11:00am | Rand Foster and Fingerprints Music scored again last Tuesday adding to the hit parade of influential artists that march through the store on a regular basis. This time it was Brian Wilson stopping by to sign copies of The Smile Sessions, a 5 CD box set of the original recordings from the 1967 masterpiece that existed for the most part in the head of Wilson for three plus decades before it was completed and released in 2004.
To prepare for the appearance Capital Records decorated the front of Fingerprints with a cool window display of cutout smiles and a large banner hung over the entrance as well as a huge backdrop featuring the cover art from the box set behind the stage where Wilson would be signing.
Rand Foster did his own preparation including the removal of a large framed picture of Neil Young for bearing too close a resemblance to Charles Manson. One can never be too careful when it comes to Brian Wilson as I witnessed first hand during a musical appearance at a Heal The Bay event earlier this year when enthusiastic fans began batting beach balls in front of the stage during his performance. He demanded that they stop at once, explaining, “If you had been through what I have you would understand.”
Lingering animosity towards his former mates in the Beach Boys perhaps?
Or maybe he was just grumpy.
At Fingerprints Music Brian Wilson sat patiently signing autographs, shaking hands and chatting with 350 select fans (more if you count the ones that sneaked through twice) that came out to celebrate this American singer/songwriter legend.
Capitol Records sent a design crew to Fingerprints Music store promoting the Brian Wilson signing party.
Brian Wilson in the green room at Fingerprints Music store.
“No, I won’t sign your Justin Bieber cd!”
