Musician Brian Wilson performs at Roadside Attraction’s “Love and Mercy” DVD release and music celebration with Brian Wilson at the Vibrato Jazz Club on October 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Winter | Getty Images
Brian Wilson, the musical visionary who captured the optimism of early 1960s youth culture as leader of the Beach Boys and crafted some of the most stylistically adventurous pop music of the era with the seminal album “Pet Sounds,” has died, his family confirmed Wednesday.
He was 82. His family did not immediately specify a cause of death.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” Wilson’s family said in a post on Instagram. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
The artist’s legal representatives said last year that Wilson was suffering from a “major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia)” and suggested he be placed in a conservatorship.
Wilson is widely considered one of the most gifted singers, songwriters, and producers in the history of American pop music. The Beach Boys conquered the recording industry with hits like “I Get Around” and “Good Vibrations,” embodying the popular image of Southern California as paradise on Earth.
The Beach Boys topped the charts and achieved global acclaim, becoming synonymous with the spirit of summertime escapism with sensations like “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “Surfer Girl.” (Ironically, Wilson was not much of a surfer.) Wilson’s brothers were part of the original lineup: Carl played lead guitar and Dennis sat behind the drums.
In the middle of the ’60s, inspired by the ambition of the Beatles and guided by his own psychedelic visions, Wilson produced the landmark concept album “Pet Sounds,” an idiosyncratic and complex fusion of pop, jazz and avant-garde sounds that helped cement his legacy.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Brian Wilson, founding member of The Beach Boys, performs onstage during Day 2 of the BeachLife Festival at Redondo Beach on May 03, 2019 in Redondo Beach, California.
Scott Dudelson | Getty Images
Wilson’s life was often tumultuous, earning him a reputation in music circles as a tortured genius. He struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, sometimes channelling his inner turmoil into melancholy lyrics and introspective soundscapes.
He spent years under the yoke of the celebrity psychologist Dr. Eugene Landy, who attempted to control nearly every aspect of the singer’s life. (Landy was eventually barred from any contact with Wilson and died in 2006.) The relationship between the two was dramatized in the 2015 film “Love & Mercy.”
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