Mozart died in 1791. Neil Young believes one 1960s songwriter has the same immortality

Neil Young has described Brian Wilson as a songwriter whose music could endure like the work of classical composers such as Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven. His praise reflects Wilson’s influence on pop and rock, and Young’s belief that daring, distinctive songwriting can outlast its era.

Young said he felt an unusually strong emotional and spiritual connection to Wilson’s writing, especially after hearing *Pet Sounds*. He covered Wilson’s “Let’s Go Away for Awhile” on his 1972 album *Journey Through the Past* and joined Wilson for “Surfin’ U.S.A.” at the 2014 Bridge School Benefit, in a performance the article describes as exuberant and untidy.