Gees, “Too Much Heaven”
- The Ronettes, “Baby, I Love You”
- The Beach Boys, “The Night was so young”
- Elton John, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
- The Beatles, “Strawberry Fields Forever”
- The Beach Boys, “Please Let Me Wonder”
- Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode”
- The Beach Boys, “Mt. Vernon & Fairway”
- Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Proud Mary”
- Bob Dylan, “Mr. Tambourine Man”
- Dennis Wilson, “Pacific Ocean Blues”
- Buddy Holly, “Rave on”
- The Crystals, “Then He Kissed Me”
- The Beach Boys, “It’s Ok”