Brian Wilson

Never intended for his face to be the face
by which the public recognised dementia
but with the last tour in which he led
The Brian Wilson Band, in 2022,
he was filmed looking lost as his band 
carried him through the gigs, musically.

His face froze, only unfreezing properly
when he performed a cover of his favourite
Phil Spector song, 'And Then I Kissed Her',
supposedly at the time in memory of the death
of Ronnie Spector who was a pin up and idol
of many males in their youth, including Brian's.

On the last date of the tour he stepped off the stage
with a Zimmer frame for the last time and withdrew
into the care of his wife Melinda Wilson, who died
eighteen months later. His final testimony came
in November 2021, with the documentary 'Long Promised Road'
and the poorly received 'At My Piano', where critics expected
more flash and sparkle in the playing of a man
who was in was in his sixtieth year of recording.

At the time nobody knew how much his spark,
like his memory, was going, whilst others worked
and projected that he was far from leaving yet.