The Unexpected Getaway Brian Wilson Created To Get Time Away From The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys‘ Brian Wilson famously has had a complicated relationship with fame. He has battled many mental health struggles publicly, dealing with them in a myriad of ways. One of the most unexpected coping mechanisms he used was a health food store called Radiant Radish. Learn more below about Wilson’s short-lived side gig.

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Brian Wilson’s Getaway From The Beach Boys

In the mid-’60s, Wilson took a step back from The Beach Boys’ touring life. He, instead, decided to focus on songwriting, earning the group some of their most well-respected hits. This move was influenced in part by Wilson’s mental health decline. He needed a reprieve from the public eye. Despite being a means to an end, it proved to be a successful move for the group.

By the late ’70s, Wilson’s reclusive activity didn’t provide enough of a reprieve from the pressures of being in a famous band. He had to turn to a new solution. For some reason, that solution was a health food store.

Radiant Radish might not seem like such a far-fetched idea today, with the countless famous musicians who have created side companies, but it was an unexpected decision in the ’60s. Moreover, Wilson didn’t just own the store, he would work there from time to time. Clad in a bathrobe, working at Radiant Radish provided a peaceful environment for Wilson to work in, away from the pressure The Beach Boys’ provided.

Unfortunately, the store was only open for a few years, robbing Wilson of his quiet corner to escape the music industry in. “I spent too much money on produce, there wasn’t much money coming in, and we went bankrupt,” Wilson once said.

Wilson’s Addiction

Wilson’s mental health and addiction struggles have been well-documented. He once spoke about the effect they had on his songwriting.

“Pet Sounds was marijuana,” Wilson once said, discussing which drug influenced each Beach Boys album. “The Van Dyke Parks song (Smile) was Benzedrine. Psychedelics put you in a vocal mood. They make you want to sing. It’s like when a bird lands on a wire.”

Because of this, it’s likely no surprise to fans that Wilson needed a reprieve like Radiant Radish. Whatever works, we suppose.

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)