singer, singer-songwriter, composer, songwriter, record producer, musician, bass guitarist, pianist, actor, music arranger, music executive, guitarist, keyboardist
🔗 Read on Wikipedia1942 – 2025
My mother used to tell me about vibrations. I didn't really understand too much of what that meant when I was just a boy. It scared me, the word "vibrations." To think that invisible feelings, invisible vibrations existed, scared me to death. But she told about dogs that would bark at people and then not bark at others, that a dog would pick up vibrations from these people that you can't see, but you can feel. And the same existed with people.
Being single is like liking a Phil Spector record.
All of us have the privilege of making music that helps and heals — to make music that makes people happier, stronger and kinder. Don't forget: music is God's voice.
I wanted to write joyful music that made other people feel good. That’s what I tried to do for the past 27 years.
Being called a musical genius was a cross to bear. Genius is a big word. But if you have to live up to something, you might as well live up to that.
I think because I felt so sad I had to bring out my feelings, and try to create music that would make me and all my friends feel better.
It's funny how people are pickin' up on our music now, you know? I think it's wonderful that people like our music.
I met Paul in 1967, Ringo in 1985, and I saw George Harrison in a nightclub somewhere in L. A. I never met John.
We wanted to bring some love to the world. I thought we were good at doing that. Bringin' love to the world.
I may not always love you God only knows what I'd be without you…
If you should ever leave me God only knows what I'd be without you…
Take all the time you need You're gonna do it right.
Drive for a couple miles It's a bumpy one.
I went through a lot of changes in the years from when I first started out.
I would have the musicians keep playing over and over again till the sound made sense. I worked overtime on that; I worked hours to get it right. If the sound didn't make any sense, then I wouldn't know what to do — I'd be lost! It's instinct that tells me. I have an instinct for music, or a feeling about it, and I'll have my feelings guide my hands.
I'm doing good. I've had a slight nervous breakdown in the '60s. I got through that. And I got through the '70s. And I was in a doctor's program during the '80s and then I met Melinda and we've been together ever since. I've got a happy life.
Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.
Did I suffer from depression? Yes, a little, from time to time. Yes. … I'm not as depressed as I was. I get depressed now and then but not very much anymore. … At the height of it it was just God-awful. It was really bad.
It started out — my mom and dad took a little vacation to Mexico and they left $250 for food. But instead of food we went and bought some instruments. We got a bass, guitar and a set of drums. … I was 19. Dennis was 15. Carl was 17. Mike was 18. Al was 19. And so we wrote a song called "Surfin'" in my living room. We were all playing and singing and Mike and I wrote a song called "Surfin'" and that's how it all started.
Dennis surfed. I couldn't surf. I never learned how.
The sound was essentially background sound, myself, and Carl, Dennis and Al Jardine, Mike was our lead singer. The four of us put our voices together. We had done it really beautifully. We had a beautiful blend. We really did.
My cousin came over to my house one day just to fool around and we said — he said, some day we should start a rock n' roll group. We could all get together. And I said, I know I guy named Al Jardine who plays bass and could probably sing good. You know. So we went from there.
I was very, very surprised. I never thought I would be that loved or respected.
Now and then I'll be a little brief with some of my band members. I won't talk or I'll refrain from talking to my band while we're rehearsing. But basically I am friendly with people. … I'll go on cold streaks. I'll work with a collaborator then I'll stop calling the collaborator for a couple weeks. I'll say I need a break from you for a couple weeks. But they're "OK, fine, fine, I'll see you in two weeks."
If there's not love present, it's much, much harder to function. When there's love present, it's easier to deal with life.
Humor — it helps to make the vibe better — it loosens up the vibrations.
Spirituality amounts to love with me. I consider it the same as love. And my band members are full of love.
When people hear music that is spiritual it gets through. Music that is Godlike and loving gets through. I don’t have any power in this world, but I have spiritual power. I think God gave me my music and my talent. I’m trying to get across a feeling of spirituality; I think I have a spiritual influence on people.
I think about God, yes, and I wonder if there is a God. And if there is a God, will God please help me through my hard trips.
To wear a floral shirt is an experience.
You want to know my real pleasure? Food. I love chocolate. I can't get enough chocolate. I can't help it. But my biggest pleasure of all is exercise. I really get off on exercise.