December 1964 was a turning point for The Beach Boys and their leader Brian Wilson. The group was at the top of the charts with their album Beach Boys Concert; their Christmas Album was in the top ten. And yet despite the success, the pressure was too much for Brian Wilson. In the midst of the group’s December ’64 tour Wilson had a nervous breakdown.

Brian Wilson’s mental state meant he could no longer tour with the band, so he choose to concentrate on writing and recording instead. By 1966, Wilson reached his artistic triumph with the release of Pet Sounds. The record is not only the Beach Boys best album, but one of the most influential albums of all time.

These days, Brian Wilson appears to have found a balance between performing and recording. Last year he released the album That Lucky Old Sun. This year he hit the road performing many of the great hits he penned for the Beach Boys. I was able to catch his gig in Providence, Rhode Island.