‘I yearned to be a California Girl – but I lived in Burnley’: readers on their love for Brian Wilson

This piece is a heartfelt collection of personal stories from Guardian readers about their deep connection to Brian Wilson’s music. From nostalgic tales of phone calls with the late Beach Boys legend to reflections on how his "complex but pure" sound transported them far from their everyday lives (like dreaming of California from rainy Burnley), it’s a mosaic of fandom that celebrates Wilson’s ability to evoke both joy and longing.