Beach Boys' Brian Wilson dies at 82, the final musical story of a genius composer

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Brian Wilson, Beach Boys, genius composer

Brian Wilson's Passing

On June 11, 2025, Brian Wilson passed away at the age of 82. His family stated through Instagram and their official website, 'We are heartbroken beyond words. Please respect our privacy.' Amidst the sorrowful message, we face the final farewell of a giant who defined an era.

Brian Wilson's Musical Journey

Brian Wilson, born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, is a founding member of the Beach Boys and created the sound that represented American youth culture in the 1960s. Songs like 'Surfin' USA', 'California Girls', 'Good Vibrations', and 'God Only Knows' transcended mere hit singles, expanding the notion of 'California sunshine' into a cultural symbol. The music he created functioned as a language that encompassed not just images of the beach, youth, and freedom, but the very emotions of youth itself.

Pet Sounds and Smile

Released in 1966, Pet Sounds was the culmination of his songwriting talent and studio experimentation. This album, which blended elements of classical, jazz, and experimental music into the vessel of pop, expanded the artistic boundaries of pop music and had a direct influence on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Rolling Stone magazine has cited it as "one of the greatest albums in history." The forthcoming Smile project was halted in 1967, but it was restored in 2004 under the title 'Brian Wilson Presents Smile' and has since been re-evaluated from a "failed masterpiece" to a "late-blooming classic."

The Trials and Comeback of Brian Wilson

However, his life was not filled only with glory. Childhood abuse from his father, mental illness, hearing impairment, and drug addiction weighed heavily on him for a long time. He even stopped his musical activities during the vicious cycle of neurosis and addiction, and in 2024, he was diagnosed with neurocognitive disorder and went through legal guardianship procedures. Nevertheless, Brian Wilson returned to music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007, released multiple solo albums, and especially the restoration of Smile proved his indomitable artistic spirit.

Support from Brian Wilson and his family

His wife, Melinda Ledbetter, was always by his side, and with her support, he returned to the stage in 2012 through the Beach Boys' 50th anniversary tour. This was not just a simple comeback, but a profound resonance that transformed the later part of his life into art. Numerous contemporary and later musicians, including Paul McCartney, Todd Rundgren, and Damon Albarn, referred to him as the 'Mozart of pop' and the 'genius of pop,' showing their respect.

Brian Wilson's Musical Legacy

His final song transcends mere melody and lyrics. It stands as a great legacy that proves the power of music to touch the deepest parts of the human soul, and that music can indeed be a testament to life. Brian Wilson's life symbolizes the coexistence of genius and pain, the tension between art and anxiety, and the repetition of incompleteness and completeness. His music continues to breathe, and will warmly shine in the hearts of countless people like the sunlight on a summer day.

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