Move over, Metallica. Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson is planning to take his pop masterpiece Pet Sounds on the road this summer with a full orchestra. It's perfect timing, since the never-before-performed-in-its-entirety album, which yielded such underrated hits as "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and "God Only Knows," finally went gold this year.

In addition to performing Pet Sounds, Wilson will also perform other classic Beach Boy hits during his summer concert swing, which comes despite rumors that he would not be hitting the road this year. "Brian had such a good time on the road last year that he decided to go out again, but wanted to do something a little different," said Ronnie Lippin, Wilson's manager. "A symphony orchestra only enriches the work, and with it the possibilities are staggering."

While the dates haven't been firmed up yet, Lippin said that it would be a full-scale tour this summer.

Wilson is currently busy rehearsing for his two shows at Los Angeles's Roxy Theatre on April 7 and 8, which will be recorded for a live CD to be released exclusively on his new Web site, www.brianwilson.com.

JAAN UHELSZKI
(March 7, 2000)