Music icon and Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson passes away. - Music icon Brian Wilson, recognized as the mastermind behind the Beach Boys, has passed away.
Bid your farewells to Brian Wilson, the co-founder and celebrated visionary of The Beach Boys, who left us at the age of 82. This iconic band was known for their sunny surf songs that painted a vivid picture of the California spirit, creating music history that captured the hearts of a generation.
Wilson's discography is a testament to his talent, with classics such as "Fun Fun Fun", "Good Vibrations", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Help Me Rhonda", and "Surfin' USA" etching themselves into the annals of pop music. Unfortunately, Wilson's management confirmed his passing to the German Press Agency.
Hanging heavy on the hearts, Wilson's family wrote a heartfelt message on his website and Instagram, "We are at a loss for words." Wilson struggled with various health issues and battles, including a form of dementia and being under conservatorship. Last year, his longtime wife died at 77, and together they adopted five children. Apart from them, Wilson also had two children from a previous marriage.
Critics widely lauded "Pet Sounds" as the "best pop album of the 20th century." The influence of "Pet Sounds" even reverberated through the Beatles' legendary masterpiece "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," with Paul McCartney attesting to it himself. Wilson once said about the Beach Boys era, "We were young and happy and felt good."
Despite his success, Wilson's experiences were not all sunshine and surf, as he revealed in his tell-all autobiography "I Am Brian Wilson." Writing about the tumultuous Beach Boys era was challenging, especially when recollecting the periods of drug abuse.
The Beach Boys' success and Wilson's self-imposed competition with the Beatles took a toll on his mental health. Wilson suffered from nervous breakdowns and became addicted to pills, hashish, LSD, and later cocaine. Simultaneously, his fears grew. He feared the sea, the beach, and the sun, leading to ironic instances like delivering sand to his living room to sooth his feet while he sat at the piano, composing songs about surfing and "California Girls." This tumultuous period eventually led to a rift with his bandmates Mike Love and David Marks.
However, they reconciled, releasing their comeback album "That's Why God Made the Radio" in 2012, and embarking on a sold-out world tour. Tragedy struck again with the deaths of Wilson’s brothers Dennis and Carl, original band members, who passed away in 1983 and 1998, respectively.
Wilson also found joy in collaborating with young artists, stating, "It's like taking a deep breath of pure oxygen." Besides music, he cherished time with his second wife, Melinda, who sadly passed away in 2024, and his seven children. "I never have enough time for the people I love," he said, reflecting on the delicate balance between his creative pursuits and personal relationships.
- Brian Wilson
- The Beach Boys
- German Press Agency
- Music
- Music history
- Children
- The Beatles
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- The German Press Agency confirmed the sad news of Brian Wilson's passing, whose family also shared their grief on Instagram.
- Brian Wilson, known for his contributions to music history with The Beach Boys, touched the lives of children, as well as inspiring artists such as the Beatles, leaving a significant impact on the music industry.
