Beach Boy Brian Wilson to write autobiography

With more than 50 years of music under his belt, rock ’n’ roll legend Brian Wilson is set to pen an autobiography. According to a press release, the chief songwriter and producer of the Beach Boys “will describe for the first time the epic highs and lows of his life.”

Published by Random House Canada, I Am Brian Wilson will explore Wilson’s relationship with his father, the loss of his mother and brothers, his fears about live performance, and his success leading the Beach Boys into experimental terrain. It will also cover his nervous breakdown and comeback from drug addiction.

Anne Collins, publisher of the Knopf Random Canada Publishing Group, acquired the book in a pre-empt. “That [Wilson] now is ready to tell the story of his life, in which he at last has come through the tragedy, betrayals and illness that so often threatened to dim that genius, is an epic publishing event,” she says in a press release.

“Life’s better than it’s been in the past 20 years,” Wilson adds. “I’m 70 years old and it took me a long time to learn a really simple thing: it’s hard work to be happy.”

Wilson will co-write the memoir with Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine. Random House Canada has scheduled a 2015 release.