Brian Wilson: The ingenious Beach Boys founder leaves a heir

Brian Wilson: The ingenious Beach Boys founder leaves a heir

Inglewood, Kalifornien, USA - Brian Wilson, the legendary founder of Beach Boys and one of the most influential figures in pop music, died on June 11, 2025 at the age of 82. The sad news was announced by his family on Instagram. Wilson suffered from a form of dementia and after the death of his wife Melinda in 2022. His health problems were supplemented by a historical deafness in the right ear, which he had suffered in her childhood by slapping his father.

Wilson started his career in the music industry in 1961 and quickly became known for its innovative compositions, especially with the iconic album "Pet Sounds", which was released in 1966. The album is still considered a milestone in music history and revolutionized the genre with complex harmonies and unique instrumentation, such as the use of French horn and electronics. Among the many remarkable titles of the album stands out "God Only Knows", a song that Paul McCartney has been one of the most emotional, since it often stirs him to tears. This is just an example of the emotional depth that Wilson's music distinguished.

the influence and the challenges

Brian Wilson was considered one of the fathers of modern pop music. In the course of his career, he wrote and produced over two dozen hits for the Beach Boys, including "Good Vibrations", which reached 1st place in the USA in 1966. But Wilson's success was shaped by personal fights. After a nervous breakdown in 1964, he withdrew from tour life and concentrated on studio work. The struggles with drug addiction and a turbulent family life, shaped by ill -treatment by his father, also burdened him.

In the 1990s, Wilson experienced a comeback with the support of younger musicians and his second wife Melinda. Nevertheless, he remained susceptible to psychological problems, which often resigned from the public and had to struggle with mental illnesses in his personal life. Despite these challenges, he is recognized for his influence on many musicians and received numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards.

a lasting legacy

Brian Wilson's musical heritage remains very noticeable even after his death. His works, especially "Pet Sounds", are often compared to other iconic albums, such as "Sgt. Pepper’s" by the Beatles. "Pet Sounds" deals more deeply with topics of love and grief and manages to combine these emotions, which makes Wilson's music relevant to this day.