[The following was gleaned from two conversations with Brian Wilson. His publicist had warned: "You don't just sit down and interview Brian. Hell talk for ten minutes and then be gone." Au contraire, we found that Brian spoke candidly and at length, until—without warning—he ended the sessions with an abrupt "That should about wrap it."

The first talk was over lunch at a Beverly Hills restaurant. Attending were Brian, his wife Marilyn, his press agent, his psychiatrist, and his psychiatrists assistant, who ^described Brians current therapy: "Hes learning how to develop a style of being able to take care of himself, to feel accepting, feel OK about who he is and what he can y create." We dont know about that; sounds suspiciously like the ubiquitous est—TM, sorry—thats fueling the BBs now, in-place of milkshakes and surfs up and sunny Cal-i-forn-i-ay. At any rate, Brian, a hulking behemoth of a man (though hes slimmed down somewhat) arranged a second meeting at his house, and although going over the traumas of the past seemed to cause him pain, once he got going on the present he relaxed and started to enjoy himself. Without his psychiatrist present. Read on—Ed.]