Brian Wilson, the musician best known for his pioneering work with The Beach Boys, has died, aged 82.
The news was shared in a post by Wilson’s family on social media, which said: “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 realise that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love and mercy.”
While an official cause of death has not yet been made public, it was revealed last year that Wilson had been living with a neurocognitive disorder similar to dementia.
Born in Inglewood, California, Wilson formed The Beach Boys, originally called The Pendletones, as a teenager in 1961, alongside his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and high school friend Al Jardine. The band released their first single, ‘Surfin”, in late 1961 via Candix Records, which changed their name to The Beach Boys without their knowledge or permission.
A year later, they signed to Capitol to release their debut album, Surfin’ Safari, and then scored their first US top 10 single with ‘Surfin’ U.S.A.’ in 1963. That same year, they released three albums: Surfin’ U.S.A., Surfer Girl and Little Deuce Coupe. Having produced much of the group’s early material, Wilson also began producing work for other artists – such as Donna Loren and The Castellas – at around this time.
A panic attack induced by a heavy touring schedule led Wilson to decide to stop touring with the band in 1964, and he instead focused his time on what would become one of The Beach Boys’ landmark albums, 1966’s Pet Sounds. The band’s 11th studio record, it was promoted upon release as one of the most progressive and experimental pop albums ever produced, but was deemed something of a commercial and critical flop at the time. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums in music history.
Wilson planned and scrapped further follow-up projects in the wake of the record’s release before reducing his role in the band in 1967 and entering a psychiatric hospital for treatment the following year. He continued to work with the band through the late 60s and 70s, but struggled with both alcohol and drug addiction at this time.
Wilson’s mental and physical health continued to deteriorate amid these addictions, leading to a family intervention and entry into an intensive 24-hour therapy programme with controversial psychologist Eugene Landy in 1975. This initially improved his productivity and he produced The Beach Boys’ 1976 album 15 Big Ones, and 1977’s The Beach Boys Love You, which was a relative hit for the band. It was noted during this time, however, that Wilson appeared uncomfortable on stage and relations within the group were not entirely positive.
His addictions returned late in the 70s and Landy removed him from the band in 1982. At this point, the psychologist gained increasing control over Wilson’s life, both creatively and financially, and moved him to a house in Malibu where he cut him off from his friends and family. Assuming a role as Wilson’s creative and financial partner, this ultimately led to The Beach Boys musician putting out his first solo album in 1988.
Carl Wilson, Brian’s brother, and other members of the family ultimately took legal action against Landy in 1992, which resulted in his psychology license being revoked. He was also given a restraining order from Brian.
Various solo projects followed through the 90s and into the 21st century. He also toured Pet Sounds live, backed by a 55-piece orchestra, in the US in 2000, and later in Europe in 2002. In 2004, he released a long-unfinished project, Brian Wilson Presents: Smile, to significant critical acclaim after first presenting it in a live setting at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Wilson’s final solo album of original material was 2015’s No Pier Pressure, while his final record of covers came out in 2021, in the form of At My Piano. He also published the memoir I Am Brian Wilson in 2016.
