The music world lost one of its true icons with the founder of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, passing away at 82. Wilson has inspired a generation of musicians, including The Beatles. Wilson created the iconic album, Pet Sounds, in 1966, which directly inspired The Beatles to create Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
John Lennon’s son Sean Lennon posted his tribute on X, stating that he was heartbroken by the news. “Not many people influenced me as much as he did,” Lennon said. “He was our American Mozart. A one-of-a-kind genius from another world.” Sean Lennon is only one of the many artists who are mourning the death of Brian Wilson.
Lifelong Struggle With Mental Health
Though the cause of death is unknown, Brian Wilson has struggled with health issues throughout his life. Just last year, Wilson was placed into a conservatorship as he battled dementia after the death of his wife.
In 1965, when he was just 22 years old, Wilson began experiencing auditory hallucinations, or he started hearing voices, which he described as “heroes and villains.” Rather than seek help, Brian Wilson instead began to indulge in drugs, alcohol, and food as forms of self-medication.
While his behavior was viewed as self-destructive by many, including journalists who interviewed him as the band’s star continued to rise into the 1970s, it wasn’t until later in life that Brian Wilson received a proper medical diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.
Ultimately, however, Wilson found that music was often the best medicine for his mental health challenges. “When I’m on stage, I try to combat the voices by singing really loud,” Wilson continued. “When I’m not on stage, I play my instruments all day, making music for people.”
The Music Industry Mourns For Brian Wilson
Keith Richards, one of the founding members of the Rolling Stones, shared a page from his 2010 memoir on Instagram. The page recalled his early memories of listening to “very well-constructed” songs by Brian Wilson. Richards captioned the post with “Rest in Peace!”
Singer-songwriter Mick Fleetwood wrote on Instagram that every musician “must be grateful” to Brian Wilson. He added that he is “greatly saddened” by the news, and “My thoughts go out to his family and friends.”
John Cusack, the actor who played Brian Wilson in the biopic Love & Mercy, posted to X: “The maestro has passed.” He added, “Love and Mercy for you and yours tonight. RIP Brian.”
Singer Nancy Sinatra posted on Instagram, sharing her experience of singing “California Girls” with Brian Wilson. She called it “one of the biggest thrills of my life.” She added, “His cherished music will live forever as he travels through the Universe and beyond.”
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