Watch: Brian Wilson’s Intimate Roxy Lyric Video Revives ‘God Only Knows Magic’

It’s been a quarter-century since Brian Wilson took the stage for two unforgettable nights at Hollywood’s legendary Roxy Theatre — a milestone now being marked with a deluxe reissue of Brian Wilson: Live at the Roxy Theatre.

A Landmark Performance, Revisited

To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Oglio Entertainment is releasing a newly expanded edition of the iconic live album on November 7. Fans can get a taste of the reissue with an exclusive new lyric video for “God Only Knows,” recorded during the original Roxy shows.

For the first time, the album will be available on vinyl as part of a three-LP box set, alongside double CD and digital streaming options. The vinyl version recreates both nights in their entirety, while the CD release offers the most comprehensive edition yet — 40 tracks in total, including bonus recordings from the post-Roxy tour such as “Let It Shine” (Wilson’s 1988 collaboration with Jeff Lynne), the Beach Boys’ “Drive-In” from All Summer Long, and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.”

Wilson’s Triumphant Return to the Stage

When Wilson first returned to live performance in 1999, few fans could have imagined it happening at all. His comeback began with a show at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor that March, marking the start of a warmly received solo tour.

The Roxy concerts soon followed, serving as a homecoming for the Beach Boys mastermind. Each night drew a star-studded audience packed with musicians and industry heavyweights — among them Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Patti Smith, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Lindsey Buckingham, Bette Midler, producer Rick Rubin, and Roxy co-owner Lou Adler.

A Celebration of Harmony and Legacy

Backed by a ten-piece ensemble that included members of power-pop heroes the Wondermints, Wilson delivered performances that felt both nostalgic and revitalized. The set lists spanned his career, touching on surf-era classics, Beach Boys favorites, and deep cuts that delighted die-hard fans.

Music historian David Leaf, who penned the liner notes for the anniversary edition, summed up the weekend’s unique atmosphere with a memorable observation:

“It was like a Star Trek convention, but with Hawaiian shirts instead of Spock ears. Magnificent.”

For those who weren’t lucky enough to be there, this expanded reissue offers the next best thing — a front-row seat to a moment when Brian Wilson reclaimed his place on stage and in the hearts of fans around the world.