”We are devastated to announce that our 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 mourns. We realize that we share our grief with the world”, writes Wilson's family in a post on social media.
He was born in Inglewood, California, and formed the group Beach Boys together with his brothers. He is considered one of the pop geniuses of the 1960s. The band broke through in 1963 with the song ”Surfin USA” and released three albums the same year, ”Surfin USA”, ”Surfer Girl”, and ”Little Deuce Coupe”.
Inspired Beatles
In 1964, he suffered a nervous breakdown and retreated to the studio darkness. From there, he wrote and produced Beach Boys' classic album ”Pet Sounds” in 1966 – considered a masterpiece that changed pop music's studio production and which, among other things, inspired Paul McCartney and The Beatles, who the following year countered with their own concept album: "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band".
During his career, Wilson also worked as a successful producer for other artists such as Jan and Dean, The Castellas, Donna Loren, and Sharon Marie.
Wilson was awarded two Grammys and was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 1988.
In 2015, Wilson released his last solo album with the title ”No pier pressure” and the year after published his memoir ”I am Brian Wilson”.
Dementia-like disease
Wilson had recurring problems with mental illness and drug abuse. During a period in his life, he had a destructive collaboration with psychologist Eugene Landy, a period that was later dramatized in the film ”Love & mercy”. In 2024, it was announced that he was suffering from a neurocognitive disease similar to dementia.
”Oh no Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in just one week, my world is in mourning, so sad”, writes Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood on social media.
John Lennon's son Seán Ono Lennon describes Wilson, writing on social media that he is lucky to have met him and describes him as ”our American Mozart”.
Music journalist Rolf Hammarlund describes Brian Wilson as a ”great classical composer”.
Brian Wilson influenced pop music in the 60s so incredibly much. Beach Boys would not have been what it was without Brian Wilson and his fantastic songs and arrangements, he says to Sveriges Radio's Kulturnytt.
The band Beach Boys was formed in 1961 in the city of Hawthorne, California, and originally consisted of the three brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine.
In 1962, the band signed a contract with Capitol Records and shortly thereafter released their first album ”Surfin safari”.
The album ”Pet sounds” which was released in 1966 has been ranked by Rolling Stones as second on their list of the 500 best albums ever.
The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide and is described as one of the most influential bands ever.
Source: Thebeachboys.com
