The Brian Wilson Interview

This interview was conducted for this website during a transatlantic phonecall in early January 2002. I'd like to thank Brian Wilson's management for their help and support in arranging the interview.

Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks in 1966; © David Leaf

Why did you choose Van Dyke Parks as a lyricist back in 1966? He didn't have any reputation as a writer of lyrics when you choose him as a lyricist for your next project after "Pet Sounds".
Well, he had a good personality and I thought maybe he could be a good writer. He really surprised me with some really good stuff.

What was the first song you two wrote together?
I dont remember the first song. I know "Heroes And Villains" and "Wonderful" and "Surf's Up", maybe.

How did you feel about the first lyrics Van Dyke presented to you?
I was blown out, I was really blewn out by it. That guy blew me out.

During the songwriting for the Smile album project, did you and Van Dyke develop the ideas together or did you come up with finished melodies and a topic and Van Dyke put them into words?
Well, he put the words but he also helped me with music, too.

And who made up the topics of the compositions? Did you sat together and talk about it?
No, he wrote the topics.

Van Dyke once said about your productions that "Brian Wilson saturates the tape with music"? Do you think that's an appropriate description?
Yes, very perfect. That's perfect.

Almost 30 years later Van Dyke Parks and you worked on an other album project called "Orange Crate Art". How did that collaboration happen?
(lively) It was fantastic. We had a lot of fun recording it, I had fun. It's a really, really good album... I really like it a lot.
Are you still regularly in touch with Van Dyke Parks?
Not regularly, but now and then. I call him now and then, yeah.
A year ago Van Dyke Parks wrote the overture for the Pet Sounds Symphony Tour. Who asked him to write that overture?
Who asked for it? My wife and I invited him to.
Why did you choose Van Dyke Parks as the writer for that overture?
Because he knows the right music. He knows what's going on.

Brian Wilson in Hamburg, Germany
(22nd January 2002)

on stage in Hamburg

Did you work with him on the overture?
He worked on it by himself and then he came out on tour and rehearsed the orchestra, the part that he wrote.
Are there any chances we might hear any more collaborations between you and Van Dyke Parks in the future?
I don't know. I've come to a place where I'm too scared to work when it goes to persons, who I like to work, you know... But I think I would like to do some work, yeah.
Are you going to perform any of those songs Van Dyke Parks and you co-wrote in your upcoming tour of Europe and Japan?
Yeah.
Which ones?
"Heroes & Villians" and "Surf's Up".
That will be exciting to hear. Are you looking forward to touring outside the USA?
Yeah, I think..., I havent been there so long that I don't know what it's like, but it should be fun.
Do you think there will be a difference between the way the audience reacts to your music in the USA and the way they react in Europe or Japan?
If it is anything like in this country then it should be a fantastic tour, because touring in America has been, yeah, fantastic.

The first three concerts in England sold out immediately, did you expect that?
I was told that they had a fourth one, right?
Yeah, did you expect that the tickets would sell that fast?
I don't know....
Do you have any plans to go back to the studio and record a studio album?
I don't have plans, but I keep telling people I'd like to do a rock'n'roll album.
That sounds cool... like with rock'n'roll standards?
Own original songs plus even standards.
But that is just a plan so far?
Yeah.
Thank you very much for sharing this information with me.
Thank you so much.

Brian Wilson and the webmaster of this site backstage in Hamburg
(all Hamburg photos taken by Ernst G. Jansen)