Brian Wilson/Smile
Austin Convention Center, Friday, March 18
“My wife, Melinda, told me midway through 2003 that the world was ready for Smile.” That was how Brian Wilson explained his decision to finish the most famous unreleased album in rock history after 36 years. Wilson is normally a man of few words who isn’t altogether comfortable in an interview environment, but with Smile lyricist Van Dyke Parks and Beach Boys hagiographer David Leaf along for the ride, Friday’s panel was an enlightening romp. Finishing Smile was a tremendous artistic risk for Wilson when he could’ve just as easily continued letting the lost treasure mystique surrounding it accrue. Having documented the making of Smile in his documentary Beautiful Dreamer, Leaf recalled the enormous degree of trepidation that followed Wilson’s decision. “We all knew the Smile period from 1966 through 1967 was very painful for Brian and Van Dyke,” Leaf said. “We didn’t know what was going to happen, but we knew it was important for it to be recorded for posterity.” The anxiety continued right up through the London premiere of Smile in February 2004. “For about an hour before the show, I was so nervous I could throw up,” Wilson said. “After that, the shows were a breeze.” In praising Wilson’s courageousness, Parks described his lyric, “Is it hot as hell in here, or is it me?” as having to do with “the real hell this individual went through in making this music.” Moderator Alan Light left plenty of time for audience questions, and between multiple earnest expressions of eternal gratitude for the music, one question concerned Brian’s thoughts about what his brothers Carl and Dennis would’ve thought of Smile. “I think if they were alive, they’d be thrilled to death to listen to it,” he said. “I miss their voices very much. I really do.”This article appears in March 18 • 2005.
