Brian Wilson, Beach Boys Co-Founder and Pop Music Innovator, Dies at 82

Brian Wilson, the visionary musician who, with his band the Beach Boys, etched the California teen lifestyle into the American consciousness through a string of iconic 1960s hits, has died. He was 82.

His family announced Wilson's death in an Instagram post, stating, "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."

Wilson remained an active touring artist until 2022. His last Austin performance was Christmas show at ACL Live in December of 2018. Earlier in 2024, it was disclosed that he was suffering from dementia, and a conservatorship was established for his personal needs following the death of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson.

From 1962 to 1966, the Beach Boys, with Wilson's songwriting and production, achieved remarkable success, racking up 10 top 10 hits and several other top 40 chart entries for Capitol Records. Their popularity during this period was rivaled only by their English labelmates, the Beatles.

Despite decades away from the musical mainstream in the 1970s and '80s, when Wilson was struggling with psychological issues, his impact was never in question.

Wilson pushed the boundaries of rock music with a series of mid-1960s works including the 1966 album "Pet Sounds," which profoundly influenced the Beatles. The British rockers used it as inspiration for their own studio creations, culminating in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" a year later.

While the Beach Boys' signature close harmonies painted a picture of Southern California's sun-drenched milieu, Wilson's personal life often descended into darkness.

The product of a painful relationship with his father, Wilson experienced a series of mental breakdowns from the early 1960s onward. Psychological issues eventually led to his early withdrawal from live performances. He battled drug and alcohol abuse, endured thickets of litigation, and faced deepening acrimony with his bandmates, who included his two younger brothers, Dennis and Carl, and cousin Mike Love.

In 1982, he was officially fired by his own group. He was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition marked by hallucinations, depression and paranoia.

However, Wilson embarked on a bright second chapter in the late 1980s. He released a string of critically acclaimed solo albums and garnered renewed recognition through live performances of his masterpieces, "Pet Sounds" and "Smile."

Wilson, alongside other members of the Beach Boys, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.

Reinvigorated in his later years, Wilson hit the road in 2016 to perform "Pet Sounds" in its entirety and continued to entertain fans before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The musician who formed a band in his teens saw no reason to stop entertaining as a grandfather, perhaps in part to make up for all those lost decades.

When asked in a 2015 American-Statesman interview about his happiest times, Wilson simply stated, "When I was in the studio with the Beach Boys." His enduring legacy lies in the harmonies that transcended his personal battles.

Wilson is survived by his daughters from his first marriage, Carnie and Wendy, who achieved success as part of the group Wilson Phillips, and five adopted children from his second marriage.