Brian Wilson Obituary, Death: Brian Wilson, the legendary singer, songwriter, and producer who co-founded The Beach Boys and reshaped the sound of American pop music, has died at the age of 82. His death was confirmed by his family on June 11, 2025. A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, though Wilson had been battling a major neurocognitive disorder since 2024.
Born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, Brian Douglas Wilson showed musical brilliance from an early age. With his younger brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and childhood friend Al Jardine, Wilson formed The Beach Boys in 1961. The group became synonymous with the Southern California lifestyle, producing sun-drenched hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and “California Girls.”
Though many admired The Beach Boys for their harmonies and surf-themed lyrics, it was Brian Wilson’s vision that elevated the group from pop hitmakers to artistic pioneers. As the band’s primary songwriter and producer, Wilson pushed the boundaries of studio recording. He famously retired from touring in 1964 to focus on creating more sophisticated music.
That decision led to the 1966 release of Pet Sounds, now regarded as one of the most influential albums in music history. With its complex orchestration, emotional depth, and groundbreaking production, Pet Sounds influenced countless artists, including The Beatles, who cited it as inspiration for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Wilson’s genius, however, was often shadowed by personal demons. He struggled for decades with mental health challenges, including schizoaffective disorder, and substance abuse. His relationship with controversial therapist Dr. Eugene Landy in the 1980s drew concern from family and fans, ultimately resulting in legal action to remove Landy from Wilson’s life. Despite periods of reclusion and hardship, Wilson made several successful comebacks. His 1988 self-titled solo album marked his return to music. In 2004, he completed and released Smile, a long-lost project from the 1960s that had become legendary among fans and critics alike.
Wilson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Beach Boys in 1988 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007. Over the decades, his music has been praised for blending innocence with complexity, joy with melancholy, and teenage dreams with orchestral sophistication.
Following the death of his wife and longtime manager Melinda Ledbetter in 2024, Wilson’s health declined rapidly. A court-ordered conservatorship was put in place as he faced increasing cognitive impairment. Yet, in a photo shared by his team in April 2025, Wilson was seen smiling in a recording studio—still surrounded by music until the end. Brian Wilson is survived by his seven children. His death marks the end of an era, but his legacy lives on through a catalog of songs that defined generations and forever changed the landscape of popular music.