Brian Wilson Tickets

Brian Wilson Schedule

Brian Wilson - Resources

• Official Brian Wilson Website

About Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson is recognized by his fans and peers alike as one of the greatest composers of modern times. Former Beatle Paul McCartney has praised Wilson as "one of the great American geniuses."

Brian Wilson was born on June 20, 1942, in Hawthorne, California, where he got into music at an early age. In 1961, Wilson, his two brothers Carl and Dennis, his cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine formed The Beach Boys. The band released its first single, "Surfin'," in late 1961 and was signed to Capitol Records in 1962. Throughout the '60s and '70s, the Beach Boys, under the leadership of Brian Wilson, released some of their most well known work, including albums Surfin' USA and Pet Sounds and hit songs "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Good Vibrations."

Brian Wilson had been a user of several types of drugs for many years, but the use of narcotics, combined with other forces, came to a head in 1982. Previously, Wilson had embarked on one of his most ambitions projects, Smile. Ultimately, arguments within the Beach Boys, and Wilson's drug use and depression, led to the cancellation of the project. Brian Wilson's depression only deepened after this, and his participation in the band become minimal to non-existent over time. In 1982, Wilson's wife called in Dr. Eugene Landy, who had helped Brian previously in 1975. With Wilson fired from the Beach Boys and isolated in Hawaii, Landy began an ambitious program to restore Wilson's health. The intervention worked (though later Landy was accused of exploiting Wilson's career for his own profit), and Wilson again returned to work with the Beach Boys.

Brian Wilson launched a solo career in 1988 that has been prolific; he has released 10 studio or live albums since going solo. Two of the albums, SMiLE and That Lucky Old Sun, have broken the top 20 on the U.S. charts, and SMiLE broke the top 10 in the UK. Completed in 2004, SMiLE was re-recorded and finished by Wilson 37 years after he had started it. The album was released to rave reviews and is Wilson's best selling. Throughout his career, Wilson has worked with such artists as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, and Toby Keith.