Brian Wilson’s breakdown and the legacy of Pet Sounds
On 23 December 1964, Brian Wilson experienced a breakdown during a flight from Los Angeles to Houston, marking a pivotal moment in his life and career. This incident erupted as the first clear indication of his enduring mental health struggles while on tour with The Beach Boys, comprising brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and childhood friend Al Jardine, reports BritPanorama.
“Not up until that point,” Jardine recounts over a video call from his home in Big Sur, California. “[We thought] he was just a very unusual person. He was very creative.” Wilson promptly left the tour, leading Love to reflect, “It was obvious he was not happy being away from home that much. So as sad as it was to see him leave us, we realised it was much better for him. And it turned out better for the group, too.”
This event not only altered Wilson’s trajectory but also significantly impacted The Beach Boys and the broader landscape of pop music. At 22, Wilson withdrew into the studio to radically innovate within popular music. His 1966 masterpiece Pet Sounds, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a new special edition, redefined The Beach Boys’ sound from exuberant surf rock hits to meticulously crafted, symphonic compositions.
Inspired by The Beatles’ Rubber Soul, Wilson amalgamated pop with classical influences, employing intricate arrangements and innovative uses of instruments such as theremins and bicycle bells. The result was a groundbreaking album, despite its initial commercial shortcomings.
Pet Sounds is now frequently hailed as one of the greatest albums ever. Initially, however, it was met with mixed reviews and limited commercial success, peaking at number 10 in the US charts. Love remarked, “Musicians always loved it.” The album later inspired The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, underlining the influence of Wilson’s work despite its troubled reception at the time.
“I understand they were really freaked out about Pet Sounds,” Jardine notes, acknowledging the friendly yet competitive dynamic between the bands. “Brian was more inspired by The Beatles than us. But we would have done Pet Sounds anyway.”
Before Pet Sounds, Wilson had already shown signs of his innovative approach to music with songs like “California Girls”, infused with richer orchestral sounds. Jardine recalls, “We got derailed by Dennis Wilson being a surfer and the sex symbol of the band. But Brian got a little tired of that.”
Upon returning from a Japan tour in January 1966, the band was taken aback by Wilson’s new musical direction, characterised by elaborate compositions and introspective lyrics crafted mainly by Tony Asher. Jardine expressed admiration for Asher’s ability to complement Wilson’s vision: “It was tough for Mike to adapt to a new direction, because he wasn’t part of it.”
Contrary to popular belief, Love asserts he did not initially dislike Pet Sounds or suggest to avoid “messing with the formula.” He acknowledges the brilliance and uniqueness of Wilson’s work: “It was mind-blowing how brilliant they were. I think anybody who’s musically orientated would say, ‘How did he come up with that?’” Love recalls that he actually named the album based on the dogs barking at the conclusion of the final track.
The lyrics of Pet Sounds encapsulate a poignant departure from youthful exuberance to a reflective exploration of longing and identity. Tracks deal with themes of social isolation and the pursuit of belonging, showcasing Wilson’s increasing complexity as a songwriter. Despite some early reservations, Love eventually recognized the profound artistry at play, despite attributing some of the change to Wilson’s drug use during the creative process.
Jardine describes the recording as a rigorous process shaped by Wilson’s exacting standards, which included dictating performance details to musicians from the famed Wrecking Crew. “I called him Stalin of the studio,” Love remarked on Wilson’s perfectionism, noting the album’s staggering production cost of $70,000 at the time.
Despite its eventual acclaim, Pet Sounds was initially overshadowed by Capitol Records’ marketing strategies, which included hastily releasing a greatest hits album alongside it, stalling its success on the charts. Love stated, “It caused a depression for Brian… for it not to have been appreciated and promoted was a big disappointment to him.”
Nonetheless, Wilson continued to push boundaries with the single “Good Vibrations,” a complex work emerging from extensive editing of recording takes. His ambitions soared further with the attempted release of Smile, yet Wilson’s deteriorating mental health created substantial obstacles. Love described this era as overly tumultuous, affirming that the group’s direction began to suffer from Wilson’s struggles influenced by drug use.
Wilson suffered a breakdown in 1967, leading to the abandonment of Smile. For the following decade, he became an increasingly irregular contributor to The Beach Boys. Jardine observed, “He just retreated… I think the schizophrenia started to set in.” Wilson was eventually diagnosed with bipolar schizoaffective disorder, greatly affecting his contributions and personal life until his passing in 2023 at 82.
In 2024, due to a “major neurocognitive disorder,” Wilson was placed under a conservatorship. Jardine reflects on their connection in Wilson’s later years, recalling moments of lucidity amidst his struggles: “We would chat, talk over old times… The last time I saw him, he pointed at me and he said, ‘You started the band!’”
At Wilson’s funeral, tensions were evident as Jardine perceived Love’s speech as self-serving rather than an homage to Wilson. “It’s hard to explain, but sometimes it’s better to leave things alone. He’s very quiet now. He doesn’t talk much.” The two are set to reunite at an upcoming Beach Boys event, a narrative yet unresolved.
Despite the challenges faced by Wilson throughout his life, The Beach Boys’ legacy endures — particularly through Pet Sounds, which Jardine summarizes as a testament to Wilson’s unique genius, likening it to the works of classical greats. “The world is very lucky to have Brian Wilson in the pantheon of music.”
