Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Music Video - Pop/Rock
Rating: NR
Release Date: 1-APR-2003
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56006 in DVD
• Brand: WILSON,BRIAN
• Released on: 2003-04-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 77 minutes

Amazon.com
The Mozart of pop? A one-man Lennon and McCartney? The comparisons aren't extravagant when you're talking about Brian Wilson, subject of this captivating 77-minute documentary (with interviews, live performances, behind-the-scenes footage, etc.). The fact that the wunderkind architect of so many Beach Boys classics is still around at all in 2003, let alone largely recovered from his well-chronicled emotional and physical problems, borders on the miraculous. The DVD is a celebration of Wilson's life and work--not simply by the likes of Paul McCartney, Neil Young, and Pete Townshend but by Brian himself, who with each performance becomes stronger and more at ease on stage. And it's great to hear his songs, including both the obvious ("Good Vibrations," "Fun Fun Fun") and the unexpected ("Lay Down Burden," Brian's tender tribute to his late brother Carl), performed with such joy by Wilson's brilliant band. More than a comeback, this is an ongoing, encouraging success story. --Sam Graham

From the back cover
Brian Wilson on Tour is a documentary film celebrating the music of Beach Boy legend Brian Wilson. Following Brian through the U.S. and Japan on his first-ever solo tour, this is an intimate portrait, not of Brian "the genius," but of Brian "the working musician," choosing songs, teaching them to his 10-piece band and, ultimately, performing them live for the first time ever in front of electrified audiences.

Highlights include:
-Twenty-four previously unreleased live performances, including one song never before issued in any form, "Saturday Morning in the City."
-Exclusive in-depth interviews conducted with Brian over four years.
-Paul McCartney's induction of Brian to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
-Brian's appearance at the Bridge School Benefit Concert where, just before showtime, Neil Young gets a crash course on the organ part for "Good Vibrations." Minutes later he joins the group onstage, along with guest vocalists Sheryl Crow, Roger Daltrey, Eddie Vedder and Emmylou Harris.
-A surprise backstage visit from Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes, which Brian calls, "the biggest thrill of my life."
-Candid interviews with Pete Townshend, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young and Patti Smith.

Brian himself calls Brian Wilson on Tour the most honest and accurate portrait of him ever captured on film. It is the story of one of pop music’s greatest composers celebrating his musical genius with the world for the first time.

Customer Reviews

Fine, for what it is...
Clocking in at a mere 77 minutes, this DVD provides a nice (if somewhat bland) overview of Brian's transformation from Beach Boy to solo entity, but it's brevity certainly raises some significant questions.

If Brian is truly "back", then why is almost every chapter of this DVD so heavily edited? Why are we presented with so many snippets of songs instead of fully realized productions? Why is the concert footage only culled from the 1999 and 2000 tours?

As it is, "Brian Wilson On Tour", is simply a sanitized PBS-oriented documentary. There is no Beach Boy pathos here, just fun (and art!) on the road. And while it does sometimes feel contrived, this DVD does provide the fan with occasional spontaneous human moments from Brian. My personal fave scene is where Brian is asked to name his favorite tune from different groups ... very cool. However, be warned that this DVD does not offer much in the way of complete songs.

In fact, that's my biggest gripe with this disc: there is not enough unedited concert footage. Almost everything is offered in piecemeal fashion. Heck, even "Saturday Morning In The City" - a "new" track which is advertised on the outside of the package - is presented as a miniscule 30 second piano snippet! VERY MISLEADING PACKAGING!!!

Much like 1995's "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", "Brian Wilson On Tour" is yet another fixed perspective look into Brian's world. How much of this documentary is truth and how much is revision is left up to the viewer to decide.

Only the overworked editor knows for sure.

GENIUS SURROUNDED WITH LOVE
Those who saw Brian Wilson perform on his 2002 European Tour must have been in doubt whether the former Beach Boys genius was realy happy to be back on stage. Wilson looked sometimes scared and insecure and his great band the Wondermints backed up for him in more than one way. But we see a different Brian Wilson in this DVD. One who is enjoying the appreciation of the public and other musicians like Neil Young and Pete Townsend. Brian is loose and looks happy in this Tour film and seems surrounded with love. Playing some of his and Beach Boys greatest tunes and building up confidence. After the CD's Brian Wilson Live at the Roxy and Pet Sounds Live and the Tribute DVD, this new DVD is another landmark in the attempts to give Brian Wilson the credits he derserves but did not get for his wonderful music from the sixties and seventies. There are beautiful tracks on this DVD and charming backstage views, like Neil Young trying to learn how to play Good Vibrations. Good to see all this happen.

Clearing Up Some Points
Some misconceptions about this DVD here. Let me clear them up.

1.) Although it was released in 2003, this documentary was filmed in 1999 and 2000, on the very first leg of Brian Wilson's very first solo tour.

2.) The editing has been done at least partly to cut out Joe Thomas and Steve Dahl, both of whom accompanied and (kind of) played with Brian on the first leg of the tour. They both left after BW's trip to Japan.

3.) The best stuff was yet to come. Brian followed this up with the Pet Sounds tour, a summer series of shows with Paul Simon, more Pet Sounds shows in England, and now the SMiLE tour. This DVD is about him coming into his own as a concert performer.

4.) The man isn't exactly magnetic on stage. Sometimes he's dull to watch, esp. in this first tour when he kept his hands on the keyboard. So some creative editing can be excused. Take a look at the Pet Sounds Live DVD to see much more straightforward footage.

5.) This is obviously not the highest budget production. It's mainly filmed on digital video. It gives us a close look at Brian making his music. That's its charm.

If folks stop wanting this DVD to be something it isn't, and accept it for what it is, they'll find a wonderful portrait of a frazzled, eccentric, but still very alive and musical man.