Q+A = Brian Wilson, legendary beach Boy

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 | 7:25 a.m.

Brian Wilson celebrated his 64th birthday last week, a couple of days after Paul McCartney. The former Beach Boy and former Beatle - icons of the '60s youth culture - are aging, but their music appears to be ageless.

That's certainly true in Las Vegas, where fans - old and young - are buzzing over "Love," the tribute to the music of McCartney and John Lennon.

Fans of surf music can revisit its heyday when Wilson makes a rare concert stop at the Cannery on Saturday.

McCartney cited "Pet Sounds" - the legendary 1966 Beach Boys album composed, arranged and produced by Wilson - as the inspiration for the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

Wilson founded the Beach Boys along with his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine in 1961. They created the "surf sound" and some of the most memorable songs of the decade - "Good Vibrations," "Surfin' USA," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "I Get Around," "Help Me Rhonda" and "California Girls."

Then life fell apart for the musical genius.

He left the Beach Boys in the mid-'70s, plagued by mental illness and drug abuse. He became estranged from his daughters from his first marriage, Carnie and Wendy.

He and his daughters mended fences in 1997 and released an album "The Wilsons." He remarried in 1995, and the couple adopted two daughters and a son.

He even dug back into the archives and completed the 1967 Beach Boys' album "Smile," which he finally released two years ago. But Love sued Wilson over the album and other issues.

Wilson talked about his life these days during a recent phone interview from his Southern California home.

How are you?

I feel unbelievably well. I go on a five-mile walk every morning, then work at my piano. Then I play with my kids for a while, and go back to the piano. Then I have dinner and work at the piano some more.

Are you performing at more concerts these days?

Not really. I don't go on the road too often, just every few months.

What can fans expect at the concert?

Beach Boys hits. Mostly Beach Boys hits, but also some of my new songs.

Your music has endured for decades. What do you attribute that to?

I can only accredit it to good harmonies and good melodies that have brought a lot of joy into the lives of a lot of people.

The music world has changed dramatically since the '60s. Do you think it's for the better, or worse?

I don't like what's happening in music at all. I'm disappointed in the condition the music business is in now.

Do you think it will ever turn around?

It will get worse to the point where someone records a record that is so great everyone will just flip over it. Then things will get better.

How do you keep busy these days?

I'm working, always working on my music.

And how is the music going?

Things are going pretty fast. I'm writing all these songs, and I hope to do some recording this year. Lately I've been writing with Burt Bacharach. We're going to do some recording.

You've had some legal issues with Mike Love. Have they been resolved?

We had a meeting recently. Things have gotten a little bit better between us. We discussed business, but I don't know what's going to happen.

Do you ever foresee rejoining the Beach Boys?

I would not be opposed to recording again with the Beach Boys, if it is OK with all of the managers. I might consider some studio work - that would be very exciting.