Brian Wilson, the legendary frontman and co-founder of The Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82, his family has announced.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family said in a statement shared online. “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.”
Born in 1942 and raised in Hawthorne, California, Wilson formed a group along with his younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine.
They went on to become one of the country’s biggest rock bands, The Beach Boys.
One of the most commercially successful bands of all time, they have sold more than 100 million records globally, according to the group’s website. Music magazine Rolling Stone ranked them at 12 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
Wilson’s catalogue with the group includes dozens of hit singles, including the three number one singles I Get Around, Help Me, Rhonda and Good Vibrations.
He was especially known for using the recording studio to create unique sounds, especially on the album Pet Sounds, which contributed to his reputation as a music pioneer.
Tributes have been pouring in for the beloved musician.
Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra, who enjoyed a high-profile music career around the time of The Beach Boys’ heyday, shared a picture with Brian Wilson on Instagram.
“His cherished music will live forever as he travels through the Universe and beyond,” she wrote. “God bless you, sweet Brian.”
Sean Ono Lennon, son of Beatles frontman John Lennon and Yoko Ono, called Wilson the “American Mozart” and a “one of a kind genius from another world”.
“Anyone who really knows me knows how heartbroken I am about Brian Wilson passing,” he wrote on X.
“Not many people influenced me as much as he did. I feel very lucky that I was able to meet him and spend some time with him. He was always very kind and generous.”
Wilson lost his wife Melinda in 2024. The couple had been married for 24 years, and adopted their children Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan and Dash together.
Wilson also had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, from his first marriage.
The musician was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in 1984, according to Forbes, when doctors found evidence that his brain damage was linked to his use of psychedelic drugs.
In February 2024 it was revealed he had dementia.
By BBC News
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