Brian Wilson

Co-founder of the legendary Beach Boys who produced some of the most successful American, pre-Beatles pop music characterised by rich, close harmony vocals which came to be known as the 'surf sound'. Despite the hits, he is perhaps better respected for later work, and in particular the 1966 album 'Pet Sounds', which regularly appears in polls as one of the greatest records of all time. Its mixture of melodic beauty and pioneering experimentation was taken even further on his next planned release, the near legendary 'Smile'. Scrapped in the late sixties, this album was finally released in 2004. The subsequent critical and popular acclaim it received was a true vindication of his original vision, and Brian's live performances of both 'Smile' and 'Pet Sounds' have been greeted with an equally rapturous reception.