This Is a Wonderful Story That Alice Cooper Told about John Lennon and Brian Wilson in the 1970s

Alice Cooper has famously recounted a story about introducing Brian Wilson to John Lennon, not once, but twice, at the 1974 Grammy Awards.

According to Cooper, he was sitting backstage with Bernie Taupin and John Lennon. Brian Wilson, who was reportedly struggling with significant mental health issues at the time, kept appearing in Cooper’s peripheral vision, seemingly staring at them.

“I was sitting backstage after the 1974 Grammys with Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s lyricist) and John Lennon. This was when Brian was really having some mental issues,” said Cooper. “During the course of the conversation, I kept seeing Brian out of the corner of my eye, just kind of staring at us from different angles.”

“Finally, he came up to the table, bent down and whispered in my ear ‘Hey Alice, introduce me to John Lennon.’ I couldn’t believe that these two men had never met! They were virtually neck and neck in the 1960s as the greatest bands on the planet, and I’m sure they must have crossed paths at some point. But then I thought to myself, ‘Wow, I’m going to be the one to introduce them and become a part of rock history!’

“So I merely said, ‘Brian Wilson, this is John Lennon. John Lennon, this is Brian Wilson.’ Lennon was very cordial and polite, saying things like ‘Hello Brian, I’ve always wanted to meet you. I’ve always admired your work, and Paul and I considered Pet Sounds one of the best albums ever made.’ Brian thanked him and walked away, at which point Lennon went right back to his conversation like nothing had happened.

“About ten minutes later, Brian came by our table again, leaned down and whispered something to Bernie, and all of a sudden, Bernie was saying ‘Brian Wilson, this is John Lennon. John Lennon, Brian Wilson.’”

Lennon was just as polite and cordial as the first time, repeating similar sentiments about admiring Wilson’s work. As soon as Wilson walked away again, Lennon turned to Cooper and Taupin and, in his typical Liverpudlian accent, casually remarked, “I’ve met him hundreds of times. He’s not well, you know.”

Alice went on to say that he loves Brian, and later that night went with a group of people to Brian’s house and went into his studio to add and subtract instruments and passages from Beach Boys songs.