Sting pays tribute to Brian Wilson with performance of 'God Only Knows'
- Publish date
- Monday, 16 Jun 2025, 3:09PM
During his Sting 3.0 tour in Rostock, Germany, Sting paused his performance to honour one of his lifelong musical heroes, the late Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
“So today, one of my heroes died,” he told the audience. “Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. He's gone to heaven. So I want to sing a song that I love.”
Sting then performed a moving rendition of God Only Knows, a song co-written by Brian and released on the Beach Boys’ 1966 album Pet Sounds.
God Only Knows is widely regarded as one of the greatest songs ever written, with Paul McCartney claiming it as his personal favourite, and the song's legacy has only grown over time.
In 2014, the BBC brought together 27 artists for a special reimagining of the song, including Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Lorde, and One Direction, as part of a campaign for BBC Children in Need.
