Brian Wilson's Quotes

I think in terms of emotions. And feelings. So sometimes what I say may not always be clear. But creatively, there's a lot to be said for that way of thinking.

I would listen to Little Richard and Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, and I would listen to how they played their riffs, and after I taught myself that, I taught myself to play my own kind of stuff.

My mother used to tell me about vibrations. I didn't really understand too much of what that meant when I was just a boy. To think that invisible feelings, invisible vibrations existed scared me to death.

The Beach Boys have always been a part of the '60s spectrum, with The Beatles and that kind of thing. They were a part of the music business like everyone else. And they did quite well as a singing group, and I finished a lot of good records, and I'm very proud of them.

The keyboard is my whole life. My life is centered around either sitting at my keyboard or driving my car. Those are the two most important things, more than anything else. Being at my keyboard, it's the happiest time for me.

You want to know my real pleasure? Food. I love chocolate. I can't get enough chocolate. I can't help it. But my biggest pleasure of all is exercise. I really get off on exercise.

Any article's good. Long as it's publicity, I think that's all that matters. I think it's advancement for my career.

Gershwin inspired me very much. The concept of 'That Lucky Old Sun' was inspired by 'Rhapsody in Blue' - not influenced, but inspired.

I always do get a little bit paranoid when I get a lot of attention. But I get used to it.

I can write songs, I've had songs in movies, but I can't compose film scores, you know?

I consider myself to be a crusader of love. I try to spread love around the world as best I can because I know I have a handle on love.

I earned my famous name.

I get off on hearing other people's voices. I like voices: they're my favourite things on records.

I have stage fright every single concert I've ever done. I have at least four or five minutes of it. It's absolute living hell.

I like the piano - I'm always about 15 feet away from a piano.

I listen to oldies but goodies stations, '60s and '70s music.

I meditate and I also think about meditation. Which is funny. I think about Maharishi, about just the idea of meditating. It gives me something.

I play piano all the time. I'm always at my piano, playing music.

I still believe that something is right only when it feels right.

I think cursing is a bunch of malarkey.

I wake up in the morning and I say 'Ahh! Today's the day for a song! I'm going to write a song today!' And I do. I write a song.

I wanted to emulate Bob Flanagan, the high voice in the 'Four Freshmen.' I wanted to sing high like he did.

I was very, very financially secure my whole life. I have been very lucky to say that.

I'd earned over a million dollars by the time I was old enough to vote.

I'm happy; I'm a happy person.

I'm just a shy and retreating kind of person. Sometimes I get in a real talkative mood - but not very often.

I'm not a genius. I'm just a hard-working guy.

If there's not love present, it's much, much harder to function. When there's love present, it's easier to deal with life.

If you're going to write a song, try to get together with a collaborator because it's better to write with collaborators.

It's like when a guy gets a divorce from his wife. You part ways. That's what I did with The Beach Boys.

My brother Carl taught me how to play bass. I'm a self-taught keyboard player, though - I figured out our harmonies at the piano.