Brian Wilson, creative force behind The Beach Boys, passes away at 82

Brian Wilson, the songwriter, producer, and sonic architect who transformed American pop music with The Beach Boys, has died aged 82.

In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday, Wilson’s family wrote: “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 realise that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”

Wilson died following a years-long struggle with mental illness and, more recently, dementia. In early 2024, shortly after the death of his wife Melinda Ledbetter, a court placed Wilson under conservatorship, stating he “does not have the capacity to give informed consent to the administration of medications appropriate to the care and treatment of major neurocognitive disorders (including dementia).”

His family appointed longtime publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard as conservators. Despite his failing health, Wilson was still celebrated by his peers for his enduring creativity. In May 2024, bandmate Mike Love said on BBC Radio 4’s Today: “We got together at Paradise Cove… He was remembering things I’d forgotten about our high school days. His long-term memory is right there.”

A Californian prodigy with a sound all his own

Brian Douglas Wilson was born in Inglewood, California, in 1942. He showed early signs of musical genius — he had perfect pitch and could replicate melodies as a toddler. Along with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and schoolmate Al Jardine, he formed a high school band that would later be renamed The Beach Boys.

Their first single, Surfin’, marked the beginning of a wave. Wilson wrote hit after hit: Surfer Girl, Surfin’ USA, I Get Around. But he quickly outgrew the surfing sound.

Driven by ambition and artistic hunger, he stopped touring in 1964 and retreated into the studio. What followed was nothing short of revolutionary.

Pet Sounds: the teenage symphony that changed everything

In 1966, Wilson released Pet Sounds, written and produced nearly entirely by himself. It was lush, experimental, emotionally complex — a radical break from pop’s formulaic past. Initially a commercial disappointment, it later became a critical benchmark. In 2004, it was added to the US Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

Wilson described his next project, Smile, as a “teenage symphony to God.” It collapsed under the weight of delays, drugs and internal tensions, and wasn't released in its original form until decades later.

Despite the setbacks, Smile and its bootlegs became legendary, and Wilson finally brought it to life with Brian Wilson Presents Smile in 2004.

A long and troubled road

Wilson’s life was never just music. It was marked by trauma, addiction and isolation. His relationship with his father, Murry, was controlling and abusive. His mental health deteriorated in the late 1960s, with voices in his head, hospital stays, and erratic behaviour. He was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and manic depression.

His downward spiral led to a highly controversial therapeutic arrangement with psychologist Eugene Landy, who exerted extreme control over Wilson’s life — becoming his co-writer, financial manager, and even being named in his will. Legal action in the 1990s ended Landy’s role after Wilson’s family intervened.

In later years, Wilson said: “There were times when [his mental illness] was unbearable but with doctors and medications I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life.”

Love, loss and legacy

Wilson married twice. He had two daughters with his first wife, Marilyn Rovell. In 1995, he married Melinda Ledbetter, who became his manager and adopted five children with him. After her death in 2024, Wilson said: “Melinda was more than my wife. She was my saviour. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career.”

Despite personal turmoil, Wilson continued to release music, tour, and reunite sporadically with The Beach Boys. In 1988, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He won two Grammys and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

His story inspired a memoir, a 2014 biopic Love & Mercy, and a 2021 documentary Long Promised Road.

“As long as he’s alive, he’ll have those”

Mike Love, reflecting on Wilson’s final year, said: “His musical abilities, as long as he’s alive he’ll have those, but he does need medical supervision and care. His wife did take care of that.”

Even in his final years, Wilson remained revered — not just as a Beach Boy, but as one of the most important American composers of the 20th century. His music still lingers in radio waves, soundtracks, and the voices of countless artists who followed in his footsteps.

Brian Wilson is survived by his children and a towering legacy.