At the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Elton John delivered one of the standout moments of the evening, performing a heartfelt tribute to Brian Wilson — who passed away on June 11, 2025, at age 82.
Before launching into his rendition of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” John shared a memory of his first encounter with Wilson: “In 1970 when I first came to Los Angeles … I was scared shitless because he was my idol … for me, he was the biggest influence on my songwriting ever.”
Accompanied on stage by a top-tier ensemble—including Kenny Aronoff on drums, Don Was on upright bass and Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) on piano—the tribute rang with sincerity and respect.
In his social-media statement following Wilson’s passing, John wrote: “Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him … for me, he was the biggest influence on my songwriting ever; he was a musical genius and revolutionary. He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant.”
The evening’s mood shifted when John’s performance connected past and present—he was honouring Wilson’s legacy while echoing the influence that legacy had on his own career. In choosing “God Only Knows,” John selected a song not just emblematic of Wilson’s genius, but also one steeped in emotional weight and spiritual resonance.
The induction class of 2025 included acts like Soundgarden, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Joe Cocker and The White Stripes, but John’s moment stood out for its intimacy amid a night of celebration and recognition.
It was more than a performance—it was a collision of musical history, mutual respect and heartfelt tribute. Elton took the spotlight not to showcase himself, but to honour someone whose dream-like melodies had lit the path for decades of songwriters to follow.
