Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and a central figure in American music history, has died at the age of 82.

His family announced his passing in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday.

“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.”

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The statement ended with “Love & Mercy,” the title of Wilson’s 1988 solo debut’s opening track and the 2014 biopic that depicted his life, with actors Paul Dano and John Cusack portraying him in different eras.

We are heartbroken to announced 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 grieving.

We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.

Love & Mercy pic.twitter.com/sIe7TUUdOm

— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) June 11, 2025

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Wilson was born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California. At age 19, he formed the Beach Boys with his brothers Dennis and Carl Wilson, his cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine.

Brian played bass, Dennis was on drums, and Carl handled lead guitar.

The group’s first album, Surfin’ Safari, was released in 1962.

Wilson either wrote or co-wrote numerous hits for the band, including “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “California Girls,” and “Good Vibrations.”

This is so heartwarming and truly fun. Given the sad news today, it is also heartbreaking.

RIP Brian Wilson. Your genius will live forever. https://t.co/5tjvIrAhzr

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) June 11, 2025

Discussing the latter in a 2018 People interview, Wilson said, “That was a very complex record. We cut that in four studios. The verses at Gold Star, the bridge at Sunset Sound, the background music for the choruses at Western, and the vocals at Columbia. My brothers said, ‘Brian, this is going to be a No. 1 record.’ I said, ‘I know!’”

The band’s 1966 album Pet Sounds is considered one of the most influential records in music history.

Wilson’s work on it drew admiration from artists including Paul McCartney, who told the New York Times, “It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water. I figure no one is educated musically till they’ve heard that album.”

The Beach Boys maintained commercial success through the early 1960s, scoring 13 Top 10 singles on the Billboard chart from 1962 to 1966, including three number-one hits.

Wilson once recalled his emotional reaction to hearing The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” for the first time. In a 2023 post from his official X account, he was quoted as saying, “When ‘Strawberry Fields’ came on the radio, I locked in with it. I had to pull over in my car to the side, and I said, ‘I’ve never heard anything like this in my life.’”

When Brian started work on SMiLE, he was stunned when he heard “Strawberry Fields” for the first time: “When ‘Strawberry Fields’ came on the radio, I locked in with it. I had to pull over in my car to the side, and I said, ‘I’ve never heard anything like this in my life.’” pic.twitter.com/52uhcvplBY

— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) September 13, 2023

Wilson’s life took a sharp turn in the late 1960s.

Following the death of his father in 1973, he became increasingly reclusive.

He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which includes symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, and depression.

In a 2006 Ability magazine interview, Wilson said, “Well, for the past 40 years I’ve had auditory hallucinations in my head, all day every day, and I can’t get them out.” He added, “Every few minutes the voices say something derogatory to me… I have to be strong enough to say to them, ‘Hey, would you quit stalking me? F**k off!’”

Wilson struggled with addiction throughout his life. In a 2016 Rolling Stone interview, he described his mental health issues as stemming from drug use.

“I’ve told a lot of people don’t take psychedelic drugs. It’s mentally dangerous to take,” he said.

“I regret having taken LSD. It’s a bad drug.”

In 1976, Wilson made a comeback with help from psychologist Eugene Landy and contributed to The Beach Boys Love You.

He also resumed performing with the band after a long absence. However, the collaboration with Landy later raised concerns.

Wilson eventually severed ties with him, and Landy’s medical license was revoked for ethical violations.

Wilson left the Beach Boys again in 1976 and launched a solo career in 1988 with a self-titled album.

He released 11 solo albums in total, including his last, At My Piano, in 2021.

His final album with the Beach Boys was That’s Why God Made the Radio in 2012.

Wilson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Beach Boys in 1988 and won two Grammy Awards out of nine nominations.

In recent years, his life and legacy were explored in the 2021 documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, directed by Brent Wilson (no relation).

The film follows Wilson and journalist Jason Fine revisiting meaningful places from Wilson’s past.

Brent Wilson told People that Wilson “doesn’t have the capacity to say anything bad about anyone,” even when reflecting on traumatic experiences with Landy.

Wilson was married to Marilyn Rovell, with whom he had daughters Carnie and Wendy, and later to Melinda Kae Ledbetter.

The couple adopted five children.

Ledbetter died in 2024 at age 77.

A month after her death, Wilson’s family filed for conservatorship, citing his dementia diagnosis.

Wilson outlived his brothers. Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983 at age 39.

Carl Wilson died of lung cancer in 1998 at age 51.

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