Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and delicate leader whose flair for melody, arrangements, and candid self-expression inspired “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” and other quintessential summer songs, passed away at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy as one of the world’s most impactful recording artists.
Wilson’s family posted news of his death to his website and social media accounts Wednesday. Further details weren’t immediately available.
As the eldest and sole surviving member of three musical brothers—Brian played bass, Carl was on lead guitar, and Dennis on drums—he and his fellow Beach Boys achieved remarkable success in the 1960s, evolving from a local California band to national hitmakers and eventually international surf and sun ambassadors. Wilson was revered for his talents and empathized with for his struggles. A great romantic of rock music, he was a conflicted individual who, during his prime, sought an increasingly ambitious journey toward auditory perfection, the singular sound.
The Beach Boys are among the rock era’s most celebrated bands, boasting more than 30 Top 40 singles and over 100 million albums sold globally. Their 1966 album “Pet Sounds” was ranked No. 2 in a 2003 Rolling Stone list of the top 500 albums, narrowly losing out to the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” a rival they frequently contended with. Alongside Wilson, the Beach Boys included his cousin Mike Love and childhood friend Al Jardine; they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Wilson feuded with Love over songwriting credits, but peers otherwise adored him beyond envy, from Elton John and Bruce Springsteen to Smokey Robinson and Carole King. The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, fantasized about joining the Beach Boys. Paul McCartney cited “Pet Sounds” as a direct inspiration on the Beatles and the ballad “God Only Knows” as among his favorite songs, often bringing him to tears.
Wilson moved and fascinated fans and musicians long after he stopped having hits. In his later years, Wilson and a devoted entourage of younger musicians performed “Pet Sounds” and his restored opus, “Smile,” before worshipful crowds in concert halls. Meanwhile, The Go-Go’s, Lindsey Buckingham, Animal Collective and Janelle Monáe were among a wide range of artists who emulated him, whether as a master of crafting pop music or as a pioneer of pulling it apart.
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