(Commonwealth Union) _ Visionary musician Brian Wilson, whose work has defined the Californian summer lifestyle for several generations, passed away on June 11 at the age of 82. Confirming the news, his family shared a post on Instagram expressing their heartbreak and also requested privacy to mourn the loss of their beloved family member, whom they signed off with “Love and Mercy.”
Having been a co-founder and creative force behind the Beach Boys, Wilson’s passing brings an end to a legacy of triumph. Having shaped the identity of the boy band in the 1960s around sunbathed beaches and cars, the band’s music became anthems dedicated to teenage spirit. The band released a sweep of ten Top-10 hits and several entries for Top-40 between 1962 and 1966 for Capitol Records—an array of hit tracks that embodied youth culture, much like their UK counterpart, the Beatles.
Wilson co-wrote several of the band’s revolutionary tracks, including “Surfin’ U.S.A.”, “California Girls” and “I Get Around”, developing impeccable harmonies, and working closely with top musicians.
Wilson ventured into a new artistic scope in 1966 with an intense song cycle, “Pet Sounds”, an impressively textured album that came to be known as a masterpiece in the band. Although upon comparison the track was not considered as successful due to its peak at No. 1, it was renowned as one of the greatest achievements in the rock industry and went on to make a significant impact on the band’s peers, such as Paul McCartney and the Beatles. Wilson also released a groundbreaking single, “Good Vibrations,” that very same year, with the song’s layers and flair earning it a place at the top of the charts as one of the most ambitious studio productions at the time.
The musician’s success further extended into “Smile”, a project that was abandoned in 1967 and remained unreleased in its original structure. Its centerpiece track, “Heroes and Villains” was circulated widely, contributing to the legendary reputation left by Brian Wilson in the industry.
However, Wilson also suffered significant personal struggles parallel to his creative successes. With recurring difficulties with mental health surfacing in the ‘60s due to the harsh nature of his upbringing by his father, he took a step back from performing live at the height of the band’s success, instead taking up a role in the band’s creative process as an arranger and producer. His ongoing battles with substance abuse, mental breakdowns, and conflicts with several band members, two of whom are his brothers, led to the eventual decline of his businesses and personal relationships. In 1982, the band formally removed him from its operations.
Nevertheless, Wilson recovered his momentum following the tumultuous period by the late 1980s, re-establishing his creative legacy with a line of solo albums that included his 1988 hit “Love and Mercy”. With his interest in his work being revived in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, he conducted an orchestral tour of “Pet Sounds” followed by a completed version of “Smile”, receiving major attention and building a new audience profile. Later on in 2012, he ended up Co-leading an album for the Beach Boys reunion – “That’s Why God Made The Radio” that reached No. 3, leading to a successful world tour.
Wilson’s creative artistry received formal recognition, with his 1988 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2000. Wilson has also inspired several documentaries including Don Was’s 1995 documentary, Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times, and Love & Mercy – a 2024 biopic which saw him portrayed by Paul Dano and John Cusack.
The musician was reportedly placed under a conservatorship in the midst of being diagnosed with dementia following the death of his wife. Stepping out of the public limelight with the conclusion of his final tour in 2022, he continued occasional appearances such as the 2024 Disney+ documentary feature and the Grammy salute to the Beach Boys in 2023.
Wilson was said to have passed away surrounded by his family, including his two biological daughters, and five adopted daughters. Al Jardine, a former member of the band who has worked alongside the star for years addressed the death of his colleague and friend, stating that he hopes Wilson has been reunited with his late brothers Carl and Dennis.
