Brian interview with GQ

[Shady]

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2BeQug/www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-05/11/gq-music-brian-wilson-interview-for-uk-tour

GQ.com: What do you still get out of touring?
Brian Wilson: The satisfaction of knowing that people like what we do on stage. If they like us, that makes us want to play better. If they're a stupid audience that doesn't know what's going on, we just grind it out and keep playing.
 
Having worshipped the Beatles and tried to emulate Rubber Soul with Pet Sounds, what was it like when you finally met Paul McCartney?
I met him in a recording studio in Los Angeles. He was with Derek Taylor, the Beatles' publicist. He came by and he played his song "She's Leaving Home" on a piano for me and my wife. My wife started crying and he told me, "We haven't [even] recorded this yet." So we got to hear it before [Sgt Pepper]? Oh my God yes.
 
The critics originally dismissed Pet Sounds. Do you still care what they think?
Yeah, I care but I don't take it very seriously. After That Lucky Old Sun and Smile, Pet Sounds is just another piece of confetti, you know?
 
What did working with lyricist Van Dyke Parks give you?
Lyrics that have poetical images that you can conjure up.
 
You met your wife when she sold you a car. Has she given you any tips on buying one?
She just bought me one for Christmas! She bought a black Mercedes-Benz. Great car! We own four: I have a Mercedes, she has a Mercedes, we have a big van and we have a Cadillac Escalade.
 
When you were 16, you used to capture sounds on a Wollensak tape recorder. What were they?
The wind. Rain drops. Coyote howls. A whole library of sound effects.
 
The Hawaiian shirt is back in fashion for spring/summer 2011. What are your thoughts?
I bought my first [real] one in 1985 in Honolulu. I went to the stores and they had all kinds of floral shirts. I bought twelve of them. Why are they so good? Because they're colourful and bring Hawaii to America. To wear a floral shirt is an experience.
 
You wrote "The Warmth of the Sun" following the death of JFK. Does modern politics ever inspire you?
Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.
 
Is there anyone left you'd like to work with?
Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul have worked with me. I'm not really sure who I want to work with. I really don't know.

You once said you'd like to play for the Yankees. Do you think baseball's loss is music's gain?
I would have been a professional player, but I got sidetracked by the music business. [laughs] Sure, I would have been a good player, yeah.
 
You told GQ that Madonna was the sexiest woman in pop. Do you think that Lady Gaga is now the sexiest?
Yes I do! Do I like her music? I'm not a fan, but I've seen her.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?
My dad told me, "When you're going to write a song, follow through with it until it's done. Don't go halfway and then piss out on it." This is what I tell people when I'm asked what advice would I give young aspiring songwriters. Finish your project and don't throw it away.
 
What do you watch on TV?
There's a TV station called Sixties Revolution, that plays back-to-back Sixties music 24 hours a day. I just absolutely love that channel, I really do.
 
What's the most important item on your rider?
Chocolate-chip cookies and water.
 
Are you still as driven as you used to be?
Not quite, but I'm still ambitious.
 
You have twelve dogs in your house. How should GQ readers choose a good pet?
Get a little dog because they're cuter. I love my black poodle Lulu. We got her from the pet shop from down the street.
 
Who is the toughest guy you know?
My buddy Jeff [points to Jeffrey Foskett, Wilson's Musical Director]. He's tough inside, a go-getter.
 
What should everyone bring to a festival?
A hankerchief - because you cry!
 
What should every man know about women?
Don't get married until you're certain that you're marrying the right girl. How did I know my wife was the one? I'd seen her for a couple of months. I liked her. She was a very creative person and she had a very good grip on politics and business.
 
What skill should every man possess?
To play the piano.
 
When was the last time you threw a punch?
1976. At Elvis! He knew karate, right, so as soon as I raised my hand he [chopped] it out of my way. It was in a recording studio in Los Angeles. He had a really long burgundy cape on and kept calling everyone "Duke".
 
You've been teetotal for years but what do you remember being a good hangover cure?
What in the world is a hangover cure? [Jeff explains] Just [more] beer.
 
What advice would you give your younger self?
Not to take too many of those drugs. Those mind-bending drugs are just so difficult to come off...

[The Shift]

Very cool -  many thanks for posting that!  Some great answers and you can almost hear how relaxed he must have felt to come out with some of those answers.

[Alex]

I had no idea that Brian tried punching Elvis!

[SloopJohnB]

That's a good interview, the questions couldn't be answered by "yes" or "no". That's why the answers are so interesting! Who thought Brian woould talk about his hawaiian shirts? 

[guitarfool2002]

You wrote "The Warmth of the Sun" following the death of JFK. Does modern politics ever inspire you?
Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.
 

And that's about all that has to be said on that topic: Case closed. Van Dyke's politics are one thing and he's very vocal and open about it, but it's not part of Brian's scene nor his inspiration, and I'd argue it never was.

[D409]

"What's the best advice you've ever been given?
My dad told me, "When you're going to write a song, follow through with it until it's done. Don't go halfway and then piss out on it." This is what I tell people when I'm asked what advice would I give young aspiring songwriters. Finish your project and don't throw it away."
Good advice, eh ? Mmm...
 

[Andrew G. Doe]

That's a good interview, the questions couldn't be answered by "yes" or "no". That's why the answers are so interesting! Who thought Brian woould talk about his hawaiian shirts? 

I'm guessing someone who knows Brian advised him on that very topic. Excellent interview.

[Mikie]

I thought the meeting with Elvis and the fake karate chop happened in 1969.

I know Brian was at RCA in 1976 (I saw him) but don't think he was there to see Elvis.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

One of the best Brian interviews I've read in years, at least the best of the solo career interviews.

Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.

Anybody up for a Zen analysis of this answer

[Andrew G. Doe]

One of the best Brian interviews I've read in years, at least the best of the solo career interviews.

Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.

Anybody up for a Zen analysis of this answer

He is, of course, lying to mislead those of us not yet enlightened enough to see through to the true meaning of his words. I feel the strong hint here is his use of the words "in one ear": as we all know, Brian only has one functioning ear, thus any sound can only go in one ear, and of course, only having one ear is ideal for appreciating the sound of "one hand clapping". Obvious, really.

Alternatively, he really couldn't give two flying fucks about politics, like he says.  

[bgas]

One of the best Brian interviews I've read in years, at least the best of the solo career interviews.

Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.

Anybody up for a Zen analysis of this answer

He is, of course, lying to mislead those of us not yet enlightened enough to see through to the true meaning of his words. I feel the strong hint here is his use of the words "in one ear": as we all know, Brian only has one functioning ear, thus any sound can only go in one ear, and of course, only having one ear is ideal for appreciating the sound of "one hand clapping". Obvious, really.

Alternatively, he really couldn't give two flying fucks about politics, like he says.  

Does that mean that, unlike the rest of us who are lucky enough to have things go out our other ear, Everything Brian has ever heard is still trapped inside? 

[Andrew G. Doe]

One of the best Brian interviews I've read in years, at least the best of the solo career interviews.

Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.

Anybody up for a Zen analysis of this answer

He is, of course, lying to mislead those of us not yet enlightened enough to see through to the true meaning of his words. I feel the strong hint here is his use of the words "in one ear": as we all know, Brian only has one functioning ear, thus any sound can only go in one ear, and of course, only having one ear is ideal for appreciating the sound of "one hand clapping". Obvious, really.

Alternatively, he really couldn't give two flying fucks about politics, like he says.  

Does that mean that, unlike the rest of us who are lucky enough to have things go out our other ear, Everything Brian has ever heard is still trapped inside? 

'Xactly.

[Rocker]

I thought the meeting with Elvis and the fake karate chop happened in 1969.

I know Brian was at RCA in 1976 (I saw him) but don't think he was there to see Elvis.

'75 while Elvis was recording "Pieces of my life" for his "Today"-album.

Great interview ! So many funny answers. I love it !!

[Tricycle Rider]

"To wear a floral shirt is an experience"

That sounds like 1966 era Brian right there!

[Chris Brown]

"To wear a floral shirt is an experience"

That sounds like 1966 era Brian right there!

Actually a lot of the answers he gave here reminded me of contemporary interviews from that era.  Just the way he says things, shooting from the hip, clearly very relaxed.  Excellent interview indeed.

[Myk Luhv]

Does Brian listen to any contemporary music at all? I can see why he'd be uninterested in hearing the kind of stuff that was borne of his influence but... anything by artists who were not also around in the '60s or '70s?

[Jeff]

"What's the best advice you've ever been given?
My dad told me, "When you're going to write a song, follow through with it until it's done. Don't go halfway and then piss out on it." This is what I tell people when I'm asked what advice would I give young aspiring songwriters. Finish your project and don't throw it away."
Good advice, eh ? Mmm...
 

Seems like that might have been a good question to follow up on--maybe something about, I don't know, the ... Smile Sessions?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

One of the best Brian interviews I've read in years, at least the best of the solo career interviews.

Politics goes in one ear and out the other. I don't even know the president's name for sure. [laughs] That's how stupid I am.

Anybody up for a Zen analysis of this answer

He is, of course, lying to mislead those of us not yet enlightened enough to see through to the true meaning of his words. I feel the strong hint here is his use of the words "in one ear": as we all know, Brian only has one functioning ear, thus any sound can only go in one ear, and of course, only having one ear is ideal for appreciating the sound of "one hand clapping". Obvious, really.

Alternatively, he really couldn't give two flying fucks about politics, like he says. 

^_^

[stack-o-tracks]

That's pretty cool that Brian drives an Escalade. I wonder if he's got blinged out rims. 

[Amy B.]

The interviewer sounds like a longtime Brian fan. Clearly the thought process was, "What can I ask that will pique Brian's interest?" It reminds me of some interview I read where Brian was asked where to get the best French fries and things of that nature.

[Lowbacca]

Good interview!

Is there anyone left you'd like to work with?

Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul have worked with me. I'm not really sure who I want to work with. I really don't know.

Must be awesome to be able to just throw a sentence like that out there. Right on, Brian.

(I'm wishing for a few more genius collaborations with Scott Bennett, though...)

[filledeplage]

Delightfully candid interview! 

Brian knows what girls like!

And, wonderful for him to have a fellow contemporary (in the sense of similar age )composer (Paul McCartney) with whom he can relate to, artistically, and help challenge him in his own growth process, musically.   

Thanks for that post from GQ! 

[phirnis]

Brian's on the cover of the recent Los Angeles issue of Man About Town:

http://www.manabouttown.tv/

I managed to browse through the interview reading the whole thing at the station's kiosk (didn't want to spend 17€ on this) and (perhaps most interestingly) BW identifies 1967, 1977-'78 and 2004-'05 as the darker years of his life. Never heard about 2004-'05 before in this context. Was it because of the Smile music being premiered? Any thoughts?

Thought this was rather intriguing.

[hypehat]

It might well have been, plus what with solidering through GIOMH.

[Runaways]

"What's the best advice you've ever been given?
My dad told me, "When you're going to write a song, follow through with it until it's done. Don't go halfway and then piss out on it." This is what I tell people when I'm asked what advice would I give young aspiring songwriters. Finish your project and don't throw it away."
Good advice, eh ? Mmm...
 

Seems like that might have been a good question to follow up on--maybe something about, I don't know, the ... Smile Sessions?

that'd be kinda dick.