"A very difficult, haunted life": Tributes flow for one of the world's most revered artists
<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and the troubled genius behind some of the most beloved music in rock history, has died aged 82.</span></p>
<p>His family announced the news in a statement published on Wilson’s website early Thursday (Australian time), saying they were “at a loss for words” and that they “realise that we are sharing our grief with the world.” No cause of death was disclosed.</p>
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<p>Wilson had been living under a conservatorship since early 2024, following the death of his wife Melinda. Diagnosed with dementia and no longer able to care for himself, the man who once conjured up sounds as warm and perfect as a California summer spent his final months in silence and seclusion.</p>
<p>Born in June 1942, Wilson was the visionary architect of the Beach Boys’ signature sound – angelic harmonies, symphonic arrangements and an aching sense of longing beneath the surface of sun-drenched lyrics. From Surfin’ USA and California Girls to the transcendent God Only Knows and Good Vibrations, his work helped define an era – and inspired generations of artists.</p>
<p>Wilson formed the band in 1961 with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine. Together, they captured the youthful exuberance of California with 36 Top 40 hits. Yet the joy in the music stood in stark contrast to the pain in Wilson’s life.</p>
<p>Abused by his father and haunted by mental illness, Wilson suffered his first breakdown in 1966 and soon retreated from live performances. He famously poured his creative energy into the landmark Pet Sounds, a record that initially puzzled US audiences but would go on to become one of the most revered albums of all time.</p>
<p>“It was a symphonic reflection on the loss of innocence,” Wilson said later – a summation of the emotional depth and fragility that marked much of his life’s work.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I’ve been listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace dear Brian.</p>
<p>— Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) <a href="https://twitter.com/bobdylan/status/1932915106733584527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Yet even as Wilson shaped the sound of modern music, his inner world was crumbling. He battled schizoaffective disorder, heard voices, fell into drug addiction, and became a recluse – at one point, lying in bed for weeks at a time, rarely bathing, growing obese and isolating himself from even those closest to him.</p>
<p>His struggle for stability led him into the care of controversial therapist Eugene Landy, whose extreme methods – including locking the refrigerator and controlling all aspects of Wilson’s life – would later be deemed exploitative. Landy was eventually removed from Wilson’s life following a court case brought by his family.</p>
<p>Despite brief comebacks, Wilson’s later career never reached the heights of his early brilliance. He appeared frail and tentative in performances, a shadow of the radiant spirit who once made the world dance.</p>
<p>He last toured in 2022.</p>
<p>Wilson was portrayed in the 2014 biopic <em>Love & Mercy</em>, a poignant film that brought renewed appreciation for the depth of his suffering and the greatness of his art.</p>
<p>In a 2007 interview, Wilson offered a quiet summation of his legacy: “I’ve lived a very, very difficult, haunted life.”</p>
<p>And yet, through all the darkness, he gave the world songs that shimmered with light.</p>
<p>Brian Wilson is survived by his daughters Carnie and Wendy – who found pop success in the 1990s with Wilson Phillips – and five children he shared with Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car.</p>
<p>The music he made continues to echo across generations. His voice may be gone, but his vibrations – good, bad and transcendent – will never fade.</p>
<p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>
