Quotes from Brian Wilson

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

I think I'm a vocal genius, not a musical genius. I like background vocals. I consider myself a voice, not a singer. A voice is a sound, and singing is what you do with that sound.

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

Every now and then I hear voices in my head, but not very clear. I can't understand what they are saying. It's a mental illness. I have been diagnosed as a manic depressive.

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

There's no outdoing The Beatles.

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

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

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 believe that music is God's voice.

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

I've never written one note or word of music simply because I think it will make money.

I have an instinct for music, or a feeling about it, and I'll have my feelings guide my hands.

Surfing music is dead. It was just a summer craze for kids on the beach. I'm finished with it.

You don't really know what to believe until the Government denies it.

I think about God, yes, and I wonder if there is a God. And if there is a God, will God please help me through my hard trips.

Humor - it helps to make the vibe better - it loosens up the vibrations.

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.

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

To wear a floral shirt is an experience.

Pop music has been exhausted. The innocence has been exhausted. I think we've lost the ability to be blown away by music.

I think cursing is a bunch of malarkey.

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

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.