Music legend Sir Elton John made a rare and emotional public appearance to honour his late friend and musical hero, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
A Night of Musical Remembrance
The event took place on Saturday, November 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The Crocodile Rock singer, 78, took to the stage as part of a special segment dedicated to Wilson, who passed away in June 2025 at the age of 82.
Sir Elton moved the audience by performing the Beach Boys' classic hit, God Only Knows. He also shared personal anecdotes about the profound impact Wilson had on his life and career, revealing the sheer awe he felt upon first meeting his idol.
'I Was Scared S**tless': Elton on Meeting a Genius
'We were scared s**tless because he was my idol,' Sir Elton confessed to the crowd. 'He was the one who influenced me more than anybody else when it came to writing songs on the piano.'
He described Wilson as a true genius, a meeting he said he would never forget. The pair's friendship blossomed over decades of mutual admiration and collaboration. 'We loved each other,' Elton stated. 'I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather pay tribute than Brian Wilson and his family with this incredible song.'
Following the ceremony, Sir Elton took to social media to post a picture of the pair, captioning it: '@brianwilsonlive was a musical genius. He wrote timeless pop songs with the most complex melodies, unlike anything ever written before.'
A Legacy of Friendship and Influence
This was not the first time Sir Elton had publicly honoured Wilson. When the Beach Boys star died, Elton shared a lengthy tribute recalling their deep bond.
He highlighted several key moments from their friendship:
- Wilson sang Someone Saved My Life Tonight at a tribute concert for Elton in 2003.
- Elton played on Wilson's solo records, and Wilson sang on Elton's album, The Union.
- Wilson even performed for Elton's AIDS Foundation.
Sir Elton reiterated that Wilson was the biggest influence on his songwriting ever, a 'musical genius and revolutionary' who changed music forever.
Brian Wilson's family had announced his death in June 2025. A death certificate later revealed he died from respiratory arrest, with contributing factors including sepsis, cystitis, a neurodegenerative disorder, and chronic kidney disease.
The Hall of Fame's In Memoriam montage also paid respect to other recently departed stars, including Sly Stone, Ozzy Osbourne, Marianne Faithfull, and Roy Ayers. They were joined in tribute by other music icons such as Keith Richards, Sting, Ronnie Wood, and Bob Dylan.
