Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys and one of the most influential figures in pop music history, has died aged 82.
His family confirmed his death in a statement released on Tuesday, June 11:
“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.”
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Wilson was the creative force behind many of The Beach Boys’ most iconic songs, helping to shape the sound of American music in the 1960s and beyond. With hits like Good Vibrations, God Only Knows, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, and California Girls, Wilson pushed the boundaries of pop songwriting and studio production.
The group sold over 100 million records worldwide and remain one of the most streamed classic bands, with over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners.
Their landmark 1966 album Pet Sounds is considered a masterpiece. In Rolling Stone’s 2024 update of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, it ranked second only to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. Since 1994, Pet Sounds has sold nearly 700,000 copies in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company.
The Beach Boys scored two UK No.1 singles with Good Vibrations and Do It Again, along with 13 Top 10 hits, two No.1 albums, and a total of 15 albums in the UK Top 10. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
