Brian Wilson has “never heard of” Desert Trip festival

At last month’s Desert Trip festival, there was one conspicuous absence – The Beach Boys.

While the music of British 1960s pioneers The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who was all present and accounted for onstage, America’s greatest band of the decade was nowhere to be heard at the gigantic California nostalgia circus, nicknamed “Oldchella”.

What happened? Did Wilson pass on the gig?

Was he scared of the inevitable comparisons, or is there some long-held beef with Jagger or Bob Dylan? Perhaps they couldn’t agree a fee?

No, apparently Wilson wasn’t even invited.

“I’m not familiar with that festival,” he answers.

Such was the hoopla surrounding those two weekends, it seems unlikely few people living in the United States could not have heard of Desert Trip – and especially not an industry veteran like Wilson. Which, perhaps, only goes to reinforce the predominant image of how detached this musical magician remains from the world at large.

Despite concerns about his health, at the age of 74, Wilson remarkably promises more music soon.

In his twilight years, Wilson has proved a far from prolific as a songwriter. Containing his first new material in seven years, last year’s No Pier Pressure was perceived by many as a deliberate, artful swan song, an image reinforced by lyrics such as “Don’t be sad, there was a time and place for what we had,” in the album’s final track The Last Song.

Wilson quashes such thoughts. He says the observers were simply reading too much into it all, as usual. He would “love to” make another album, he says, adding: “Maybe a classic type rock n’ roll album that people would really get into and love. Maybe some covers as a tribute, maybe some new songs - maybe both - I don’t know yet.”

Brian Wilson performs Pet Sounds at Dubai Tennis Stadium on Thursday November 3, doors 7pm, tickets from Dh225, see tickets.virginmegastore.me.

Check our full interview with Wilson in Thursday’s arts& life.