https://www.fox23.com/news/bri...f3-c6190578b037.html

Brian Wilson, Beach Boys visionary leader and summer's poet laureate, dies at 82

Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and other summertime anthems and made him one of the world’s most influential recording artists, has died at 82.

Wilson's family posted news of his death to his website and social media accounts Wednesday. Further details weren't immediately available.

The eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers — Brian played bass, Carl lead guitar and Dennis drums — he and his fellow Beach Boys rose in the 1960s from local California band to national hitmakers to international ambassadors of surf and sun. Wilson himself was celebrated for his gifts and pitied for his demons. He was one of rock’s great romantics, a tormented man who in his peak years embarked on an ever-steeper path to aural perfection, the one true sound.

The Beach Boys rank among the most popular groups of the rock era, with more than 30 singles in the Top 40 and worldwide sales of more than 100 million. The 1966 album “Pet Sounds” was voted No. 2 in a 2003 Rolling Stone list of the best 500 albums, losing out, as Wilson had done before, to the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The Beach Boys, who also featured Wilson cousin Mike Love and childhood friend Al Jardine, were voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Wilson feuded with Love over songwriting credits, but peers otherwise adored him beyond envy, from Elton John and Bruce Springsteen to Smokey Robinson and Carole King. The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, fantasized about joining the Beach Boys. Paul McCartney cited “Pet Sounds” as a direct inspiration on the Beatles and the ballad “God Only Knows” as among his favorite songs, often bringing him to tears.

Wilson moved and fascinated fans and musicians long after he stopped having hits. In his later years, Wilson and a devoted entourage of younger musicians performed “Pet Sounds” and his restored opus, “Smile,” before worshipful crowds in concert halls. Meanwhile, The Go-Go’s, Lindsey Buckingham, Animal Collective and Janelle Monáe were among a wide range of artists who emulated him, whether as a master of crafting pop music or as a pioneer of pulling it apart.

Knew that was coming. Last saw them in a free concert in D.C. Schizphrenia finally caught up with him.

Hope he is sailing on the Sloop John B with a bevy of California Girls.

Musical genius, a musical savant. Pet Sounds is one of my top 20 favorite albums of all time. I'm glad he finally got away from and outlived Eugene Landy, the scumbag quack who scammed and took over his life for decades.

It’s not often you can meaningfully proclaim, “The end of an era,” but the death of Brian Wilson is certainly a touchstone for many of us here.

I knew this was coming - but still hurts a bit - another musical icon of my youth gone.

He was without a doubt a musical genius, 3-part harmonizing and his arrangements of songs was second to none.

He was influenced greatly after listening to Sgt Pepper but Pet Sounds was and is an awesome testament to his art.

I have a DVD floating around somewhere of Brian Wilson and Friends in Las Vegas I think - still put it on and listen to it every so often.

R.I.P. Brian Wilson. They were one of my favorite bands of all time!

I listened to the Beach Boys when I was a kid because they were popular. It wasn't until I started listening to them again, as an adult, that I realized just how good they were.

Even their contemporaries (Beatles, for example) acknowledged it. And Brian was the genius behind it all.

I still listen to their music.

I had to listen to "Surfin' USA" after hearing the news, but "Wouldn't It Be Nice" I can't get out of my head.

Beach Boys were, by far, my favorite group from my Teens, well beyond The Beatles, Rolling Stones, or any others.

www.brianwilson.com

Little Deuce Coupe

quote:

Originally posted by Ogie:
R.I.P.

Stop

More than once, I have asked:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0072394?r=7260072394

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0006605?r=3990006605

My first concert was a Beach Boys concert at Alpine Valley in July of ‘86. It was the summer before my Freshman year. The Moody Blues opened.
Good God what a song writer Brian was. My dad had a ‘57 Wurlitzer juke box in the basement. I listened to a lot of Beach Boys growing up.

Awesome talent.
I saw the beach boys four times , the audio sucked .

P .a. speakers at the fair grounds were the worst.

quote:

Originally posted by Biker_dude:
Even their contemporaries (Beatles, for example) acknowledged it.

Paul McCartney once said that God Only Knows was the "greatest song ever written". High praise.

I saw The Beach Boys a few times, but the most memorable was in the summer of 1975 when they played with Chicago in the Foxboro (Gillette) stadium. Classic and fantastic music from both bands!

Steve Hayward has posted on his Substack today about Brian. He quoted and linked to an article by Michael Anton -yes, “Flight 93 Election” Anton—from the Claremont Review of Books. It’s a paean to Brian, the Beach Boys, and their decades-delayed album Smile.

Paradise Lost and Regained: The Beach Boys’ Smile is an American Masterpiece

The Beach Boys, the band.

What a sad loss to our music history. I’ll have Pet Sounds on in the background throughout the day today.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

quote:

Originally posted by Biker_dude:
Even their contemporaries (Beatles, for example) acknowledged it.

Paul McCartney once said that God Only Knows was the "greatest song ever written". High praise.

Great example. Thanks.