Stephen Bishop

Grammy/Oscar-nominated songwriter
Stephen Bishop on Brian Wilson, the songwriter.

Bish, you're from San Diego, California, and grew up when the Beach Boys were just starting out. As a California boy, what are your earliest memories of The Beach Boys?

The first time I ever heard a Beach Boys song was "Surfin' USA" in my gym class. It must have been in 7th or 8th grade. I remember it very clearly, and I thought, "Wow, what a great song." I asked my brother to buy me the Beach Boys Concert album a little while later, which I cherished. I remember the distinct cover of the album. When I was in tenth grade, I had a girlfriend named Katye. It lasted a month and a half, but I remember that she had long hair and cut her hair short. When I heard "Caroline, No" on the album Pet Sounds it was the same kind of thing. I related to the line, "Where did your long hair go?" That is also my favorite Beach Boys song, among many others.

You've been writing songs since you were thirteen – did Brian have an influence on your writing, and if so, can you tell us how?

I, like Paul McCartney, loved the Beach Boys' album Pet Sounds. One of the things that I loved about it was the variety of the styles of songs that were written. The sound effects with "Caroline, No" was a very emotional song for me. It made me change my writing from silly to more serious. Brian had a sense of fun with his writing. For example, the songs "Fun Fun Fun" and "Dance, Dance, Dance." I believe Jan and Dean covered both songs. I remember first seeing The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean perform on the TAMI show. I really enjoyed seeing them perform their music live. Brian also wrote a lot of heartfelt songs and was very whimsical. His songs like "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" and “The Warmth of The Sun” are what really got to me as a songwriter. His free melodic style was very influential to me. He would use his falsetto so easily and freely that I decided I would follow that same example.

About your own songwriting, you once said "I write much better when I'm heartbroken and sad or melancholy." The same can be said about Brian certainly, when you think about songs like "The Warmth of the Sun," "Caroline, No," "'Til I Die" and "Love and Mercy." How does this feeling or mood affect your songwriting?

I am a fan of all the songs you mentioned. I always say that you can't write a true love song until you've had your heartbroken. I can relate with my own songs, like “Separate Lives,” “One More Night,” “Same Old Tears On A New Background,” “Looking For The Right One,” “Wall Around Your Heart,” and many others. I've made up stories for songs over the years, but the most heartfelt stories told in my songs came from personal, challenging, and heartbreaking experiences. Songwriters are notoriously known for being depressed at some point in time. The creativity and healing of their depression are through music and writing.

Pet Sounds was quite a departure when it was released in 1966, and sales didn't match previous Beach Boys albums. What did you think of it when it came out and what do you have to say about the album today?

What can I say? It influenced Paul McCartney to do Sgt. Pepper. The variety of songs on the album and harmonies were so phenomenal. It still holds up today as one of the best albums of all time. From "Sloop John B” to “Wouldn't It Be Nice." Every song was exciting and captivating. Most albums have one or two-star songs, and no one really listens to the rest. But each song was a hit, in my opinion. It was unlike anything the music world had ever heard, and typically when people hear something they have never heard before, they either love it or are scared of it. I think this album was a mixture of both. They loved this album because it was a start to a new sound in music and were scared of it because they didn't understand it. I didn't care. I loved it and still do.

You've described "God Only Knows" as a masterpiece. Can you break down this song and tell us why it's so special?

"God Only Knows" is such a phenomenal piece of work. First of all, any song with "God" in the title gets your attention right away. The melody structure is gorgeous and unlike any song ever composed. Brian's genius shines exceptionally bright with “God Only Knows.” It's hard to compare this song to another as it's on its own level. "Let It Be" would be the only comparison as it's a song everyone knows instantly. It puts a smile on your face. The song holds a memory for each person, taking them back to the first time they first heard it. For me it was a happier time. The arrangement of harmonies is iconic, and the instruments with The Wrecking Crew was a once in a lifetime event. This song is in my top five favorite songs and it will be a masterpiece until the end of time.

As an acclaimed songwriter, can you offer any insights to Brian's writing from a musical or technical standpoint that fans and non-musicians wouldn't know?

As I said before, his use of melody and the influence of the Four Freshmen and similar groups gave his music a special lift. Also, his style of playing the piano is beautiful. My good friend Jimmy Webb and I have often discussed how unique Brian's playing style is. I think Jimmy even did a piano cover of "God Only Knows" on his last album. Unfortunately, I don't play the piano. I wish I did. But, if I ever learn, that will be the first song I'll learn.

You wrote a book in 1996 titled "Songs in the Rough" with interviews of songwriters including Brian. Can you tell us about that experience?

The song that I was given for this book was "Surf's Up." It is a classic. I got the rough draft through Van Dyke Parks. I made copies and then sent it back to him. In our phone interview, I remember Brian telling me how his parents had all these musical instruments in their living room. And he loved being surrounded by them. I also remember telling Brian that I had heard Paul McCartney locked himself in a room for 24 hours and played Pet Sounds repeatedly. I am probably guilty of doing this myself when I first got the album in high school. I was so thankful Brian took the time to answer my questions.

Here is Brian's section from our interview in the book >

You've had an amazing career: an Oscar and Grammy-nominated songwriter and performer of so many hits ("On and On," "Save It For A Rainy Day," "Separate Lives (Theme From White Nights)," "It Might Be You (Theme from Tootsie)" and so many others. And you've appeared in some classic movies as well, like "Animal House" and "Blues Brothers." So it's great to hear that you're telling your story and have an autobiography coming out this Spring, "On and Off." Can you tell us a little about it?

My autobiography, "On and Off," follows my journey from childhood to the present. It talks about my hardships, successes, and whacky experiences throughout my fifty-year career in the music industry. As Simon & Garfunkel once sang, "Isn't it strange to be seventy?" I turned the big 7-0 this past year, and this autobiography took three years to write. I worked with my manager 24/7 on making sure I covered everything from my career. I would talk for hours and she would write down the stories.

Most autobiographies are very chronological. But, I wanted to do something a little bit different. I still talk about my childhood, struggling in Los Angeles, etc. But every other chapter, I have inserted ten random stories that have happened throughout my career. Some are hilarious, some are crazy, and others are just sad. But, it's my life, and I can't wait to share it with everyone. Everything ranging from my early days at the Troubadour, life or death situations on the road, almost being punched by James Brown, being in Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller music video, my movie cameos, like Animal House, to a chance encounter with Stevie Wonder, and a very strange conversation with Bob Dylan at a party. I've lived through it all, and I am so glad to be here still.

The autobiography is currently available for pre-order on my website (see link below).

And, of course, any new music on the horizon?

I released my last album in 2019. I plan to release a few singles or an EP with songs I wrote during the pandemic. One song, I have had the same two lines since the early 1980's. I was able to finally finish the song, titled "She'll Always Be My Girl," with a well-known UK singer-songwriter friend of mine, James Bourne. We also wrote a couple of songs on his debut album, "Safe Journey Home." The other songs will be demos from the 70's that I have started to re-record. Songs that never made it onto albums over the years.