http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=25&ContentID=53051Beach Boy Wilson hits Australian shores
3rd January 2008, 13:30 WST
The creative genius behind the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, appears to be as much in the dark about Australia as he is about surfing.
At least he loves the sun.
The 65-year-old legend of pop, here to headline the Sydney Festival, will play at a free concert to 40,000 fans at the Domain on Saturday night.
When asked today how he enjoyed being in Australia, he said he loved being in Sydney and basking in its sunshine.
Asked if he thought Sydney was similar to California, he replied: “No, I don’t”.
“People in California go into the ocean more,” Wilson told reporters in Hyde Park.
But he was quickly assured that Sydneysiders loved surfing.
“Oh really, then California and Australia are similar,” he said.
Wilson became famous by writing songs about the sun, surf, sand and Californian girls.
But the 65-year-old won’t be hitting the Bondi waves - he famously can’t surf.
“I’d be so afraid,” he told reporters.
“I tried one time and the board almost hit me in the head.
“It missed my head by two inches.
“That was the end of Brian Wilson the surfer.”
As well as Saturday’s free gig, Wilson will perform three shows at the State Theatre next week.
Two shows will comprise songs from his latest work, That Lucky Old Sun (a Narrative), while the third will see the music legend perform the Beach Boys’ seminal Pet Sounds album in its entirety.
Despite worldwide acclaim, Wilson admits he still gets nervous before a big show.
“It feels a little scary,” he said.
“(But) it makes me want to perform well.
“And I’m a 65-year-old man who can perform.”
Wilson succumbed to the stresses of overwork and stopped touring with the Beach Boys at the height of their success in the mid-1960s.
It was the start of a downward spiral that led the songwriter into a long battle with mental illness and drug addiction.
Wilson was today reluctant to answer questions about his health.
But when pressed he stressed he was feeling as creative as ever.
“I feel like I have a chance to make some money this year and I feel like I can record and I feel like just going straight ahead,“ Wilson said, adding that he walks eight kilometres every day.
Wilson believes he is still “growing” musically.
“I get better every year. How about that,” he laughed.
He plans to record That Lucky Old Sun in January for a new album - saying the “negro spiritual” was a beautiful song.
“I just bought Louis Armstrong’s version of That Lucky Old Sun, learned how to play it, arranged it differently, changed the chords and taught it to my band,” Wilson said.
AAP
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