Beach Boys visionary Brian Wilson dead at 82
Brian Wilson, whose virtuoso vocal and musical arrangements led the Beach Boys to commercial and critical success, making them one of America's most influential bands, before personal demons waylaid his life and career for several years, has died.
The death of Wilson, who would have turned 83 next week, was announced by his family on his social media platforms. In recent months, the family said that Wilson had a "major neurocognitive disorder" and was taking medication for dementia.
"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away," the statement read. "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. Love & Mercy."
After scoring Top 10 hits with Surfin' U.S.A. and Surfer Girl, the Beach Boys topped the charts in 1964 with I Get Around, scoring subsequent No. 1 hits later in the decade with Help Me, Rhonda and Good Vibrations. Pet Sounds, from 1966, a fixture near the top of lists of rock's greatest albums, included the lasting classics God Only Knows and Wouldn't It Be Nice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Living Colour opens 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame to honor new inductee George Clinton
NEW YORK (AP) — The funk rock group Living Colour opened an energetic 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night with a cover of Funkadelic's 'Cosmic Slop' to honor new inductee George Clinton. It set the tone for an event with a lot to celebrate, and even more to remember. Just one day after it was announced that the inimitable Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys had died, his bandmate Mike Love will be inducted into the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame. The gala, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City Thursday night, also features inductees spanning genre, an inspiring mix of funk, rock, R&B, country and beyond: The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins and Tony Macaulay. Is there funk without George Clinton? Is there groove? From Parliament/Funkadelic to his solo work, Clinton is an innovator of American popular music — a long-overdue inductee heard on timeless hits (like 'Atomic Dog' and 'Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)' but also across the songs of Kendrick Lamar, Tupac, OutKast, Dr. Dre, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, De La Soul and beyond. Previously, Clinton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. He received a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys in 2019. The Doobie Brothers — the inducted members are Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons — are known the world over for their rootsy rock 'n' roll, particularly for their No. 1 hits 'What A Fool Believes' and 'Black Water.' They went into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Ashley Gorley is an unmistakable name in the world of country music. Groundbreaking producer Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, whose touch is heard across countless R&B and pop hits, and legendary English songwriter Tony Macaulay, known for such classics as The Foundations' 'Build Me Up Buttercup' and 'Baby Now That I've Found You.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Last year's inductees included Steely Dan, R.E.M., Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey and Dean Pitchford. At the induction ceremony last summer, R.E.M. stunned attendees by reuniting for an acoustic version of their alt-rock hit, 'Losing My Religion.' The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Mike Love and John Stamos pay tribute to Beach Boys' Brian Wilson
NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Love is looking back fondly on Brian Wilson, his cousin and Beach Boys collaborator who died Wednesday at 82. 'It's a tough one,' Love told The Associated Press Thursday. 'Life ends for all of us, but he had a wonderful life in terms of how creative he was, and I had a great time cocreating with him, so we have a lot to be, you know, we have a lot of blessings.' Love is being inducted Thursday night into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which welcomed Wilson in 2000. He will be introduced by actor and musician John Stamos, who has collaborated with the Beach Boys in recent years and is appearing at select dates on their tour, which resumes Friday in New York. 'I cut together a really beautiful video of Mike and Brian doing the song that Brian, Mike wrote called, 'Brian's Back.' And I'd like to show that with his permission at the front of the show,' Stamos said. 'I think it'll start off, but it's gonna be very difficult, I would think emotionally to get through it.' He added of his admiration for Wilson and the band: 'Without the Beach Boys, life would be a mistake. And that's that.' 'It's in the better late than never category, but I feel my cousin's presence tonight very strongly,' Love told the AP of his inclusion in Songwriters Hall of Fame. 'You know, we did it together, and so that part's inseparable, and we always had a great love for each other. So it's really nice to be honored, though, and recognized for my contribution to the Beach Boys music.' Love and Wilson wrote the Beach Boys' first hit, 'Surfin',' in 1961. The pair feuded over songwriting credits for Love, who successfully sued, contending he was deprived songwriting credits on dozens of songs. 'This is a songwriter's songwriter,' Stamos said of Love before the ceremony: 'He painted this cinematic view of California that made the whole world wanna be us because of him. Optimism, positivity, good vibes.' Stamos added: 'Brian was a genius, but Mike was a little bit underrated because of … you know, Brian's big genius.' Love said he enjoys witnessing the joy the Beach Boys music brings to fans on tour. 'It's wonderful because you see the audience response and people 60 years after we started are loving our music and that's really a wonderful thing. You see how much joy, not only in America but around the world, that our songs have created with people. So it's a fantastic thing,' he said,
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Kanye West wants to attend the Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial to support Combs in court: CNN source
Kanye West, seen here on February 2, has been in touch with Sean 'Diddy' Combs' family about possibly attending Combs' ongoing criminal trial to show his support. (Daniel Cole/Reuters via CNN Newsource) Kanye West has been in touch with Sean 'Diddy' Combs' family about possibly attending Combs' ongoing criminal trial to show his support. A source close to Combs told CNN that West, who goes by Ye, is currently in New York City. He did not attend Thursday's court proceedings but would like to attend to show support for Combs, the source said, adding that West has been in touch with Combs' son, Christian 'King' Combs, about attending trial with the Combs family. Combs' sons have been in court for much of the trial. Christian Combs and West are currently working on music together, the source added. The individual close to Combs noted West may attend when the defense begins their presentation. Prosecutors in the case have said that their presentation is expected to wrap up next week, indicating that the defense could begin calling their own witnesses soon. West, who has been widely condemned and dropped by most of his representatives and business partners for repeated antisemitic hate speech and other controversies in recent years, has offered public support for Combs since he's been incarcerated in the lead-up to his trial. West is one of few public figures to show support for the embattled music mogul, who has been accused of sexual assault or other misconduct in more than 60 civil cases and is on trial in federal court for criminal charges that include sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has denied all wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. West posted messages on social media to call for Combs' freedom ahead of his trial. In March, West released a song that featured a phone call recorded from jail between him and Combs. That song also features Christian Combs and West's daughter with Kim Kardashian. In February, West sparked outrage for selling t-shirts emblazoned with swastikas, which he promoted in a Super Bowl ad. His support for Combs on social media coincided with the firestorm that ensued over his antisemitic posts around the same time. A representative for Combs and his son, Christian, declined to comment. West is not known to be working with a public relations representative at this time and CNN was not able to contact him.
