Beach Boys’ Founder Brian Wilson Dead At 82
• Brian Wilson, the legendary founder and principal creative force of The Beach Boys, who wrote or co-wrote the timeless hits “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “California Girls,” “In My Room,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” and many more, has died at 82.
Wilson’s family announced his death on his website with this simple post: “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 realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”
As beautifully covered by our friend Chris Morris in his excellent Variety retrospective, “From 1962 to 1966, the Beach Boys racked up 10 Top 10 hits and seven more Top 40 chart entries for Capitol Records, most of them written or co-written and produced by Wilson; their popularity during this period was rivaled only by that of their English labelmates The Beatles, whom Wilson came to view as his artistic rivals. A sensitive and ambitious talent, Wilson went on to push the boundaries of rock’s possibilities with a string of mid-’60s feats with his band: the lush and affecting 1966 song cycle Pet Sounds, the dazzling, complex 1966 single “Good Vibrations,” and the long-mythical, tragically scrapped magnum opus, Smile.”
The product of a torturous relationship with his father, Wilson from the early ’60s on experienced a series of mental breakdowns (which led to his early withdrawal from live performances with the group), struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, thickets of litigation, and deepening acrimony with his bandmates, who included two brothers (Carl and Dennis) and a cousin (Mike Love). In 1982 he was officially fired by his own group.
However, Wilson fought off his demons and opened a bright second chapter in the late ’80s, cutting a string of solo albums and receiving renewed acclaim via live performances of his masterpieces Pet Sounds andSmile. On the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys’ founding, and after a decades-long absence, Wilson hit the road again with his band. [Ed. note: I was fortunate to experience Wilson’s amazing Pet Sounds tour in Los Angeles in March 2017]
Wilson and The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.
Wilson is survived by daughters Carnie and Wendy and two adopted daughters, Daria and Delanie, from his second marriage to Melinda Kay Ledbetter Wilson, who died Jan. 30, 2024 at 77. At her passing, Brian wrote, “Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor.”
Al Jardine, founding member of The Beach Boys, and who had toured with Brian in recent years, issued this statement on the passing of Brian Wilson: “Brian Wilson, my friend, my classmate, my football teammate, my Beach Boy bandmate and my brother in spirit, I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were. I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again. You were a humble giant who always made me laugh and we will celebrate your music forever. Brian, I’ll really miss you… still I have the warmth of the sun within me tonight.” [Photo by Mary Ann Jardine]
• The Benztown crew immediately swung into action and created a Benztown Audio Tribute to Brian Wilson, written and produced by Peter Murphy and voiced by Darren Silva.
• SuiteRadio has produced a six-song tribute to Brian Wilson — Long Live Rock is hosted by Texas Radio Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Gallo, and is available for immediate download. The feature is inventory free, runs 19:45 and is ready for air now. Get the link by e-mailing affiliates@suiteradio.net.
