Remembering Brian Wilson, Leader Of The Beach Boys

Fresh Air

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🗓️ 13 June 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

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Summary

Wilson, who has died at the age of 82, was the creative force behind The Beach Boys. He wrote and produced many of their hits, including "I Get Around," "Help Me Rhonda," and "God Only Knows." Wilson spoke to Terry Gross in 1988 and 1998 about creating the distinctive Beach Boys sound and his decision to leave the Beach Boys to pursue a solo career. Plus, Ken Tucker reviews new albums by Willie Nelson and Ken Pomeroy.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Fresh Air. I'm David B. in Cooley.
0:02.9	Today, we remember Brian Wilson, founder of the Beach Boys.
0:06.9	His death was announced Wednesday by his family. He was 82 years old.
0:11.9	Brian Wilson was the creative force behind the Beach Boys, the most popular singing group of the early 1960s, until they were unseated by the Beatles.
0:20.1	He was the lead singer of the Beach Boys and wrote,
0:23.1	produced, and arranged their songs, which included the early number one hits, I Get Around and
0:28.5	Help Me Rhonda. Later, more intricate and ambitious compositions included another number one hit,
0:35.0	good vibrations, as well as God Only Knows, a song Paul McCartney praised as one of the greatest songs ever written.
1:19.6	Music 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 if you should ever leave me The life would still go on
1:30.3	Believe me
1:32.3	The world could show nothing to be
1:36.3	So what good would live into me
1:40.3	God only knows what I'd be without you.
1:47.1	God Only Knows was from the 1966 album Pet Sounds, which Rolling Stone has ranked as one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded.
1:55.6	Other songs on that album, which Wilson crafted in the studio two years after stepping down from touring with the group,
2:02.2	included, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B, and a song which provided the title for a documentary
2:07.9	made about him in 1995. I just wasn't made for these times. Brian Wilson was born in
2:14.9	Inglewood, California in 1942, and raised in suburban Los Angeles.
2:20.0	With his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and others, they formed a musical group,
2:25.5	exploring harmonies, celebrating the Southern California surfing craze,
2:29.7	and relying on Brian Wilson's catchy melodies and musical arrangements.
2:35.8	His father, Murray Wilson,
	...

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