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Sat 17 October 2026 11:35, UK
Neil Young is an all-time great who can be considered a one-of-one, but even he would admit that it’s uncertain whether his songs will be sung in 200 years.
The same can be said for almost every artist on the planet right now, apart from a select few who have transcended music and used their craft to have a wider cultural impact that will be printed in books for eternity. The sad truth is that, within a few generations, just like the great impresarios of the 18th century, most of the revered artists of the last 60 years will be largely unknown.
However, there is a handful that have ensured that they have done enough for their musical creations to be remembered, just like the composers who remain household names today, thanks to their lasting art.
Throughout Young’s career, he has enjoyed a front-row seat to history, growing close to a variety of figures he greatly admired, all of whom helped fuel his lifelong obsession with music. Crucially, above all else, regardless of the genre where they operate, he respects artists who are brave. He commends those willing to break boundaries rather than conform to the accepted dimensions of creativity.
It’s an approach he’s followed throughout his own career, one that isn’t always a recipe for success but has yielded some of the most impressive results. Another artist who embodies this same maverick mindset is the late Brian Wilson, a visionary who single-handedly redefined pop and rock music in his vision.
Young, like anyone else with a taste in music, believed Wilson was a God among men from the moment he allowed the needle to drop on Pet Sounds. From that realisation, it was clear to all with working ears that Wilson was peerless, and Young believed he was in a conversation that went beyond rock ‘n’ roll.
A quote sits on Brian Wilson’s website from Young, which exemplifies his adoration, and reads, “He’s like Mozart or Chopin or Beethoven or something. This music will live forever. It’s going to be these melodies and these words, and it’s just fantastic.”
“I can’t describe it. There’s very few writers I feel the emotional and spiritual contact with that I feel with Brian.”
Further reading: From The Vault
Young has never hidden his love of Wilson, which has even seeped its way into his work. In 1972, on Young’s album Journey Through the Past, a soundtrack to a film of the same name, he covered the Pet Sounds classic, ‘Let’s Go Away For Awhile’, for the pivotal closing track. Rather than choosing one of his creations, Young looked to Wilson, which says it all.
The Canadian was also fortunate to get a glimpse into the man behind the music. However, while they were friends, Young couldn’t resist losing his cool when he had the opportunity to share a stage with his hero, which we can’t blame him for.
In 2014, Wilson accepted Young’s invitation to appear at the annual Bridge School Benefit concert, not for the first time. Wilson first performed at the benefit concert in 1999 and performed again in 2006 before returning eight years later. During the latter, Young stormed the stage to join his friend to perform a rendition of ‘Surfin USA’ with the former Beach Boy and his band. Although it sounded like a dream collaboration on paper, the performance was an incoherent mess thanks to Young’s exuberant joy.
Despite everything Young has achieved in his acclaimed career, he reverted to being a fan when in the company of Wilson. He’s performed with everyone from Paul McCartney to Bob Dylan to Led Zeppelin, and should be accustomed to keeping calm in the presence of musical giants. After all, he is one himself, too, don’t forget.
However, they felt like peers who existed in the same universe, and Wilson was an alien dropped from another planet to advance music to new heights.
