behind some of rock’s most iconic songs including “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.”Brian Wilson, leader of iconic rock band The Beach Boys, has passed away, his family said on Wednesday. He was 82.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family said in a statement.
“We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving.”
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MusicUnited States of America
Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson dies at 82
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Brian Wilson was the voice behind some of rock’s most iconic songs including “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.”
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Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson founded The Beach Boys in 1961Image: Christian Behring/Future Image/IMAGO
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Brian Wilson, leader of iconic rock band The Beach Boys, has passed away, his family said on Wednesday. He was 82.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family said in a statement.
“We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving.”
Driving force behind the Beach Boys
Born on June 20, 1942, in a suburb of Los Angeles, Brian Wilson found refuge in music amid a childhood marked by abuse from his controlling father — who would later become the band’s manager.
Music became Wilson’s sanctuary. He would gather his brothers around the Hammond organ in their living room, teaching them jazz and gospel harmonies.
At 19, Wilson formed The Beach Boys as a family project with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love, and neighbor Al Jardine, who lived just around the corner in Hawthorne.
While Wilson handled the songwriting, arrangements and played bass guitar, his bandmates just had to sing in harmony.
His band, renowned for their vocal harmonization, signed with Capitol Records in 1962 and released their first album, Surfin’ Safari, the same year.
Wilson was the voice behind some of rock’s most iconic songs including “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.”
The Beach Boys’ best-known hits included California Girls, Surfin’ USA and Good Vibrations. They enjoyed chart popularity but also critical acclaim.
They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and clinched a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2001.
