No name is more synonymous with The Beach Boys than Brian Wilson. He helped found the band in its early years and led them to greatness, after all. However, like anyone, Wilson had his limits. And the mounting pressure over the years finally got to him on December 23, 1964.
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While on tour with The Beach Boys, Wilson suffered from a panic attack. The event was a life-altering one for Brian Wilson, and he made the very hard decision to quit performing live with The Beach Boys afterward.
The Plane Trip That Changed Everything
On this day in 1964, The Beach Boys were on a flight to Houston, Texas for a concert. Only five minutes into the ride, Brian Wilson suffered from a serious nervous breakdown.
“We were really scared for him,” said Beach Boys member Al Jardine. “He obviously had a breakdown. None of us had ever witnessed something like that.”
When The Houston Press covered his breakdown shortly after, they said that Wilson was crying and “screaming” on the cabin floor. Naturally for the time, the press wasn’t exactly gentle in describing the very real experience of having a panic attack, especially when the breakdown in question came from a famous rock star.
After the plane landed, Wilson begged his bandmates to send him home. They persuaded him to check into a hotel and rest. Sadly, that wasn’t the end of it. Wilson was later found nearly paralyzed in his dressing room. The band made the decision to perform without him that night and then sent him home to Los Angeles.
Brian Wilson Bravely Chose His Mental Health Over Being On The Road
Once home, Wilson made the difficult decision to stay out of the public eye. What started as a break ended up being a hiatus that lasted 12 years.
According to Wilson, the breakdown came after years of pressure, breakless work, and what was likely clinical exhaustion.
“I felt I had no choice, I was run down mentally and emotionally because I was running around, jumping on jets from one city to another on one-night stands, also producing, writing, arranging, singing, planning, teaching…” said Wilson. “To the point where I had no peace of mind and no chance to actually sit down and think or even rest.”
Fortunately, Brian Wilson didn’t completely leave The Beach Boys. In fact, he was a vital part of the band even if he wasn’t performing live with them as often. He continued to be the heart of the band, leading their production efforts and songwriting.
Without his contributions, we wouldn’t have albums like Pet Sounds and Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!). Sometimes, stepping out of the limelight is exactly what an artist needs to truly thrive in their art.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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