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Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson in 1965.

Brian Wilson in 1965. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Obituaries

Brian Wilson, the troubled genius behind The Beach Boys, has died at age 82

The Beach Boys' co-founder, songwriter and producer transformed pop music into high art and became America's answer to The Beatles' Lennon and McCartney in the process.

WILSON, BRIAN

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'I Feel Pretty Good': A Moment With Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson performs in Los Angeles in 2015. He's currently on tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Music Interviews

'I Feel Pretty Good': A Moment With Brian Wilson

The songwriter and Beach Boys co-founder reflects on his family, his mental health and his plans for the future — and names his favorite Brian Wilson song.

'I Feel Pretty Good': A Moment With Brian Wilson

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'Pet Sounds' And The Band That Gets To Play It Onstage

Brian Wilson with his touring ensemble — a team-up of California band the Wondermints, a host of Chicago musicians, fellow Beach Boy Al Jardine and more. Christopher Stuba/Anny Celsi hide caption

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Christopher Stuba/Anny Celsi

Music News

'Pet Sounds' And The Band That Gets To Play It Onstage

To celebrate the anniversary of his masterpiece, Brian Wilson is taking Pet Sounds on tour with a band of musicians who grew up on its songs and sounds.

'Pet Sounds' And The Band That Gets To Play It Onstage

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Telling Brian Wilson's Fractured Life Story On Film

Paul Dano (center) co-stars in Love & Mercy as Brian Wilson in the 1960s heyday of The Beach Boys. Francois Duhamel/Roadside Attractions hide caption

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Francois Duhamel/Roadside Attractions

Music Interviews

Telling Brian Wilson's Fractured Life Story On Film

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Bill Pohlad, director of the film Love & Mercy, about creating an intimate portrait of Wilson — in both The Beach Boys' heyday and the troubled years that followed.

Telling Brian Wilson's Fractured Life Story On Film

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The SMiLE Sessions: A Window Into The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys in 1964: Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Carl Wilson.

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Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Review

Music Reviews

The SMiLE Sessions: A Window Into The Beach Boys

Fresh Air

SMiLE may be the most famous unreleased album of all time, but it's not really unreleased: Bits and pieces of it wound up on other Beach Boys albums. Now that EMI has assembled a definitive collection of the session tracks, Ed Ward has listened to them — and wonders what the shouting was about.

The SMiLE Sessions: A Window Into The Beach Boys

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Brian Wilson Takes On George Gershwin

Brian Wilson has just released a new album paying tribute to George Gershwin. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Brian Wilson Takes On George Gershwin

The former Beach Boy's new album is titled Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. Here, Wilson talks about the iconic songwriter's influence, and describes what it means to him to tackle Gershwin's music.

Brian Wilson Takes On George Gershwin

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Live in Concert

Brian Wilson In Concert

It's fair to say that this music, recorded live at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., is the best new material from Brian Wilson in more than 30 years.That Lucky Old Sun is a song cycle based on a tune with its spiritual roots in slavery. That song is about hardship, but this semi-autobiographical song cycle is about nostalgia. It's what life in California means to Wilson, and what Wilson means to California.

Brian Wilson In Concert

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Concerts

Brian Wilson's 'Smile' Live In Concert

In this two-hour live recording, The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson plays his most ambitious album, Smile, at Carnegie Hall. Released almost four decades after its creation, the album has been reconstructed and reworked from original tapes and new recordings. Listen to songs from Smile, Beach Boys favorites, and excerpts from recording sessions in this Creator's at Carnegie special.

Listen to Hour 1: Warm-up Set and Background on 'Smile'

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Music Lists

Rock Critic Ken Tucker: Best Pop of 2004

Fresh Air

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives us his top picks in pop for 2004. He runs down his 10 best albums, and then talks about some trends of 2004, such as the return of punk, the year of the hip-hop producer, crunk music, and the potential end of an era as iPods and single song downloads replace album purchases. Ken Tucker is also a film critic for New York magazine.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker: Best Pop of 2004

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