Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson dies at age 82

Legendary musician Brian Wilson, a driving force behind the iconic sounds of The Beach Boys, has passed away at the age of 82. Known for crafting timeless hits like "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows," his career was a complex mix of unparalleled musical innovation, significant personal struggles, and mental health challenges.

His family confirmed his death through a statement posted on the singer's official website, sharing their profound grief with the world. The statement did not specify a cause of death, but it noted that Wilson had been battling dementia and required care following the death of his wife, Melinda Wilson, in early 2024, which led to his placement under conservatorship.

From 1961 onwards, The Beach Boys, co-founded by Wilson with his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine in their hometown of Hawthorne, California, produced a string of upbeat anthems capturing the spirit of California youth culture. These songs, celebrating surfing, cars, and romance, were elevated by the distinctive, ethereal harmonies Wilson meticulously arranged, becoming the band's signature sound. The group achieved remarkable success, charting 36 Top 40 hits, with Wilson penning and composing the majority of their early material.

Instantly recognizable tracks such as "Little Deuce Coupe," "Surfin’ U.S.A.," "California Girls," "Fun, Fun, Fun," and "Help Me, Rhonda" continue to resonate with audiences today.

However, behind the sunny facade of the music lay a life marked by considerable hardship. Wilson faced an abusive father, struggled with extensive drug use, endured multiple mental breakdowns and periods of deep depression and isolation. He spoke candidly about hearing voices that undermined his self-worth, even during performances. Reflecting on his life in 2007, Wilson described it as "a very, very difficult, haunted life."

In May 2024, a court approved a conservatorship for the then 81-year-old Wilson. This decision followed a petition from two long-term associates, made at his family's request, highlighting his inability to care for himself after his wife Melinda's passing.

By 1966, touring had become too much for Wilson, leading to his first significant mental breakdown. While remaining the creative mastermind, he withdrew from touring to focus on studio work, often alone, on the album *Pet Sounds*. This project became a symphonic exploration of the loss of innocence.

The iconic track "Good Vibrations" was recorded during these sessions but was released as a single rather than included on the album. Although *Pet Sounds* featured hits like "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Sloop John B," and "God Only Knows," it wasn't an immediate commercial triumph in the U.S., partly due to internal band resistance, particularly from Mike Love, who favored sticking to their commercially proven style.

*Pet Sounds*, released in 1966, eventually earned widespread critical acclaim and is now considered a masterpiece. Paul McCartney credited it as a major influence on The Beatles' landmark album *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band*. McCartney famously stated that "No one’s musical education is complete until they’ve heard Pet Sounds."

In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine placed *Pet Sounds* as the second-greatest rock album of all time, surpassed only by *Sgt. Pepper*. The Beatles' legendary producer, George Martin, recalled the album's impact, saying in reissued liner notes, "Hearing Pet Sounds gave me the kind of feeling that raises the hairs on the back of your neck and you say, ‘What is that? It’s fantastic.’ It’s like falling in love.”

Released as a single in the same year, "Good Vibrations" also garnered immense praise. Upon hearing it, Art Garfunkel called his musical partner Paul Simon, declaring, "I think I just heard the greatest, most creative record of them all."

Tributes from the music world poured in following the news of Wilson's death. Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood expressed his gratitude, writing on social media, "Anyone with a musical bone in their body must be grateful for Brian Wilson’s genius magical touch!!"

Nancy Sinatra, who recorded "California Girls" with Wilson, shared on Instagram that his "cherished music will live forever." Sean Ono Lennon, musician and son of John Lennon, hailed Wilson as "our American Mozart" and "a one of a kind genius from another world."

Throughout their career, The Beach Boys sold over 100 million records.

Wilson's career trajectory was significantly impacted by his escalating use of LSD, cocaine, and alcohol, alongside a deteriorating mental state. He was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder characterized by auditory hallucinations. He became reclusive for long periods, neglected his hygiene, gained weight, and sometimes appeared in public in a bathrobe. At one point, he had a sandbox installed in his dining room around his piano. He also experienced auditory hallucinations and was convinced that lyrics from one of his songs were connected to a series of fires in Los Angeles.

Born in June 1942, Brian Wilson, whose life story was depicted in the 2014 film *Love & Mercy*, navigated the influence of two dominant male figures. The first was his father, Murry Wilson, a songwriter who recognized Brian's talent early on and managed the Beach Boys in their initial years, despite being physically and verbally abusive. The band eventually fired him in 1964.

Roughly a decade later, during a period of decline, Wilson's then-wife, Marilyn, enlisted the help of psychotherapist Eugene Landy. Landy worked with Wilson for 14 months, employing unconventional methods before being dismissed. He was rehired in 1983 after Wilson experienced another severe behavioral episode. Landy implemented a continuous, 24-hour approach, which included prescribing psychotropic medications and controlling Wilson's diet by padlocking the refrigerator. He eventually exerted control over many aspects of Wilson's life, including acting as producer and co-writer on his 1988 solo comeback album.

Wilson's family ultimately took legal action to end his relationship with Landy in 1992. While Wilson acknowledged Landy had saved his life, he later also described him as manipulative. California medical regulators accused Landy, who passed away in 2006, of improper conduct with a patient, leading him to surrender his psychology license after admitting to unlawfully prescribing drugs.

Wilson's return to music was inconsistent. He often appeared fragile and uncertain on stage, and his post-comeback work, while appreciated by some, did not achieve the same level of critical acclaim as his earlier catalog. A notable project from this later period was the 2004 album *Brian Wilson Presents Smile*, a realization of the ambitious project intended as the follow-up to *Pet Sounds* but shelved years earlier due to opposition from bandmates.

By the time of The Beach Boys' 50th-anniversary reunion tour in 2012, Wilson's brothers had both passed away. He joined Mike Love, who had become the primary figure in the touring band, for several shows. Following the tour, Wilson indicated he felt he had been dismissed, a claim Love denied. Wilson's final live performance was in 2022.

Wilson and his first wife, Marilyn, had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, who found musical success in the 1990s as part of the group Wilson Phillips. With his second wife, Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car, he adopted five children.