The world would simply not be the same without The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson, the co-founder and primary songwriter for the group, died at 82. His family announced in a post to his social channels. The musical genius pioneered the studio-as-instrument, and influenced multiple generations of musicians in multiple genres. It was revealed in early 2024 that he was living with a neurocognitive disorder similar to dementia.
Wilson was born in Inglewood, California and in his early life, he was already playing music in a band called the Pendletones. It was an accident that the band was renamed The Beach Boys by Candix Records on their first single “Surfin”. That change led them to superstardom and a recording contract a year later with Capitol Records and their album Surfin’ Safari.
The band released three studio albums in 1963 with Surfin’ U.S.A., Surfer Girl, and Little Deuce Coupe. Wilson was already producing music for other musicians by this point like Jan and Dean, The Castellas, Donna Loren, Sharon Marie, and others.
1964 brought turmoil to the band and Wilson, he decided to stop touring due to a panic attack from the heavy schedule. 1965 brought what many call his magnum opus in Pet Sounds. At the time, it was not as well-received as it is now. It’s enshrined in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
By 1968, Wilson’s role in The Beach Boys had lessened. He was coming off the cancelation of the album Smile. He entered a psychiatric hospital for treatment in 1968. He continued to work with the band in the 1970s after this, but suffered from addiction issues.
He then started work with the controversial psychologist Eugene Landy. Their treatment was the subject of a biographical film called Love & Mercy. Landy took increasing control over Wilson’s life and his finances. It wasn’t until 1992 that his family finally fought back with legal action against Landy. His license was revoked and he received a restraining order.
His later life was filled with plenty of projects, he finally reworked Smile, his last studio album was 2015s No Pier Pressure. He also released a memoir in 2016.
With The Beach Boys, Wilson had 10 Top-10 hits and plenty more that hit the charts. His music has given so much to so many different people.
Brian WIlson is survived by his wife, daughters Carnie and Wendy, and two adopted daughters Daria and Delanie.
RIP
