Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and creator of timeless hits like Good Vibrations and God Only Knows, has died at the age of 82. His family shared the news in a statement posted on his official website.
According to Reuters, the statement from Wilson’s family read: “We are at a loss for words right now. We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
The cause of death was not provided. Wilson had been diagnosed with dementia and was under conservatorship following the death of his wife, Melinda Wilson, in early 2024.
Wilson helped shape the sound of the Beach Boys, starting in 1961. The group’s music quickly became a celebration of California youth, filled with songs about surfing, cars, and romance. What set their music apart were the ethereal harmonies Wilson carefully arranged, which became their signature.
He formed the Beach Boys with his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine in Hawthorne, Los Angeles. Together, they achieved 36 Top 40 hits, with Wilson writing and composing most of their early successes.
Songs like Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin’ U.S.A., California Girls, Fun, Fun, Fun, and Help Me, Rhonda remain popular worldwide. However, Wilson’s personal struggles were well known. He faced an abusive father, battled drug addiction, and suffered from severe mental health challenges, including auditory hallucinations.
In 2007, Wilson told the Washington Post, “I’ve lived a very, very difficult, haunted life.”
By 1966, touring became too overwhelming, leading to his first mental breakdown. While stepping back from live performances, Wilson remained the creative force behind the band. He focused his energy on studio work, producing the Pet Sounds album, which would later gain worldwide recognition.
Pet Sounds was not an immediate commercial success in the United States, and some band members resisted the album’s experimental style. Despite this, the project grew in influence, inspiring musicians around the world. Paul McCartney credited it as an inspiration for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, saying, “No one’s musical education is complete until they’ve heard Pet Sounds.”
The single Good Vibrations, released separately, became the Beach Boys’ most famous hit. Art Garfunkel once told Paul Simon, “I think I just heard the greatest, most creative record of them all.”
Music legends paid tribute to Brian Wilson following his death. Mick Fleetwood wrote on social media: “Anyone with a musical bone in their body must be grateful for Brian Wilson’s genius magical touch!!” Nancy Sinatra shared that his music will live on forever, and Sean Ono Lennon called him “our American Mozart.”
Despite selling over 100 million records, Wilson’s later life was marked by worsening health. He battled addiction to LSD, cocaine, and alcohol while dealing with schizoaffective disorder. His condition led to long periods of isolation, during which he retreated from both public life and his music career.
In the 1980s, Wilson’s unusual therapy under psychologist Eugene Landy gained public attention. Landy’s controversial methods included strict control over Wilson’s life and co-writing his music. The arrangement ended after legal action by Wilson’s family in 1992.
Wilson’s return to music was marked by mixed success. His 2004 album, Brian Wilson Presents Smile, revisited his shelved project from the 1960s and was warmly received. He later joined the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary tour in 2012, although internal tensions resurfaced.
By 2022, Wilson had retired from live performances. His family secured a conservatorship in 2024, as his health had severely declined following the loss of his wife.
Brian Wilson leaves behind his daughters Carnie and Wendy from his first marriage and five children with his second wife, Melinda.
Article updated 2 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
