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Brian Wilson once wrote Don Henley a complimentary note. He almost immediately edited it to be a little harsher.
Many musicians have expressed their admiration for The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson over the years, including The Eagles’ Don Henley. While backstage at an event, a starstruck Henley approached Wilson. He wanted him to sign his record of the seminal album Pet Sounds, so Wilson wrote him a nice note. Almost immediately, though, Wilson corrected his message to make it less complimentary.
Brian Wilson once hilariously insulted The Eagles in front of Don Henley
The Beach Boys’ 1966 album Pet Sounds is a source of awe for many musicians, including Henley. Wilson recalled a time when they were backstage at the same event and Henley approached him with the album. He signed it for him.
“I took a Sharpie from the table in the dressing room,” Wilson wrote in his book I Am Brian Wilson. “There are always Sharpies around for signing things. I wrote on his record, ‘To Don: thanks for all the great songs. Brian Wilson,’ Don was so grateful. It was almost like he couldn’t talk.”
When Henley turned away, though, Wilson realized his note had been a little too nice.
“He turned to leave. ‘Hey Don,’ I said. ‘Wait a second,’” Wilson recalled. “I took the record back, crossed out ‘great,’ and wrote ‘good.’”
While “good” is still a compliment, having a music legend use it to replace “great” is brutal. Luckily, Henley wasn’t insulted.
“Some people would have been mad, but Don just looked at it and laughed,” Wilson wrote.
