Brian Wilson, the visionary singer, producer, and songwriter behind The Beach Boys, has passed away at the age of 82, his family announced on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The announcement was made via an official statement on the band’s website and social media. “We are at a loss for words right now,” the family shared, asking for privacy as they mourn this sudden loss .
Born in Inglewood, California, on June 20, 1942, Wilson co‑founded The Beach Boys in 1961 alongside his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. He quickly became the mastermind of the band, arranging complex vocal harmonies and penning legendary tracks like “Surfin’ USA,” “California Girls,” and “Good Vibrations” . His work on the 1966 album Pet Sounds reshaped popular music and inspired the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band .
Wilson’s life was marked by both creativity and struggle. From childhood abuse at the hands of his father to battles with drug addiction and chronic mental illness, he endured personal turmoil. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and experienced a breakdown in the mid‑1960s, which led him to withdraw from touring and focus increasingly on studio work . In later years, he was diagnosed with a major neurocognitive disorder and placed under conservatorship in May 2024 after the death of his second wife, Melinda Ledbetter .
Despite these challenges, Wilson’s influence on music remained profound. Pet Sounds is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, ranking second only to Sgt. Pepper in Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums . His single “Good Vibrations” is celebrated as a landmark in sonic experimentation, and artists from Elton John to Paul McCartney have cited Wilson as a major inspiration .
The final chapter of Wilson’s public performances came two years ago, in July 2022, when he delivered what would be his last appearance at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Michigan, performing Beach Boys classics . He spent his final years largely out of the spotlight, his deteriorating health confining him to the care of family and professionals.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world. Elton John called him “the biggest influence on my songwriting ever” and a “musical genius and revolutionary” . Mike Love, Al Jardine, and actor-musician John Stamos lauded his creative brilliance and shared emotional condolences . Nancy Sinatra, Bob Dylan, and Mick Fleetwood joined the chorus of tributes, with Sinatra recalling their collaboration on “California Girls” and Dylan calling Wilson a “giant musical figure” .
Brian Wilson leaves behind a musical legacy that transcends genres and generations. The Beach Boys sold over 100 million records worldwide, and their songs continue to define the sound of summer and the mythos of California youth . He is survived by seven children—two from his first marriage and five adopted with his second wife—and enduring admiration from fans and artists alike .
