Beach Boys leader and musical innovator Brian Wilson has died at the age of 82, leaving the music world that he helped shape through his genius in mourning.
The news of his death arrived Wednesday (June 11) via an announcement from his children following a difficult battle with dementia — for which he was placed under a legal conservatorship in 2024 — and years of mental health and substance abuse issues before that. But nothing can overshadow Wilson’s true legacy of masterful songwriting and immaculate production, both of which changed rock and pop music forever. That’s why so many stars are now flooding social media to share messages of grief and condolences and discuss his impact on music and culture.
Questlove posted a lengthy tribute on Instagram, writing, “If there was a human being who made art out of inexpressible sadness … damn it was Brian Wilson … Without him I dunno how so many that came after felt safe to express a feeling of sadness that most humans would be otherwise ridiculed/punished for.”
Bob Dylan shared in a statement: “Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I’ve been listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace dear Brian.”
“My hero in every sense of the word,” Clairo said on her Instagram Story, sharing a Spotify link to the Beach Boys’ “Disney Girls.” “So many tears. I love you forever Brian.”
Gracie Abrams also shouted out one of her favorites in the band’s discography — “All I Wanna Do” — and typed out a string of heartbroken emojis on her Story, while Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood posted on X: “Anyone with a musical bone in their body must be grateful for Brian Wilson’s genius magical touch !! And greatly saddened of this major worldly loss!! My thoughts go out to his family and friends. [Love,] Mick Fleetwood and the Fleetwood Mac Family.”
Beach Boys co-founding member Al Jardine shared this quote: “Brian Wilson, my friend, my classmate, my football teammate, my Beach Boy bandmate and my brother in spirit, I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were. I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again. You were a humble giant who always made me laugh and we will celebrate your music forever. Brian, I’ll really miss you…still I have the warmth of the sun within me tonight.”
Wilson’s musical footprint includes four No. 1 hits and dozens more entries on the Billboard Hot 100 as part of the Beach Boys, plus 13 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. The composer also achieved chart success as a soloist, landing nine projects on the albums chart in his lifetime.
His death follows close on the heels of another hitmaker’s passing, with Sly Stone dying Monday (June 9), also at 82. Many musicians who are speaking out about Wilson have noted how the back-to-back losses of both visionaries feels extra devastating.
“First Sly, now Brian … this is really just …,” Maggie Rogers wrote on her Story, adding a heartbreak emoji.
“Oh no Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in one week ~ my world is in mourning,” echoed Ronnie Wood on X.
The icon is survived by daughters Carnie and Wendy from his 1964 marriage to Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, as well as five adopted children he shared with late wife Melinda Ledbetter. Wilson’s kids wrote that they were “heartbroken” by their father’s passing in their official announcement on Instagram, adding, “We are at a loss for words.”
In the comments, Margo Price wrote, “So grateful for all the beautiful music and compassion he brought into the world, while Paul McCartney guitarist Brian Ray added: “Oh geez, I’m so saddened to hear this news. I was just walking through a hotel lobby less than five minutes ago, and I thought of them, wondering how he’s doing and now.”
Elsewhere, Low Cut Connie posted a black-and-white photo of Wilson playing piano and wrote on Instagram, “Goodbye to another genius … Brian Wilson changed the world of music … He created so many songs that will never die.”
Stephen Bishop shared that he was “heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend” on X, adding, “His legacy and talent come around only once in a lifetime … Brian’s passing is a great loss for the music community, and I’m honored to have known him.”
Also X, Sean Ono Lennon shared a young photo of Wilson — whom the songwriter called the “American Mozart” — and wrote, “Anyone who really knows me knows how heart broken I am about Brian Wilson passing … A one of a kind genius from another world.”
Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group: “Brian Wilson was one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the history of recorded music. Not only did his songs capture the spirit of youth, joy and longing in ways that still inspire millions of fans around the world, his innovative work in the studio transformed the way musicians record even to this day. Brian made an indelible mark, and our thoughts are with his family in this time of loss.”
Jody Gerson, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, the music publishing company for Wilson: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Wilson, one of music’s most cherished and influential songwriters, composers, and producers. Over the course of more than six decades—through his groundbreaking work with the Beach Boys and his extraordinary solo career—Brian created music that touched the hearts and souls of millions around the world. Though he has left us, his beautiful music will live on forever. On behalf of all of us at UMPG, I extend our deepest condolences to Brian’s family and loved ones.”
“To me, Brian Wilson was not merely about surf music, rather a true musical genius toiling away at melding POP into startling sophistication,” wrote Velvet Underground founder John Cale. “He will he be missed mightily.”
And in a statement shared with Billboard, John Cusack — who portrayed Wilson in the 2014 film Love & Mercy — wrote, “The maestro has passed.”
“Brian was a raw open heart with two legs — and an ear that heard the angels — quite literally,” the actor continued. “He was touched. To see him so happy with his wife Melinda — finally talking about and performing his unfinished masterpiece Smile (after the release of the astounding Smile sessions) — [and] to hear him be so open about the depth of his struggles so that the telling of his story might help others and take away the stigma of mental health was to see a triumph of endurance and spirit, love and mercy.”
More reactions are sure to come over the next few days as the music world processes the news.
