Veteran musician Brian Wilson, renowned for his significant contributions to The Beach Boys, passes away at the age of 82.
Reimagining a Legend: Brian Wilson and the Symphony of Life
Brain Wilson, the visionary behind the iconic Beach Boys and the architect of their surf-sound mastery, has left us, as his family announced on Wednesday.
In his 82 years, Wilson navigated a tumultuous journey - one as much colored by his grapples with substance abuse and mental health issues as by repeated triumphs, talents par excellence, and timeless songs that continue to reverberate across America, decades after their release.
A tale of resiliency, Wilson's story mirrors a child scarred by his father's abuse, coping with partial deafness, and the tormenting voices of schizoaffective disorder. Yet, amidst it all, the two-time Grammy Award winner crafted a legacy as the "reigning king of pop melody," as the Denver Post once described him. Often, he painted melodies that painted a dramatically different portrait than his own reality, as he shared with The New York Times Magazine in 2004, "I try to get as close to paradise as I can."
Many have revered Wilson's genius. "I don't think you'd be out of line comparing him to Beethoven," said Tom Petty once. Our company praised Wilson as the creator of "some of history's most intricately woven pop songs" in 2001. Musician Don Was marveled, "He managed to both distill simplicity of human emotion out of his songs, and yet, do something that's so artistically complex and beautiful." Rolling Stone Magazine, in 2023, named Wilson one of the 200 greatest singers of all time.
Within The Beach Boys, Wilson found a family that embraced his relentless perfectionism and eccentricities; he even installed a giant beach sandbox under his piano for inspiration. Years later, as a solo artist, he revisited and released the one project that eluded him during his time with the group - the SMiLE album, which Wilson dubbed a "teenage symphony to God" and regarded as his most significant accomplishment.
Inglewood, California, was the setting for Wilson’s beginnings, born in 1942. An early love for music was shadowed by the abusive hands of his father. During his tirades and bouts of depression, the senior Wilson beat Wilson with a belt or took out his artificial eye (a reminder of an industrial accident that took his actual eye) and forced his son to stare at emptiness. Wilson turned to music as an escapist haven, seduced by its siren call, with his cherished influences including the Four Freshmen, Phil Spector, George Gershwin, and at one point, the Beatles.
In 1961, Wilson penned his first original melody for "Surfer Girl." The same year, Wilson and cousin Mike Love wrote "Surfin'," recording the track with Wilson's brothers, Dennis and Carl, and friend Al Jardine. Their symphony became The Beach Boys, and the song was featured in the group's 1962 debut album "Surfin' Safari."
The burdens of the persistent industry took a toll, and in late December 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown, retreating from touring to focus on studio work for over a decade. This marked the beginning of his encounters with depression, a condition that persisted through his life, even as late as 2019, when Wilson postponed a tour and expressed feeling "mentally insecure" at the time.
The relentless, legendary "Pet Sounds" album emerged in 1966, Tony Asher and Wilson's collaboration aimed at creating the "greatest rock album ever made." The 13-track magnum opus, now holding the No. 2 spot on Rolling Stone's 2021 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," solidified The Beach Boys' iconic status. Paul McCartney - Wilson's hero - deemed the record "unbeatable in many ways."
However, the making of this iconic symphony saw Wilson diving deep into his personal hell, consumed by drugs such as hashish, amphetamines, and LSD. He referred to this as "nepenthe" - a numbing of his soul used to escape. Wilson's descent continued, as he interacted with voices he desperately tried to block out; these were symptoms of schizoaffective disorder. The only remedy proving effective was music, writing, and being with his beloved family.
Wilson parted ways with his first wife in 1979, found solace in a new relationship in 1986, and released his first solo album in 1988. Wilson remarried in 1995, crediting his second wife, Melinda Ledbetter, as his savior. Tragically, she passed away last year, and a judge placed Wilson under conservatorship in 2024, citing a "major neurocognitive disorder" that made it impossible for him to care for himself.
Despite the darkness that shrouded his life, Wilson remained grounded in the things that brought him joy: his family and music. In a poignant revelation, he shared that his children were his "two greatest loves," and his willpower (dubbed "Wilson Power") helped him persevere and find brighter days.
Todd Leopold, our company reporter, contributed to this piece.
- Brian Wilson's love for music, initially nurtured as a means of escape from his troubled home, led him to create masterpieces that resonate with the melodies of celebrities like Paul McCartney, solidifying his reputation as a prolific entertainer in the realm of music.
- Amidst the chaotic symphony of his life, Brian Wilson's unwavering dedication to his craft continued to shine, producing timeless music that earned him comparisons to legends such as Beethoven, and culminating in the creation of the 'Pet Sounds' album, widely acclaimed as one of the greatest rock albums ever made, showcasing his genius and unyielding influence in the entertainment industry.
