Brian on Michael Jacksons Death

(A few silent corrections made -- most of the horrid automated translation remains, though.)

The voices are still there. You scold and threaten, in forty years, the now, and only Brian Wilson can be heard. They say things like: Brian, you will die soon! Or: People like you no more! Some days it's real terror. A bad musician, they have never called him, he says.

Who wants to know how it comes to Brian Wilson today, should be easy to come early. Just as on Sunday in Nuremberg in the Serenadenhof: through the open door and take the soundcheck view. Actually this is not desirable, says one of Wilson's tour entourage, but the interview can only take place in an hour. But please, no matter, sit down and do not disturb.

A sound check from Brian Wilson sees 2009 as follows: The pale man crouches in the middle of the stage behind his Yamaha keyboard and staring at rows of empty chairs. To him whirl nine musicians, discuss, joke, give the characters sound, the guitar a little louder, please. Should we again "Imagination" play? Brian Wilson looks rigidly straight, says not a word. One might think that he was asleep, but then he was just scratching at the nose.

Previously, in the sixties, he gave the commands. Brian Wilson, the creative head of the Beach Boys, the perfectionist, a master-arranger. Read articles rewritten, if it is not liked. Did his living room in sand embankments, as inspiration for new Surfsongs. Forced his brothers Dennis and Carl, in the studio firefighters to wear helmets when it comes to the mood of the song fit. "Brian's ego trip has cousin Mike Love later" Pet Sounds "that has become canonical works of 1966, considered one of the best Popalben of the century and the Beatles on" Sgt Pepper "animated. The last published record before drug Wilsons crash, before the depression, anxiety, a retreat into isolation. Today Wilson is the other is doing.

He is quite good, he says later backstage on his couch. "It moves." And the voices in your head are just jealous of his success. As he smiles sluggish. Brian Wilson, 67, is tired and does not speak much, has a band colleague previously warned. And very important: always ask the left, right, he is so deaf since birth. Wilson answered in short sentences. He says how much of it to the death of Michael Jackson burden. He had met him only once, twenty years ago at a party, but they had yet had much in common. A strict father, a career demands. And just as incriminating, because excellence always requiring professional title of "genius". Wilson has defended against this label and always asserts that he was no more than a good songwriter. On the couch in Nuremberg, in jogging trousers and with a spherical abdomen, as he admits: "Yes, probably it is true, I am a musical genius."

It is said that Brian Wilson had recovered. The main evidence is that he succeeded in 2004, his concept album "Smile" to bring to an end. The successor of "Pet Sounds", which remained unfinished for so long because it is Wilson - and his environment - at that time was simply too much.

Wilson himself later spoke of "creative explosion" which he also allowed, 2008 another solo work submitted: "That Lucky Old Sun" in which he still sunny California besang than in his early works. In this blessed land, the beautiful girls are waiting on the beach to themselves to find love. And they wear dahlias in her hair. It is not California, where Governor Schwarzenegger before the bankruptcy must warn. Wilsons Surfhymnen were always fancy products, he was never even on the board, the name Beach Boys, the disk manager. Today, like Wilson did not even go to the beach, the water is so cold, he says.

He takes a sip from his mighty wine glass, do not worry, there's only cola inside. Wilson holds today rules. He says the thing with the drugs had not only been bad. "Marijuana helped me on my keyboard to concentrate." Without LSD would have the hit "California Girls" is not given. But cocaine and the other stuff from the street were not a good idea. Which he owes the voices in my head.

His life is now to be filmed, Hugh Jackman assumes the lead role, says Wilson. In Biopic you will also see how creative the band in the early sixties was ten albums in four years, who can do it. And how wild it in his recording sessions received, and yes, even as the young Brian swallowed pills. Is there anything that he does not want to see this film? "The death of Mom and Dad."

In two years would be a good date for the publication. Then the Beach Boys 50th A big party will not happen, certainly not common. His brothers are dead, with cousin Mike Love, he is divided, the man has sued him twice, it was about song rights. Today Only Love under the name Beach Boys toured around the world. "I will never again with him on a stage," says Wilson. "For no money in the world."

The man next to him nods. Jeffrey Foskett is a little smaller and 14 years younger than Wilson. Previously he was a mere fan, until he one day in Bel Air front door stood Wilsons. A "Gift of God" Foskett called the meeting. For eleven years, he is the head of Wilson's band, is titled "musical director", is obviously striving to Wilson. As an outsider you do not know which of the other two is needed.

On stage, Jeffrey Foskett has long been singing the difficult parts of his idol over. Brian Wilson falsetto dares only if all others involved. They are like a very, very good cover band, with Certificate of Authenticity on the keyboard. Indeed, Wilson and most of them committed some years ago, after it in a night club in LA old Beach Boys number covers saw. Foskett plays guitar solos with the instrument behind the neck, the blonde background singer dances beautifully. Brian Wilson highlights during the show sometimes the arms to the beat. "I think they are in motion and try to really alive," he once explained.

During his vocals Wilson often looks to the right. As is the teleprompter. Only once he takes it to this evening no second. When "God Only Knows" he looks high in the sky, then closes his eyes. It is his favorite place at every concert, he says. Especially at the beginning of this harmony. "I may not always love you / But long as there are stars above you / You never need to doubt it." The high notes you can hardly hear, so he sings quietly. Paul McCartney has said, "God Only Knows" was perhaps the best song ever written. From the set consumes Wilson today.

He is not unhappy with what he's doing - or rather what he does not do. Perhaps it was a blessing for him, in any case, it was a great achievement: that he has responsibility.

Brian Wilson is playing this Wednesday by 20 clock in Berlin's Tempodrom. Tickets from 39 euros.

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