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| Brian Wilson obituary: Genius behind many of The Beach Boys' hits | Brian Wilson obituary: Genius behind many of The Beach Boys' hits |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Brian Wilson's work with The Beach Boys made him one of pop music's true geniuses. | Brian Wilson's work with The Beach Boys made him one of pop music's true geniuses. |
| His songs, including Surfin' USA, California Girls, I Get Around, Good Vibrations and God Only Knows, have become classics. | His songs, including Surfin' USA, California Girls, I Get Around, Good Vibrations and God Only Knows, have become classics. |
| His vision, incorporating complex melodies, intricate harmonies and avant-garde themes, was a watershed in popular music, moving it away from the boy-meets-girl narrative that had dominated the genre. | His vision, incorporating complex melodies, intricate harmonies and avant-garde themes, was a watershed in popular music, moving it away from the boy-meets-girl narrative that had dominated the genre. |
| But the pressure of fame combined with increasing dependence on drugs created a prison from which Wilson found it increasingly difficult to escape. | But the pressure of fame combined with increasing dependence on drugs created a prison from which Wilson found it increasingly difficult to escape. |
| Against all the odds, he re-emerged in the new millennium to delight his old fans and capture a new generation of music lovers. | Against all the odds, he re-emerged in the new millennium to delight his old fans and capture a new generation of music lovers. |
| Brian Wilson, co-creator of the Beach Boys, dies aged 82 | Brian Wilson, co-creator of the Beach Boys, dies aged 82 |
| Iconic images of a Beach Boy's life | |
| Brian Douglas Wilson was born on 20 June 1942 in the city of Inglewood, California. | Brian Douglas Wilson was born on 20 June 1942 in the city of Inglewood, California. |
| His domineering and abusive father encouraged his son to practise on toy musical instruments; by the age of eight, he was a consummate piano player and a regular in a local church choir. | His domineering and abusive father encouraged his son to practise on toy musical instruments; by the age of eight, he was a consummate piano player and a regular in a local church choir. |
| He was developing complex harmonies at an early age | He was developing complex harmonies at an early age |
| Wilson often encouraged his younger brothers Carl and Dennis to sing along with him in the complex harmonies he was already devising. | Wilson often encouraged his younger brothers Carl and Dennis to sing along with him in the complex harmonies he was already devising. |
| While at school he excelled in sport, both on the athletics track and as a useful football quarterback. | While at school he excelled in sport, both on the athletics track and as a useful football quarterback. |
| But it was as a 19-year-old that Wilson - who was deaf in his right ear - finally discovered the musical talent that would define his life. | But it was as a 19-year-old that Wilson - who was deaf in his right ear - finally discovered the musical talent that would define his life. |
| He had been given a tape recorder and he soon learned the art of overdubbing, a vital part of what would become the trademark Beach Boys' sound. | He had been given a tape recorder and he soon learned the art of overdubbing, a vital part of what would become the trademark Beach Boys' sound. |
| Teenage dreams | Teenage dreams |
| Staying at home with his brothers Dennis and Carl, while their parents holidayed in Mexico, Brian invited his cousin Mike Love and close friend Al Jardine to rehearse a song that he and Mike had written. | Staying at home with his brothers Dennis and Carl, while their parents holidayed in Mexico, Brian invited his cousin Mike Love and close friend Al Jardine to rehearse a song that he and Mike had written. |
| The $250 left by Mr and Mrs Wilson for the boys to buy food was used to hire musical equipment. Thus, with the song Surfin', were The Beach Boys born. | The $250 left by Mr and Mrs Wilson for the boys to buy food was used to hire musical equipment. Thus, with the song Surfin', were The Beach Boys born. |
| The following year, with Surfin' having proved a popular debut, the group were signed by Capitol Records. Riding on the "surf boom" then enthralling the United States, The Beach Boys were soon enjoying spectacular chart success. | The following year, with Surfin' having proved a popular debut, the group were signed by Capitol Records. Riding on the "surf boom" then enthralling the United States, The Beach Boys were soon enjoying spectacular chart success. |
| The Beach Boys became the only US band to rival The Beatles in the early 1960s | The Beach Boys became the only US band to rival The Beatles in the early 1960s |
| Songs such as Surfin' Safari, Surfin' USA, Fun, Fun, Fun, Help Me Rhonda and their first US number one single I Get Around, celebrated the teenage dreams of surfing, hot rod racing and first romance. | |
| While the band traded heavily on the California surfing scene, posing with boards on the beach, it was only Dennis Wilson who was actually keen on the sport. | While the band traded heavily on the California surfing scene, posing with boards on the beach, it was only Dennis Wilson who was actually keen on the sport. |
| Many of these early hits were written and arranged by Brian Wilson, who also showed a more mature and introspective side on tracks such as In My Room. | Many of these early hits were written and arranged by Brian Wilson, who also showed a more mature and introspective side on tracks such as In My Room. |
| As the only US band to rival The Beatles, The Beach Boys endured a breathless schedule of recording, touring and promotional work, something that Wilson soon came to both despise and fear. | As the only US band to rival The Beatles, The Beach Boys endured a breathless schedule of recording, touring and promotional work, something that Wilson soon came to both despise and fear. |
| Sublime | Sublime |
| "I have stage fright every single concert I've ever done," he later recalled. "I have at least four or five minutes of it. It's absolute living hell." | "I have stage fright every single concert I've ever done," he later recalled. "I have at least four or five minutes of it. It's absolute living hell." |
| The first intimation of his fragile state came in 1964 when he had a mental breakdown during an airline flight. Aged just 22, he decided to stop touring with the band in order to concentrate on writing and producing. | The first intimation of his fragile state came in 1964 when he had a mental breakdown during an airline flight. Aged just 22, he decided to stop touring with the band in order to concentrate on writing and producing. |
| Having listened entranced to The Beatles' Rubber Soul album, Wilson responded with his own masterpiece, Pet Sounds. | Having listened entranced to The Beatles' Rubber Soul album, Wilson responded with his own masterpiece, Pet Sounds. |
| The mundane cover masked an album of true song writing genius | The mundane cover masked an album of true song writing genius |
| The album, which featured the sublime God Only Knows, Wouldn't It Be Nice and Sloop John B, was a huge critical success. | The album, which featured the sublime God Only Knows, Wouldn't It Be Nice and Sloop John B, was a huge critical success. |
| But the artistic change of direction that it represented, and the angst-ridden nature of some of its tracks, mystified many listeners. | But the artistic change of direction that it represented, and the angst-ridden nature of some of its tracks, mystified many listeners. |
| When The Beatles replied with Revolver in 1966, Brian Wilson embarked on writing what he called his "teenage symphony to God". | When The Beatles replied with Revolver in 1966, Brian Wilson embarked on writing what he called his "teenage symphony to God". |
| But the resulting album, Smile, which would take 37 years to complete, led to Wilson's total mental breakdown and effectively ended his association with The Beach Boys. | But the resulting album, Smile, which would take 37 years to complete, led to Wilson's total mental breakdown and effectively ended his association with The Beach Boys. |
| Chaotic recording session | Chaotic recording session |
| Written in collaboration with lyricist Van Dyke Parks, and recorded with a vast coterie of session musicians, the original Smile album, featured groundbreaking songs such as Good Vibrations, Heroes and Villains, and Surf's Up. | Written in collaboration with lyricist Van Dyke Parks, and recorded with a vast coterie of session musicians, the original Smile album, featured groundbreaking songs such as Good Vibrations, Heroes and Villains, and Surf's Up. |
| Wilson, by now increasingly paranoid, installed a large sandpit in his living room, and worked on the album with the aid of a piano in the sand. | Wilson, by now increasingly paranoid, installed a large sandpit in his living room, and worked on the album with the aid of a piano in the sand. |
| The chaotic recording sessions featured a bucket of fire and musicians chomping vegetables. | The chaotic recording sessions featured a bucket of fire and musicians chomping vegetables. |
| By the 1970s Wilson (top left) had withdrawn from the world | By the 1970s Wilson (top left) had withdrawn from the world |
| The work was dismissed by the other Beach Boys as being too experimental. | The work was dismissed by the other Beach Boys as being too experimental. |
| Most cutting of all, Mike Love - Wilson's co-writer on many of The Beach Boys' biggest hits - damned Smile as "a whole album of Brian's madness". | Most cutting of all, Mike Love - Wilson's co-writer on many of The Beach Boys' biggest hits - damned Smile as "a whole album of Brian's madness". |
| Discouraged by the reception given to Smile, and beset by mental illness, Brian Wilson pulled the plug on this work-in-progress in 1967. | Discouraged by the reception given to Smile, and beset by mental illness, Brian Wilson pulled the plug on this work-in-progress in 1967. |
| Despite some limited involvement with The Beach Boys, including working on their 1968 hit single Do It Again, Wilson became a recluse, remaining at home in bed with his thoughts and his cocaine. | Despite some limited involvement with The Beach Boys, including working on their 1968 hit single Do It Again, Wilson became a recluse, remaining at home in bed with his thoughts and his cocaine. |
| Return | Return |
| In 1976, increasingly worried about their brother, Carl and Dennis hired Dr Eugene Landy, a controversial psychiatric therapist. | In 1976, increasingly worried about their brother, Carl and Dennis hired Dr Eugene Landy, a controversial psychiatric therapist. |
| Moving into Wilson's house, Landy instituted a 24-hour drug watch, overseen by a group of burly minders. | Moving into Wilson's house, Landy instituted a 24-hour drug watch, overseen by a group of burly minders. |
| Initially, the results were encouraging, with Wilson losing much of his excess weight and making a partial recovery from his drug dependence. | Initially, the results were encouraging, with Wilson losing much of his excess weight and making a partial recovery from his drug dependence. |
| Wilson's joy at his return to performing was plain to see | Wilson's joy at his return to performing was plain to see |
| But, after setting himself up as Wilson's business partner and acting as executive producer on his albums, Landy was found guilty of breaching the doctor-patient relationship and promptly left the scene. | But, after setting himself up as Wilson's business partner and acting as executive producer on his albums, Landy was found guilty of breaching the doctor-patient relationship and promptly left the scene. |
| However, during the 1990s, things started to look up. Wilson married for a second time - his first wife, Marilyn, had left in 1978 - returned to the studio with, initially, little success and was reconciled with his daughters Carnie and Wendy. | However, during the 1990s, things started to look up. Wilson married for a second time - his first wife, Marilyn, had left in 1978 - returned to the studio with, initially, little success and was reconciled with his daughters Carnie and Wendy. |
| But it was his discovery of a young Californian band, The Wondermints, that would finally bring Wilson new recognition, after they inspired him to revisit both Pet Sounds and Smile. | But it was his discovery of a young Californian band, The Wondermints, that would finally bring Wilson new recognition, after they inspired him to revisit both Pet Sounds and Smile. |
| After fighting his personal demons for 30 years, he made a spectacular comeback with re-workings of his own Beach Boys classics and the revival of the legendary, long-lost, Smile album. | After fighting his personal demons for 30 years, he made a spectacular comeback with re-workings of his own Beach Boys classics and the revival of the legendary, long-lost, Smile album. |
| Complex | Complex |
| Wilson gave the first live performance of the substantially reworked Smile at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 2004 and went on to delight audiences around the world. | Wilson gave the first live performance of the substantially reworked Smile at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 2004 and went on to delight audiences around the world. |
| What struck critics and fans was the obvious joy on Wilson's face as he performed. | What struck critics and fans was the obvious joy on Wilson's face as he performed. |
| The man who had stopped touring at 22 because of his inability to cope with live performances had finally conquered his fears. | The man who had stopped touring at 22 because of his inability to cope with live performances had finally conquered his fears. |
| A host of stars joined Wilson in 2014 for a recording of a new version of God Only Knows for a BBC promo | A host of stars joined Wilson in 2014 for a recording of a new version of God Only Knows for a BBC promo |
| It marked a return to creative form as, in the ensuing years, he embarked on a series of recordings, including an interpretation of Gershwin classics that made number one on the Billboard jazz chart. | It marked a return to creative form as, in the ensuing years, he embarked on a series of recordings, including an interpretation of Gershwin classics that made number one on the Billboard jazz chart. |
| Wilson said: "Gershwin inspired me very much. The concept of That Lucky Old Sun was inspired by Rhapsody in Blue - not influenced, but inspired." | Wilson said: "Gershwin inspired me very much. The concept of That Lucky Old Sun was inspired by Rhapsody in Blue - not influenced, but inspired." |
| In 2012, Wilson officially reunited with the surviving members of the Beach Boys, both for a tour and an album, That's Why God Made The Radio, that represented his first original recordings with the band in more than 15 years. | In 2012, Wilson officially reunited with the surviving members of the Beach Boys, both for a tour and an album, That's Why God Made The Radio, that represented his first original recordings with the band in more than 15 years. |
| The reunion was also accompanied by the release of The Smile Sessions - a five-CD box set that featured a comprehensive collection of recordings and outtakes from the fabled "lost" album, finally giving fans the chance to imagine the record as it could have been. | The reunion was also accompanied by the release of The Smile Sessions - a five-CD box set that featured a comprehensive collection of recordings and outtakes from the fabled "lost" album, finally giving fans the chance to imagine the record as it could have been. |
| Brian Wilson photographed during a concert in 2022 | Brian Wilson photographed during a concert in 2022 |
| The compilation was a critical hit - earning a place on Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and winning best historical album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. | The compilation was a critical hit - earning a place on Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and winning best historical album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. |
| However, the reunion was short-lived, and by 2014 Wilson was recording the songs he'd written for the next Beach Boys record as a solo artist, with the help of guest stars including actress Zooey Deschanel and country star Kacey Musgraves. | However, the reunion was short-lived, and by 2014 Wilson was recording the songs he'd written for the next Beach Boys record as a solo artist, with the help of guest stars including actress Zooey Deschanel and country star Kacey Musgraves. |
| A biopic of his life and career, Love & Mercy, starring John Cusack and Paul Dano playing Wilson at different stages, was released to critical acclaim in the same year. | A biopic of his life and career, Love & Mercy, starring John Cusack and Paul Dano playing Wilson at different stages, was released to critical acclaim in the same year. |
| He continued to tour into his late 70s, but suffered a blow in 2024 when his wife, Melinda, died at the age of 77. | He continued to tour into his late 70s, but suffered a blow in 2024 when his wife, Melinda, died at the age of 77. |
| Soon after, the musician was placed under a conservatorship, with his family saying he was "unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter". | Soon after, the musician was placed under a conservatorship, with his family saying he was "unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter". |
| The development reinforced his image as a fragile, almost childlike figure, who nonetheless inspired thousands of musicians to follow in his steps. | The development reinforced his image as a fragile, almost childlike figure, who nonetheless inspired thousands of musicians to follow in his steps. |
| The combination of his creativity as a writer and his technical skills in the studio made him one of the great figures of 20th Century popular music. | The combination of his creativity as a writer and his technical skills in the studio made him one of the great figures of 20th Century popular music. |