During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Wood opened up about an emotionally charged moment in the studio while recording his upcoming project Foreign Tongues. According to his account, the session coincided with the reported passing of Brian Wilson, the legendary Beach Boys co-founder behind classics like “God Only Knows” and “Good Vibrations.” Wilson was said to have died on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82 following a respiratory arrest.
Wood described how the news deeply affected him while he was working on the track “Back In Your Life.” The emotional weight of the moment, he explained, found its way directly into his performance.
“I was so moved that day, and disappointed and sad… I had so much feeling because Brian Wilson died that day. I’ll never forget,” he shared during the interview. He also mentioned that the same week brought news of Sly Stone’s passing, adding to the emotional atmosphere in the studio.
That intensity, Wood said, translated into a spontaneous creative burst. He recorded a lengthy guitar solo—originally around nine minutes—before it was later edited down to four or five minutes for the final version. Reflecting on the take, he suggested it felt almost instinctive.
“It came out through my guitar, the feeling, just one take. I didn’t do that, the guitar played itself,” he said.
Beyond the studio story, Wood also touched on his broader artistic life, noting the balance he maintains between visual art and music. “I’m lucky enough to do a solo thing with the painting, then be part of a band to express musically. It’s such a gift to be able to do both,” he said.
Fallon also revealed that Foreign Tongues will include a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.” The two briefly performed part of the song during the show, offering the audience a short, impromptu rendition.
Wood’s appearance came amid a busy week for The Tonight Show, which also featured Mick Jagger in a comedic sketch earlier in the week. Meanwhile, scheduled guest appearances saw some changes, with Keith Richards’ planned interview no longer appearing in the lineup, and speculation that another segment featuring Jagger may now air in its place.
The episode added another layer to Wood’s ongoing creative narrative—one shaped as much by collaboration and performance as by the emotional currents that, in his words, sometimes “play the guitar” through him.