The ask Brian a question thread

[mikeddonn]

Let's delete all the questions and post the 10 questions we'd most like answered and hope Brian doesn't skip those!

[CenturyDeprived]

Let's delete all the questions and post the 10 questions we'd most like answered and hope Brian doesn't skip those!

I really wish people (especially longtime, learned, superfan posters on this board) would have refrained from asking "easy" questions like "is there going to be a NPP tour", etc. That's a question that will OBVIOUSLY be answered in due time regardless of this Q&A. From a newbie, maybe I could understand the desire to ask a question like that, but from longtime posters with hundreds/thousands of posts on this board? Why?? And questions like those are likely most of the questions that get chosen too, thus wasting an opportunity for more unusual questions to get chosen (that would otherwise likely never get asked/answered in a capacity like this). Urgh.

</rant>

Super geeky questions only, please. 

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

Let's delete all the questions and post the 10 questions we'd most like answered and hope Brian doesn't skip those!

I really wish people (especially longtime, learned, superfan posters on this board) would have refrained from asking "easy" questions like "is there going to be a NPP tour", etc. That's a question that will OBVIOUSLY be answered in due time regardless of this Q&A. From a newbie, maybe I could understand the desire to ask a question like that, but from longtime posters with hundreds/thousands of posts on this board? Why?? And questions like those are likely most of the questions that get chosen too, thus wasting an opportunity for more unusual questions to get chosen (that would otherwise likely never get asked/answered in a capacity like this). Urgh.

</rant>

Super geeky questions only, please. 

Yeah. Not to sound like a jerk, but I must agree. Plus, those will surely be asked on the blue board anyway. Wasted opportunity, if he only answers those questions.

[Cyncie]

Not to mention the number of Yes-no questions. Open ended questions elicit the best responses any time.

[smile-holland]

Well, I'm ready ... 



Now please behave you all, so we (the mods) can relax a bit as well   

[Heysaboda]

Have to say these questions are all very intriguing -- a nice mix of some "soft" ones and some deep ones.

What a great day!!!!!

[Shady]

Not one question about the movie..

Probably a good thing, I doubt he knows much about it 

[Michael Edward Osbourne]

...I'm psyched!!!

[JK]

Ha! Got one of those waiting for me in my garage for the right moment----but not tonight.

[Wylson]

This is so cool. The best thing is that this will generate probably zero publicity, Brian is just doin' it for the fans. What a guy.

[Matt Bielewicz]

Hmm, well, that went about as well as can be expected. The odd nice nugget of info in there, nothing Earth-shattering, but it was all good!

Interesting that he still rates VDP so highly...

And "Cheese Pizza" gets my vote for the most, well,  *Brian-like* Brian response...   

[Mr. Cohen]

Right. Cheese pizza? Just saw on his board that he prefers apple pie over cake. We've been had.

[retrokid67]

Wow, it went by so fast; glad he stopped by though  .  Time to go back to class  .

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

Not that I was expecting much, but all the same, if I'm being honest...kinda disappointed

[Cyncie]

Honestly, I didn't think he'd answer all the hard,  in-depth, super fan questions. This isn't really the kind of format for that. It was pretty much what I expected.: a fun time with the fans.

[ontor pertawst]

Strangers in the Night demo, favorite chord, the pizza mystery solved. Not bad for a monday morning!

[guitarfool2002]

Murry singing bass, "Breakaway" inspired by the Joey Bishop Show, the Baldwin organ possibly in storage...not bad at all. 

[rab2591]

Hell yeah! That was an amazing Q&A, nothing to be disappointed about!!

[Shady]

The BW.COM Q&A is a bit of a dud, at least here we got some interesting questions answered.

[Dudd]

Brian board q&a's blah

Who is your current favorite classical composer? Thank you for your wonderful music, Brian.
Joann Sebastian Bach - I liked Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. 

Why you wearing glasses during the Pet Sounds era only ?  I want thoses glasses, I need thoses glasses,  I love thoses glasses
They were just for effect - I didn't need glasses. Just to be cool!

Hi Brian. I always thought Male Ego was the undisputed highlight of the Beach Boys' 1985 self-titled and a forgotten gem that wouldn't have been out of place on The Beach Boys Love You. On the same token, Rio Grande from your 1988 solo album was a lost classic I'd put among your best work. Any memories of recording those two songs?
I remember working with Andy Paley and Lenny Waronker. Had really good lyrics.

Good morning, Brian. Cake or pie?
Pie - Apple

If you could only listen to one or two instruments for the rest of your life, which would they be?
Piano and organ.

Did you ever get chance to meet Walt Disney while filming The Monkey's Uncle with Annette?  If you did meet him, Can you explain your experience with him?
No I never did - just a Disney cruise!

What is your definition of artistic success?
Number one records on the charts.

What did you think of (Love and Mercy)?
Oh, fantastic. It's very well done and the actors were really good. Paul Dano really captured me in the Pet Sounds period.. Paul G. was very well casted. John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks were great. All in all it's factual. I'm really excited about it. We're going to Berlin to see it in the Berlin Film Festival in Feburaruy.

Hi Brian! Let me know what do you think about which band is the best of all time. Also i want to say  that i love all of your songs!
At the moment, it's the Rolling Stones are my favorite band. The Beatles too of course. The Bee Gees and I met them once at my Hall of Fame trip. They inducted me.

Were you always a confident singer? Or did it take a lot of practice?
Confidence - being the best I can, you know? I always was a confident singer.

Are you a fan of Motown? I mean, you did a lot of uptempo songs in the 60's, just like Motown. Any favorite Motown songs?
I heard it through the grapevine, reflections by diana ross, superwoman by Stevie Wonder.

The Beach Boys covered The Beatles a number of times, but The Beatles never covered the Beach Boys. What song of yours do you wish The Beatles had covered and why?
They could've covered Girl Don't Tell me because it sounded like them!

Your vocal collaborations with Stephen Kalinich on his early 70s spoken word albums are truly sublime.  What are some of your memories of working with Stephen? Do you still keep in touch?
We wrote A Friend Like You. A great guy.

I was wondering who are your favorite newer bands or solo artists? Are there any recent songs that you really enjoy or identify with?
Yeah, Nate Reuss from Fun and the others from my new album

What are your favorite musical pieces of Gershwin? I love your Gershwin tribute album very much. I especially like "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin" and my favorite is "Nothing But Love". I really love your musical and singing style.
My favorites are I loves you Porgy, Someone to watch over me.

Do you think music should be used more in nursing/health care?
Music is good for your brain, a good experience - you're right.
Thank you, Dr Wilson!!

Hi Brian,  Did you ever do a version of Guess I'm Dumb ?
I thought Glen did a great job. The horns I produced were really great. A departure from the Beach Boys

How old were you when you discovered your gift of harmony?
I was 12 years old and listening to R&B music. I Liked the Great Pretenders, Rock Around the Clock, Earth Angel.

What song did you expect to either get more or less praised once it was released? For instance, “This Whole World” and “Rio Grande” are the most underrated songs in my opinion, and I know you think "Lady Lynda" is underraterd. Which others are overrated or underrater in your opinion?
The Little Girl I Once Knew  was underrated I thought.

Which of the collaborations on the new album surprised you the most? What made you go "wow, I didn't expect that!" -- who would you want to work with again?
Nate Reus - he surprised me the most.

Hello Brian! Do you have any plans to make an album specifically geared at young children? Thank you!
I thought about it, but I haven't. Voice and piano would be a cool trip too.

Did you ever keep up with the accordion? Heard that you had a few lessons as a kid, but do you ever try to play it now?
When I was 14 years old! I took lessons for a month but never was very good at it!

Not a question as much as a comment. The version of There's No Other (Like My Baby) from the Beach Boys' Party album was truly superb. I suggest that version to anyone who wants to hear perfect harmony. Hope you feel the same.
I thought it was a great track! Three part harmony was very close. Best part was the harmony!

Brian, what are  you thoughts on Jan Berry.  Do you believe that Jan & Dean should be inducted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Jan was a kick - real good with music and I wrote Surf City with him. It was my first #1 record.

Do you remember the Crenshaw Apartment's where you had a studio and you were doing pre-production on pet sounds or recording new artists on your record label Safari Records? If so do you remember the little girl riding her red tricycle around and is she a long lost relative to your family? Was her name Sandy or nick named Sissy ? and if so is the Wilson family looking for her?
I had a studio there - I do remember that!

[Radfahrer]

He answered my question. I'm still gobsmacked. 

His favorite is F sharp seventh. What a revelation!     

[job]

I gotta say the questions and answers on his board were quite a bit better than ours.

[Gregg]

He answered my question. I'm still gobsmacked. 

His favorite is F sharp seventh. What a revelation!     

I'm pretty sure he meant F sharp Maj7. I recall him answering that question before somewhere.

[alf wiedersehen]

I gotta say the questions and answers on his board were quite a bit better than ours.

No, they kinda sucked.

[Dudd]

I gotta say the questions and answers on his board were quite a bit better than ours.

No, they kinda sucked.

With one certain exception.