How Visionary Beach Boys Songwriter Brian Wilson Changed Music
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How Visionary Beach Boys Songwriter Brian Wilson Changed Music – and My Life
Jadey O'Regan
39 minutes ago
Brian Wilson's passing on June 11 marks the end of a long and extraordinary chapter in musical history.
Brian Wilson at a Beach Boys reunion in New Orleans. Photo: Takahiro Kyono/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0.
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Brian Wilson, leader, songwriter and producer of the Beach Boys, has passed away at age 82.
He leaves behind a legacy of beautiful, joyous, bittersweet and enduring music, crafted over a career spanning six decades.
While this news isn't unexpected – Wilson was diagnosed with dementia last year and entered a conservatorship after the loss of his wife, Melinda – his passing marks the end of a long and extraordinary chapter in musical history.
A life of music
Formed in the early 1960s in Hawthorne, California, the Beach Boys were built on a foundation of family and community: brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine.
Growing up, the Wilson household was a turbulent place; their father, Murry Wilson, was strict and at times violent. Music was the one way in which the family could connect.
During these early years Brian discovered the sounds that would shape his musical identity: Gershwin, doo wop groups, early rock and roll and, a particular favourite, the vocal group the Four Freshmen, whose tight-harmony singing style Wilson studied meticulously.
It was an unexpected combination of influences for a pop band. Even from the Beach Boys' earliest recordings – the surf, the cars, the girls – the stirrings of the complexity and musical adventurousness Wilson is known for is audible. Listen to the unexpected structure of ' The Lonely Sea ' (1962), the complex chords of ' The Warmth of the Sun ' (1963) or the subtle modulation in ' Don't Worry Baby ' (1964).
These early innovations hinted at a growing creativity that would continue to evolve over the rest of the 1960s, and beyond.
The Beach Boys perform at the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Public domain.
A story of resilience
In later years, Brian Wilson often appeared publicly as a fragile figure. But what stands out most in his story is resilience.
His ability to produce such an expansive and diverse catalogue of work while navigating difficult family relationships, intense record label pressures, misdiagnosed and mistreated mental health conditions, addiction and much more, is extraordinary. Wilson not only survived, but continued to create music.
He eventually did something few Beach Boys' fans would have imagined – he returned to the stage.
Wilson's unexpected return to public performance during the Pet Sounds and SMiLE tours in the early 2000s began a revival interest in the Beach Boys, and a critical reconsideration of their musical legacy. This continues with a consistent release of books, documentaries, movies and podcasts about Wilson and the legacy of the Beach Boys' music.
The focus of a thesis
I grew up near Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Their early songs about an endless summer had a particular resonance to my hometown, even if, like Brian Wilson, I only admired the beach from afar.
I chose to study the Beach Boys' music for my PhD thesis and spent the next few years charting the course of their musical development from their early days in the garage to creating Pet Sounds just five years later.
The Beach Boys at a 2012 performance. Photo: Louise Palanker/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0.
I was fascinated by how a band could create such a groundbreaking volume of work and progress so quickly from the delightful, yet wobbly 'Surfin' to the complex arrangements of 'God Only Knows'.
To understand their music, I spent years listening to Beach Boys' tracking sessions, take after take, to hear how their songs were so cleverly and delicately put together.
What struck me just as powerfully as the music itself was the sound of Brian Wilson's voice in those recordings. Listening to Wilson leading hours of tracking sessions was to hear an artist at the top of their game – decisive, confident, funny, collaborative and deeply driven to make music that would express the magic he heard in his mind, and connect with an audience.
One of the more unexpected discoveries in my analysis of the Beach Boys' music came from their lyrics. Using a word frequency tool to examine all 117 songs in my study, I found that the most common word was 'now'.
In many cases, it appears in a conversational sense – 'Well, she got her Daddy's car, and she cruised through the hamburger stand now ' – but on a broader level, it perfectly encapsulates what Brian Wilson's music offered so many listeners.
He created an endless present: a world where the sun could always be shining, where you could feel young forever and you could visit that world any time you needed to.
Jadey O'Regan with Brian Wilson, Enmore Theatre, Sydney 2010. Credit: Jadey O'Regan.
In 2010, I had the remarkable experience of meeting Brian Wilson in his dressing room before his performance at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. He was funny and kind. He sat at a small keyboard, taught me a harmony and for a moment, we sang ' Love and Mercy ' together.
It was one of the most magical moments of my life. It is also one of Wilson's most enduring sentiments: 'love and mercy, that's what we need tonight'.
Farewell and thank you, Brian. Surf's up.
Jadey O'Regan, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The Wire
10 hours ago
- The Wire
How Visionary Beach Boys Songwriter Brian Wilson Changed Music
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now World How Visionary Beach Boys Songwriter Brian Wilson Changed Music – and My Life Jadey O'Regan 39 minutes ago Brian Wilson's passing on June 11 marks the end of a long and extraordinary chapter in musical history. Brian Wilson at a Beach Boys reunion in New Orleans. Photo: Takahiro Kyono/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Brian Wilson, leader, songwriter and producer of the Beach Boys, has passed away at age 82. He leaves behind a legacy of beautiful, joyous, bittersweet and enduring music, crafted over a career spanning six decades. While this news isn't unexpected – Wilson was diagnosed with dementia last year and entered a conservatorship after the loss of his wife, Melinda – his passing marks the end of a long and extraordinary chapter in musical history. A life of music Formed in the early 1960s in Hawthorne, California, the Beach Boys were built on a foundation of family and community: brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine. Growing up, the Wilson household was a turbulent place; their father, Murry Wilson, was strict and at times violent. Music was the one way in which the family could connect. During these early years Brian discovered the sounds that would shape his musical identity: Gershwin, doo wop groups, early rock and roll and, a particular favourite, the vocal group the Four Freshmen, whose tight-harmony singing style Wilson studied meticulously. It was an unexpected combination of influences for a pop band. Even from the Beach Boys' earliest recordings – the surf, the cars, the girls – the stirrings of the complexity and musical adventurousness Wilson is known for is audible. Listen to the unexpected structure of ' The Lonely Sea ' (1962), the complex chords of ' The Warmth of the Sun ' (1963) or the subtle modulation in ' Don't Worry Baby ' (1964). These early innovations hinted at a growing creativity that would continue to evolve over the rest of the 1960s, and beyond. The Beach Boys perform at the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Public domain. A story of resilience In later years, Brian Wilson often appeared publicly as a fragile figure. But what stands out most in his story is resilience. His ability to produce such an expansive and diverse catalogue of work while navigating difficult family relationships, intense record label pressures, misdiagnosed and mistreated mental health conditions, addiction and much more, is extraordinary. Wilson not only survived, but continued to create music. He eventually did something few Beach Boys' fans would have imagined – he returned to the stage. Wilson's unexpected return to public performance during the Pet Sounds and SMiLE tours in the early 2000s began a revival interest in the Beach Boys, and a critical reconsideration of their musical legacy. This continues with a consistent release of books, documentaries, movies and podcasts about Wilson and the legacy of the Beach Boys' music. The focus of a thesis I grew up near Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Their early songs about an endless summer had a particular resonance to my hometown, even if, like Brian Wilson, I only admired the beach from afar. I chose to study the Beach Boys' music for my PhD thesis and spent the next few years charting the course of their musical development from their early days in the garage to creating Pet Sounds just five years later. The Beach Boys at a 2012 performance. Photo: Louise Palanker/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0. I was fascinated by how a band could create such a groundbreaking volume of work and progress so quickly from the delightful, yet wobbly 'Surfin' to the complex arrangements of 'God Only Knows'. To understand their music, I spent years listening to Beach Boys' tracking sessions, take after take, to hear how their songs were so cleverly and delicately put together. What struck me just as powerfully as the music itself was the sound of Brian Wilson's voice in those recordings. Listening to Wilson leading hours of tracking sessions was to hear an artist at the top of their game – decisive, confident, funny, collaborative and deeply driven to make music that would express the magic he heard in his mind, and connect with an audience. One of the more unexpected discoveries in my analysis of the Beach Boys' music came from their lyrics. Using a word frequency tool to examine all 117 songs in my study, I found that the most common word was 'now'. In many cases, it appears in a conversational sense – 'Well, she got her Daddy's car, and she cruised through the hamburger stand now ' – but on a broader level, it perfectly encapsulates what Brian Wilson's music offered so many listeners. He created an endless present: a world where the sun could always be shining, where you could feel young forever and you could visit that world any time you needed to. Jadey O'Regan with Brian Wilson, Enmore Theatre, Sydney 2010. Credit: Jadey O'Regan. In 2010, I had the remarkable experience of meeting Brian Wilson in his dressing room before his performance at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. He was funny and kind. He sat at a small keyboard, taught me a harmony and for a moment, we sang ' Love and Mercy ' together. It was one of the most magical moments of my life. It is also one of Wilson's most enduring sentiments: 'love and mercy, that's what we need tonight'. Farewell and thank you, Brian. Surf's up. Jadey O'Regan, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Palestinians With Disabilities At 'Epicentre' of Violence in Gaza War: Civil Society Group Call for Articles: It's the Small Things Over 1,200 NIH Scientists Write to Director Over Funding Cuts by Trump Administration Listen | Post-Degree Jobs Won't be Available Any More in the US, But It is Still the Best Option Joachim and Violet Alva: A Parliamentarian Couple Who Made History Raul Hilberg Documented the Destruction of Europe's Jews at a Time Few Wanted to Know About it Will the New Catholic Pontiff Preserve and Extend the Legacy of the Departed Pope? Frederick Forsyth, Master of the British Thriller, Dies Full Text | 'Planning in Mumbai has Come to Mean Only Real Estate Schemes' About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
What Is Schizoaffective Disorder? Rare Condition Of Beach Boys' Brian Wilson
Last Updated: In 2024, after losing his wife, Melinda Ledbetter, who stayed by his side for almost 30 years, Brian Wilson was diagnosed with a brain condition called Schizoaffective Disorder. Brian Wilson, the founder of the Beach Boys and a legendary songwriter, has died at the age of 82. He became famous as the lead singer and main songwriter for the band. His family shared the news of his passing on social media but did not mention the cause. Throughout his life, Wilson faced many health challenges. In 2024, after losing his wife, Melinda Ledbetter, who stayed by his side for almost 30 years, he was diagnosed with a brain condition, called Schizoaffective Disorder, similar to dementia. Here is a look at his health journey and what fans should know. Taking to Instagram, the singer's family stated, 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy." Brian Wilson started hearing voices in his head when he was quite young. Instead of getting help from a doctor or therapist, he tried to deal with it on his own by using drugs, alcohol and food. Later, he began treatment with a Hollywood therapist named Eugene Landy, who was known for using unusual and strict methods. In 1982, things got so serious that Landy took full control of Wilson's care and even removed him from The Beach Boys so he could focus only on treatment. In a 2006 interview with Ability Magazine, Wilson opened up about how his condition affected his life. He explained, 'For the past 40 years, I've had auditory hallucinations in my head, all day every day, and I can't get them out. Every few minutes, the voices say something derogatory to me, which discourages me a little bit, but I have to be strong enough to say to them, 'Hey, would you quit stalking me? Don't talk to me, leave me alone.' I have to say these types of things all day long. It's like a fight'." 'I was on stage, I could hear voices telling me negative things about myself. Even today, when I sing, I have to force myself not to listen to them. But when the concert is over, the voices come back. I knew right from the start something was wrong. I'd taken some psychedelic drugs, and then about a week after that, I started hearing voices, and they've never stopped. For a long time, I thought to myself, 'Oh, I can't deal with this.' But I learned to deal with it anyway," Brian Wilson added. The Beach Boys singer is survived by his daughters Carnie and Wendy, whom he had with his first wife, Marilyn Lovell. He also has two adopted daughters, Daria and Delanie, from his second marriage. First Published:
News18
2 days ago
- News18
From One Legend To Another: Elton John Salutes Brian Wilson's Unmatched Legacy
Last Updated: Elton John shared a heartfelt tribute, calling Brian Wilson a 'musical genius' and praising his lasting influence on songwriting and modern music. Elton John has paid a touching tribute to the late Brian Wilson following news of his passing. After Wilson's family announced that the iconic Beach Boys co-founder and legendary singer had died at the age of 82 on June 11, Elton took to Instagram to honour his legacy. The Tiny Dancer singer expressed deep admiration for Wilson's musical genius and influence, calling him a true pioneer in the world of music. Fans around the world joined Elton in mourning the loss of a man whose melodies shaped generations. 'Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him," Elton John's lengthy post began. 'He sang 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight' at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. I played on his solo records, he sang on my album, The Union, and even performed for my AIDS Foundation," the post also read. Elton John, a five-time Grammy winner, went on to share how he 'grew to love" Brian Wilson not just for his music, but as a person. He described Wilson as the greatest influence on his songwriting, calling him a 'musical genius and revolutionary." In addition, Elton John praised Wilson for redefining the art of songwriting and leaving a lasting impact on the music world. 'He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant," the singer wrote, honouring the legacy of the iconic Beach Boys co-founder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) Alongside Elton John, several others paid tribute to Brian Wilson on social media, including fellow Beach Boys members Mike Love and Al Jardine, his daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, as well as longtime friend Nancy Sinatra. Actor John Stamos, who often toured with the band, also shared a heartfelt message, reflecting the deep impact Wilson had on both music and those who knew him personally. Brian Wilson's family announced his passing on June 11, sharing the news through a heartfelt Instagram post. The message was accompanied by a recent photo of Wilson smiling while seated on a bench. '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." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brian Wilson (@brianwilsonlive) The family requested privacy during their time of mourning, adding, 'We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy." The cause of death has not been disclosed. First Published:
