Brian Wilson, best known as a member of the icon surf song band of the ’60s, The Beach Boys, is postponing his June solo tour dates in order to focus on his mental health.
“It is with great regret that I need to postpone my upcoming June tour,” Wilson wrote in a letter posted to his website Thursday. “It is no secret that I have been living with mental illness for many decades.”
While he says he’s been “able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life,” Wilson attributes his recent mental health problems to the three back surgeries he’s had in the last year. Though the surgeries were successful, he said, the recovery process has been a bumpy road.
“After my last surgery I started feeling strange and it’s been pretty scary for awhile. I was not feeling like myself. Mentally insecure is how I’d describe it,” he said. “We’re not sure what is causing it but I do know that it’s not good for me to be on the road right now so I’m heading back to Los Angeles.”
Wilson added that he’s “looking forward to [his] full recovery” and expects to reschedule the tour for “later in the year.”
“The music and my fans keep me going and I know this will be something I can AGAIN overcome,” he said.
Wilson was scheduled to start his “Pet Sounds: The Final Performances” tour on June 7 in Lynn, Massachusetts. That show and the other 11 June dates have been postponed but, according to his website, his August “Greatest Hits Live!” tour dates are still on.
Michael E. Love, Wilson’s cousin and fellow founding member of The Beach Boys, took to Twitter to share his thoughts.
“My heart is swollen with love, compassion, concern, and thoughtful well wishes for a speedy recovery,” Love wrote.
Today, I read a message shared by my cousin Brian. My heart is swollen with love, compassion, concern, and thoughtful well wishes for a speedy recovery. Let the music that lives deeply inside you carry you to your highest beautiful self.I am cheering for you!I Love You Cuz! pic.twitter.com/E1JQ3jf5Aq
— Mike Love (@MikeLoveOFCL) June 6, 2019
You can read Wilson’s full letter below:
“Dear friends,
It is with great regret that I need to postpone my upcoming June tour.
It is no secret that I have been living with mental illness for many decades. There were times when it was unbearable but with doctors and medications I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life with support from my family, friends and fans who have helped me through this journey.
As you may know in the last year or so I’ve had 3 surgeries on my back. The surgeries were successful and i’m physically stronger than i’ve been in a long time.
However, after my last surgery i started feeling strange and it’s been pretty scary for awhile. I was not feeling like myself. Mentally insecure is how I’d describe it. We’re not sure what is causing it but i do know that it’s not good for me to be on the road right now so I’m heading back to Los Angeles.
I had every intention to do these shows and was excited to get back to performing. I’ve been in the studio recording and rehearsing with my band and have been feeling better. But then it crept back and I’ve been struggling with stuff in my head and saying things I don’t mean and I don’t know why. Its something i’ve never dealt with before and we cant quite figure it out just yet.
I’m going to rest, recover and work with my doctors on this.
I’m looking forward to my recovery and seeing everyone later in the year.
The music and my fans keep me going and I know this will be something I can AGAIN overcome.
Love & Mercy,
Brian Wilson”