From the Evening Standard:
Brian Wilson has revealed that he plans to retire from touring after his London concerts this year.
The singer also said he still suffers from the hallucinations and stage fright that led to him become a recluse in the late Sixties and early Seventies at the height of the Beach Boys fame.
Wilson, 68, admitted that life on the road was „very hard work“ for him and that his dates at the Royal Festival Hall in September were likely to be his last in London. „I’m always afraid just before I go on stage because I’m not sure how the concert’s going to work.
„As I get older it gets harder for me. But when I’m sitting down at the keyboard and my band’s behind me, I can do it.“ When asked if he had contemplated retirement, he replied: „Oh God yes. Another year, maybe. This could be the last time I play here. I’m going to miss it but I’m getting a little bit old for touring.“
Wilson has suffered from hearing voices in his head since the Sixties when he also fought drug addiction and depression. He said: „What the voices say is still pretty much the same, negative things, ‚You’re going to die‘, or, ‚You better watch out‘, life-threatening kinds of things. Performing helps, but I’ll still have the voices there when I’m on stage. They’re always with me.“
Wilson will perform tracks from Smile, Pet Sounds and his recent album Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin at the Royal Festival Hall for three nights starting on September 16. He added: „London is my favourite city in the whole world. I love the people here. I think the people appreciate the music a lot better than Americans do, they’re a lot more sensitive to the music than Americans are.“
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