The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson Has Died

The Beach Boys’ legendary co-founder Brian Wilson has died at age 82. The highly influential rock ‘n’ roll musician’s death was announced by his family.

Brian Wilson was a visionary songwriter, musician, producer and arranger. He wrote or co-wrote many of the Beach Boys most beloved songs, including “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “God Only Knows” and “Help Me Rhonda.” The cause of Brian Wilson’s death was not disclosed.

The statement from Wilson’s family follows:

We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away.
We are at a loss for words right now.
Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving.
We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.

Love & Mercy

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Born in Inglewood, California on June 20, 1942, Wilson taught himself how to play multiple instruments, including piano and bass, and write songs as a youngster. Brian Wilson formed the Pendletones in 1961 with his brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The band recorded their debut single, “Surfin’,” for Candix Records, the label that convinced them to change their name to The Beach Boys.

Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, “Surfin’” was released by Candix in November of 1961. The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in 1962 and scored their first hit the following year with “Surfin’ U.S.A.”

The Beach Boys followed by releasing a string of hits over the remainder of the year and into 1964, including “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Surfer Girl” and “In My Room” as they embraced the sound of their native California.

Inspired by Phil Spector, Brian Wilson learned how to use the studio as an instrument. He served as the band’s producer during their heyday and was The Beach Boys’ primary songwriter. In 1964, the group topped the charts for the first time with “I Get Around.” The same year, Brian stepped away from the road to focus on songwriting and producing after suffering a nervous breakdown.

Brian employed the famed Wrecking Crew ensemble of studio musicians to implement the innovative arrangements he heard in his head. In 1966, The Beach Boys released their masterpiece, Pet Sounds, with Brian Wilson at the helm. The LP wasn’t commercially successful at first, but was eventually recognized as one of the most inventive albums of all time. “Good Vibrations,” a single issued that same year, hit the top of charts.

Work on a planned follow-up, Smile, stalled, and the album was eventually scrapped in 1967. Dismayed and suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues, Brian Wilson began retreating from the band and became a recluse.

Wilson returned to the group for a period in the mid-1970s. However, he still struggled with his mental and physical health. Brian’s family staged an intervention in 1982 and enlisted psychologist Eugene Landy to help Wilson escape from his demons. Instead, Landy took over creative control of Brian’s career, drained his funds and kept him estranged from his friends and family.

Brian Wilson finally distanced himself from Landy in 1991. Wilson staged his first solo tour in 1999 and began a career renaissance that saw him finally revisit and release his own version of Smile, recreate Pet Sounds with orchestras and perform in front of large audiences around the world.

In 2011 and 2012, Brian Wilson took part in a Beach Boys reunion tour celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary. He went on to release a series of well-received albums and embarked on several solo tours through 2019.

Brian Wilson was hampered by declining physical and mental health in his later years. In 2024, shortly after the death of his second wife, Melinda, Wilson’s family revealed he was suffering from a neurocognitive disorder similar to dementia.