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Elton John<\/a> paid tribute to the late Brian Wilson<\/a> at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame<\/a> induction ceremony on Saturday night with a performance of “God Only Knows.”<\/p>\n Before singing, John described the first time he ever met Wilson, back in 1970 with his collaborator Bernie Taupin<\/a> and Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night.<\/p>\n “We were scared shitless because he was my idol,” John said, “he was the one who influenced me more than anybody else when it came to writing songs on the piano and it was an evening we would never forget, meeting someone who was a true genius \u2014 doesn’t happen very often. Throughout my career and my life, Brian and I became friends and sang on each others records. We loved each other. I can’t think of anyone else who I’d rather pay tribute to than to Brian Wilson and his family with this beautiful song.”<\/p>\n John was joined by Kenny Aronoff <\/a>on percussion, Don Was<\/a> on bass, Benmont Tench<\/a> of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers<\/a> on piano and others.<\/p>\nWhen Did Brian Wilson Pass Away?<\/h3>\n