Mike Love, Al Jardine & Paul McCartney Remember Brian Wilson

Visionary songwriter, producer and The Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson died on Wednesday at age 82. Tributes to Brian Wilson have come pouring in over the past 24 hours from all sides of the music industry and beyond.

Wilson revolutionized pop music and inspired many of his contemporary musicians and those in the following generations. While the cause of Brian’s death was not revealed, his family disclosed last year that he was suffering from a neurocognitive disorder similar to dementia.

The Beach Boys issued a statement responding to the news of Brian’s death. Read the statement below:

The world mourns a genius today, and we grieve for the loss of our cousin, our friend, and our partner in a great musical adventure. Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound. The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own. Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom—music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities.

We are heartbroken by his passing. We will continue to cherish the timeless music we made together and the joy he brought to millions over the decades. And while we will miss him deeply, his legacy will live on through his songs and in our memories.

Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and his loved ones during this difficult time.

Brian Wilson formed The Beach Boys in 1961 with his brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Dennis drowned in 1983 while Carl died from cancer in 1998.

Mike Love and Al Jardine each shared separate notes regarding the loss of Brian Wilson:

Paul McCartney considered Brian Wilson a dear friend and huge inspiration. McCartney, who has long cited Wilson’s work on The Beach Boys’ iconic 1966 LP Pet Sounds as setting the bar the Beatles tried to top with 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Fab Four albums that followed.

“Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special. The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time,” McCartney wrote in a note posted in the wake of Wilson’s death.

“I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while. How we will continue without Brian Wilson, ‘God Only Knows,’” Paul added. Read the full statement below:

Many of Brian’s collaborators, admirers, musicians and companies he influenced took to social media to honor Wilson. Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Elton John, Cat Power, Thurston Moore and Zooey Deschanel were among others who paid tribute to Brian Wilson. Scroll on to view more Brian Wilson remembrances.

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