E.C.: You are one of the most prolific and influential songwriters of the 20th century. Is Pet Sounds the creation that you are most proud of?

Brian: Yeah, that's my favorite one.

E.C.: What influenced your decision to take it on the road?

Brian: My wife and my manger and I had a meeting we thought we'd try it out.

E.C.: How has it been learning all those songs again?

Brian: Very hard work...yeah.

E.C.: Those are some emotional songs - does playing them choke you up a little?

Brian: Yeah, some of them are very pretty.

E.C.: Has it been tough trying to get used to performing on stage again?

Brian: No, I've gotten used to it already.

E.C.: Are the rewards worth it at the end of the night?

Brian: Yeah, yeah, personal feelings...

E.C.: What do you like best about working with the Wondermints?

Brian: I like 'em cause they play and sing very good and they make me sound good.

E.C.: I got a real kick out of it your version of "Brian Wilson" [by Bare Naked Ladies] on your live CD. What did you think of the song when you first heard it?

Brian: Well I like it, I thought it was kinda different.

E.C.: Speaking of your new live CD, what made you decide to just sell it on your web site?

Brian: Well, my wife and my manager thought it up, said it would be a good idea.

E.C.: How do you feel about being so close to your fans on the internet?

Brian: Oh, pretty good, pretty good...

E.C.: Do you have plans to follow up IMAGINATION with another studio LP?

Brian: We don't know when we are gonna do that, maybe at the end of the year.

E.C.: Will you be using the Wondermints?

Brian: Yeah, I think so.

E.C.: Do you miss cutting records like in the old days, with all the session musicians playing at one time? Have you thought about returning to some of that?

Brian: Yeah, I miss those days a lot.

E.C.: I know that Paul McCartney really admires your work. Is there a possibility that you two will ever record together?

Brian: Oh, Probably not...no, probably not.

E.C.: What made you ask Van Dyke to do the orchestral suite (which includes Cabinessence, Heroes & Villains and Our Prayer)?

Brian: My wife called him up and asked him if he would like to do it. And he said, "yeah."

E.C.: How do you feel about all the message boards that are dedicated to Brian Wilson and his music?

Brian: I'm pretty pumped up about it, I feel very good.

E.C.: I noticed on your web site [www.brianwilson.com] you posted that there was a "master plan" for "Smile".

Brian: That's not until a couple of years from now.

E.C.: "Girl Don't Tell Me" is one of my fave Beach Boys tracks. It's very Beatles sounding, was it written with that in mind?

Brian: Yeah, yeah...I wanted to emulate John Lennon's kind of music.

E.C.: I had also read that you possibly wanted the Beatles to cover it?

Brian: No, that's not true.

E.C.: On the demo of "Heroes & Villians" on the Endless Harmony soundtrack, is that the missing "I'm In Great Shape" song that's sung in the middle?

Brian: Yeah...

E.C.: O.K. So that segment is actually that song, "I'm In Great Shape"?

Brian: Yeah...

E.C.: That was going to be a separate song?

Brian: Yeah...

E.C.: What was the "Air" Element?"

Brian: The air element? (long pause...)

E.C.: Was it just a piano song?

Brian: Yeah...

E.C.: Well, I'm looking forward to the show in Atlanta...

Brian: Good, thank you.