New interview with Brian in latest Uncut.

[Wirestone]

 Given accounts from those involved in the recording of the album, Brian's statement is almost certainly untrue.

[Andrew G. Doe]

On NPP I'm pretty sure "One Kind Of Love" at least is a new composition. As for a wholly new, written from scratch BW solo album - and this is in no way a criticism - I don't think there's been one, as all of them recycle songs written some time before to a greater or lesser extent. Same with the BB, I think, although Friends may come very close.

[KDS]

I remember reading on here somewhere that a lot of TWGMTR, and possibly NPP, may have come from writing sessions from as far back as 1998. 

I know it's pretty common for legacy artists to use older ideas that they're stockpiled.  Tony Iommi, from Black Sabbath, has said that he has piles of tapes of unused riffs.  I'm sure some of them have been used in recent work. 

When Van Halen did their comeback album in 2012, they included a song called She's the Woman, that was originally demoed back in the late 70s. 

[Sheriff John Stone]

I had a glance at the article in a shop today  .

Apparently Brian hasn't written/ completed a brand new song since Shelter and The Private Life of Bill and Sue back in 2012  .

Well, that explains a lot of things, answers a lot of questions. Brian's honesty is refreshing after reading those recent Mike Love interviews...

[HeyJude]

I remember reading on here somewhere that a lot of TWGMTR, and possibly NPP, may have come from writing sessions from as far back as 1998. 

I know it's pretty common for legacy artists to use older ideas that they're stockpiled.  Tony Iommi, from Black Sabbath, has said that he has piles of tapes of unused riffs.  I'm sure some of them have been used in recent work. 

When Van Halen did their comeback album in 2012, they included a song called She's the Woman, that was originally demoed back in the late 70s. 

I've always sensed it was Brian's renewed interest in combing through those circa 1998 compositions that led to him working with Joe Thomas again. Whether by happenstance or by legal/contractual agreement, it appears Thomas held all those demos tapes all that time, and his cooperation was required to work with them (and he would also need to on board if he holds half of the songwriting credits and copyrights).

[KDS]

I remember reading on here somewhere that a lot of TWGMTR, and possibly NPP, may have come from writing sessions from as far back as 1998. 

I know it's pretty common for legacy artists to use older ideas that they're stockpiled.  Tony Iommi, from Black Sabbath, has said that he has piles of tapes of unused riffs.  I'm sure some of them have been used in recent work. 

When Van Halen did their comeback album in 2012, they included a song called She's the Woman, that was originally demoed back in the late 70s. 

I've always sensed it was Brian's renewed interest in combing through those circa 1998 compositions that led to him working with Joe Thomas again. Whether by happenstance or by legal/contractual agreement, it appears Thomas held all those demos tapes all that time, and his cooperation was required to work with them (and he would also need to on board if he holds half of the songwriting credits and copyrights).

That would make sense.  It would also explain the similarities of some songs like Lay Down Burden and The Right Time. 

[mikeddonn]

Brian has said consistently for a number of years he has writer's block.

[HeyJude]

Even if the "no new songs" bit is some level of hyperbole, if Brian is not churning out a ton of songs from scratch these days, it might be another reason he might not be inclined (even if he hasn't been asked or approached directly) to do the "in a room alone" thing with Mike.

I know we've had "how much *music* can or does Mike write?" discussions in the past, but I sense in a Brian/Mike collaboration, Mike is mainly working on words and maybe sometimes offering slight tweaks to melodies or changes Brian comes up with. So Brian would probably have to carry most or all of the *musical* load in such a collaboration.

I don't want to start a "writing the music is harder than writing the words" bit, but I'd say it might well be harder for Brian to come up with a full song (chords and melody from scratch) than it is for Mike to add words to something that has already been written.

I sense Brian's past work with Joe Thomas hasn't been a clear "one guy writes music, the other writes words" situation (the same with Scott Bennett I would guess too), so Brian could sometimes use a full words&music collaborator rather than just a lyricist sometimes.

[Jonathan Blum]

I think perhaps the key part of Brian's statement is the bit about writing a *whole* new song since "Shelter".  Something like "Our Special Love" we know was first created and recorded during the actual tour, after "Radio" was released -- but Peter Hollens wrote his bit ages later.  So Brian is still writing songs from scratch, he's just not completing them without a partner -- whether that partner is one of the big-name collaborators or someone like Joe or Scott.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[bringahorseinhere?]

have to think the guy is 74 years old!  how many others out there his age are also writing, recording and touring really good material?
he probably also has no inspiration or aspiration in these times to write songs.  we know he has tones of unfinished pieces, demos and fragments that he can
draw from, but going down that road, we would probably end up with another GIOMH.  I would think Brian is propped up by his wife and partners
to keep 'drawing from the well' but if he can't do it, he can't do it.  Gosh, the guy is probably enjoying living and doing his daily walk, out for tea, and
listening to the golden oldies.  who would want to go and work hours and hours in a studio at 74?
I think he has contributed enough time to that when he was 24.  I know we all do, but we should not keepin expecting Brian to deliver more goods as much
as we all want him to do.

[HeyJude]

It's true, Brian could have easily truly retired a decade or two ago. Still churning out product is pretty amazing.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Many of Brian's responses suggest he was in full-on auto-pilot mode.

[MarkJason]

READ BRIAN'S MAY 2016 FEATURE IN UNCUT MAGAZINE AT https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7srz4BaYXq0ZS1JRlBlUVd4RGc/view?usp=sharing

You're welcome,
Mark

[Emily]

READ BRIAN'S MAY 2016 FEATURE IN UNCUT MAGAZINE AT https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7srz4BaYXq0ZS1JRlBlUVd4RGc/view?usp=sharing

You're welcome,
Mark

Well thank you.

[HeyJude]

Thanks for posting that. Nothing earth-shattering there. The interviewer is just being sort of purposely obtuse as to the nature of a typical Brian interview. He thinks when Brian gives an odd answer, pushing the point harder will somehow make it go better.

The pic of Carl and Dennis is dated incorrectly. Says circa 1970 but looks specifically like the 7/4/1980 show.

[CenturyDeprived]

Reading the interview, and the part about Mike being competitive with Brian, made me wonder how much of Brian's competitive streak in the '60s was due to Mike. I hadn't really thought about that before. Obviously Murry was a factor, but I gotta give credit to Mike for stirring that motivation up in Brian as I imagine he did.

[Rocker]

Nice. Thanks for putting this interview up!
I still don't know though what should cause any dissension. Maybe the fact that Brian calls the band "my group, The Beach Boys"? Don't see anything wrong in there.

[Gertie J.]

yeah me neither

[Sheriff John Stone]

Yes, thank you, MarkJason, for posting the interview!

I think my favorite question/answer was:

Bud Scoppa: What's your favourite memory of Mike?
Brian Wilson: Working with him on lyrics. Writing songs with him.

...and when Brian says about Mike, "He's a great person."

   

[jiggy22]

I tell him that Uncut recently named Pet Sounds the No 1 album of all time in a critics' poll.
"Have we started the interview yet?" he asks.

 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

it says 'red tiled roof and balconies ringing the second storey palms and pot plants'.  Uh...'pot plants'? Did I read the correctly?

[felipe]

For years I've been thinking the best thing Brian did after BWPS is the Lucky Old Sun vocal intro, but in the demo it's all Scott voices, what makes me question if wasn't him the guy who wrote and arranged it. Anybody knows for sure?

[Fall Breaks]

Al's story about recording Come Go With Me with Brian coming down in his robe, does that add up chronologically? Was the home studio still around for when CGWM was first recorded?

[Lee Marshall]

[brain fart]

No.  OLD Fart.
--------------------------

My favorite part of the article?  And I quote..."  Palms and pot plants are arranged around the grounds."   
No wonder Brian likes cheese pizzas so much. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Al's story about recording Come Go With Me with Brian coming down in his robe, does that add up chronologically? Was the home studio still around for when CGWM was first recorded?

In a much earlier interview, late 70s I think, Alan stated that they rented a mobile unit at Brian's house, but only he showed up to use it, so he pleased himself. No mention of Brian  showing up.