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The Beach Boys have paid tribute to bandmate and co-founder Brian Wilson. The former lead songwriter of the band died on Wednesday, June 11, at the age of 82.
His family confirmed his death in a statement on Wednesday and asked for privacy. Meanwhile, the current lineup of The Beach Boys, including Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, shared a heartfelt message on their Instagram page on Wednesday in tribute to their co-founder. They wrote:
"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. 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.
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"His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own. 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."
Brian Wilson founded The Beach Boys in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. He formed it with his brothers, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin, Love, and friend Al Jardine. Brian was the lead songwriter and singer for the band, which has seen many personnel changes over the years.
The band's message further read:
"We are heartbroken by his passing. We will continue to cherish the timeless music we made together and the joy he brought to millions over the decades. And while we will miss him deeply, his legacy will live on through his songs and in our memories. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and his loved ones during this difficult time."
The cause of Wilson's death hasn't been revealed.
When Brian Wilson's daughter spoke about following in her father's footsteps
Carnie Wilson is Brian Wilson's eldest daughter from his first marriage to Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford. The couple also had another daughter, Wendy Wilson, during their marriage, which lasted from 1964 to 1979. The daughters have formed a musical group, Wilson Phillips, along with Chynna Phillips.
In an exclusive interview with US Weekly Magazine in April 2024, Carnie spoke about following in her father's footsteps and said:
"I think it’s kind of unavoidable. Music is in our blood."
Carnie's eldest daughter, Lola, who is 20 years old, is also into singing. She recalled singing with her father and Lola, saying:
"To sing with my dad, to sing with Lola and then all of us singing together [is great]. Over Easter, we were singing some Beach Boy songs for him, for my dad, and he couldn’t get over it. I said, ‘Dad, Lola’s voice.’ He said, ‘She’s great. She’s great.’”
Carnie also shared that she loved to cook for her father. She mentioned that Brian used to enjoy steak, mac and cheese, and key lime cheesecakes cooked by her.
Brian Wilson, meanwhile, also married Melinda Ledbetter in 1995 and was with her before she died in 2024. They adopted five children together - Dakota, Daria, Delanie, Dylan, and Dash.
