For fifty years, songs by the Beach Boys, like “Fun, Fun, Fun,” have promised endless summers filled with sunshine. However, this cheerful image contrasts sharply with the life of founding member Brian Wilson, as Anthony Mason reveals in our Sunday Profile:
Last month, on a balmy summer evening at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Brian Wilson—accompanied by fellow former Beach Boy Al Jardine—was performing his classic hits when a cake was brought out by the extended Wilson family.
That night marked Wilson’s 73rd birthday, a milestone for someone many consider one of the greatest living songwriters in America.
Well, East coast girls are hip,
I really dig those styles they wear.
And the Southern girls, with the way they talk,
They knock me out when I’m down there.
The Midwest farmer’s daughters really make you feel alright.
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night.
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls.
— “California Girls,” by Brian Wilson and Mike Love (1965)
Wilson, the architect behind the sun-soaked surf sound that continues to symbolize American summers, has enjoyed a significant year. He is back on tour, released his 11th solo album titled “No Pier Pressure,” and is the focus of a new biopic, “Love & Mercy.”
Mason asked, “What was your reaction to the film?”
“I felt happy to see the good parts,” Wilson replied. “But the darker moments were really tough to watch.”
In the film, John Cusack portrays an older Wilson, who is battling depression, mental health challenges, and substance abuse, while Paul Dano plays the younger version, the musical prodigy responsible for the Beach Boys’ intricate harmonies.
Wilson was only 20 when the Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records and produced their debut album in an L.A. studio.
Mason asked, “Do you recall your experience recording in that room?”
“I remember recording ‘If everybody had an ocean across the USA…'” Wilson shared.
He went on to form one of America’s most successful bands, harmonizing with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and close friend Al Jardine. “Mike played bass, Al, Dennis, and Carl handled the mid-range, and I took the falsetto. We all sang together, and the harmonies just fell into place.”
“Love & Mercy” highlights two significant moments in Wilson’s life: The recording of the landmark “Pet Sounds” album in 1965, which included tracks like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows.”
“I was incredibly proud of that album; it almost made me cry,” Wilson expressed. “I felt a lot of pride.”
“Your father and the band had disagreements about it,” Mason pointed out.
“Yeah, they didn’t appreciate it. Mike and the guys found it too innovative,” Wilson explained. “They wanted to stick with car songs and surf anthems. I told them, ‘We need to evolve. We must progress musically.’
The other key focus of the film is Wilson’s challenging relationship with Dr. Eugene Landy during the 1980s, a psychiatrist criticized for his controlling behavior.
Creating the film took nearly twenty years. When Brian’s wife, Melinda, first watched it, she stated, “I had to get up and leave. I drove around for two hours because it was hard to absorb.”
“What were you doing during your drive around the city?” Mason inquired.
“Just reflecting. ‘Oh my God, was this the right decision? After 19 years, is this how it ends?'” Wilson’s wife replied.
“And how did you find closure?”
“It was the truth,” she affirmed. “That’s how I found peace. When you share the truth, things tend to work out.”
The film narrates Melinda’s journey as she first encountered the troubled musician in 1986.
“I visited a Cadillac dealership to purchase a car,” Wilson reminisced. “She worked there, and the moment I saw her, I was attracted to her. She sold me a car!”
Wilson gave Melinda a card that said, “Frightened, scared, lonely.”
“Did you check that card immediately?” Mason inquired.
“Absolutely! I thought, What is he trying to communicate? I definitely liked him, a lot. When he left that card, I was puzzled,” Melinda responded.
At that time, Brian was under the constant supervision of Dr. Landy (portrayed by Paul Giamatti in the film), who dictated every facet of his existence, even co-writing songs and controlling who could visit him.
Mason prompted Wilson, “What comes to mind when you reflect on that time of your life?”
“Unhappiness,” he replied. “Feeling tormented. It was all difficult.”
“Is it something you try to avoid thinking about?”
“Yes. Definitely,” he said.
“That has to be an incredibly challenging position,” Mason remarked.
“I told my mom, ‘It feels like a child is being harmed.’ I couldn’t find anyone willing to help. Unfortunately, I think Brian’s family was at their wits’ end and didn’t know how to proceed,” Melinda recalled.
Landy eventually disconnected Melinda from Brian.
“I was with her for three years until Dr. Landy ended that relationship,” Wilson explained.
How did he take that? “Negatively,” he admitted. “I told him, ‘That’s not fair, Gene. That’s not fair.’
Melinda recollected Brian expressing, “I want out of this hellhole.” That, she told Mason, was the motivation she needed to act.
In 1991, the family discovered that Brian’s will had been altered, naming Landy as the primary beneficiary, finally ending Landy’s control over Wilson.
They secured a court order preventing the therapist from having any contact with his patient, marking the conclusion of Brian Wilson’s nine-year struggle.
Brian and Melinda tied the knot in 1995. Together, they have five adopted children.
The track “One Kind of Love” from Brian Wilson’s latest album, “No Pier Pressure,” is dedicated to Melinda. (Click the video player below to hear Wilson perform the song.)
Just driftwood floating on the sea,
Searching for the me and all that I have known to be.
Thank God that you noticed me,
And brought back harmony to this lonely soul.
Mason inquired, “How crucial was Melinda in helping you through that?”
“She was my savior; she pulled me out of it,” Wilson stated. “She got me out of that situation.”
“He’s incredibly strong — people often overlook this about him,” Melinda said. “They assume he’s just passive and idle, but he is strong.”
“Was there a moment when you realized you had actually triumphed?”
“When we got married, I knew I had won,” she chuckled.
To view a trailer for “Love & Mercy,” click on the video player below.
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