Brian Wilson, the innovative frontman of the Beach Boys known for his exceptional talent in crafting melodies and orchestrating iconic tunes such as "Good Vibrations" and "California Girls," passed away at the age of 82.
Wilson's relatives shared information about his passing on his website and social media profiles on Wednesday without providing additional specifics.
The Beach Boys are considered one of the most prominent bands during the rock era, having over 30 singles make it into the Top 40 along with global album sales exceeding 100 million copies.
The 1966 album "Pet Sounds" ranked second in the 2003 Rolling Stone list of the greatest 500 albums.
The Beach Boys, which included Mike Love, Wilson’s cousin, as well as childhood friend Al Jardine, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Wilson had disagreements with Love regarding songwriting credits; however, his contemporaries held him in high regard, including artists like Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, and Carole King.
Paul McCartney mentioned that "Pet Sounds" was a direct source of inspiration for the Beatles, and he particularly admired the ballad "God Only Knows."
Later in life, Wilson toured with a dedicated group of younger musicians, performing "Pet Sounds" along with his reconstructed masterpiece, "Smile," for adoring audiences in various concert venues.
In the meantime, The Go-Go's, Lindsey Buckingham, Animal Collective, and Janelle Monáe were part of a broad spectrum of musicians who drew inspiration from him, whether they admired his skill in shaping pop music or his role in deconstructing it.
From neighborhoods to the spotlight
Brian Wilson came into this world on June 20, 1942.
It wasn't long before his musical talents became evident, and from a young age, he was playing the piano and coaching his brothers in harmonizing.
The Beach Boys began as a local group, practicing in Brian's room and in the garage of their home in the suburbs of Hawthorne, California.
Surf music, predominantly instrumentals during its formative stages, was gaining traction locally. Dennis Wilson, who was the band’s sole genuine surfer, proposed that they capitalize on this trend.
Brian and Love quickly put together their debut single, "Surfin'," which became a small-scale success when it was released in 1961.
They wanted to call themselves the Pendletones, in honour of a popular flannel shirt they wore in early publicity photos. But when they first saw the pressings for "Surfin'," they discovered the record label had tagged them The Beach Boys.
By the middle of the decade, Brian, who had been overseeing the band's recording sessions nearly since the beginning, took charge. This made the Beach Boys one of the few groups at the time to operate without an external producer.
They achieved their big break in early 1963 with "Surfin' USA," and from then until 1966, they consistently topped the charts. They reached Number 1 in the U.S. with hits like "I Get Around" and "Help Me, Rhonda," while tracks such as "California Girls" and "Fun, Fun, Fun" fell just short of claiming the top spot.
During TV performances, they sported candy-striped tops and smiled as they lip-synced to their newest single, often alongside a hot rod or a surfboard.
Their tunes highlighted personal disparities. Wilson frequently juxtaposed his vibrant falsetto with Love's nasally, flat tenor.
Love shone brightly during the upbeat tracks with their outgoing personality, but when the tempo slowed down, Brian stepped forward into the spotlight.
In 1964, stress and fatigue resulted in a mental collapse leading to his decision to retire from performing live shows. Following this, Bruce Johnston joined the band and stayed with them for many years.
Wilson was a fan of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound production style and drew inspiration from this for his work with The Beach Boys. For instance, he incorporated sleigh bells into "Dance, Dance, Dance," and created a miniature theme-park arrangement featuring guitars, horns, percussion, and organs as the introduction to "California Girls."
By the middle of the 1960s, the Beach Boys were hailed as America’s response to the Beatles, with both bands cheerfully accepting this comparison, elevating popular music to an artistic realm.
However, the album "Pet Sounds" did not perform as well in the charts compared to its predecessors and received lukewarm treatment from the US record label, Capitol.
The Beach Boys quickly became a nostalgia act, losing touch with the revolutionary spirit of the '60s, as Wilson retreated into isolation.
Decades of effort followed by belated recognition
Hooked on narcotics and mentally incapacitated, Wilson occasionally spent time in a sandbox he constructed within his living room, and it was several years before he released another full Beach Boys album.
One of their most successful records from the 1970s was a compilation album titled "Endless Summer." This release not only performed exceptionally well but also brought back significant attention, making them sought-after live acts once again.
Even though he managed to complete "Smile" impressively in the 21st century and returned to touring and recording, Wilson was battling schizoaffective disorder. This condition often left him giving short and disconnected responses during interviews.
His initial marriage, which was to vocalist Marilyn Rovell, concluded in divorce, leading him to become distant from his daughters Carnie and Wendy, both of whom later joined forces to create the musical group Wilson Phillips. He found stability starting in 1995 when he married Melinda Ledbetter; they then had two additional children named Daria and Delanie.
He similarly made peace with Carnie and Wendy, and they joined voices for the 1997 album titled "The Wilsons."
In 1992, Brian Wilson secured an out-of-court settlement of approximately $10 million (€8 million) for unpaid songwriting royalties. However, this win along with his 1991 memoir titled "Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story" sparked further legal battles that shattered the once-musical clan.
The Beach Boys occasionally produced popular singles like "Kokomo," which was created without Wilson and reached Number 1 in 1988.
Meanwhile, Wilson put out solo albums like "Brian Wilson" and "Gettin' In Over My Head," featuring appearances by McCartney and Clapton along with other notable artists. Additionally, he finished two projects for the Walt Disney record label: an album of Gershwin tunes and another one encompassing music from Disney films.
In 2012, the remaining members of the Beach Boys joined forces for their 50th-anniversary album, which swiftly reached the Top 10 charts. However, the band soon fell into disagreements once more and went their separate ways.
Wilson secured two highly contested Grammy Awards, one for the solo instrumental piece titled "Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow," and another for the "Smile Sessions" box set.
Alternatively, his accolades included a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a tribute at the Kennedy Center, and induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2018, he went back to his former high school in Hawthorne and saw his history being literally rewritten: The principal removed an F he had received in music class and gave him an A instead.
Starting from May 2024, Wilson has been placed under a court-ordered conservatorship to manage his personal and health-related matters, with his longtime associates, publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hardy, overseeing these responsibilities.