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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brian Wilson, R.I.P.
BRIAN WILSON, LEADER OF THE BEACH BOYS and one of the greatest influences on pop music of the 1960s, died Wednesday at the age of 82. Details of his death have yet to be disclosed, but he had been diagnosed with dementia and suffered from what his doctor termed 'a major neurocognitive disorder.' Wilson is most likely to be remembered for his mastery of the recording studio, where he pursued his vision with singleminded tenacity. His control has been likened to that of celebrated film auteurs. Born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, Wilson as a boy in the '50s absorbed from rock-n-roller Chuck Berry an appreciation for hard-driving rhythm and catchy lyrics, and from the Indiana-based quartet the Four Freshmen he acquired a taste for pristine harmony and the haunting sound of a high falsetto lead voice. In high school, Wilson formed a band with his cousin Mike Love; his two younger brothers, Dennis and Carl; and a classmate, Al Jardine. The Pendletones, as they were briefly known (a play on the brand of a popular shirt, Pendleton), recorded Wilson and Love's 'Surfin',' in 1961. The two wrote the song at the suggestion of Dennis Wilson, who was enamored of surfing. Brian Wilson was an avowed non-surfer. In a brilliant bit of marketing, 'Surfin'' was released under the band's new name, the Beach Boys. Many of the songs that followed in the next four years—'Surfin' Safari,' 'Surfer Girl,' and 'Little Deuce Coupe'—explored similar topics: beach life, California, teenage life. Wilson's greatest achievement came in 1966 with the album Pet Sounds. By this time, he had absorbed another influence, the 'Wall of Sound' pioneered by producer Phil Spector in his work with the Ronettes and other groups. Relying on multitrack recordings, with layer building on layer, and on the use of a cadre of topflight studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, Wilson brought to pop music a new level of sophistication in Pet Sounds. (Paul McCartney and George Martin attested to the influence of the album on the Beatles' 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.) Join now The songs of Pet Sounds, nearly all of them composed by Wilson, explored more serious topics than the Beach Boys had dealt with in the past: the struggle of fitting in ('I Just Wasn't Made for These Times'), the challenge of finding one's true self ('I Know There's an Answer'), and the small hopes and immense promise of love ('Wouldn't It Be Nice' and 'God Only Knows'). 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' packs a symphonic variety in two and a half minutes of music, with harmony vocals darting in and out, tympani strokes lending an air of grandeur, an interlude introducing a dreamier musical atmosphere, and a pronounced slowing down before the resumption of the original tempo. Pet Sounds was followed by the single 'Good Vibrations,' perhaps the Beach Boys' best-known song. An ambitious follow-up album, SMiLE, was planned but progress ground to a halt. As chronicled in his autobiography, I Am Brian Wilson (cowritten by Ben Greenman), he observed, 'It was too much pressure from all sides: from Capitol [Records], from my brothers, from Mike [Love], from my dad, but most of all from myself.' Wilson's relationship with his father Murry was uneasy, the father subjecting the son to physical and verbal abuse. Beginning in the mid-1960s, Wilson resorted to alcohol and drugs because his 'head wasn't right.' He would be diagnosed with depression and schizoaffective disorder. In the mid-1970s he came under the care of Eugene Landy, a controversial psychotherapist who inserted himself into Wilson's business dealings in an exploitative way; the first sentence of Landy's 2006 Los Angeles Times obituary says he 'was denounced as a Svengali for his controversial relationship' with Wilson. (Their relationship is examined in the 2014 movie Love and Mercy.) Wilson worked off and on with the Beach Boys in addition to releasing solo albums, including a self-titled album in 1988. In 1995 he teamed with Van Dyke Parks on 'Orange Crate Art.' Two years later, he performed on The Wilsons, featuring his two daughters Wendy and Carnie Wilson. He won Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2013. His last album, At My Piano, was released in 2021. Brian Wilson's talents were so considerable that musicians of today remain awed by his creativity. Illustrative is the reaction of Gen-Z producer and composer Isaac Brown, who has a YouTube channel on which he posts videos of himself reacting to older music he'd never heard before. Listening for the first time to 'Good Vibrations,' Brown, at the beginning of the song, wears an engaged look that gives way to one of curiosity. What is he hearing? Where is this song going? When the first chorus arrives ('I'm picking up good vibrations') and the eerie theremin enters, his expression turns to bafflement. 'Really?' he exclaims. 'Whoa.' When the chorus returns, he exclaims, 'I don't even know what to do with this.' As the music comes to an end, he concludes: 'I cannot believe this song exists. I love this.' A follow-up video in which Brown listens to Pet Sounds for the first time ends with him gobsmacked by the creativeness and even bravery of the album's harmonies, lush instrumentation, and production. As Brown's reaction suggests, even after more than a half century, the best work of Brian Wilson retains the power to surprise and delight. Share this piece with a friend or family member who loves the Beach Boys. Share
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Stamos Remembers Brian Wilson: ‘His Voice Is Part of the Divine Chorus'
For John Stamos, Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson 'didn't just soundtrack' his life, the legendary founder of California rock 'filled it with color, with wonder, with some of the most unforgettable, emotional, joyful moments I've ever known.'Following news of Wilson death at the age of 82, Stamos honored the Beach Boys' chief songwriter in a tribute shared to social media on Wednesday. 'It's hard to put into words what it meant to stand beside him, laugh with him, play his music with him,' wrote Stamos, who played frequently with the group. 'Brian wasn't just a musical genius, he was a gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man. He heard things no one else could hear. He felt things deeper than most of us ever will. And somehow, he turned all of that into music that wrapped itself around the world and made us all feel less alone.' Stamos said that he 'grew up worshipping the Beach Boys' and never imagined that one day he'd 'get to play with them, let alone call Brian a friend.' The musician-actor, who performed with the band on the set of Full House and appeared in their music videos, said that the 1966 album Pet Sounds and its singles 'God Only Knows' and 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' not only played 'in the background of our lives, they shaped who we were.' 'They shaped who I became,' continued Stamos. 'His music made me feel things I didn't know how to say. It made me want to make people feel the way his music made me feel. So much of my life and career, so much of me, exists because of what Brian created.' Stamos was among the numerous celebrities who shared tributes remembering Wilson, including Mick Fleetwood, Elton John, Nancy Sinatra, and surviving Beach Boys co-founders Mike Love and Al Jardine. Toward the end of his post, Stamos recalled Wilson once saying, 'Music is God's voice.' Stamos wrote, 'I believe he was right, and now that voice, his voice, is part of the divine chorus. The music didn't easy, Brian. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the moments. I'll carry them with me -forever.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
John Stamos shares emotional tribute following death of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson
John Stamos has shared an emotional tribute following the death of Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, who passed away at the age of 82. In an Instagram post, the Full House actor wrote: 'Brian Wilson didn't just soundtrack my life… he filled it with color, with wonder, with some of the most unforgettable, emotional, joyful moments I've ever known.' Reflecting on their decades-long friendship, Stamos added, 'It's hard to put into words what it meant to stand beside him, laugh with him, play his music with him. Brian wasn't just a musical genius, he was a gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man. He heard things no one else could hear. He felt things deeper than most of us ever will.' Stamos's collaboration with the Beach Boys began in the early 1980s, when he was invited to play drums during a live performance of 'Barbara Ann' while still a rising soap star. Their musical relationship continued into his Full House years, and he's now considered an honorary member of the group, often performing live on stage. Wilson's death follows years of health struggles, including auditory hallucinations, deafness, multiple back surgeries, and a dementia diagnosis in 2024. He was just days away from his 83rd birthday. The Beach Boys icon co-founded the California band in 1961 and was the creative force behind hits like 'Good Vibrations,' 'Wouldn't It Be Nice,' and 'Surfin' U.S.A.' Concluding his tribute, Stamos wrote: 'Rest easy, Brian. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the moments. I'll carry them with me—forever. Love, Stamos.' Wilson's family announced his passing on June 11 via social media, saying they were 'heartbroken' and 'at a loss for words.'
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
The Beach Boys pay tribute to Brian Wilson — the ‘soul' of their sound
The Beach Boys paid tribute to co-founder and musical genius Brian Wilson Wednesday after his family announced his death — calling him the 'soul' of their surf rock sound. 'The world mourns a genius today, and we grieve for the loss of our cousin, our friend, and our partner in a great musical adventure,' the Beach Boys wrote on their official Instagram account. 'Brian Wilson wasn't just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound. The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever.' Wilson died at 82. His cause of death has not been revealed. 6 Brian Wilson performed in Las Vegas on July 10, 2015. MediaPunch/INSTARimages 'His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own,' the post added. '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.' Wilson's cousin and the group's co-founder, Mike Love, posted a video montage that featured the iconic hitmaker over the years. 'From the first time we sang together as kids in my living room, I knew there was something otherworldly in him,' Love wrote alongside the video. 'His musical gifts were unmatched. The melodies he dreamed up, the emotions he poured into every note—Brian changed the course of music forever.' Love ended the touching tribute, writing, 'Brian, you once asked, 'Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?' Now you are timeless. May you rest in the peace you so deeply deserve, surrounded by the heavenly music you helped create. May your spirit soar as high as your falsetto [and] may your wings spread in effortless flight.' Rhythm guitarist Al Jardine also remembered his former bandmate on Instagram. 6 The Beach Boys posed in front of an earlier group portrait during a trip to London in 1964. Getty Images 6 Wilson stopped touring with The Beach Boys in 1964 after he had a panic attack. REUTERS 'Brian Wilson, my friend, my classmate, my football teammate, my Beach Boy bandmate and my brother in spirit, I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were,' Jardine wrote. 'I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again. You were a humble giant who always made me laugh and we will celebrate your music forever. Brian, I'll really miss you…still I have the warmth of the sun.' The group was founded in 1961 in Hawthorne, Calif., by brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Love, and school friend Jardine, according to the band's website. In 1964, Wilson stopped touring with the band after having a panic attack on a flight to Houston so he shifted his contributions to composing hits like 'Good Vibrations,' 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and 'God Only Knows.' 6 Wilson is known for co-writing some of the group's most iconic hits like 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations.' Getty Images 6 Beach Boys members Brian Wilson, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine and Mike Love appeared together at Capitol Records in Los Angeles on June 13, 2006. REUTERS 6 Wilson performed with his daughter, Carnie, in Los Angeles on March 30, 2015. Getty Images He remained an on-and-off band member for decades and released his first solo album in 1988. Wilson had seven kids, including daughters Carnie and Wendy, who formed the four-time Grammy-nominated pop group Wilson Phillips. 'I have no words to express the sadness I feel right now,' his daughter Carnie Wilson wrote on Instagram. 'My Father @brianwilsonlive was every fiber of my body. He will be remembered by millions and millions until the world ends. I am lucky to have been his daughter and had a soul connection with him that will live on always. I've never felt this kind of pain before.'
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Brian Wilson was more than a genius. His sound epitomized the lore of SoCal
Brian Wilson didn't create the sun or the ocean or the sea-sprayed landmass we call Southern California. He didn't invent the car or the surfboard. He wasn't the first person to experience the cold pang of isolation or to fall in love with somebody so deeply that the only thing to do is regret it. Listen to a song by the Beach Boys, though — to one of the tortured and euphoric classics that made them the most important American pop group of the 1960s — and I bet you'd be willing to believe otherwise. I bet you'd insist on it. Wilson, who died Wednesday at 82, was one of music's true visionaries, if that's the right word for a guy who dealt in the endless possibility of sound. As a composer of melodies, a constructor of textures, an arranger of vocal harmonies — as someone who knew how to pull complicated elements together into songs that somehow felt inevitable — he was up there with Phil Spector, George Martin and the Motown team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. The Beach Boys' hits are so embedded into American culture at this point that you don't really need me to provide examples. But let's do that for second — let's savor the beginning of 'Wouldn't It Be Nice,' where an eerily out-of-tune electric guitar conjures a dreamlike atmosphere until the hard thwack of a snare drum breaks the spell. Let's think about the terrifying theremin line that snakes through 'Good Vibrations' like it's tugging a flying saucer down onto Dockweiler Beach. What we should really do is go over to YouTube and pull up the isolated vocals from 'God Only Knows,' which allow you to luxuriate in Wilson's obsession with the human voice. The song is a cathedral of sound that you could walk into 500 times without fully grasping how he built it. For all his architectural craft, Wilson's essential genius was his control of emotion — his ability to articulate the feeling of being overwhelmed by affection or fear or disappointment. 'Pet Sounds,' the Beach Boys' 1966 masterpiece, represents the apotheosis of Wilson's expressive powers: the trembling anticipation he layers into 'Wouldn't It Be Nice,' the sting of betrayal in his singing in 'Caroline, No,' the certainty beneath those celestial harmonies in 'God Only Knows' that anything precious is destined to die. To my ears, even the group's earlier stuff about surfing and cars is laced with the melancholy of an outsider looking in. I tried out that idea last year on Wilson's cousin and bandmate Mike Love, who wasn't buying it: 'If you're talking about 'Fun, Fun, Fun' or 'I Get Around' or 'Surfin' U.S.A.,'' he told me in an interview, 'there ain't no melancholy in them.' That Love identified no sadness in the songs only makes it easier to understand why Wilson the lonely young pop star was writing tunes as openly forlorn as 'In My Room.' Wilson formed the Beach Boys in Hawthorne in 1961 with Love, his brothers Dennis and Carl and the Wilsons' neighbor Al Jardine; the band rode quickly to success as avatars of a kind of postwar suburban prosperity. In 1964, after suffering a panic attack on an airplane, Wilson decided to quit touring and focus his efforts in the recording studio, where he made so many advances that soon he was holding his own in a creative rivalry with the Beatles. (As the story goes, the Beatles' 'Rubber Soul' inspired Wilson to make 'Pet Sounds,' which in turn drove the Beatles toward 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.') Yet Wilson's panic attack can also be seen as the start of a lifelong struggle with mental illness that threatened to derail his career in the wake of 'Pet Sounds.' Indeed, not unlike that of Sly Stone, who also died this week, the Beach Boys' peak hit-making era looks relatively brief in retrospect: After 'Good Vibrations' in 1966, the band didn't score another No. 1 single until 1988 with 'Kokomo,' which Wilson wasn't involved in. Even so, the late '60s and the 1970s remained a fertile period for Wilson — not just with 'Smile,' the infamously ambitious LP he'd finally complete and release in 2004, but with quirky and soulful albums like 'Friends' and 'Sunflower'; 'Surf's Up,' from 1971, features one of Wilson's most stirring songs in the wistful title track, whose extravagantly wordy lyric by Wilson's pal Van Dyke Parks is almost impossible to parse in anything but a pure-emotion sense. The '80s were darker — you can watch the 2014 movie 'Love & Mercy' for a look at Wilson's experiences with the therapist Eugene Landy, whom the record exec Seymour Stein once described to me as 'the most evil person that I ever met' — and yet no Wilson fan ever wanted to stop believing that Brian would come back, a hope he kept alive through decades of intermittently brilliant work on his own, with Parks and even sometimes with the Beach Boys. (Dig out Wilson and Parks' 1995 'Orange Crate Art,' if you haven't in a while, for a powerful dose of bittersweet California whimsy.) I interviewed Wilson once, at his home in Beverly Hills in 2010. He was preparing to release a gorgeous album of Gershwin interpretations that was twice as good as it needed to be — and probably three times better than most anybody expected. Years of life and everything else had taken much of his conversational ease from him, at least when he was talking to journalists. But I can still see him lighting up as he explained how he learned to play 'Rhapsody in Blue,' which he said he'd loved since his mother played it for him when he was 2. 'It took us about two weeks,' he said of himself and a friend who helped him learn the song. 'I'd play a little bit from the Leonard Bernstein recording, then I'd go to my piano, then back to Bernstein, then back to my piano, until I got the whole thing down.' A technical wizard with his arms open wide to a cruel and beautiful world, Brian Wilson always got the whole thing down.
