Beach Boys' Brian Wilson Dies at 82

Brian Wilson, the visionary co-founder and chief songwriter of the Beach Boys, died at age 82, with his family confirming his death on June 11, 2025. Wilson's innovative approach to melody, arrangements, and studio techniques propelled the Beach Boys to global fame with songs like 'Good Vibrations' and 'California Girls.' He profoundly influenced musicians such as Paul McCartney and Elton John, particularly through the landmark album 'Pet Sounds.' Despite lifelong struggles with mental illness and personal challenges, including the loss of his wife Melinda and living under a conservatorship in later years, Wilson's creative legacy endures. Tributes from the music world lauded him as an American Mozart and a unique genius. The Beach Boys, having sold over 100 million records and being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, remain inseparable from Wilson's enduring impact on popular music.