‘A genius’: Jake and Spike look back at Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson’s illustrious career

Jun 12, 2025, 5:03 AM

Musician Brian Wilson performs at Roadside Attraction's "Love and Mercy" DVD release and music celebration. (Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images)

(Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images)

BY JAKE SKORHEIM AND SPIKE O'NEILL SHOW

The Jake and Spike Show, weekdays from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Fan-favorite member of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82, The Associated Press reported Wednesday. Jake and Spike, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, dove into Wilson’s prominent career as a singer/songwriter.

Looking back at Brian Wilson’s career

“The guy was a genius, would you say he’s the most instrumental of the Beach Boys?” Jake asked.

“He was the driving force. He was a creative genius behind the Beach Boys, and the entire sound of surf rock,” Spike responded.

The Beach Boys have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Between the 1960s and today, the band has had over 80 songs chart worldwide, 36 songs in the U.S. top 40, and four songs topping the Billboard Hot 100, according to the Beach Boys’ website.

“I was excited to celebrate Brian’s catalog. [Spike] and I the other day, we were talking about what our favorite love song was, and ended up picking the exact same song, which is perfect,” Jake said.

The Beach Boys: ‘Pet Sounds’

“Brian Wilson with ‘Pet Sounds’ changed everything about the Beach Boys,” Spike said. “This isn’t ‘Surfin’ U.S.A.,’ and when [‘Pet Sounds’] comes out, it’s this beautiful orchestration. Paul McCartney even said, ‘OK, everything is different now; he just changed the game.'”

Rolling Stone ranked “Pet Sounds” No. 2 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time,” and The Beach Boys No. 12 on the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” according to the band’s website.

“The vocal recording sessions of them singing ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, it’s just so hard to harmonize, how difficult is it for them to do this?” Jake asked.

“It’s nearly impossible. It doesn’t get any better. They’ve always had that as their main skill, it’s their sound, the vocal harmonization,” Spike said.

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.