The singer Pete Townshend called a “genius”
The Who guitarist Pete Townshend has mellowed as he’s grown into a music business veteran. The days of him being the loudest voice in the industry have drawn to a close, but when The Who first emerged, it was a completely different story. Nevertheless, from time to time, Townshend occasionally made exceptions for extraordinary talents.
When The Who began making waves in the industry, Townshend criticised any other band that stood in the way of his path to glory. This quickly earned him a hostile reputation and made the guitarist one of the most fearsome individuals in the rock ‘n’ roll business.
Famous bands that Townshend has attacked include icons of the business, such as Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. The guitarist has also torn apart his own band, The Who. However, one person you won’t find him criticising is Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys.
Although Wilson rose to prominence during the same era as The Who established themselves on the scene, they were never rivals. Firstly, Wilson is a character who has never intended to cause anybody harm and has only ever been a beacon of positivity. Furthermore, his music is impossible to hate, and with The Beach Boys, Wilson made the world a more colourful environment.
Additionally, the personal sacrifice that Wilson made for the sake of his own art is unprecedented. Pet Sounds was no fluke; it was the sound of an individual who pushed their creativity to its very limits and made a deal to live with the consequences of the strain his mind endured to reach such rich heights.
Even Townshend, who takes no prisoners, can recognise Wilson’s undeniable brilliance. His kind words are reserved for a select few, and only a special kind of musician will see Townshend label them a “truly great genius”. Wilson is a paid-up member of one of the most exclusive clubs in rock ‘n’ roll, which is made up of musicians immune from criticism by Townshend.
The Who’s co-founder has been lauded as the pioneer of the modern concept album with Tommy, but Townshend believes Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band marked the beginning of this trend. For that reason, he’ll always be indebted to Wilson on a creative level.
“Although neither of them were narrative concepts, they were definitely poetic stories,” Townshend once explained. “They were gatherings of images and ideas that added up to a new way of putting songs together. And from that moment on, I think the message was out there: ‘If that’s what you wanna do — do it.'”
On another occasion, Townshend recalled the life-changing moment when he first heard Pet Sounds and explained the album’s transformative effect on the musical landscape. “When Pet Sounds came along, I think really what happened is that for me is the whole world was turned on its head, and I think for a lot of people,” he suggested. “Certainly for The Beatles, the thing about Brian’s work was that he was writing with the band and voices that were part of his canvas.”
Additionally, Wilson’s website boasts a quote from Townshend, which captures his love for the American icon. The message reads: “I love Brian. There’s not many people I would say that about. I think he’s a truly, truly, truly great genius. I love him so much it’s just terrible. And I find it hard to live with. ‘God Only Knows‘ is simple and elegant. Was stunning when it first appeared. It still sounds perfect.”
Townshend rightly pointed out that he is usually reserved with superlatives when speaking about his peers. However, with Wilson, it was impossible for him not to profess his love, which came directly from the heart. In an age when songs can feel outdated in a matter of months, ‘God Only Knows’, along with the rest of Pet Sounds, still sounds perfect all these decades later. Although the word ‘genius’ can often be overused in a musical context, few are more deserving of the title.
