Brian Wilson, founder of The Beach Boys, dies aged 82

Perth Now

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Music industry legend and pioneer of rock, Brian Wilson, founder of The Beach Boys has died aged 82.
Wilson, who co-founded the iconic group back in 1961, created some of rock's most enduring songs such as Good Vibrations and God Only Knows in a career that was marked by a decades-long battle between his musical genius, drug abuse and mental health issues
The singer's family announced his death in a statement on the Wilson's website.
'We are heartbroken to announced that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,' the statement said.
'We are at a loss for words right now.
'Please respect our privacy at this time as our family grieving.
'We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy'
The statement did not disclose a cause of death. Members of The Beach Boys, from left, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston, pose with their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, during a ceremony in Los Angeles on Dec. 30, 1980. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File) Credit: LENNOX MCLENDON / AP
The band's official social media site released an additional statement.
'Brian Wilson wasn't just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound,' the statement read.
'The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own.
'Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom—music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities.'
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Wilson had suffered from dementia and was unable to care for himself after his wife Melinda Wilson died in early 2024, prompting his family to put him under conservatorship.
Wilson was the eldest and last surviving of the three musical brothers who formed the US rock band in 1961, alongside their cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine.
His band, known for their vocal harmonies, signed with Capitol Records in 1962 and released their first album, Surfin' Safari, that same year.
Wilson was born on June 20 1942, and began to play the piano and teach his brothers to sing harmony as a young boy.
The Beach Boys started as a neighbourhood act, rehearsing in Wilson's bedroom and in the garage of their house in suburban Hawthorne, California.
In the group Wilson played bass while his brother Dennis was the drummer and Carl played lead guitar. Musician Brian Wilson had suffered from dementia in recent years, his family says. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP
Their debut single, Surfin', became a minor hit on its release in 1961 but was nothing compared with the success that followed from their second studio album, Surfin' USA, released in 1963.
The band were managed by the trio's father, Murry Wilson, but by mid-decade he had been displaced and Brian, who had been running the band's recording sessions almost from the start, was in charge.
They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2001.
The Beach Boys' biggest hits included California Girls, Surfin' USA and Good Vibrations.
Tributes flow for a musical pioneer
Mick Fleetwood, drummer and co-founder of band Fleetwood Mac said Wilson had a 'genius magical touch'.
'Anyone with a musical bone in their body must be grateful for Brian Wilson's genius magical touch!!,' he wrote on X.
'Greatly saddened of this major worldly loss!! My thoughts go out to his family and friends.'
- with Reuters, PA