Features
A Tribute To Brian Wilson
The legendary songwriter/arranger/performer’s material will be presented by artists including John, Simon, Aimee Mann and husband Michael Penn, Heart, and Matthew Sweet. Wilson will also perform and additional musicians are expected to sign on.
Odd couple Sir George Martin and actor Dennis Hopper are set to be the presenters, with other emcees to be announced soon. Phil Ramone will serve as music producer for the extravaganza.
In addition to individual Wilson tunes, there will be a start-to-finish performance of his masterpiece Pet Sounds. Turner Network Television (TNT) is shooting for a July 4 air date for the “All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson” on the cable channel.
Tickets are priced from $53 – $178 and go on sale March 12 through Ticketmaster and the next day at the Radio City Music Hall box office.
Wilson, along with brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and family friend Al Jardine, formed the Beach Boys in 1962. After a string of hits celebrating surfing, cars and girls, Brian Wilson found himself heading in a different direction than his bandmates, with his music and recreational pastimes.
He withdrew from touring in 1966, retreating into the studio where he created Pet Sounds, one of the most highly acclaimed albums of the rock era. After it was completed, however, he sunk into a well-publicized morass of depression and drug abuse until making a difficult recovery. He returned to the studio and stage in the early 1990s.
Wilson undertook an extensive tour last year, appearing with local symphony orchestras and performing Pet Sounds in its entirety
He no longer performs with the Beach Boys, which continue to tour with lone original member Mike Love.