I think it was about 1979 that I saw Brian Wilson on stage with the Beach Boys. I don’t know when I have been more embarrassed for someone.

Brian at the time was dealing with mental health issues, had been for more than a decade. The stories were legendary, how he had stayed in one room for three years, how he spent all his time playing in a sandbox. Musical genius had crossed the line into insanity.

Brian was on tour with the Beach Boys, but hadn’t been on stage with them that night in Ottawa until it was time for the encore. A roadie led Brian out from backstage, sat him down at the piano and placed his hands on the keyboard. The band broke into “Good Vibrations,” and Brian basically just sat there, almost in a stupor, contributing the occasional chord. I was so sad to see the state he was in, and embarrassing that he was being put on public display that way, a living museum exhibit.

I have seen Brian in concert since, a solo performance, about five years ago I think. It was like night and day. He was vibrant and energetic and seemed genuinely happy to be on stage. As he rolled through Beach Boys classics and solo tunes it was obvious that the past had been put behind him.

On a recent flight from Montreal to Istanbul I watched a film about Brian Wilson, Love & Mercy, which follows two distinct storylines in Brian’s life.

There was the creative burst in the 1960s, as Brian tried to move the Beach Boys beyond surf music with albums like Pet Sounds and Smile (which wasn’t released, except in bootleg form, until 2004). I found it very interesting to see how Brian’s mind worked ‎(at times seemingly bordering on madness).

The second story thread was the love story between Brian and his now wife Melinda. It was Melinda who managed to remove Brian from the guardianship of a since-disgraced psychiatrist who had misdiagnosed him and kept him in overly medicated for years, limiting access from family and friends.

I had been looking for a light and fluffy film to watch, given that my body clock said it was 4 a.m. This didn’t really fit the bill, but it did keep me enthralled, even though I knew the ending (always an issue with true-life movies).

An excellent performance from John Cusack as Brian Wilson, a portrayal that captured fully the descent into mental instability that was coupled with the creative process. Equally good in his role (and coming across as equally insane) was Paul Giamatti as the psychiatrist, Eugene Landy.

Somehow I missed this film when it hit the theatres. I suspect it wasn’t a blockbuster, though Turkish Airlines had it in their blockbuster section. If you have the chance to check the film out, I would say go for it. And of course it has a great soundtrack!