When Brian Wilson couldn't tour, he was replaced by singer-guitarist Glen Campbell, and then by singer-musician Bruce Johnston, per Britannica. The classic rock icon would spend his time focusing on writing the harmonies and melodies of their music, eventually writing the masterpiece Pet Sounds in 1966. Sadly, his streak could only go so long, and he would eventually stop working on the album Smile, which he hoped to release at the time as another magnum opus. As Ultimate Classic Rock wrote, Wilson would become more reclusive and would soon embark on more solo work away from his band.
Wilson also believes his experimentations with psychedelic drugs made things worse. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he believed a lot of his mental health struggles were the result of taking psychedelics. "I've told a lot of people don't take psychedelic drugs. It's mentally dangerous to take. I regret having taken LSD. It's a bad drug," he said. Thankfully, Wilson was able to reunite with the band in 2012 for the band's 50th anniversary tour and worked on new music for their album, That's Why God Made the Radio. Brian Wilson could reclaim the best of both worlds, both touring and songwriting, and work with his bandmates.
